Cusco City Tour & Group Service

Cusco City Tour Itinerary:

We include an optional visit to the Cusco Cathedral at no additional service cost (only the entrance fee applies). This option is ideal for travelers who would like to learn more about the city’s colonial history and have extra time available, as the visit adds approximately 1 additional hour to the standard tour duration.

• During the morning schedule, the Cathedral visit takes place at the end of the tour.
• During the afternoon schedule, the Cathedral is the first stop on the itinerary for travelers who choose this option.

We will then head to the Temple of the Sun, also known as Qorikancha. You will be amazed by its impressive stone construction, beautiful gardens, and fountains. Immediately you discover the diverse historical – cultural and religious sample of the site, which groups the pre-Inca, Inca and colonial times. Here, we will have a 40-minute guided tour that will allow us to learn about the history of the site and its features.

Then, we will travel in our transport to the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Complex, where we will spend approximately 50 minutes, up to a maximum of one hour, exploring its architectural wonders, which still stand today, featuring large stone blocks up to 5 meters high. This construction holds significant mythological and cultural meaning for the Inca Empire. Located just 3 kilometers from the center of Cusco (3,700 meters above sea level / 12,139 feet), this site offers an unparalleled panoramic view.

To continue the tour, we’ll visit Qenqo, an Inca sanctuary whose name means “labyrinth.” Here, you’ll see carved rock formations, ceremonial channels, and an underground chamber associated with religious rituals, possibly linked to funerary practices.

We’ll then continue to Tambomachay, also known as the Temple of Water, and Puka Pukara, two important archaeological sites located on the outskirts of Cusco.

At these three stops, we will spend approximately 20 minutes at each one, allowing our guide to share the most interesting aspects with you and giving you time to take the best photos.

Finally, in line with our philosophy of supporting local communities, we will make a brief 10-minute stop at the community store of Huayllarcocha to explore the textiles and handicrafts offered by the community. Those who wish can learn more about their work.

The city tour ends at approximately 1:30 p.m. for the morning schedule; or 6:30 p.m. in the afternoon shift. Please note that time may vary depending on the traffic.

• Before doing this tour or at the closing, we suggest that you visit the picturesque historic center of Cusco consolidating every detail that you discovered in our Tour.

Important Note:

This 5-hour City Tour is ideal for acclimatizing to Cusco’s altitude or for those who prefer a cultural experience without significant physical exertion. It offers a quick yet enriching overview of the Inca history and heritage, with strategic stops at the city’s main historical and cultural attractions.

The time allocated at each site is pre-established and respected by the guide, allowing you to make the most of every visit within the scheduled itinerary. If you’re looking for a deeper exploration with more time at each attraction, we also offer private tour options that can be customized to your preferences.

In the afternoon shift, some attractions close at 5:00 p.m., so the time spent at each stop is carefully organized to ensure you can visit all the sites before closing time.

And If you want to take a City Tour where you only visit sites located in the historic center of Cusco on foot, you can ask about our Walking City Photographic Tour.

Price of the Cusco City Tour includes:

• Departure from the lodging in the historic center of Cusco. The streets of the city are narrow, an aspect that limits vehicular access to certain places; in this case the guide will suggest a nearby point to pass looking for you and enjoy the tour.
• Return to Plaza “Regocijo” (One block away from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco) (Historic Center of the city).
• Professional guide in English, Spanish (other languages are available on private tours). The tour guide could be bilingual in English and Spanish

Price of the Cusco City Tour excludes:

• Transfer from hotels outside the city of Cusco (for private tours, ask if extra costs apply to pick up from the Sacred Valley or other places).
• Tips for the guide.
• Beverages.
• Meals.
• Entrance fees to attractions (Entrance Ticket to Q’oricancha: 20 soles)
• Tourist ticket: see information below (can be purchased as an additional).

Tourist Ticket:

• The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) allows entry to different attractions. It can be purchased at the entrance of each tourist destination we visit (consider that they only accept payment in cash and in local currency).
• For this tour, you will need the Circuit III – Partial Tourist Ticket, which covers the attractions of Pisac, Chinchero, Moray and Ollantaytambo.
• Prices:
  • Partial Tourist Ticket – Foreigners S /. 70.00
  • Partial Tourist Ticket – Peruvians S /. 40.00
• See more information about the Tourist Ticket in this ARTICLE.

Optional:

• Entrance ticket to the Cusco Cathedral: S/ 40

What to bring to the Cusco City Tour:

• Comfortable and optimal footwear for walks, warm jacket, caps or hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, bottles of water, clothing or rain poncho (especially between November – April).
• Passport or DNI.
• Travel insurance.
• The weather may vary throughout the day, so we recommend bringing a small backpack to store any items you may want to take off or an extra jacket.
• Cash (Local currency / Soles (S/.)  In Peru, there is usually a fee to use public restrooms. We recommend bringing coins or cash for these situations.

What considerations you should have when taking the tour in Cusco:

• The visit to Cusco Cathedral takes place at the beginning of the tour and is optional. Please note that photography is not allowed inside the Cathedral. There is no additional service cost; only the entrance fee is required.
  • If you’re interested in learning more about Cusco’s history and colonial heritage and have the time, we recommend joining the group from the start to take full advantage of the guided visit to this important site.
  • On the other hand, if your focus is more on photography or your schedule doesn’t allow it, you can join the tour later and enjoy the following stops, where photography is permitted.

• What does it mean that the tour is shared?

  • It means that you will join a group of tourists from various nationalities and ages, including both Guru Explorers guests and those from other operators (group of approximately 16 people). It’s a great opportunity to connect with travelers from around the world! Please note that this type of tour is operated by Guru Explorers or our strategic partners who adhere to our standards. If you prefer a tour where you don’t share with others, please request a private tour option.
  • One day before the shared tour, you will be assigned a pickup time range and an approximate return time. It’s important to be punctual to avoid delaying others. The duration of the tour may vary depending on the group’s pace and traffic, so the return time is only approximate. Please remember that neither traffic nor the pace of tourists is the responsibility of Guru Explorers.
• The seating arrangement on the transport is random, based on the order of arrival and pickup.
• You can include the tickets to the attractions – as an additional – in the process of contracting the Tour, or purchase it on your own directly at the place with payment in cash (prices of entrance tickets may vary without prior notice).
• The streets of the city are narrow, an aspect that limits vehicular access to certain places; in this case the guide will suggest a nearby point to pass looking for you and enjoy the tour.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
• Remember that, since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and the natural daylight. Each visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique and unrepeatable ways.

Not allowed:

• Pets.
• Smoking.
• Large suitcases or bags.

According to Peruvian regulations, foreign tourists may be exempt from the local tax IGV (VAT). As a formal and registered travel agency, we are required to submit to the local authorities a copy of the document you used to enter the country, as well as your date of entry. For this reason, a few days before your arrival, we will contact you to request a photo of that document and ask you to let us know the date you entered Peru. If we do not receive this information, we will be required to add the 18% corresponding to the IGV tax. 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cancellation Policy

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 20% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 40% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount

Date changes

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 5% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 10% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount
• Subject to availability.
• There will be no refunds in case of delayed flights, train delays, bad weather, or other external factors.

Force Majeure Policy

• Guru Explorers values your time and makes every effort to follow the itinerary. However, it may be affected by force majeure events such as weather conditions, rain, natural disasters, protests, roadblocks, or other circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, no refunds or compensation will be provided, as these are unforeseeable and unavoidable situations. Nonetheless, we will do everything possible to offer efficient alternatives and solutions for your enjoyment. Any additional costs resulting from changes or alternative activities will be the responsibility of the client and not Guru Explorers.