South Valley Tour

South Valley Tour Itinerary:

08:20 – 09:00 AM: Pickup at the hotel in the historic center of Cusco

The experience will begin with the pickup from your hotel located in the center of Cusco, between 8:20 AM and 9:00 AM. Once everyone is on the van, we will depart for our first destination at 09:00 AM. On the way, if requested by the passengers, we will make a stop to buy the famous traditional bread from the area, called “Chutas de Oropesa,” which you can enjoy until we reach the first destination.

Tipón Water Temple

The first stop will be at the water temple Tipón, located 27 km from Cusco. In this archaeological site, you can observe the agricultural terraces, which are in excellent condition. Tipón is known for its sophisticated irrigation systems, including aqueducts and channels designed to optimize agricultural production in a mountainous terrain. Here, we will take a guided tour lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Pikillaqta Ruins

Next, we will head to Pikillaqta, an important archaeological site that served as the administrative center of the Wari culture. Here, we will learn about the architecture and urban planning of this civilization. We will enjoy a guided exploration lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Andahuaylillas – Sistine Chapel of Cusco

In Andahuaylillas, we will explore the Sistine Chapel of Cusco, famous for its lush frescoes dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. This chapel is known for its stunning Baroque art, featuring murals with complex and detailed religious iconography. We will tour the entire chapel for 40 minutes alongside our guide. Additionally, those who wish can visit the Museum of Andean Rites.

02:30 – 03:30 PM: Return to Cusco

If requested by the passengers, we can make a stop at a local restaurant for lunch, providing an excellent opportunity to taste local cuisine. This stop will be coordinated at the time, respecting the decision of the majority of the group. Finally, we will begin our return to the historic center of Cusco, arriving at Plateros Street or Plaza Regocijo (just a few meters from the Plaza de Armas).

The South Valley Tour includes:

• Departure from your accommodation in the Historic Center of Cusco. Sometimes, the selected accommodation may be located on streets with restricted access for tourist vehicles. In these cases, the guide will suggest a nearby point where you can walk to meet them, so they can pick you up from a permitted street.
• Entrance fee to the Sistine Chapel of Cusco
• Transfers to all the mentioned places
• Professional guide in English and Spanish (other languages are available on private tours). The guiding may be bilingual in englinsh and spanish. 
• Return to Plaza Regocijo or Plateros Street.

South Valley Tour does not include:

• Meals or drinks
• Tourist Ticket (See information below)
• Optional: Entrance fee for the Museum of Andean Rites. (3 peruvian soles)
• Other services not mentioned.

Tourist Ticket: 

The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) allows entrance to different attractions. It can be purchased at the entrance of each tourist destination we visit (consider that they only accept payment in cash).

For this tour, you will need the Partial Tourist Ticket of Circuit III, which covers the attractions of Pisac, Chinchero, Moray and Ollantaytambo.

Prices

• Partial Tourist Ticket – Foreigners S/. 70.00
• Partial Tourist Ticket – Peruvian S/. 40.00

See more information about the Tourist Ticket in this article.

What to bring to the South Valley 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.
• 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 South Valley Tour:

• What does it mean that the tour is shared?

  • It means that you can share the tour with a group of tourists of different nationalities and ages, both from Guru Explorers and from different operators (group of approximately 16 people). It is an excellent opportunity to connect with travelers from different parts of the world! Remember that this type of tour is operated by Guru Explorers or our strategic partners who respond to our same standards. If you prefer a tour where you do not share with other people, please ask us for the 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.
• 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.
• 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.