The Cusco City Tour is the ideal experience for travelers who have just arrived in Cusco or for those who wish to explore the historic heart of the former Inca capital. This half day afternoon tour combines history, culture, and impressive archaeological sites, offering a relaxed and informative introduction to the Inca civilization, while allowing time to acclimate to the altitude.
An Introduction to Cusco and the Incas
- Hotel Pick Up in either the morning or the afternoon
- Visit Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
- Visit Sacsayhuaman
- Visit Qenqo, Puca Pucara & Tambomachay
- Return to Cusco
Itinerary – A Guided Walk Through Cusco’s Inca and Colonial Highlights
Morning or Afternoon – Hotel Pick-up
In the morning or afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin the Cusco City Tour, exploring the Imperial City—an outstanding example of the blend between Andean and Spanish culture.
Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
We start the tour at Koricancha, the former Inca palace and the most important temple dedicated to the Sun God. You will have ample time to explore this remarkable site and appreciate the fine Inca stonework and its historical significance.
Sacsayhuaman
Next, we visit the impressive archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, famous for its monumental Inca architecture and massive stone walls overlooking the city of Cusco.
Qenqo, Puca Pucara & Tambomachay
The tour continues to the northeastern section of the city, where we explore the archaeological sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay, each offering unique insights into Inca ceremonial, administrative, and hydraulic engineering.
Return to Cusco
After completing the tour, you will return to your hotel in Cusco in the early evening.
Inclusions – Everything Arranged for a Comfortable City Experience
Included:
- Professional bilingual guide (English & Spanish)
- Tourist transportation between all sites
- Hotel pick-up (for qualifying multi-day tour clients)
Not Included:
- Koricancha entrance fee: 10–20 soles per person
- Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico): 70 soles per person
- Meals and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Travel Info – Key Details for an Easy
Briefings
All briefings are done at our office at 5:00 PM one or two nights before your trek. If you are unable to make this time, you need to coordinate another time with a member of the Xtreme Tourbulencia office team. Briefings are approximately 40 minutes long.
Pickups
Xtreme Tourbulencia is one of the only companies to pick you up directly from your hotel. As long as your hotel is in the center of Cusco city, we will coordinate this pickup based on a time that your guide will discuss at the briefing. Pick up times may vary 30 – 45 minutes based on traffic conditions and previous pickups.
Cusco is an old city with cobblestoned streets and very narrow passageways. Smaller hotels and Airbnbs are often located on streets that cars can´t pass through.
They also are frequently on hillsides with long steep climbs, making it difficult to carry luggage. We highly recommend that you book accommodations with better access. We have a list of hotels that are all comfortable with easy access to pick up and drop off.
Health Concerns
You must be honest with your guide about any health conditions or concerns you might have. While our guides are not medical professionals, they do have first aid training. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.
You are responsible for assessing whether a tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions.
Xtreme TourBulencia will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the tour based on your unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level, and medical requirements.
If you develop extreme altitude sickness or any other illness that prevents you from hiking, and you still wish to visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. Since this will be a new trip, it may require additional fees. We will use as much of the original itinerary to keep costs low.
If you experience issues while hiking and can not continue, a porter will accompany you to the closest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and bring you to the nearest health clinic.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of all different types of people, with various hiking skills and ages. By agreeing to a group tour, you agree that some people might be slower or faster than you are.
Everyone can go at their own pace for the trek, and the guide will work with the group to spend time with everyone. Groups might request some modifications to the tour, and the guide will work with everyone to make the best decision for the group.
Strikes
Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked, and trains stopped. We will make sure your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before your start date.
Under these circumstances, tours might need to be canceled. But our operations department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our top concern and will dictate how we decide.
Lost Items
You are responsible for your items throughout the tour. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our vans, your tents, restaurant, etc.
Do not leave anything unintended during your hike. Other trekkers or teams might pick it up not knowing whose it is.
Tips
Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu. While we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured into this.
Typically the participants in a group pool their tipping money together for the porters and chef. The amount recommended is $20 USD per person per trek.
For the guide, this is more personal and needs to be decided based on your relationship with them and done separately from the group. Porters and Chefs prefer soles if possible. Guides are happy with U.S. dollars, Peruvian Soles, or even your credit card.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is inexpensive and strongly recommended. With trips being planned months ahead of time, you never can predict what could happen. Adventure travel includes more risk than the average trip.
Insurance is a way to protect the investment you have made on this journey. We can help recommend an agent to walk you through this type of insurance if needed.
Weather
Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December so just be prepared.
No matter what month you are doing the trek, make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.
Also, prepare for four seasons. Several of the treks through the Andes involve various microclimates and you will need to be prepared. Layers are always key since they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm packable down jacket since the evening will be cold.
It’s also important to note that the weather can change a listed itinerary. There are times that routes become impassable, and our guides will be forced for your safety to rework your tour.
More Information About the Weather (BOTÓN)
Altitude Sickness
As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs.
Over several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air. For this reason, we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek in the Andes. Cusco is a marvelous city with lots to do, so if you have more time to acclimate you won´t be bored.
With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office, and we will help you get to a doctor.
Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea.
Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the Coca Plant contain alkaloids that help bring oxygen into your blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. They will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.
Remember the trek to Machu Picchu is not a race. Even those in the best shape will suffer from altitude sickness if they race to the top of the mountain too quickly. Go slow, and it will give your body time to adjust to the elevation.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before you get to a high altitude. Continue to take it while you are at high altitude.
You must remember that this is your holiday and you do not want to stress out about the possibility of getting sick from the mountains. Do everything slowly and drink lots of water, and enjoy the coca tea.
If anything does happen and you, unfortunately, get sick, let your guide know right away. Xtreme Tourbulencia guides are trained to help you get through it.
Getting To Cusco
The airport in Cusco currently is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.
The best way to get to Cusco is by air, and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive but has the most options and flights. Expect delays or flight cancellations. Due to the high altitude of Cusco, it tends to be difficult to land, and any inclement weather will stop air traffic.
Bus travel is always available, and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses in Peru are very well maintained and comfortable. This option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco, like Puno. Lima buses will take about 20 hours to arrive.
Packing List – What to Bring for a Walking City Tour
- Original passport or valid ID
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Layered clothing (T-shirt, sweater, jacket)
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
- Water bottle
- Rain poncho or light jacket (Nov–Mar)
- Cash in soles for entrance fees and souvenirs
FAQs – Common Questions About the Cusco City Tour
What is the Cusco City Tour?
It is a guided half tour which visits Cusco’s main historical and archaeological sites, ideal for acclimatization and cultural immersion.
Do I need good physical condition?
Only light walking is required. The tour is suitable for most travelers, and the pace is adjusted to the group.
Are entrance tickets included?
No. Entrance fees are paid separately unless you already have a valid Tourist Ticket.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance independently.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes, up to 48 hours before departure, subject to availability and conditions.
Is this tour available for all travelers?
Please note: This City Tour is offered exclusively to clients booking 2, 3, 4+ day tours or Machu Picchu excursions.