Cusco City Tour, Cusco

4.9 (19 reviews)

Overview

Cusco isn't just an impressive Spanish-colonial city in Peru's southern highlands. It's also the historic capital of the Inca empire. Today's tour begins at the indoor San Pedro Market, in the heart of the colonial center. This is as authentic a Peruvian experience as it gets, since locals come here daily in droves to stock up on fresh produce. Be sure to try their endless selection of fresh fruit smoothies, which are the perfect refreshing treat.

After the market is a visit to the most important religious site of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple, known as Qoricancha. This temple is not only intact but incredibly well preserved. Within it, there are even smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning, and thunder, among others. From Qoricancha, it's a short walk to another religious site called Sacsayhuaman, an Incan citadel and defensive fortress that was constructed in the 13th century out of giant stone blocks. The engineering and stonework of the structure was so impeccable that you can't slide so much as a sheet of paper between the stones.

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Travelers often mention

Summarized by AI based on kimkim traveler reviews

Knowledgeable guides

Several reviewers praised the guides for being knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Specific guides mentioned included Valerio, Flor, Emilia, and Sonya. (7 mentions)

Kakoli
“Flor, our guide, was exceptional! Very well informed, articulate and patient!”  — Kakoli K.
Ciarra
“She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate when speaking about her ancestors and the temples we visited.”  — Ciarra N.
Kimberly
“She knows the history well and she laid a great foundation for Machu Picchu portion.”  — Kimberly A.
Shopping opportunities

There were opportunities to buy souvenirs and gifts, though some stalls were noted to be pricier than others like the San Pedro market in Cusco. (2 mentions)

K
“There's lots of stalls along the way to buy any last minute souvenirs although they are pricier than buying at San Pedro market in Cusco.”  — Keshigaa P.
Ciarra
“She also took us to a shop just outside of the main city area with great deals for alpaca clothing shopping.”  — Ciarra N.
Need more city time

Some reviewers wished the tour included more time to explore the local streets and life in the city center of Cusco. (2 mentions)

Emma
“would have liked more time to also explore the life in the city itself”  — Emma L.
Emma
“Perhaps the tour could have included more of the local streets etc in the city centre, or had more free time between the tour and the flight transfer to enjoy walking around a little more.”  — Emma L.
K
“It doesn't cover as much within the city itself but most of that can be discovered by yourself walking around.”  — Keshigaa P.
Alpaca factory visit

A few reviews mentioned a visit to an Alpaca factory or textile workshop where travelers could buy handmade gifts and learn to distinguish real from fake Alpaca wool. (2 mentions)

Dion
“We took a detour to an Alpaca factory where I found some beautiful handmade gifts.”  — Dion F.
K
“We opted to visit the textile workshop and feed llamas which was enjoyable and got a quick workshop on how to tell fake from real Alpaca wool.”  — Keshigaa P.

Traveler reviews

19 total ratings, 13 with reviews
4.9
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
5.0
K
Karina M.
Astoria, NY | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2024
Emilia, our guide, was very knowledgeable. Dont miss this tour! Read more

Emilia, our guide, was very knowledgeable. Dont miss this tour!

Tips for future travelers

Your shoes will get very dirty!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dion
Dion F.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jun 24, 2024
Well rounded tour of Incan ruins with beautiful city views. Valerio was a very friendly and knowledgable guide. We took a detour to an Alpaca factory where I found some beautiful handmade gifts. Read more

Well rounded tour of Incan ruins with beautiful city views. Valerio was a very friendly and knowledgable guide. We took a detour to an Alpaca factory where I found some beautiful handmade gifts.

Quality of Experience
Ruins and views
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Valerio was a very friendly and knowledgable guide
Transport
Driver did a great job navigating crowded streets
Emma
Emma L.
| Reviewed on Apr 28, 2024
We loved hearing about the history in Cusco and just outside the city centre, but would have liked more time to also explore the life in the city itself. Perhaps the tour could have included more of the local streets etc in the city centre, or had more free time between the tour and the flight transfer to enjoy walking around a little more. Read more

We loved hearing about the history in Cusco and just outside the city centre, but would have liked more time to also explore the life in the city itself. Perhaps the tour could have included more of the local streets etc in the city centre, or had more free time between the tour and the flight transfer to enjoy walking around a little more.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you allow enough time in Cusco, I don’t feel like we had chance to fully experience the city so I would have liked more time there (although I can’t think of anything I’d have cut out though!)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
K
Keshigaa P.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2023
The Cusco city tour covers a lot of the immediate ruins outside of Cusco such as Saqsayamun and well as the Sun temple in Cusco - essentially places that are hard to get to by yourself. It doesn't cover as much within the city itself but most of that can be discovered by yourself walking around. It was a nice easy tour to wrap up our stay in Cusco with our international flights later in the afternoon. It's less physical than the rest but do keep in mind that the parking lots and the actual... Read more

The Cusco city tour covers a lot of the immediate ruins outside of Cusco such as Saqsayamun and well as the Sun temple in Cusco - essentially places that are hard to get to by yourself. It doesn't cover as much within the city itself but most of that can be discovered by yourself walking around. It was a nice easy tour to wrap up our stay in Cusco with our international flights later in the afternoon. It's less physical than the rest but do keep in mind that the parking lots and the actual ruins can require some walking. There's lots of stalls along the way to buy any last minute souvenirs although they are pricier than buying at San Pedro market in Cusco.

We opted to visit the textile workshop and feed llamas which was enjoyable and got a quick workshop on how to tell fake from real Alpaca wool. There was also the option to buy products (without any pushback on that) which was nice because we got some great gifts at cheaper cost. Overall we greatly enjoyed the tour.

Tips for future travelers

Ask to be taken to a local textile workshop for Alapaca wool. The products support local families and are cheaper than comparative stores in Cusco. They also take credit cards.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kakoli
Kakoli K.
India | Reviewed on Sep 21, 2023
Flor, our guide, was exceptional! Very well informed, articulate and patient! Read more

Flor, our guide, was exceptional! Very well informed, articulate and patient!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cris
Cris K.
Medford, MA | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2023
It was great! Emilia was a great guide and really helped us to understand what we were seeing. Read more

It was great! Emilia was a great guide and really helped us to understand what we were seeing.

Quality of Experience
Overall, a great experience!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and helpful
Transport
Comfortable
Josette
Josette B.
France | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2023
Flora was a great guide - very knowledgeable and had good tips for our future Trek Read more

Flora was a great guide - very knowledgeable and had good tips for our future Trek

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paige
Paige S.
Canada | Reviewed on May 24, 2023
The Cusco City Tour was very good, and our guide was fantastic. We had him the entire time, which was a great experience. Read more

The Cusco City Tour was very good, and our guide was fantastic. We had him the entire time, which was a great experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ciarra
Ciarra N.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2022
Flor was our guide and she was amazing! She took her time since I wasn't feeling well, and made sure I stayed hydrated and ate some soup. She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate when speaking about her ancestors and the temples we visited. I learned so much more than the first time I came to Cusco 6 years ago. She also took us to a shop just outside of the main city area with great deals for alpaca clothing shopping. She was able to be flexible with the plan and stop for us if needed.... Read more

Flor was our guide and she was amazing! She took her time since I wasn't feeling well, and made sure I stayed hydrated and ate some soup. She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate when speaking about her ancestors and the temples we visited. I learned so much more than the first time I came to Cusco 6 years ago. She also took us to a shop just outside of the main city area with great deals for alpaca clothing shopping. She was able to be flexible with the plan and stop for us if needed. It was an amazing day!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kimberly
Kimberly A.
Hampton, NE | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2022
Sonya, my tour guide with Cusi tours is INCREDIBLE!!! She knows the history well and she laid a great foundation for Machu Picchu portion. Professional, knowledgeable and personable. Read more

Sonya, my tour guide with Cusi tours is INCREDIBLE!!! She knows the history well and she laid a great foundation for Machu Picchu portion. Professional, knowledgeable and personable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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Itineraries with Cusco City Tour