Cusco South Valley Tour

Our South Valley adventure commences with a hotel pickup in Cusco at 7:45 a.m. Our first destination is Tipón, situated approximately 23 km east of Cusco. This expansive Inca site, covering 239 hectares, likely served as an agricultural hub. It features 12 remarkable and unusually wide agricultural terraces, irrigated by a network of water channels sourced from a natural spring on the Pachatusan Mountain above. Tipón may have functioned as a specialized laboratory, with each terrace creating distinct micro-climates. Some ruins have been excavated, while others remain partially visible beneath soil and vegetation.

After spending about an hour exploring Tipón, we proceed to Pikillaqta. Constructed by the Wari civilization between 550 and 1100 AD, predating the Inca Empire, Pikillaqta served various purposes, including as a defensive settlement and expansive feasting site. As we navigate Pikillaqta, you’ll encounter houses, colcas (food storage areas), temples, and spaces designated for games and ceremonies, all interconnected by narrow streets. The site boasts over 700 structures, with some walls reaching nearly 12 meters in height. We dedicate approximately an hour to exploring the ruins of Pikillaqta before advancing to Andahuaylillas.

Andahuaylillas, an Andean village, showcases remarkable colonial architecture. The highlight is the 16th-century church of San Pedro Apóstol, erected by the Spanish. Despite its unassuming exterior, the Baroque church reveals a spectacular interior. Inside, you’ll witness vibrant murals, a coffered painted ceiling, and an ornate altar adorned with gold leaf. The church houses a majestic piano, numerous paintings from the Cusco school of artists, and exquisite silverwork, earning it the moniker “The Sistine Chapel of the Andes.”

Spending about an hour in Andahuaylillas, the final stop on our South Valley tour, we then return to Cusco, with an estimated arrival time of around 1:30 p.m.