The ultimate all-inclusive journey through the megalithic wonders and colonial heart of the Inca Empire.
To truly grasp the architectural genius and spiritual magnitude of the Inca civilization, you must look both inside the historic streets of Cusco and high into the Andean hills that guard the city. Our all-inclusive Private Cusco City Tour & Sacsayhuamán seamlessly combines the monumental upper archaeological park with the sacred temples and colonial masterpieces of downtown Cusco.
Accompanied by a licensed historian guide and traveling comfortably in a private vehicle, you will marvel at the 100-ton megalithic walls of Sacsayhuamán, the ceremonial chambers of the upper ruins, the fortress of Puka Pukara, and the royal Inca baths of Tambomachay. Descending into the historic center, you will enjoy guided interior visits to the Cusco Cathedral and Qoricancha (The Temple of the Sun), admire the 12-Angled Stone, and finish at the vibrant San Pedro Market—the perfect cultural prelude to our top-rated Peruvian cooking classes in Cusco.
After picking you up at your hotel in our private vehicle, we ascend to the awe-inspiring ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán (3,700 m / 12,139 ft), which forms the head of the sacred Puma shape of ancient Cusco. You will stand before three tiers of colossal zigzagging limestone walls—with individual boulders weighing up to 125 tons—fitted together without mortar and offering sweeping panoramic views over the city. Passing through the sacred limestone labyrinths of the archaeological park (including Q'enqo), we continue to Puka Pukara ("The Red Fortress"), an ancient Inca military tambo and administrative checkpoint, and conclude the upper circuit at Tambomachay (3,765 m / 12,352 ft), the "Bath of the Inca," where crystal-clear mountain spring water still flows through finely carved stone aqueducts and ceremonial cascades.
Descending back into the heart of the imperial city, we arrive at the majestic Plaza de Armas (ancient Huacaypata). With your admission tickets included, we step inside the monumental 16th-century Cusco Cathedral, constructed atop the Inca palace of Viracocha using stone blocks quarried directly from Sacsayhuamán. Inside, your guide will unveil masterpieces of the Cusqueña School of Art, where indigenous master painters wove Andean symbols—such as roasted guinea pig (cuy) and native chilies in Marcos Zapata’s famous Last Supper—into Spanish Baroque canvases.
Strolling along the narrow cobblestone alleyway of Hatun Rumiyoc, flanked by the original polygonal green diorite walls of the Palace of Inca Roca, you will witness the legendary 12-Angled Stone (Piedra de los Doce Ángulos). This world-famous icon of Inca engineering demonstrates how ancient masons interlocked multi-angled stones like a 3D puzzle to withstand centuries of powerful Andean earthquakes.
Our next stop is Qoricancha ("The Golden Courtyard"), the most sacred religious and astronomical center of the Inca Empire, where all royal roads of the Tahuantinsuyo converged. Once plated in sheets of solid gold to honor Inti (the Sun God), Qoricancha showcases the most refined imperial stonework in all of Peru, standing in dramatic contrast beneath the colonial arches of the Spanish Santo Domingo Convent.
We conclude this unforgettable tour by immersing ourselves in the vivid colors, aromas, and flavours of the historic San Pedro Market, designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1925. Walking through aisles of Andean superfoods, native potatoes, artisanal cheeses, and exotic Amazonian fruits, you will see firsthand how Inca agricultural heritage lives on in modern Peruvian gastronomy—just two blocks away from our Cusco Cooking Studio.
Everything you need to know before booking your private archaeological and city tour.
Yes! Our $119 USD rate is 100% all-inclusive. It covers the official Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Circuit 1 for Sacsayhuamán, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay), the Cusco Cathedral admission ticket, and the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) admission ticket—saving you over $45 USD in separate entrance fees and ticket lines.
While our Historic Walking Tour explores only the downtown streets on foot, this comprehensive Cusco City Tour adds private vehicle transportation and the monumental upper Inca archaeological circuit in the hills above Cusco (Sacsayhuamán, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, plus the Cusco Tourist Ticket), in addition to the Cathedral, 12-Angled Stone, Qoricancha, and San Pedro Market.
Sacsayhuamán sits at 3,700 meters (12,139 ft) above sea level, and Tambomachay is the highest point at 3,765 meters (12,352 ft). Because we travel between the upper ruins in a comfortable private vehicle and walk mostly downhill at a relaxed pace, it is very manageable even during your first days in Cusco.
The tour lasts 4 to 5 hours. Because it is a private experience with hotel pickup, you can choose between our morning departure (9:00 AM) or afternoon departure (2:00 PM), or request a custom start time that fits your itinerary.
Absolutely! You can take the Morning City Tour (9:00 AM – 1:30 PM) and join our Dinner Cooking Class at 3:00 PM, or enjoy our Lunch Cooking Class (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) and have our private driver pick you up right at our cooking studio at 2:00 PM for the afternoon tour.
