South Valley of the Incas 1 Day Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM to begin your adventure at the Tipon Archeological site. This Inca site is located 25 kilometers southeast of Cusco and is one of the lesser-visited sites in the area. The site features ancient Incan structures and is believed to be a royal garden commissioned by Wiraqocha Inca. It showcases some of the most impressive examples of agricultural terracing created by the Incas, irrigated by an aqueduct from Apu Pachatusan, a mountain above the site. Other structures at Tipon include baths, a sacred temple, canals, and trenches.

After exploring Tipon, you will head to Pikillacta, the only pre-Inca site in the Cusco area. This adobe Inca complex was built around 700 to 900 A.D. by the Wari people. Nearby is a small Inca site called Rumicolca, which served as a travel checkpoint for the Incas.

Then you will proceed towards Andahuaylillas to discover the “Sistine Chapel of Peru.” This church is known for its golden altars, paintings, and beautifully colored ceilings. Although it may seem simple and unassuming on the outside, the interior is a masterpiece of colonial religious art.

On your return to Cusco, you will also pass Scylla, where you can indulge in the delicious and famous traditional pork chicharrones. You can expect to return to Cusco around 3:30 PM.

These three archaeological sites, Tipón, Pikillacta, and Andahuaylillas, are located in the Cusco region of Peru and offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore different aspects of Peru’s rich history and cultural heritage. Tipón features impressive examples of the Inca’s advanced engineering skills, while Pikillacta provides insight into the urban planning and architectural techniques of the Wari civilization. Andahuaylillas showcases the fusion of Baroque and Andean art in its ornate interior decorations.