The tour begins with hotel pickup. The first place to visit will be the Cusco Cathedral, which houses valuable colonial artistic treasures, such as paintings from the renowned Cusco School and works by various religious sculptors. Our second visit will be: Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), where we can appreciate the blend between Inca constructions (with their perfectly polished stone walls). After visiting Qoricancha, we will head outside the city towards: Sacsayhuamán, where we will observe enormous stone blocks of up to 40 tons perfectly placed on top of each other. Our guide will explain the importance of this site both before the arrival of the Spanish and during the colonial period, as it was the setting of one of the greatest battles between the Incas and the Spanish. We will then continue to: Qenqo (labyrinth), named for its pathways that give the impression of being inside a maze. The most important feature here is an ancient ceremonial table, believed to have been the final resting place of Pachacutec. We will then continue our journey to: Puca Pucara (Red Fortress), which served as an important control center for people wishing to enter the city of Cusco during Inca times. Due to the sacred importance of the city, all travelers had to purify their body and soul beforehand, which they could do at: Tambomachay, the final site we will visit, where we can still appreciate the advanced hydraulic engineering skills achieved by the Incas. The tour ends near Cusco’s main square.
