Information
11 min read
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Cusco to Machu Picchu Traveling from Cusco to Machu Picchu is not as simple as driving directly from…
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The experience
Explore the South Valley of Cusco through three sites that reveal different layers of Andean history. Walk among the ingenious water terraces of Tipón, admire the colonial art of Andahuaylillas, and discover the planned streets of the pre-Inca city of Pikillaqta before returning to Cusco. Along the way, quiet villages, fertile fields, and the changing landscape reveal a side of Cusco that many visitors never see. It is an ideal experience for travelers who want history, architecture, and local character without the crowds of the better-known routes.
Start
9:00 a.m.
Route
Tipón → Andahuaylillas → Pikillaqta → Cusco
Price
USD 185 per person
Included
Entrances, box lunch, water, guide and transportation
Difficulty
1/5 – Easy
Explore the Inca terraces and water channels of Tipón.
Visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas and its colonial art.
Discover the pre-Inca Wari complex of Pikillaqta.
Day by day
Choose a day, explore each stop and see the route on the map.
South Valley – Tipón, Andahuaylillas and Pikillaqta
At 9:00 a.m., visit Tipón, an Inca site known for agricultural terraces and hydraulic engineering. Many terraces are still cultivated. Precisely carved stone channels carry fresh water through the complex, feeding fountains and showing how the Incas controlled water flow.
In Andahuaylillas, visit the early 17th-century Church of San Pedro, known as the Sistine Chapel of America. See murals attributed to Luis de Riaño depicting the paths to heaven and hell, Cusco School paintings, silverwork, a historic organ and decorated Baroque altars.
End at Pikillaqta, an administrative and urban center built by the Wari centuries before the Inca Empire. Its organized streets, plazas, residences and storage buildings illustrate the scale and architecture of this pre-Inca settlement.
After exploring Pikillaqta, begin the return journey to Cusco, bringing your South Valley experience to an end.
Box lunch
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Plan with confidence
Prepare for this journey
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