



Join our tour of the Southern Valley of Cusco, a half-day trip that will take you to the archaeological parks of Tipón, where the impressive channels and water fountains stand out, and Pikillacta, a city from the Wari civilisation (pre-Inca civilisation) — Pikillacta is a Quechua word, meaning “the town of fleas”.
This tour also includes a visit to the colonial church of San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas, home to the famous “Sistine Chapel of the Americas“. In this church, the religious fervour and the “fear of emptiness” experienced by the artists who decorated it led them to cover every corner of the temple. This fear resulted in the creation of the most significant expression of what is known as Andean Baroque.
HIGHLIGHTS
Meeting Point
Our guide will pick you up at around 9:00 (approximately). Pick-ups are only available for hotels located in the Historic Centre. If you’re staying in another part of the city, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
If you’re so eager to explore the Southern Valley of Cusco that you can’t wait a minute longer, we recommend a private tour. It’s a fantastic option to fully enjoy the experience.
Please check the “Details and Notes” tab for more information.
From Cusco to Tipón by road
Once your group is complete, you will depart in a tourist vehicle towards the archaeological park of Tipón, located in the district of Oropesa (Quispicanchi province). The distance from Cusco is 29 kilometres, with a travel time of approximately 40 minutes.
Parque arqueológico de Tipón
Get ready to be amazed by the water channels, irrigation systems, polished stone walls, decorative fountains, 13 agricultural terraces, and the surrounding wall of Tipón (3452 metres above sea level).
As you explore the archaeological park, you’ll learn that Tipón was one of the royal sites of the Inca emperor Wiracocha, and most likely a place for agricultural experimentation, where water rituals were also performed.
The name Tipón is thought to derive from the Quechua word Timpuj, meaning “to be boiling” in Spanish, a clear reference to the waters that still flow through the channels today, showcasing the impressive hydraulic skills and knowledge of the Incas.
From Tipón to Pikillacta by road
The meaning of Tipón is “city or town of the fleas” and it was an administrative and religious centre of the Wari culture. The Wari civilisation was a pre-Inca society, known as the ancestors of the Incas, and they inhabited this part of the Southern Valley between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.
The city of Pikillacta is clear evidence of the urban planning of the Wari, built over an area of 50 hectares, located at 3,212 metres above sea level.
With the fall of the Wari, due to the Inca conquest, it is believed that the “town of the fleas” remained active and became one of the main points of access and departure to and from Cusco, “the navel of the world”, connecting the region with the Qollasuyo, as the Altiplano was known.
From Pikillacta to Andahuaylillas by road
From pre-Hispanic to colonial. From Pikillacta to the San Pedro Apóstol Church in Andahuaylillas (Quispicanchi province). The distance between these two attractions is 15 kilometres, which takes about 20 minutes to cover.
Andahuaylillas Church
The San Pedro Apóstol Church in Andahuaylillas is located at 3,121 metres above sea level. It was built in the 17th century, and the facade of the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas” is simple and understated. However, everything changes inside the temple, where religious art fills every space, and every corner of the church is richly decorated.
The “Fear of emptiness” is one of the key concepts of the Baroque style, which is why the church is covered in murals, canvases, frescoes, sculptures, and more. These artworks blend Hispanic and Andean elements, creating the famous artistic style known as Andean Baroque, with this church being its most prominent example.
Tour Ending Place
It’s time to return to Cusco. The journey from Andahuaylillas takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. By approximately 15:30 PM, our transport will drop you off just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas.
From there, you can easily make your way to your accommodation. If you’ve booked a private tour, we will drop you off directly at your hotel.
PRICE
The prices shown in the table are:
- Per person in US dollars ($).
- Pple. = people.
- Group = group service, shared.
Pple. | Type of tour | |
---|---|---|
Group | Private | |
1 | $18 | $180 |
2 | $18 | $90 |
3 | $18 | $80 |
4 | $18 | $70 |
5 | $18 | $60 |
DETAILS
Details | Type of tour | |
---|---|---|
Group | Private | |
Schedule | 09:00 to 15:30 | You decide |
Days | Every day | Every day |
Language | es/en simultaneously | en or es |
Size | 15 to 20 pax. | You and your friends |
Included | Type of tour | |
---|---|---|
Group | Private | |
Pick up from your hotel | ✅ | ✅ |
Guide | ✅ | ✅ |
Driver | ✅ | ✅ |
Tourist vehicle | ✅ | ✅ |
Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
Boleto Turístico Cusco | ❌ | ❌ |
Tickets for the Andahuaylillas: 18 soles pp | ❌ | ❌ |
Drop off at your hotel | ❌ | ✅ |
Accessibility: This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
What do I bring?
- Sweaters or jackets.
- Anti-slip shoes.
- Raincoats.
- Caps or hats.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- A bottle of water.
- Local currency for your entrance tickets.
WhatsApp:
NOTES
Pick-ups and timings
Group tours:
- All pick-ups and tour ending times are approximate.
- Pick-ups apply only for hotels located in the historic center.
- Your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location.
- If you are out of the historic center, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- If it’s hard for the vehicle to make it to your hotel, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- We don’t do pick-ups if there are festivals, strikes and car trafic.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups and meeting points one day prior your tour.
Private tours:
- Pick-ups are sharp on time.
- Pick-ups apply for all Cusco city.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups one day prior your tour.
- The tour ending time is still aprox; but, we’ll do our best to finish the tour as scheduled.
Vehicle type and seats
Vehicles:
- Authorized by the Ministry of Transportation of Peru.
- Clean and modern ones.
- Sedan looking auto, 4×4, H1, Van, Renault and Mercedez Benz (it will depend on the group size).
Seats – group tours:
- You reserve a seat in the bus, not a specific number of seat.
- If you get picked-up first, then you can choose some seats (your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location).
- Couples seat together to 95%; however, we can’t warranty this will happen to 100%.
Entrance ticket discounts
Kids, minors, students and Peruvians may have discounts but an official ID is required to show:
- Kids and minors: Bring their official passaports to prove their age.
- Students: Bring your offficial passport and goverment issued ID.
- Peruvians: Bring your oficial ID.
Operability and itinerary
This tour is subject to variation without any prior notice, due to weather conditions, strikes and any other event that doesn’t allow the normal tour operation. See also our terms.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of the tour is free as long as you do so at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise we will charge 100% of the tour price. See also our terms.
REVIEWS
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REVIEWS
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