Cusco Streets Tour

Highlight of the Day: Walk through Cusco and visit its most significant places.

Amazing Walking City Tour in the Andes of Peru

Before the tour begins, we will agree on a meeting point and start time. Once we are all together and ready to begin, it will be time to start our exciting journey through Cusco.

This historical tour will take us to the San Pedro Market, a traditional place located 3,400 meters above sea level. It is one of the oldest in the entire city and probably the most famous. It was designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel and inaugurated in 1925. You’ll be amazed at how crowded it is as you walk through rows of bright fruits, colorful clothing, handcrafted items, and food stalls. Your guide will inform you about the market’s history and current operation. Also, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with local vendors at their stalls, so be ready to practice your Spanish and Quechua skills.

The next stop is at the Handicraft Market located on Avenida El Sol, the main road to Cusco’s city center. This place is a shopping paradise, offering all kinds of items that you can buy as souvenirs of your trip or as gifts. Here you’ll find beautiful alpaca garments, paintings, all kinds of jewelry, and traditional ceramics. Remember to bring some cash (Peruvian soles) as credit cards are not accepted in this type of market.

Next, we’ll head to Qoricancha. This site means Temple of the Sun in Spanish, making it the most important Inca construction in Cusco. Inside, you’ll find very well-preserved pieces of Inca architecture that are truly astonishing, especially when you see how well the stones fit together. The primary function of Qoricancha was for astronomical and religious purposes. When the Spanish arrived at this building, the first thing they did was loot all the gold and precious jewels they found.

Religiously, they established one of the main churches built by the first religious order they brought. Here, they created the main church and the convent of the Dominican order to impose the Catholic religion on the people of Cusco. After exploring Qoricancha, you will also visit its convent.

Afterward, we will take a walking tour through the San Blas neighborhood. This is a very traditional part of the city where nobles lived during the Inca Empire. Today, it is a very artistic neighborhood. You can find many museums or exhibitions, and you’ll also see people selling their handmade crafts. If you climb a bit from San Blas square, you’ll see the entire city stretching into the deep valley between the mountains. In this neighborhood, you’ll find some traditional chicherías where you can taste what locals call ‘Inca beer.’

Next, we will visit the Sapantiana Aqueduct, also called Huaca Sapantiana, a site that couldn’t be missed on this excursion. It is a hydraulic architecture from the colonial era that carried water from one peak to another. Here you can appreciate the waterfall flowing through the steps descending from its arches while enjoying the tranquility of the place. Finally, we’ll pass by Calle Borreguitos 7, a picturesque street where you can take beautiful photographs.

Once the tour is over, you will have the rest of the day to enjoy it as you wish or return to some of the commercial spots to buy souvenirs.