South Valley Tour

The Cusco South Valley Tour is a half-day excursion designed to explore the immense historical wealth of the Andean region outside of traditional circuits. This route will allow you to seamlessly and comfortably discover three crucial periods of Peruvian history.

Throughout the journey, you will visit the Tipón Archaeological Complex, a masterpiece of Inca hydraulic engineering; the great citadel of Pikillacta, an urban exponent of the pre-Inca Wari culture; and the beautiful San Pedro Church of Andahuaylillas, one of the greatest expressions of colonial religious art in the Americas.

The best time to take the South Valley Tour in Cusco comprises the dry season, between the months of April and October. During this time of the year, sunny weather with clear skies predominates, minimizing the probability of rain and making it easier to tour the archaeological monuments.

Nevertheless, this tour is fully suitable to be enjoyed year-round. During the rainy season (November to March), the agricultural fields and terraces of Tipón display a vivid, lush green color that notably beautifies the Andean environment.

The tour lasts Half a Day (approximately 7 hours). Passenger pickup from their respective downtown hotels in the city begins at 07:30 am to make the most of the first hours of the morning at the attractions.

The return journey concludes at approximately 02:30 pm, dropping you off very close to Cusco’s Main Square (Plaza de Armas). This schedule is ideal, as it allows you to have the afternoon free to have lunch in the historic center and perform other independent activities.

The main difference lies in the chronological diversity of the destinations and the influx of visitors. While the Sacred Valley focuses exclusively on grand bastions of the Inca Empire like Ollantaytambo and Pisaq, the South Valley combines the Inca legacy with pre-Inca Wari architecture and colonial art.

Additionally, the South Valley stands out for being a cultural route that is less crowded by conventional tourism, guaranteeing you a much more peaceful, tranquil, and intimate exploration experience at each monument.

Yes, it is completely worth it. It is the perfect alternative to optimize your time in Cusco, especially on your day of arrival or before embarking on longer journeys. In just one morning, you manage to understand the architectural and cultural evolution of the Andes alongside a professional guide.

Furthermore, the scenic beauty of the journey, which borders picturesque lagoons and traditional villages with deeply rooted Andean culture, turns this excursion into a highly enriching experience for any traveler.

The physical difficulty level of the tour is formally rated as easy. The paths inside the complexes of Tipón, Pikillacta, and the village of Andahuaylillas are quite accessible and flat, without the presence of steep mountain inclines.

It is a purely cultural and contemplative excursion, making it ideal for all types of travelers looking for a relaxed day without extreme physical demands at high altitude.

The total walking distance covered on foot throughout the entire tour is approximately 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.8 miles) in total, distributed at a leisurely pace among the three main attractions of the route.

The stretches on foot correspond to defined stone and dirt paths inside the historical sites, designed to appreciate the Inca architecture, Wari streets, and the surroundings of the colonial church.

At each historical site, a guided walk of approximately 45 to 60 minutes is conducted. During this time, you will advance at an extremely peaceful pace while the professional bilingual guide explains the historical mysteries of the structures.

Once the conceptual explanation concludes, you will have additional free time at each point to take photographs in total comfort and tour the permitted sectors at your own pace.

The maximum altitude reached during the excursion stands at 3,560 meters (11,680 feet) above sea level, an altitude corresponding to the Tipón archaeological complex. The pre-Inca citadel of Pikillacta and the temple of Andahuaylillas are located at slightly lower elevations.

Because you will remain within an altitude range very similar to that of the city of Cusco (3,400 m / 11,154 ft), the geographical elevation factor does not represent a challenging obstacle to completing the tours.

Yes, the Cusco South Valley Tour is fully suitable and highly recommended for traveling with children, seniors, and entire families. The comfort of our tourist transportation minimizes the fatigue of travel transfers.

The short walks and the possibility to rest continuously make this trip a highly enjoyable and safe experience for all ages without any inconveniences.

It is advised to dress in comfortable and light layered clothing, always accompanied by a light jacket or windbreaker in your backpack. The weather in the valleys of Cusco is usually temperate and warm during sunny mornings.

However, since the Andean weather is changeable, dressing in layers will allow you to adapt with absolute ease if the sky clouds over or if fresh winds arise across the open esplanades of the monuments.

Ideally, you should use comfortable sneakers with good traction or light hiking footwear. Although the paths are easy, the archaeological complexes present surfaces of compact dirt, Inca stone steps, and irregular paths.

It is not recommended to attend with rigid dress shoes, heels, or open sandals, as they diminish comfort during the walking periods through the pre-Inca and Inca structures.

In your small backpack, you should carry sunscreen, sunglasses with UV protection, a cap or hat for the sun, a bottle of water to maintain hydration, and your personal identification documents.

Do not forget to bring a good camera or your cellphone with a fully charged battery, as well as your mandatory tourist tickets for entry into each historical site.

The Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) is the official mandatory document that grants you access to the archaeological sites operated by the State. For this particular route, you need to buy the Partial Tourist Ticket for Circuit 2.

This ticket covers the admissions to Tipón and Pikillacta. Remember that this pass is not included in the agency’s basic cost and is purchased directly at the entrance of the first monument we visit in cash Soles.

It is not necessary to buy admissions months in advance. Unlike Machu Picchu or the trains, access passes for the South Valley and the Tourist Ticket have unlimited availability and are purchased on the same day of the tour.

You only need to book your spot in our transportation with the agency a couple of days beforehand to ensure perfect group coordination.

The risk of presenting acute symptoms of altitude sickness or soroche on this route is quite low, because the maximum altitude of the tour (Tipón at 3,560 m / 11,680 ft) is very similar to the elevation of the city of Cusco itself.

Despite this, it is suggested to always stay hydrated by drinking water in small sips and avoid performing heavy physical efforts or sudden turns during the walks if you are still on your first day of stay in the region.

Yes, our service guarantees maximum passenger safety. The entire route takes place aboard an authorized tourist transport equipped with a basic first-aid kit available to the group.

In addition, our professional guides are fully trained to assist you in the face of any altitude fatigue or minor physical discomfort that might manifest throughout the morning.

Yes, the South Valley Tour is an extremely safe and peaceful excursion. The attractions are situated near main communication routes and the villages we visit are organized and tranquil communities.

By traveling with a formal agency, you have a professional driver and an assigned guide who will look after your comprehensive well-being from the moment of pickup to the final return.

Given that the Andean morning sun is usually highly radiant and intense in open fields, it is mandatory to apply high-factor sunscreen on the face and exposed areas before beginning the walks.

Complementing the protection with sunglasses and maintaining a steady and calm walking pace will prevent headaches caused by radiation or thermal dehydration.

If you experience dizziness, a headache, or unusual fatigue, you must inform the group guide immediately. Our staff will pause the march to allow you to rest in shaded areas.

Since the tourist attractions on this tour are located very close to the vehicle parking zones, returning to the transport to rest comfortably is an extremely fast and safe process.

Our rate guarantees you an organized experience with quality services that includes round-trip transfer in a modern, climate-controlled tourist transport, the continuous accompaniment of a professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English), and routing assistance.

You also have the protection of a first-aid kit for minor emergencies. The service is structured so that you can enjoy the history of the attractions in total comfort and peace of mind.

The program does not include the cost of the Partial Tourist Ticket (required to enter Tipón and Pikillacta), direct admission to the Andahuaylillas Church, any type of meals or soft drinks, personal expenses, or tips.

We recommend carrying cash in Peruvian Soles of small denominations, since admissions to the monuments and colonial temples are paid strictly in cash at the ticket offices.

No, because it is an optimized Half Day excursion that concludes at 02:30 pm, the itinerary does not include time for a buffet lunch on the route. We suggest having a good breakfast at your hotel and carrying light snacks in your backpack.

Upon returning early to the city of Cusco, you will have the perfect amount of time to enjoy the excellent local gastronomy in the varied colonial restaurants situated around the Main Square.

Our booking policies for half-day tours are highly flexible. Since it does not depend on spots with strict nominal government regulations (like the trains), it is feasible to request modifications with little notice.

We suggest getting in direct contact with our team of travel advisors to learn in detail about the timeframes and conditions applicable to your travel package.

The reservation process is highly agile and fast. You can communicate with us directly through our official WhatsApp channel, sending an email, or filling out the booking form on the web.

You will only need to provide the names of the passengers, the scheduled date for your excursion, and make the corresponding payment to issue your official confirmation of tourist services.

Throughout the tour, you will witness the incredible contrast of three cultures. In Tipón, you will admire majestic agricultural terraces with water channels carved in polished stone where the vital liquid continues to flow with mathematical precision.

In Pikillacta, you will contemplate the colossal pre-Inca urban planning of the Wari culture with two-story stone and mud walls, and in Andahuaylillas, you will be dazzled by Mudéjar ceilings, exquisite carvings in gold leaf, and paintings from the Cusco School.

Due to strict heritage conservation regulations and protection of the colonial pictorial works of art of the San Pedro Church of Andahuaylillas, it is completely forbidden to take photographs or videos inside.

However, you will be able to capture beautiful photographic shots of the temple’s lovely exterior Baroque facade, the village’s picturesque main square adorned with ancient trees, and the astonishing structures of the archaeological sites.

It is world-famous due to the extraordinary and overwhelming display of religious art that it houses within its walls. Despite having a simple exterior appearance, its internal decoration features majestic fresco murals, coffered ceilings, and altars covered in gold leaf.

This astonishing colonial artistic combination has earned it international recognition under the moniker of the “Sistine Chapel of America,” constituting a must-see cultural landmark in southern Cusco.

Pikillacta constitutes one of the best-preserved fortified urban centers of the Wari civilization, a pre-Inca culture that expanded across the central Andes many centuries before the height of the Incas.

Exploring this site allows you to understand how the Incas inherited and perfected the advanced knowledge of city planning, orthogonal streets, and territorial control systems from their predecessors.

It is considered one of the best routes because it offers a high-quality cultural escape away from the large crowds of visitors in Cusco. It concentrates Inca engineering, pre-Inca history, and colonial art in just half a day of travel.

If you are looking to enrich your travel experience with traditional Andean landscapes and astonishing historical monuments while optimizing your itinerary to the maximum, the South Valley is the perfect excursion for you.