Sacsayhuaman Archeological Park in Cusco

Among the best things to do in Cusco are the tours to the Sacsayhuaman site. This site located to the north of Cusco was once a ceremonial temple for the Incas. Nowadays, it remains in good condition and tourists can visit it in an organized way to admire its grandeur and history.

Tours to this site usually include other visits to other important archaeological parks or destinations. In this way, visitors can make the most of their time in Peru, learning much more about its culture, tradition and history. Best of all, they include private transportation and some even offer snacks along the way, so you will have an incredible experience if you decide to go!

Among the best tours you can take from Cusco are the ones that take you to the Sacsayhuaman site and to San Blas, La Merced and Coricancha. This tour has an average duration of four hours and an approximate cost of 90 €.

After meeting your guide at a pre-arranged point, you can begin a tour full of history through the heritage of the Inca Empire. Keep in mind that the tour is uphill and the first thing you will see is the citadel of Sacsayhuaman. This site was declared by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Inside the main destination of the tour you will see huge walls built with gigantic stones. This site holds great ancient military importance which your guide will tell you about in detail. After the tour of this archaeological site, you will head to the neighborhood of San Blas where the Inca nobility used to live. Today it is full of cobblestone streets and artisans.

Another stop on this tour is the church of La Merced. This building is built in the modern baroque style. You can admire its wooden ceilings and imposing altars. The last stop is the Coricancha. There you will see the ancient Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral of Cusco and the sacred Convent of Santo Domingo. At the end of the tour your guide will take you back to the meeting point.

Details of interest

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit the Sacsayhuaman site and other nearby destinations in Cusco.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not focused only on the site.

Among the best activities Cusco has to offer, an excursion to the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park undoubtedly stands out. If you want to focus only on this site, I recommend you to take this tour. The average duration of this tour is about three hours and its cost is 70 €.

In these tours usually your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Once he has picked up the rest of the group, you can head into the mountains in a comfortable minivan. There is usually a brief stop at the sacred Tambomachav spring. You will then pass the ruins of Qenqo, an intimidating labyrinth that hides an altar where sacrifices were made.

You will continue your tour until you reach the awaited Sacsayhuaman. From there you will be able to admire fascinating panoramic views of Cusco. In addition, you will be able to see the large carved stones and blocks up to nine meters high. Throughout the site you will see images of snakes, pumas and condors, figures that represent the Inca world.

At the end of the excursion you will pass by the Puka Pukara. This is a fortress full of springs, aqueducts and watercourses that will surprise you. Don't forget to take pictures of all these impressive landscapes! At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: about 70 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to spend much more time at the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site and also visit other important tourist attractions.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of tour focuses much more on the Sacsayhuaman site, so the rest of the stops are brief.

Among the excursions from Cusco to the Sacsayhuaman site are plans to visit the Temple of the Sun. This type of experience includes private transportation and a tour guided by a professional. The average cost is 70 € and lasts approximately four hours.

To start with this tour, your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco to take you to the Sacsayhuaman site. There you will be able to marvel at the spectacular views and this fortified construction made of huge stones. On the walls you will also see figures of condor, snake and puma. Do you want to know what each one means? Then you must book this tour!

After spending about two hours at the site, it will be time to return to Cusco. There you can walk through the Temple of the Sun. This is an important religious site dedicated to the sun god. It is said that this site was covered with gold, something that caught the attention of the conquerors. Later the Convent of Santo Domingo was built in this temple.

You can take advantage of the last hour of the tour to take a brief tour of the city. You can stop by the Cathedral of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas and the Church of La Compañia de Jesus. Remember that to explore the cathedral you must purchase a ticket and set aside more time on your tour. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: about 70 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you can learn more about the Sacsayhuaman site.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour of the churches of Cusco is very short.

Would you like to ride a horse to the Sacsayhuaman site? With this kind of tours you will be able to live this experience! You can tour the city of Cusco and its surroundings for an average cost of 90 €. This type of tour lasts approximately five hours, so you will have enough time to walk around the whole area.

To start with this tour, your guide will pick you and the other participants up in a minivan. He will take you to the riding ranch where you will receive a talk about safety and the best way to ride. You will be assisted by professionals who will help you along the way. However, it is recommended to have some riding experience for safety.

During this tour you will be able to walk through Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pucara and Tambomachay. Each of these sites hides centuries of history that your guide will explain to you little by little. Meanwhile, you will be able to see the beautiful landscapes that these areas have to offer. You will be able to make several stops to rest, take pictures and eat some snacks included in the tour.

At the end of the ride, you will return to the riding ranch. Here you can rest for a while and then get into the minivan and head back to your hotel. Without a doubt, this type of tour is ideal to get to know some of the archaeological parks of Cusco.

Details of interest

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to make a different and fun tour around this beautiful corner of Peru.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are afraid of horses, this will not be a very pleasant experience.

If you are looking for a night plan in Cusco, you can opt for a night tour to the Sacsayhuaman site. This experience usually lasts about two hours and has an average cost of 70 €. It is a mysterious experience, do you dare to live it?

These tours are not very frequent, so I recommend that you hire a professional guide willing to make a personalized tour. That person should offer you flashlights to light the way. This way you will be able to see the site better.

From the site you will also be able to see the city of Cusco illuminated by the night lights. When you finish the tour, your guide will take you to your hotel. The type of transportation used will depend on the number of people traveling with you on the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: about 70 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: minivan or small vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see a different perspective of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: during the night you will not be able to appreciate the beauty of Cusco in its entirety.

The duration of a tour to the Sacsayhuaman site in Cusco can vary depending on the activities you can do in Cusco or at the site. Some tours include in-depth talks about the history of these sites, while others only offer a brief tour. Still others only do a short walk through the highlights.

However, my recommendation is that you book tours that specify more than two hours to visit the Sacsayhuaman site. Did you know that some of Cusco's landscapes appear in movies like Transformers: Awakening of the Beasts? On these tours you could see some of the locations used in that movie!

Other tours may last four to five hours, but these include more destinations. With these experiences you will get to see Cusco's temples, water tanks, shrines and much more. They can even include visits to other archaeological sites such as Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

On the other hand, you must take into account the type of transportation and the number of people traveling. If you are traveling in a minivan, the ride may be a little faster, if you are traveling on horseback you will probably take more time than agreed upon. Also, if you are traveling with a group of more than 10 people, each stop may take longer.

Before traveling to the Sacsayhuaman site, it is advisable to find out when is the best time to visit Cusco. For that, you can consider the weather and the prices of the month in which you plan to travel. Regarding the weather, many tourists prefer to go between April and October, since during those months there is little rain, the mountains look more beautiful and the sun shines more intensely. You will be able to take the best pictures!

Besides that, consider that you should always arrive early for all tours. The Sacsayhuaman site is one of the most visited sites in Cusco, so sometimes you will have to wait for some visitors to leave the site before you can take your tour. Normally the guides try to reserve hours to take their groups, so you must comply with the schedule they indicate.

On the other hand, it is important that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. In most of these tours you will have to walk for hours under the sun. Therefore, I recommend you to be as comfortable as possible and always carry sunscreen with you, as you don't want to get sunstroke during your walk. You should also bring water as it can be easy to get dehydrated due to the sun and heat.

Please note that the structure of this site is ancient and fragile. When you walk through it, avoid passing through very busy places or leaning on the walls. It is also not good to run or take stones as souvenirs. Remember that this is a World Heritage Site and it is everyone's duty to keep it in good condition.

The city of Cusco has been considered a World Heritage Site since 1983. Therefore, I consider that visiting this site should be on your list of things to do as any good traveler. You will be able to tour and learn about years of history that have been preserved.

These tours usually include a professional guide who will tell you details of Inca history, culture and engineering. You will learn how this ancient civilization was able to create one of the most impressive constructions of antiquity. In addition, you will have excellent panoramic views of Cusco and marvel at the beautiful scenery!

On the other hand, organized tours allow you to have more comfort and safety. You will constantly travel safely in a private vehicle with locals who will tell you where to go or what sites to visit. You won't have to worry about getting the right address or finding the right transportation to get to the destinations.

At the end of your tour, you can always set aside some time to explore more of the city. You can take another short tour to admire the streets and even learn about this mystical site. You can also try their typical food or explore other nearby sites.