Private tour guide in the South Valley of Cusco

Summary
Itinerary
Included
Booking
Faq

Summary

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, a place considered sacred and of great historical importance. The main roads, the qhapac ñan, departed from Cusco towards the rest of the vast empire. This included large areas of the current countries of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. However, Cusco was the center, the capital and a sacred place.

According to legends and myths, the Incas migrated from the highland region (regions surrounding Lake Titicaca) to Cusco. This route, south of Cusco, is full of historical facts and archaeological constructions. Perhaps the most important buildings are Piquillacta and Tipón, located a few kilometers from Cusco. This route reflects the first traces of the Incas in their journey from the highland to the sacred city of Cusco.

Piquillacta was a city before the time of the Incas. It was an urban complex built by the Wari culture (from 450 AD to 1,000 AD). It stands out for its high mud walls and its long streets and squares. The city was walled and was home to approximately 10,000 people. Without a doubt, it was one of the most important cities in ancient Peru. The Incas respected its buildings and built large stone portals nearby, such as the famous Rumicolca.

Tipón was a sacred temple dedicated to the worship of water, an element considered purifying according to the Inca worldview. At Tipón there are beautiful and spacious gardens. However, what stands out the most are its perfect water channels, which are still in use today. The chronicles indicate that Tipón was also a resting place for the Inca Huiracocha, the father of the future emperor Pachacutec.

In addition to the visit to Tipón and Piquillacta, the route through the Southern Valley of Cusco includes a tour of one of the most beautiful churches in the region. This is the church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, located in the town of the same name. This Andean town enjoyed great importance in colonial times. Because of this, behind its small appearance, the church hides beautiful works of art such as paintings, murals, sculptures and precious objects. This earned it the name of ‘Sistine Chapel of America’.

A visit to the South Valley of Cusco in the company of a professional tour guide offers a cultural experience of the first steps of the Incas. The guide allows for a safe, well-informed visit full of beautiful photographs. The service lasts 6 hours on average, starting at 8 am and ending at 2 pm. It is recommended for the whole family, especially for families, couples or groups of friends. A totally safe route!

Itinerary:

The private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco includes the option of an informative talk one night before the tour (briefing service). This service takes place in the lobby of the tourist’s hotel at the previously agreed time. If the tourist wishes, he or she can skip this service and receive the advice via WhatsApp.

The experience in the Southern Valley of Cusco begins with the pick-up of the tourist at the door of their hotel in the city of Cusco at approximately 8 in the morning.

Aboard a tourist transport (not included in the private guide service) you travel for 1 hour until you arrive at the archaeological site of Tipón, a place famous for its water sources, which continue to flow from the Inca era to this day.

In Tipón, the tour guide will teach you the great history behind this religious site. In addition, the visitor will be able to take beautiful photos of the place, always with the assistance of his tour guide. In Tipón you will also be able to see its terraces, stone enclosures and religious temples.

After visiting Tipón, continuing the trip by tourist transport, you will reach the archaeological site of Piquillacta, a huge citadel built long before the Incas arrived in Cusco. Piquillacta was built by the Wari culture (between 400 AD and 1,000 AD), who used adobe as the main element for the construction of their high walls, long streets and sacred temples. The architecture is different from the Inca and everything will be explained by your private tour guide.

Just a few steps from Piquillacta is the Rumicolca, an Inca stone building that was the sacred gateway to the city of Piquillacta. The Incas showed their great architectural technique in the construction of the Rumicolca, with a beautiful view of the mountain range. There you can get some of the best photographs of your visit to the South Valley of Cusco.

After visiting Piquillacta and Rumicolca, tourists will travel 30 minutes to reach the town of Andahuaylillas, an Andean town with a lot of history from its colonial era, where its church remains beautiful. It has a simple appearance on the outside, but inside it stands out for its beautiful decoration in paintings, murals, sculptures, altars and precious relics. The guide will accompany us on a tour of the church, also known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’.

After visiting Tipón, Piquillacta and the church of Andahuaylillas, the return trip to the city of Cusco will begin. However, if the visitor wishes, he can stop to buy the delicious and popular chuta breads, a product widely sold among the people of Cusco.

The tour guide service in Tipón and Piquillacta ends with the return to the city of Cusco at 2 pm on average. The tour guide service does not include tourist transportation services or entrances to the different tourist attractions. However, you can coordinate these services in advance with a travel advisor. This way you can organize a pleasant experience in the famous Southern Valley of Cusco.

Included

Optional tour briefing one day before the service (in the lobby of your hotel).
Private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco.

Not included

Tourist transport.
Tickets to the tourist attractions of the Southern Valley of Cusco.
Feeding.
Tips.

Guided tour route map

Can I organize a different experience in the South Valley of Cusco? – The itinerary of the tour to the South Valley of Cusco can be subject to modifications depending on the experience that the visitor desires. Thus, optionally, the tourist can spend more time in Tipón, Piquillacta or Andahuaylillas. Another option is to choose to make a stop in some of the most beautiful landscapes of the place, such as the Huacarpay lagoon. The service is carried out with a private tour guide who will recommend an additional tour to a special site. For example, in the town of Oropesa the visitor can make a stop to enjoy the delicious chuta bread or learn how to prepare it in one of its traditional ovens. Or in the town of Tipón the visitor can enjoy the most traditional dishes of Cusco, such as baked guinea pig or roast suckling pig. The South Valley offers an experience with a lot of history and tradition on the trip to Cusco.

How to book?

Are you interested in the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco? Follow these steps to book the service:

First step – First you need to fill out a payment form on the same website. The necessary information is the email and passport number. In addition, details such as the name of the hotel, any travel suggestions or special requests are required.
Second step – You can also make the payment through a payment link via email with one of the sales advisors via WhatsApp. The payment link will be received in the email inbox so that information is essential.
Third step – As a final step, you must make the payment for the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco. For this, there are totally secure payment methods with credit or debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club or PayPal. The money transfer is 100% of the value of the service.

Changes and Cancellations

Changes to the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco:

You can request a change of date or number of owners of the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco by sending an email to info@machupicchuterra.com. The last deadline for sending the email is 3 days before the day of the service. The penalty is ten percent of the value of the service (which must be paid through a payment link that you will receive in your email).

Cancellations of the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco:

You can request cancellation and refund of the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco by sending an email to info@machupicchuterra.com. The last deadline for sending the email is 3 days before the day of the service. The penalty is twenty-five percent of the value of the service (refund of seventy-five percent of the total cost).

Questions and answers about the private tour guide in the South Valley of Cusco

1. Why visit Tipón with a private tour guide?

Tipón is the first destination when visiting the Southern Valley of Cusco. It is famous for its beautiful and spacious gardens. However, what stands out the most are its perfect water channels, which are still in use today.

2. Why visit Piquillacta with a private tour guide?

Piquillacta is the second destination in the Southern Valley of Cusco. It was a city before the time of the Incas. It was an urban complex built by the Wari culture (from 450 AD to 1,000 AD). It stands out for its high mud walls and its long streets and squares.

3. Why visit Andahuaylillas with a private tour guide?

Andahuaylillas is the third destination on a visit to the Southern Valley of Cusco. It is an Andean town with a lot of history from its colonial era, where its church remains beautiful. It has a simple appearance on the outside, but inside it stands out for its beautiful decoration in paintings, murals, sculptures, altars and precious relics.

4. What does the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco include and what does it not include?

The private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco includes the company of a private guide in the tourist sites of the South Valley. It does not include transportation, entrance fees or food.

5. Can I cancel the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco?

You can request cancellation and refund of the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco by sending an email to info@machupicchuterra.com. The last deadline for sending the email is 3 days before the day of the service. The penalty is twenty-five percent of the value of the service (refund of seventy-five percent of the total cost).

6. Can I change the dates or owners of the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco?

You can request a change of date or number of owners of the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco by sending an email to info@machupicchuterra.com. The last deadline for sending the email is 3 days before the day of the service. The penalty is ten percent of the value of the service (which must be paid through a payment link that you will receive in your email).

7. Is the itinerary of the guided tour in the Southern Valley of Cusco flexible?

Yes, the itinerary can vary depending on the tourist's preference. Tourists can stay longer at a tourist attraction or stop to enjoy the scenery during the route through the Southern Valley of Cusco.

8. Does the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco include tourist transportation?

No, the private tour guide service in the South Valley only includes the company of the private tour guide. However, you can request to include tourist transportation by writing to info@machupicchuterra.com.

9. Does the private tour guide service in the Southern Valley of Cusco include food?

No, the private tour guide service in the South Valley only includes the company of the private tour guide. However, you can ask the tour guide to make a stop or ask for a recommendation for a tourist restaurant along the route.

10. Does the private tour guide service in the South Valley of Cusco include entrance fees?

No, the private tour guide service in the South Valley only includes the company of the private tour guide. However, you can request to include entrance fees to tourist sites by writing to info@machupicchuterra.com.

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Private guided tour in the South Valley of Cusco