Your Southern Valley experience begins at 8:00 a.m., with a private van and professional guide picking you up directly from your hotel in Cusco. From there, you’ll enjoy a scenic 40-minute drive southwest of the city, leaving the busy streets behind and entering one of the region’s most culturally rich valleys.
Your first stop is Tipón, located about 25 km from Cusco and known as the “Temple of Water.” This impressive Inca site forms part of the ancient Qhapaq Ñan road system and is one of the finest examples of Inca hydraulic engineering. Here, you’ll explore agricultural terraces, stone stairways, royal enclosures, and perfectly carved water channels that still flow today — a powerful reminder of the Inca’s deep connection with nature and water.
Next, you’ll continue to Pikillacta, one of the most important and best-preserved pre-Inca cities in the Cusco region. Built by the Wari culture, this archaeological complex covers around 50 hectares and offers a fascinating look into urban planning before the rise of the Inca Empire. As you walk through its ancient streets and stone structures, your guide will help you understand the meaning behind its Quechua name — often translated as “Small Town” or “Flea Town.”
The final highlight of the tour is the traditional town of Andahuaylillas, part of the famous Andean Baroque Route. Here, you’ll visit the breathtaking Church of San Pedro Apóstol, widely known as the “Sistine Chapel of America.” Inside, you’ll discover an extraordinary collection of colonial murals, paintings, carved woodwork, and religious details that cover the church from floor to ceiling. One of its most unique features is the baptistery inscription written in five languages: Latin, Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and Puquina — a rare and powerful symbol of the cultural fusion that shaped the Andes.
After a morning filled with Inca engineering, pre-Inca history, colonial art, and local culture, you’ll return to Cusco, arriving around 1:00 p.m.
Altitude Reference
- Cusco: 3,350 m / 10,990 ft
- Tipón: 3,560 m / 11,679 ft
- Pikillacta: 3,250 m / 10,662 ft
- Andahuaylillas: 3,121 m / 10,240 ft
