South Valley Tour in Cusco

At 8:30am, pick up from your hotel for a guided visit to three important places. We start with the so-called “Sistine Chapel of America” (due to the quality of the art found inside) the Andahuaylillas Church, located in the town with the same name, approximately 40 km (25 miles) east of Cusco at 3100amsl (10170 feet). We will have time to walk through the main plaza, decorated with Pisonay (coral trees) and palm trees.

We continue our journey towards Tipón National Archaeological Complex to the east of Cusco. It covers approximately 2200 hectares. This group of villages sit at 3,500amsl (11480 feet). The original Quechua name of the place remains unknown. It was built by the Inca king Wiraqocha as a home and shelter for his father Yawar Wakaq. It consists of different royal rooms. In addition, there is a huge space containing 12 very fertile terraces surrounded by carved stones that are currently in use. Even more impressive is the irrigation system that stores the water in the spring season. A magnificent work of hydraulic engineering made out of stones from the river channels that have been worked on and meticulously placed with almost vertical falls. Some of the fountains are believed to have been utilized for ceremonial purposes. Due to its location and the wall that surrounds it, historians believe that Tipón was a very exclusive site. Towards the southwest, on the almost vertical mountainous surface is the cemetery named "Pitopuqyo", a place that had large amounts of cultural remains, today you might even find pieces of broken ceramics, but unfortunately a lot of the graves have been looted.

We end the tour with a guided visit to the archaeological complex of Pikillaqta. Located in the province of Quispicanchis, 32 km (20 miles) east of Cusco, it covers an area of 3421 hectares (8453 acres). On the way you will be able to see a wonderful view of the Wakarpay lagoon (3,2000mts, 10500 feet). "Pikillaqta" is a compound Quechua word that means "village with lice" (piki = lice; llaqta = village). It is not the original name of this zone but the previous one remains a mystery, although many chroniclers refer to this area as "Muyuna", "Muyna" or "Mohina". It seems that the place began being called "Pikillaqta" towards the end of the colonial era or at the beginning of the formation of the republic; the reason is unknown. The pre-hispanic site is located at 3350masl (11000 feet) and belonged to a city of the Wari culture known today as Ayacucho.

End of the Tour to the South Valley and return to the City of Cusco.