Explore some of Cusco’s lesser-known cultural and historical gems on this full day tour of the South Valley. Visit the fascinating sites of Pikillacta, Tipón and Andahuaylillas before returning to Cusco.

We’ll leave from Cusco early and head toward the town of Andahuaylillas (about 40 minutes by car) to visit its famous church, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”. Here we will see art in the Cusco style that includes unique paintings and murals showcased throughout the church as well as embroideries and carved wooden altars.

Our next stop is Pikillacta, a complex of pre-Inca ruins built by the Wari culture that lent much of their technology and culture to the Inca. From Pikillacta we can also take a short walk to visit the small site of Rumicolca, which may have functioned as a gateway to the southern regions of the Inca Empire.

Finally, the tour takes us to Tipón, an Inca site believed to be an agricultural laboratory and which boasts an impressive irrigation system that flows throughout the entire site. The nearby town of the same name is also known for its “cuyerias” where cuy (guinea pigs) are slow roasted in large clay ovens. If you’re interested, we can stop to try this traditional Peruvian cuisine (not included in the price of the tour) and then return to Cusco in the afternoon.