South Valley of the Incas

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South Valley of the Incas

Exploring other gems of Cusco, we depart to the South Valley of Cusco. This Valley is rich in agriculture, archaeological sites (Pikillaqta, Tipon, Raqchi, and others), and artistic jewels such as The Andean Baroque route with Churches as Andahuaylillas, Huaro, Canincunca.

Full day tour

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Destinations	CUSCO
Departure	mornings / everyday
Departure Time	08:00 AM
Dress Code	Comfortable walking shoes (Trainers), rain coat (rainy season), cap, sunglasses, sunblock, water bottles, positive energy.
Included	Access ticket to Pikillaqta & Tipon archaeological sites and Andahuaylillas Church Box Lunch English-speaking Guide Private Transportation

Tour Plan

Day 1: Full day tour

At 08:00 AM you will be picked up from your hotel, we will drive for 1hr to start visiting these gems in the southern of Cusco. Tipon Archaeological Site: Tipon is said to be a royal garden commissioned by Wiracocha. It is one of the most elaborate examples of agricultural terracing created by the Incas. These tall terraces which run up the narrow valley are irrigated by an aqueduct from Pachatusan, a Sacred mountain above the site. In addition to the terracing, there are also some other structures at Tipon, including baths, a temple complex, canals, and aqueducts. Pikillacta Archaeological Site: Pikillacta is the only pre-Inca site in the Cusco area. This adobe complex was built around 700 to 900 years AD by the Huari Culture, in the area, there is a small Inca site just a short walk from Pikillacta, known as Rumicolca, a travel checkpoint for the Incas. Andahuaylillas/Sistine Chapel: also known as "Sixtine Chapel of America". The church shares many of the south-Andean churches, characteristic of the country, paved platform with a long nave and a lateral tower, baptistery, sacristy, and small chapels on the side that make the group complete. From here, we will hike back to Cusco city. The Tour ends approximately at 04:00PM.

Location

This route combines amazing landscapes, Inca architecture in Tipon, architecture pre – Inca in Pikillacta, and colonial art in Andahuaylillas church.

Pikillaqta: It is approximately 30km southeast from Cusco, with an area of 3421ha. Its nucleous is the remains of a lake , the laguna de Huacarpay, around which are many pre-columbian archaeological remains, the principal of which are Pikillaqta and Rumiqolqa. Andahuaylillas:  it is approximately 37km from Cusco city and at 3150 masl. You can see the high mountains that limits and protects the area. You can also see some corn and potato crop fields. Agriculture is not intensive it is only for the citizens own consumption. Tipon: Tipon is a self-contained, walled settlement that served as an estate for Inca nobility. Located 13 miles down the Huatanay River Valley by the Inca capital of Cusco, the 500-acre archeological site provides knowledge and a better understanding of the pre-historic Inca and their irrigation and building skills. The site represents great mastery of irrigation and hydraulic technology. The civil engineers of Tipon designed buildings, 13 integrated central terraces, waterworks, hundreds of other terraces, and massive structures to be visually and functionally harmonious with their surroundings. These features have endured into the 21st century.

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