South Valley Half-Day Tour – Tipón, Piquillacta & Andahuaylillas from Cusco

Discover the South Valley’s highlights on this half-day tour: Tipón terraces, Piquillacta ruins & the stunning Andahuaylillas Church in Cusco.

First, explore Tipón, famous for its sophisticated Inca agricultural terraces and impressive water channels. These terraces demonstrate the ingenuity of Inca engineering and their mastery of hydraulic systems.

Next, visit Piquillacta, a pre-Inca city that showcases the rich history, urban planning, and architecture of the Wari civilization.

Finally, admire the stunning Andahuaylillas Church, renowned for its colonial art, detailed murals, and intricate architecture.

Day 01: Tipón – Piquillacta – Andahuaylilla´s Temple Guided Tour

We will pick you up from your hotel at 08:30 a.m. for a guided half-day tour of the Southern Valley.

First, we will explore the Archaeological Park of Tipón, part of the Qhapac Ñan (Inca road network). Among its main attractions are the royal enclosures. According to chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, Tipón was built by Inca Huiracocha as a residence for his father after escaping the Chanca rebellion.

Additionally, Tipón was likely used as a laboratory for agricultural products, thanks to its diverse microclimates. This site also features one of the finest hydraulic engineering works of the Inca era, including extensive irrigation systems across agricultural terraces, called platforms, and an impressive network of underground water channels. Remarkably, these channels still carry water today, more than a century later.

Next, we will visit the Piquillacta Archaeological Park, one of the most important administrative centers of the Wari culture between the 6th and 9th centuries AD. Piquillacta represents planned urbanism at its finest, with a harmonious geometric layout. The constructions are made of uncarved stone and mud mortar, arranged in sets separated by straight streets and surrounded by walls up to 12 meters high, giving the site the appearance of a fortress.

Moreover, the site contains approximately 700 buildings, 200 courts, and 508 warehouses (colcas), among other structures. Many walls were plastered and painted with anthropomorphic motifs, and some buildings were even two or three stories tall. It is estimated that Piquillacta housed around ten thousand people, highlighting the complexity and sophistication of the Wari civilization.

Finally, the tour concludes with a visit to the Andahuaylillas Church, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”, famous for its colonial murals, intricate details, and stunning architecture.

Return to Cusco around 4:00 p.m.

South Valley Half-Day Tour – Tipón, Piquillacta & Andahuaylillas Includes:

• Pick up from the hotel
• Transportation Mini Van
• Professional guide

South Valley Half-Day Tour – Tipón, Piquillacta & Andahuaylillas Does Not Includes:

• Partial tourist ticket ($ 25.00 – Tipon, Pikillaqta and Andahuaylillas Church)
• 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Packing List:

• Passport
• Cap, sunscreen, rain poncho
• Water
• Camera

South Valley Half-Day – Tipón, Piquillacta & Andahuaylillas Group Tour Cost:

Adult Price USD 30.00

Ask for our private service cost.