Sacsayhuaman Archeological Park in Cusco

Among the best things to do in Cusco are the tours to the Sacsayhuaman site. This site located to the north of Cusco was once a ceremonial temple for the Incas. Nowadays, it is still in good condition and tourists can visit it in an organised way to admire its grandeur and history.

Tours to this site usually include other visits to other important archaeological parks or destinations. In this way, visitors can make the most of their time in Peru, learning much more about its culture, tradition and history. Best of all, they include private transport and some even offer snacks along the way - you'll have an amazing experience if you decide to go!

Among the best tours you can take from Cusco are the ones that take you to the Sacsayhuaman site and to San Blas, La Merced and Coricancha. This tour lasts an average of four hours and costs approximately €90.

After meeting your guide at a pre-arranged point, you can begin a history-filled tour of the heritage of the Inca Empire. Bear in mind that the route is uphill and the first thing you will see is the citadel of Sacsayhuaman. This site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside the main destination of the tour you will see huge walls built with gigantic stones. This site holds great ancient military importance which your guide will tell you about in detail. After the tour of this archaeological site, you will head to the neighbourhood of San Blas where the Inca nobility used to live. Nowadays it is full of cobbled streets and artisans.

Another stop on this tour is the church of La Merced. This building is built in the modern baroque style. You can admire its wooden ceilings and imposing altars. The last stop is the Coricancha. There you will see the ancient Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral of Cusco and the sacred Convent of Santo Domingo. At the end of the tour your guide will take you back to the meeting point.

Details of interest

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site and other nearby destinations in Cusco.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not focused only on the site.

One of the best activities Cusco has to offer is an excursion to the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park. If you want to focus only on this site, I recommend you to take this tour. The average duration of this tour is about three hours and the cost is 70 €.

On these tours your guide will usually pick you up at your hotel. Once he has picked up the rest of the group, you can head off into the mountains in a comfortable minivan. There is usually a brief stop at the sacred Tambomachav spring. You will then pass the ruins of Qenqo, an intimidating labyrinth that hides an altar where sacrifices were made.

You will continue your tour until you reach the long-awaited Sacsayhuaman. From there you will be able to admire fascinating panoramic views of Cusco. You will also be able to see the large carved stones and blocks up to nine metres high. Throughout the site you will see images of snakes, pumas and condors, figures representing the Inca world.

At the end of the tour you will pass the Puka Pukara. This is a fortress full of springs, aqueducts and watercourses that will amaze you. Don't forget to take pictures of all these impressive landscapes! At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to spend much more time at the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site and also visit other important tourist attractions.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of tour focuses much more on the Sacsayhuaman site, so the rest of the stops are brief.

Excursions from Cusco to the site of Sacsayhuaman include plans to visit the Temple of the Sun. This type of experience includes private transport and a professionally guided tour. The average cost is €70 and lasts approximately four hours.

To begin this tour, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the Sacsayhuaman site. There you will be able to marvel at the spectacular views and this fortified construction made of huge stones. On the walls you will also see figures of condors, snakes and pumas. Do you want to know what each one means? Then you should book this tour!

After spending about two hours at the site, it will be time to return to Cusco. There you can walk around the Temple of the Sun. This is an important religious site dedicated to the sun god. It is said that this site was covered with gold, something that caught the attention of the conquistadors. Later the Convent of Santo Domingo was built on this temple.

You can take advantage of the last hour of the tour to take a short tour of the city. You can pass by the Cathedral of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. Remember that to explore the cathedral you must purchase a ticket and set aside more time on your tour. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will be able to learn more about the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour of the churches of Cusco is very short.

Would you like to ride a horse to the Sacsayhuaman site? With this kind of tours you can live this experience! You will be able to tour the city of Cusco and its surroundings for an average cost of 90 €. This type of tour lasts approximately five hours, so you will have enough time to walk around the whole area.

To start with this tour, your guide will pick you and the other participants up in a minivan. He or she will take you to the riding ranch where you will be given a safety briefing and a talk on the best way to ride. Professionals will be on hand to help you along the way. However, some riding experience is recommended for safety.

During this tour you will be able to walk through Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pucara and Tambomachay. Each of these sites hides centuries of history that your guide will explain to you little by little. In the meantime, you will be able to see the beautiful landscapes that these areas have to offer. You will be able to make several stops to rest, take pictures and eat some snacks included in the tour.

At the end of the ride, you will return to the riding ranch. Here you can rest for a while and then get into the minivan and head back to your hotel. Without a doubt, this type of tour is ideal to get to know some of the archaeological parks of Cusco.

Details of interest

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: around 4 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to take a different and fun tour around this beautiful corner of Peru.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are afraid of horses, this will not be a very pleasant experience.

If you are looking for a night plan in Cusco, you can opt for a night tour to the Sacsayhuaman site. This experience usually lasts around two hours and has an average cost of 70 €. It is a mysterious experience, do you dare to live it?

These tours are not very frequent, so I recommend that you hire a professional guide willing to do a personalised tour. This person should offer you torches to light the way. This way you will be able to see the site better.

From the site you will also be able to see the city of Cusco illuminated by the night lights. When you finish the tour, your guide will take you to your hotel. The type of transport used will depend on the number of people travelling with you on the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: minivan or small vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see a different perspective of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: during the night you will not be able to appreciate the beauty of Cusco in its entirety.

The duration of a tour to the Sacsayhuaman site in Cuzco can vary depending on the activities you can do in Cuzco or at the site. Some tours include in-depth talks about the history of these sites, while others only offer a short tour. Still others just do a short walk around the highlights.

However, my recommendation is to book tours that specify more than two hours to visit the Sacsayhuaman site. Did you know that some of Cusco's landscapes appear in movies like Transformers: Awakening of the Beasts? On these tours you could see some of the locations used in that movie!

Other tours may last four to five hours, but these include more destinations. With these experiences you can see Cusco's temples, water reservoirs, shrines and much more. They can even include visits to other archaeological sites such as Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

On the other hand, you should take into account the type of transport and the number of people travelling. If you are travelling in a minivan, the ride may be a little faster, if you are travelling on horseback you will probably take longer than agreed. Also, if you are travelling with a group of more than 10 people, each stop may take longer.

Before travelling to the Sacsayhuaman site, it is advisable to find out when is the best time to visit Cusco. For that, you can consider the weather and the prices of the month in which you plan to travel. Regarding the weather, many tourists prefer to go between April and October, as during those months there is little rain, the mountains look more beautiful and the sun shines more brightly. You will be able to take the best pictures!

Besides that, consider that you should always arrive early for all tours. The Sacsayhuaman site is one of the most visited sites in Cusco, so sometimes you will have to wait for some visitors to leave the site before you can take your tour. Normally the guides try to reserve times to take their groups, so you should stick to the schedule they give you.

On the other hand, it is important that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. On most of these tours you will have to walk for hours in the sun. Therefore, I recommend you to be as comfortable as possible and always carry sunscreen with you, as you don't want to get sunstroke during your walk. You should also take water with you as it can be easy to get dehydrated due to the sun and heat.

Please note that the structure of this site is ancient and fragile. When you walk around the site, avoid passing through places that are too steep or leaning on the walls. Nor is it a good idea to run or take stones as souvenirs. Remember that it is a World Heritage Site and it is everyone's duty to keep it in good condition.

The city of Cusco has been considered a World Heritage Site since 1983. Therefore, I consider that visiting this site should be on your bucket list as a good traveller. You will be able to tour and learn about years of history that have been preserved.

These tours usually include a professional guide who will tell you details of Inca history, culture and engineering. You will learn how this ancient civilisation was able to create one of the most impressive constructions of antiquity. In addition, you will have excellent panoramic views of Cusco and marvel at the beautiful scenery!

On the other hand, organised tours allow for greater comfort and safety. You will constantly travel safely in a private vehicle with locals who will tell you where to go or what sites to visit. You won't have to worry about getting the right address or finding the right transport to get to your destinations.

At the end of your tour, you can always set aside some time to explore more of the city. You can take another short tour to admire the streets and even learn about this mystical place. You can also try the local food or explore other nearby sites.