Peru · Archaeology

South Valley Tipon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas

6 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Cusco. Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit Tipón and see its remarkable Inca water engineering
02 Explore Pikillaqta, an important pre-Inca urban centre
03 Discover Andahuaylillas and its richly decorated historic chapel
04 Enjoy a half-day cultural tour through Cusco’s South Valley
05 See a blend of Inca archaeology, Huari history, and colonial art
06 Travel through scenic Andean landscapes south of Cusco

Discover the South Valley of Cusco on a half-day journey through archaeology, history, and Andean heritage. This tour combines three remarkable sites: Tipón, known for its impressive water temple and still-functioning irrigation system; Pikillaqta, an important pre-Inca urban centre linked to the Huari Empire; and Andahuaylillas, home to a richly decorated chapel often called the “Sistine Chapel of America”.

Along the way, enjoy a different side of Cusco beyond the city centre, with scenic landscapes, ancient engineering, and colonial art all in one itinerary. It’s an excellent choice for travellers looking to explore the cultural richness of the region in just a few hours.

Discover the South Valley of Cusco on a half-day journey through archaeology, history, and Andean heritage.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

City Cusco

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Tipon

After picking you up at the hotel, we will go to the South Valley of Cusco, taking the highway until we reach our first stop. We are going to start the tour visiting the temple of water of Tipón, located 16 miles southeast of the city.

This citadel, most dedicated to the water cult, has a big area with 12 incredible terraces. Their irrigation system is even more impressive, because it’s still working and it continues to irrigate crops until today. Another interesting fact is that the Inca Trail is part of it, and the entire site has an area of 240 acres, with an average altitude of 3,316 m.a.s.l.

Pikillaqta

The next stop is at Pikillaqta, an important pre-Inca urban Centre, and a significant place for Huari Empire development between the 6th and 9th centuries. This archaeological site is located at 3,250 m.a.s.l., with an area of 50 acres.

Andahuaylillas

Then, we will continue the route to the town of Andahuaylillas. This traditional Andean town has an amazing chapel, well-known as “The Sistine Chapel of America”, built circa in the sixteenth century. This place is truly amazing, with Renaissance style outside and Baroque style inside, with an incredible decoration of gold, murals and canvases all around.

At the end of this fantastic tour, we will return to El Regocijo Square, located one block from Plaza de Armas.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Pickup service provided in Cusco. 1 city · 6 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Boleto Turistico Parcial (optional)
Admission fee of Church of Andahuaylillas
Hotel pickup

What's Not Included

Hotel drop-off.

Know before you go

INFANTS MUST SIT ON LAPS
PASSPORT REQUIRED
Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infant seats unavailable
You should bring sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
We recommend a good altitude acclimatization before start any activity.
At the end of the tour, the drop-off is at El Regocijo Square, located one block from Plaza de Armas.
If you choose to book without tickets included, you`ll have the flexibility to buy them as we go. Please be aware that purchasing Boleto Turistico Parcial on the day will involve queuing at the first ruin we visit, which covers the rest of ruins. It`s important to note that ticket purchases on the day must be made in cash using Peruvian soles, the local currency. We are unable to accept US dollars or any other forms of payment for these on-the-spot purchases. For your planning, the current costs per person are: Boleto Turistico Parcial at S/ 70.00 Soles.