An eight-hour day in Cusco is not about covering more ground than the short tour. It is about taking the city slowly: the old streets in the cool of the morning, a long look at a market, lunch, and the Inca sites above town once the day has warmed up. This guide helps you decide whether a full day suits you, what to sort out first, and how to pace it.
When to go
Cusco has two seasons. From April to October it is dry, with mostly sunny days, but nights can fall close to freezing. From November to March it rains more often, usually in the afternoon and at night, while mornings tend to be clear. The way this day is laid out fits both: the walking in the old town is done in the morning, and the afternoon is mostly in the car between the sites above the city.
June is one of the busiest months of the year in Cusco. Inti Raymi, the festival of the Sun, is held every 24 June and moves from Qorikancha to the Plaza de Armas and up to Sacsayhuamán over the day, with tickets needed for seats at the main ceremony. On that date, three of this tour's stops are part of the festival. If your dates are close to it, message us before you book.
How the day is paced
The pick-up is at 07:00, and you are back at your hotel at around 15:00. That leaves you the rest of the afternoon and the evening free, which matters at this height.
The morning stays in the old town. San Blas comes first, while its steep streets are still quiet. The quarter is known for its workshops; one of them, the workshop museum of the artisan Hilario Mendívil, can be visited free of charge. There is a viewpoint in San Blas about five minutes on foot from the Plaza de Armas.
From there you walk down Hatun Rumiyoc. The twelve-angled stone is set in the wall of what was the palace of Inca Roca, about 200 metres from the Plaza de Armas. The building is now the Archbishop's Palace and the Museum of Religious Art. The stone is diorite, about two metres long, and was cut at twelve points to lock into the stones around it. In February 2025 a man struck it with a hammer and damaged it. Look closely, but keep your hands off.
Qorikancha follows. The convent of Santo Domingo stands on the foundations of the Inca temple of the Sun, and it is still a working Dominican convent. Inside, look for the inclined Inca walls with trapezoidal niches; the complex also holds a museum of Inca objects.
San Pedro market
This is the stop that makes the full day different. San Pedro is the city's main market. It began in the early twentieth century as the Frisancho market and became the Mercado Central de San Pedro in 1925. In November 2024 Peru's Ministry of Culture declared it part of the nation's cultural heritage, and more than a thousand traders work there.
Stalls sell regional produce, meat, cheese, bread, coffee, chocolate, dried fruit, flowers and crafts. Come hungry: the stop is placed late in the morning, before lunch. Carry small notes and coins in local currency for what you buy, and keep your bag in front of you in the crowded aisles.
Lunch and the sites above the city
Sacsayhuamán comes just before lunch. Its main wall is three zigzag walls, one above the other, of stones fitted without mortar; the largest is estimated at about 125 tonnes. Lunch is not included. You eat in a restaurant on the road above Cusco or back in town, and your driver knows the options.
The afternoon covers Q'enqo, with passages cut into the rock, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, where water still runs through Inca channels. Tambomachay is about seven and a half kilometres from the city, which is the main reason a car helps here.
On your own or with a driver
Most of the morning can be done on foot from a central hotel: San Blas, Hatun Rumiyoc, Qorikancha and San Pedro are all in or near the old centre. The walking is short but steep, and in your first days at altitude medical guidance is to keep exercise mild for the first 48 hours. The sites above the city are a different matter. Sacsayhuamán is about two kilometres away and uphill; Tambomachay is several kilometres further.
With a private car, you walk only at each stop and the car does the climbing. You can also stretch one stop and cut another. If the market holds you longer, tell your driver and drop a site in the afternoon. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to sort out before the day
- The tourist ticket. The Boleto Turístico's first circuit covers Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay and is valid for one day; the full ticket is valid for ten days. COSITUC is the official seller. Some site entrances sell it too, often for cash only. Check the current rules with COSITUC before you go.
- Qorikancha. Paid separately at the convent, not with the tourist ticket.
- The Cathedral. It has its own ticket. If you want to go in, tell your driver and time is made for it.
- Clothes. Layers. A cold morning can turn into a hot midday and a cool afternoon. Bring sun cream and a hat.
- Cash. Local currency in small amounts for the market and for lunch.
Who it suits
It suits travellers who want to see Cusco at an easy pace, families, and anyone who likes markets and food. Children are as likely as adults to feel the altitude, so plan breaks for them.
If you only have a few hours, or it is your very first afternoon, the five-hour Cusco tour covers Qorikancha and the Inca sites without San Blas and the market. For a sense of how the city fits with the valley and Rainbow Mountain, see our guide to day trips from Cusco.
Questions people ask
Is the order fixed?
No. The tour is private and the itinerary can be changed on the day. Most people keep the old town for the morning and the sites above the city for the afternoon.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking
Pick a day after you have had a night or two in Cusco, buy the tourist ticket, and come with an appetite. Pick-up, stops and what is included are on the full-day private Cusco tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
