Tipon Inca Terraces Water Channels Cusco

South Valley of Cusco Tour: Tipón, Piquillacta and Andahuaylillas

• ~8.5 hours

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Availability Daily departures
Transport Hotel pickup
Languages Spanish, English

Summary
Itinerary
Inclusions
FAQs
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About this activity

The South Valley of Cusco (Valle Sur) tour visits three lesser-known sites that are just as significant as the classic Sacred Valley: Tipón, Piquillacta, and the colonial church of Andahuaylillas.

This is a private transportation service with a driver, not a guided tour or one with meals included: we take you to each site with enough time to explore it on your own — Tipón’s Inca hydraulic system, the Wari citadel of Piquillacta, and the colonial murals of Andahuaylillas. There are local restaurants in the area where you can have lunch on your own before heading back to Cusco. If you want an interpretive guide at the sites, you can hire one separately.

With over a decade operating in Cusco and a 5.0/5.0 TripAdvisor rating (36 reviews), we coordinate a circuit with far fewer crowds than the classic Sacred Valley.

Itinerary

Start

Pickup at your hotel in Cusco

Pickup at your hotel in Cusco to start the private vehicle route to Tipón, the first stop on this alternative circuit to the classic Sacred Valley.

Stop 01

Tipón

Tipón is one of the best examples of Inca hydraulic engineering: a system of terraces and canals still working today, possibly part of a royal estate of Inca Wiracocha. Water still flows through the same channels carved centuries ago.

Stop 02

Piquillacta

Piquillacta is a citadel of the Wari culture, a pre-Inca civilization (6th century AD) that preceded the Incas by several centuries. Its grid-like urban layout and perimeter walls, near Lake Lucre, show a different kind of planning from later Inca architecture.

Stop 03

Andahuaylillas

Andahuaylillas is home to a 17th-century Baroque colonial church known as "the Sistine Chapel of the Americas" for its gilded murals and ornate altar. It's a brief stop, but with an interior that surprises most visitors.

Stop 04

Regional lunch stop

Stop at a local restaurant where you can have lunch on your own, with typical Andean dishes, before heading back to Cusco.

End

Return to Cusco (~4:00pm)

Approximate arrival at your hotel in Cusco around 4:00 pm.

What's included

Inclusions

Includes
- Private round-trip transportation from your hotel in Cusco

What's Not Included

Not included
- Guide / tour guide
- Food (lunch)
- General/Partial Tourist Ticket (BTG/BTP) for Tipón, Piquillacta, and Andahuaylillas
- Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valle Sur worth it if I already did the Sacred Valley?

Yes — they're different circuits. Valle Sur has far fewer tourists and complements Inca history with Wari culture and colonial art.

Does the tour include the entrance ticket to the sites?

No. Private transportation is included, but the General/Partial Tourist Ticket (BTG/BTP) that gives access to Tipón, Piquillacta, and Andahuaylillas is purchased separately, as is food and a guide if you'd like one.

Is it a very walk-heavy tour?

No, it's mainly a site visit with short walks within each complex — not a mountain hike.

How long does the full tour take?

Approximately 8.5 hours, from 7:30am until the return to Cusco around 4:00pm.

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