Relax and wait comfortably for our guide who will pick you up at your hotel in the Historic Centre at 9:00 or 14:00. The choice is yours!

If you prefer to start your walking tour of the Historic Centre at different times, please contact us to arrange a fully personalized change.

*Please read the Details and Notes tab to avoid misunderstandings regarding our service.

Lively, central, and attractive, in this square you will begin your traveler’s footsteps. You will discover the Romanesque and Plateresque style of the San Francisco church, a temple that began construction in 1572.

Beyond faith and religious architecture, at the plaza you will discover the picturesque botanical garden of native flora, where you will observe emblematic Andean species such as the molle, queuña, and cantuta (the national flower of Peru).

The dream of Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz was to unite Peru and Bolivia. This dream became a reality between 1836 and 1839 with the establishment of the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation, a brief historical period commemorated by this arch from the republican period.

The Santa Clara arch was erected to symbolize unity between the two nations. At this stop, your guide will provide further details about an integration process that sparked a series of political and military disputes and conflicts.

From the historical evocations of the Santa Clara arch, we move to the bustling commercial pulse of a popular market that will enchant you with its diverse array of Andean products (tubers, fruits, cheeses, handicrafts, among others) and its rich gastronomy at very affordable prices.

Designed by the renowned French architect Gustave Eiffel, the San Pedro central market was inaugurated in 1925. Since then, its more than 1100 sales stalls have been a commercial, economic, and cultural showcase of Cusco.

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the current Plaza de Armas or Main Square was the bustling heart of Inca Cusco, the imperial capital founded by the legendary Manco Capac, who emerged from Lake Titicaca to fulfill the mandate of his father, the Sun.

In the Plaza de Armas—known as Huacaypata or Aucaypata by the “sons of the Sun”—your guide’s narratives will transport you to the Cusco that impressed the first Westerners to set foot in the “navel of the Andean world” with its grandeur.

The construction of the Basilica Cathedral of the Virgen de la Asuncion (Virgin of the Assumption) took a hundred years. Its origins date back to 1560, when it began to be built on the stone walls of Quishuarqancha, the palace of the Inca Wiracocha ruler.

In Renaissance and Baroque style, the Cathedral stands out for its architectural majesty and for the sublime examples of colonial religious art it treasures inside, such as the precious image of the Señor de los Temblores (The Lord of the Earthquakes), the patron saint of Cusco.

At the portal of Belén in the Plaza de Armas, the Calle del Sol (Inti K´ijllu in Quechua – the Sun Street) empties out, a pedestrian street flanked by enormous stone walls that preserve its Andean essence.

Today officially named Loreto street, beyond its current name, walking along it allows you to imagine what Cusco was like before 1534, the year when Western conquerors arrived, forever altering the character of the Incan capital.

One of the finest examples of splendid Inca architecture are the walls of Hatun Rumiyoq (the house with large stones), the building served as the palace of Inca Roca and his royal lineage.

These walls are made of green diorite stones that fit together perfectly, featuring the astonishing Pierdra de los 12 angulos (Twelve-Angle Stone), one of the most famous and photographed spots in Cusco. During the colonial era, the Archbishop’s Palace was constructed here.

From Hatun Rumiyoq of Inca Roca to Kusicancha (happy enclosure) – the palace of Inca Pachacutec, the ruler who ordered the construction of Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, Tipon, and other works during his reign (1438 – 1478 A.D.).

Pachacutec (He who transforms the earth) was the most influential and powerful Inca ruler in the pre-Hispanic world; perhaps that is why the Spanish decided to build their army headquarters at this location.

The final stop will be at the temple of Qoricancha, the largest center of worship to Tayta Inti (Father Sun) in Cusco and the principal one along the whole Inca Empire.

Qoricancha (The golden temple) was the starting point for the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun, a celebration that is still performed today. During the colonial period, the church of Santo Domingo was built on this site.

The Temple of the Sun can be visited from Monday to Saturday (morning and afternoon), and on Sundays (afternoon only). Please keep this in mind when planning your private tour.

After approximately three hours of exploring the streets and main tourist sites of the Historic Centre of Cusco, your private walking tour will conclude very close to the Plaza de Armas.