Tipón, Pikillaqta & the South Valley

Overview

South-east of Cusco there is a valley with three huge sites and almost no tourists.

Tipón is the hydraulic masterpiece of the Incas: channels carved in stone that after six centuries still carry water to the terraces, at the same flow and without leaks.

Pikillaqta predates the Incas. It is a Wari city of straight streets, squares and multi-storey buildings, planned in full before it was built. Rumiqolqa was the control gateway: this was the entrance to imperial Cusco.

We finish at a traditional market in the city, among fruit, bread and Andean produce.

It is a gentle day, ideal for your first days in Cusco while your body adjusts to the altitude.

Day by day itinerary

1. 01

   Towards the South Valley

   Private pickup from your hotel and drive south-east of Cusco, along the South Valley road.

2. 02 3,560 m

   Tipón

   A walk through the agricultural terraces and water channels still running centuries later, the finest hydraulic work of the Inca world.

3. 03 3,250 m

   Pikillaqta

   We visit the Wari city, older than the Incas: straight streets, squares and compounds that reveal remarkable urban planning.

4. 04

   Rumiqolqa

   The monumental gateway that controlled the entrance to Inca Cusco, with perfectly fitted stone blocks.

5. 05

   Local market

   Back in Cusco, we visit a traditional market to see Andean produce and the city's daily life up close.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothing and a light jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Some cash for the market
• Camera or phone

Prices by group size

This is a private trip: the more people travel, the less it costs per person.