City Tour Cusco: Capital of the Inca Empire
The City Tour Cusco is the perfect introduction to the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. This tour takes you to the city’s most iconic landmarks, blending history, art, and architecture.
You’ll begin at the Plaza de Armas, the heart of Cusco, surrounded by stunning colonial buildings such as the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus.
Next, you’ll explore the remarkable Inca structures that still stand today, including the Qorikancha Temple (Temple of the Sun), one of the most important temples of the Inca Empire.
The tour continues with visits to the famous ruins near the city, such as Sacsayhuaman, where you’ll marvel at the massive stonework. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to visit Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, each with its own unique mystery and charm.
This tour is an unforgettable journey through the history and culture of Cusco, showcasing the incredible legacy of the Inca Empire.
Exceptional service and a truly wonderful experience
We had an exceptional experience with Alpaca Expeditions. We did not have a standard itinerary and required collection in the Sacred Valley. We also stayed an additional night in Aquas Calientes to enjoy the cloud forest. We also booked some of our transfers with AE. AE replied to all my emails and attended to every request. On arrival in Cusco the transfer they arranged was seamless. We attended the briefing at 6PM on the day of our arrival. We were given our duffle bags and then the taxi took us to the Sacred Valley where we stayed for 4 nights. The day prior to our hike we had our first introduction to our guide Lucio when he called us and confirmed all the details. We appreciated the call. The next morning we were collected at the hotel at 5AM and travelled to Ollantaytambo in a modern and clean minibus. We had the opportunity to get to know Lucio on the train from Ollantaytambo to 104km. We immediately liked Lucio since it was clear that he is very knowledgeable and responsible. He also spoke excellent English. We got off the train at 104km and was provided with a snack and had the opportunity to visit the facilities. Lucio then gave us a detailed explanation of what we are about to experience. This was a forest hike and we saw many orchids and beautiful views. We were a group of 11 hikers and had a friendly second guide. The hike included many uphill sections with the Inka steps and the pace was energetic. Winay Wayna was stunning and we enjoyed the incredible views! We hiked on 12 September and it was sunny but not too hot. We had a lunch which included soup followed by various dishes such as chicken & veg, beef & peppers, fried trout, salad, vegetables, potatoes, juice and delicious avocadoes. Great. We used the 'bathroom' and were on our way again. The hike got even more beautiful. We started hiking a 7AM and reached the Sun Gate at 15:00. We had people aged 30 to 60 in our group and everyone will agree it was a challenging hike - but it was 100% enjoyable. We took some pics at Machu Picchu before it started raining. Following a stunning bus ride we reached Aquas Calientes and checked into a modern hotel (Alpaca Terra). Dinner was included in the tour and we could order starters and mains. Happy. The next morning we had breakfast at 5:30AM. We arrived at Machu Picchu early and Lucio gave us the most wonderful tour. It was a beautiful day and I felt grateful that we have a guide who can share his extensive knowledge with us in such a respectful manner. Lucio knows how to optimize the route. He took care of every single person on the tour! Back in Aquas Calientes we said farewell to Lucio after collecting our duffle bags and checked into the Inkaterra hotel. The next day we disembarked on the Vistadome train at 14:30. It was a luxury experience and we enjoyed the flutist and the views. When we finally arrived in Cusco that evening we were a bit anxious since our hotel was located in San Blas and it was not easy to reach it with a van. We felt huge relief and delight when we noticed our friend Lucio was waiting at the AE storage facility for us. We jumped into the taxi he arranged and when we reached the hotel he even helped us with our luggage. Lucio assisted us on his day off! Lucio and AE really took care of us and demonstrated excellent customer service. I will not hesitate to recommend this company and this hike to my friend, family and the Tripadvisor community.
Very happy with my trip
All guides, porters, where very friendly and helpful. Cooks where providing fresh, hot food every day. Very happy with the staff.
Perfect adventure for active history lovers
We did the 2-day Inca Trail with the Sacred Valley add-on through Alpaca Expeditions, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. **Sacred Valley** The Sacred Valley was a nice addition and I'd recommend it. We started with an alpaca farm tour, where feeding the alpacas was adorable. There's an opportunity to buy products, which are expensive but high quality, and the money benefits the farm. We also toured historical architecture throughout the valley, learned about its history, and took in incredible vistas, including Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously working Inca site. Another benefit of staying in the Sacred Valley was that we didn't have to make the whole trip from Cusco on the morning of our hike. **Inca Trail** The Inca Trail itself was amazing. We took a scenic train, and while we expected to get off at a station, you actually get dropped in the middle of the woods. If you're doing the short trail, you really don't need much stuff. A light raincoat is essential, though we warmed up fast. I recommend a light pack with just your passport, raincoat, toilet paper or wipes, a couple of snacks, water, sunglasses, and a hat. The first half of the trail was tough, with what felt like a never-ending set of staircases. But stopping at Winay Wayna and taking in the views made me forget all the huffing and puffing. Lunch was incredible, and we couldn't believe they made so much food on top of a mountain. They first served an amazing quinoa soup with garlic bread, and we felt satisfied and happy. Then they brought out a massive array of dishes, including a mango ceviche, guacamole and chips, and chicken and fish dishes. We were so stuffed, but revived enough to tackle the second half of the trail. There are restrooms at the start of the trail, near Winay Wayna, and at Machu Picchu, but bring your own toilet paper or wipes. The second half of the trail was far more manageable, with rolling terrain. There's a steep section of stairs right before the Sun Gate, but once you pass it you're rewarded with your first view of Machu Picchu, which was breathtaking, especially with the shifting clouds. We were able to go down to the site and take photos that same day. From the start of the trail to when we left Machu Picchu took around 8 hours. We chose to stay in a hotel instead of camping, and it was worth it because it poured rain that day. Our hotel was very luxurious and had piping hot showers, the perfect respite after a long day of hiking. The team of guides, chefs, and porters was amazing. Our guide Reynaldo was incredibly patient with us and told us so many stories about the history of the area and its importance. I'll never forget them, and it was amazing to see how proud he was to share his heritage with us. We also loved Denesse, our second guide. She was so sweet and fun, and she works really hard as part of an initiative to get more women involved as guides. And our chef Urbano made such incredible meals, especially the lunch on the trail. **Huayna Picchu** On our second day, we toured Machu Picchu. We did Circuit 3, where we learned about the importance of Machu Picchu in the Incan empire, the purpose of different buildings, and stories about hidden treasure and war. We chose this circuit because we also planned to hike Huayna Picchu. It was intimidating to see the mountain towering above, and the rain made it much more slippery, but the cloud cover helped us not see the steep drop-offs. It was absolutely worth it, and the views were incredible. I kept comparing them to Avatar. There's a steel cable to hold onto for much of the trail, and the hike isn't too physically challenging. It's 1 mile and 1,000 feet up, and you can stop to take breaks and let people pass. **Final thoughts** The only issue we had was some miscommunication during the briefing and from the guides because of our Sacred Valley addition. We got conflicting information from different people within the company. It eventually got sorted out, but it would have been helpful to have this be more streamlined. I'd recommend this combination for people who want more of an adventure but don't want to do the full 4-day Inca Trail or the Salkantay route. Would highly recommend Alpaca Expeditions!
Great Machu Picchu day
Sabi and Ingrid were extremely helpful and kind, and funny!! Had a great time, they were the best!
Incredible experience!
Everything from pick up to drop off on this tour was wonderful. The treatment, the customer service, the care the team puts into each tour and each guest. The tour guide, Elix was phenomenal! One of the best tour guides we’ve ever had!! The lunch was incredible as well! I definitely wish I did more tours with Alpaca during our stay in Peru