Trip Details
Overview for the South Valley Tour.
- Pick up at your hotel at 9am or 1pm (your choice)
- Private transport to Andahuaylillas, Tipón and Piquillacta
- Visit of the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas,” and the archeological sites of Tipón and Piquillacta
- Lunch with baked guinea pig in Tipón
- Trip back to your hotel in Cusco
ITINERARY
SOUTH VALLEY TOUR: TIPÓN, PIQUILLACTA, ANDAHUAYLILLAS
We pick you up at your hotel at 9:00am or 1:00pm and we drive in our private van towards Andahuaylillas where we visit the Saint Peter church of Andahuaylillas, considered as the “Sistine Chapel of America.” It was built by the Order of the Jesuits at the end of the 16th century and the princes of the 17th century. Its architectural structure is typical for village churches. Its walls are wide like all the colonial buildings, made of sun-dried bricks of mud (adobe), the facade is decorated with magnificent murals, and two large stone columns at the main entrance.
Although its architecture is relatively modest, the decoration of its interior is unique and impressive. We can first mention a picture of the “Assumption of the Virgin,” painted by the Spanish historical painter Esteban Murillo. You will also see wall paintings attributed to Luis de Riaño (17th century). After a time to visit the church, we continue with our journey towards the Pre-Inca archaeological site of Piquillacta, where we explore and enjoy the huge urban planning of the pre-Inca Wari culture surrounded by stunning mountains and lakes.
Afterwards we continue our journey to the spectacular archeological site of Tipón, where we will see the best of Inca hydraulic water work system. Finally, we head back to the village of Tipón, which is known, for its baked guinea pig dish, a traditional dish of the region of Cusco and one of the direct links between ancient Inca culture and modern Quechua culture. After a delicious lunch, we are on our way back to your hotel in Cusco.
WHAT’S INCLUDED for South Valley Tour?
Included
- Professional guide fluent in English
- Private transport
- Traditional Cusqueñian lunch in the rural village of Tipón famous for the local delicacy guinea pig
Not Included.
- Entrance tickets to archeological sites: 70 soles (1 day only) or approximately $20 USD per person, which can only be purchased in soles only at the first archeological site. (See important info for more information)
- Entrance fee to Saint Peter church of Andahuaylillas
- Tips for your guide
PRICES
Please note: The South Valley Tour is only offered to our clients doing a 2, 3, 4 or more days tours or treks to Machu Picchu.
- GROUP of 1 to 6 persons – $150 USD for the total group (not per person)
- GROUP of 7 to 12 persons – $190 USD for the total group (not per person)
HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?
FIRST, to book your Bus to Puno from Cusco, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase your Bus to Puno from Cusco without the following information:
- Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
- Gender
- Passport number
- D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
- Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person in order to purchase a your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.
BOLETO TURISTICO (tourist ticket )
You have the Option to Purchase a 1 Day or a 10 Day Boleto Turistico.
The partial ticket, or 1 Day ticket costs 70 soles ($20 USD) and is valid for 1 day. You can visit a many sites as you like in one day with no further charge. There are no discounts with this ticket.
Both tourist tickets, of 1 day or 10 day, allows the access to different archeological sites around Cusco, and Sacred Valley. This is the best way to visit all the archeological sites of the region and the Sacred Valley. Most of the main archeological sites are not accessible for free.
The general ticket allows you over the next 10 days to enter 16 archeological and cultural sites in Cusco, the south valley and the Sacred Valley. The price of this ticket is 130 soles (about $40 USD) and is valid for 10 days. This is the cheapest and most convenient way to plan to see different sites in a few days. The cost for students under 25 (with the presentation of a valid ISIC card) and for teenagers under 18 (with the presentation of an identity card) is 70 soles ($20 USD). Children under 11 are free.
Here is a list of sites where you can use your Boleto Turistico:
- Sacsayhuaman
- Qenqo
- Pucapucara
- Tambomachay
- Pisaq
- Ollantaytambo
- Chinchero
- Moray
- Tipon
- Piquillaqta
Note : The entrance ticket to the main archeological sites like Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Tipón and Moray cannot be sold individually; you must buy the Boleto turístico to visit them. You can get it in Avenida el Sol nearby Peru office or at the time you enter the first site that you are visiting. YOU MUST PAY IN SOLES, NO CREDIT CARD OR US DOLLARS ARE ACCEPTED.
Important: These entrances are not included in the Boleto Turistico.
- The entrance to Qoricancha or Santo Domingo Convent (10 soles)
- The entrance to the Cathedral (25 soles)
ARE WE SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we are a locally sustainable & responsible tourism operator. That incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.
PACKING LIST
WHAT TO BRING
- Warm jacket and rain jacket
- Hat
- Water
- Sun protection
- Some money for souvenirs
- Money in soles to purchase boleto turistico y entrance to salt mine
- Original passport
- If you are a student, take your valid university card (only works for the 10 day boleto turistico)