South Valley Full‑Day Tour

05:30 a.m. – Hotel pick-up (Cusco) Departure from the city of Cusco in private or shared tourist transportation. During the journey south, we pass through Andean towns such as Oropesa, Andahuaylillas, Urcos, and Quiquijana, with views of the Andean sunrise.

09:00 a.m. – Arrival at the Raqchi archaeological complex, located in the South Valley of Cusco, home to one of the most imposing constructions of the Inca Empire: the Temple of Wiraqocha. This structure, classified as a kallanka due to its rectangular design and gabled roof, was completely covered with wood and ichu, reaching an area of nearly 2,500 m².

The temple measures 92 meters long by 25.25 meters wide, and its central wall — a combination of finely carved stone at the base and adobe in the upper section — currently rises to 12 meters, although studies indicate that it may have originally reached up to 16.60 meters. This wall, 1.65 m thick at the base, was flanked by circular columns 1.60 m in diameter and nearly 10 m high, supporting a roof inclined at 50°, an unprecedented architectural feat in the Andean world.

Raqchi stands out not only for its monumental scale but also for its profound spiritual significance. Dedicated to the god Wiraqocha, creator of the universe according to the Inca worldview, this temple was a center of pilgrimage, worship, and political power. Its strategic location within the Qhapaq Ñan network made it a key point for territorial control and imperial supply.

Today, Raqchi is an essential stop within the South Valley Tour, ideal for travelers seeking to connect with the architectural, religious, and cultural legacy of the Tahuantinsuyo.

At the time indicated by our guide, we will return to Perú Andino Restaurant & Bar to enjoy a comforting lunch and continue our tour.

The Church of San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas, known as the Sistine Chapel of America, is a jewel of colonial art located in the South Valley of Cusco. Its single-nave interior reveals two clearly differentiated construction stages, separated by the triumphal arch. The oldest section, located at the back where the main altar stands, presents a Mudéjar style, characterized by the fusion of Arab and Christian elements. The more recent section is located toward the entrance, which explains the presence of two pulpits: one older beneath the triumphal arch and another later one on the opposite wall.

What truly amazes visitors is the abundance of Baroque frescoes covering the walls and ceiling, featuring geometric and floral motifs with gilded details that envelop the space in a celestial atmosphere. This decorative richness, created by artists of the Cusco School such as Luis de Riaño, makes Andahuaylillas a living testimony of cultural syncretism between the Andean and European worlds, and an essential stop within the South Valley Tour in Cusco.

At the scheduled time, we head to the Pikillaqta archaeological complex, one of the most outstanding and best-preserved pre-Inca sites in Peru. This ancient urban center was developed between 600 and 1000 A.D. by the Wari culture, originally from the Central Andes (Ayacucho), which expanded into highland regions such as Cusco and Sicuani.

Pikillaqta stands out for its geometric layout, stone walls, and advanced urban planning, reflecting the architectural and technological knowledge of the Wari civilization. This archaeological site offers a unique insight into Peru’s millennia-old past, prior to the rise of the Inca Empire.

The pre-Inca peoples who inhabited the Cusco Valley were organized societies with agricultural and spiritual traditions, seeking to control natural resources and expand their cultural influence. Pikillaqta represents this historical transition, where the Wari legacy contributed to the development of what would later become the largest empire in the Western Hemisphere: the Tawantinsuyo.

This site is an essential stop within the South Valley Tour, ideal for travelers interested in Peru’s deep history, the evolution of its civilizations, and the archaeological heritage that remains alive in the Andean landscape.