Fantastic holiday, a real adventure. We saw sights I had only dreamed about. Every day there was something new to wonder at, from…
Anonymous | Traveled in MayCusco’s South Valley has a quieter rhythm than the classic routes north of the city.
The South Valley Tour takes you beyond the usual first stops and into a route where Inca engineering, pre-Inca urban planning, colonial religious art, and rural food traditions come together in a single half-day trip. This is a smart choice for travelers who want to understand Cusco from another angle, without a demanding hike or a full-day schedule.
You will see Andahuaylillas, known for its highly decorated church; Piquillacta, a large pre-Inca city built by the Wari culture; and Tipón, one of the clearest examples of Inca hydraulic work, with canals, terraces, and water channels still flowing today.
This tour is calm, visual, and easy to follow. It works well before or after a longer trek, especially for travelers who want a meaningful half-day outside Cusco.
With Machu Picchu Peru Lovers, the route is organized with hotel pick-up, private transport, professional guiding, and a clear pace through one of Cusco’s most underrated valleys.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning or afternoon, depending on the schedule you choose. From there, you travel by private tourist van toward the South Valley.
The first stop is Andahuaylillas, a small town known for the Saint Peter Church of Andahuaylillas. From the outside, the church looks modest, with adobe walls and a simple village-style structure. Inside, the feeling changes completely. The walls, ceiling, paintings, and religious details show a strong colonial artistic style, with works connected to the 17th century.
After time inside the church, the route continues toward Piquillacta, one of the most important pre-Inca archaeological sites near Cusco. This site was built by the Wari culture, long before the Incas became the dominant power in the region. The layout is large and ordered, with long walls, streets, rectangular structures, and a sense of planned urban design.
The walking here is easy but the ground may be uneven, dusty, and exposed to the sun. The site feels open, dry, and wide, with mountains and highland scenery surrounding the old Wari settlement.
Next, you continue toward Tipón, an Inca archaeological site known for its water channels, terraces, and fountains. The Incas built a careful hydraulic system here, guiding water through carved stone channels that still work today. The sound of running water, the green terraces, and the order of the stonework make Tipón one of the most pleasant archaeological stops near Cusco.
After Tipón, the route continues to the village area, known for traditional food. Lunch may include baked guinea pig, a local dish strongly connected to Cusco’s rural food culture. If you prefer another meal option, it is best to inform the reservations team in advance.
After lunch, private transport takes you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Day Highlight: See three different layers of Cusco’s past in one route: colonial religious art, Wari urban planning, and Inca water engineering.
Technical Details
The Saint Peter Church of Andahuaylillas is one of the best-known colonial churches near Cusco. It was built by Jesuits between the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The building has adobe walls, a simple exterior, and stone columns at the entrance. Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered with murals, paintings, gold-toned details, and religious artwork. Some paintings are attributed to Luis de Riaño, a 17th-century artist linked to the Cusco School.
This stop helps travelers understand the strong religious and artistic changes that took place after the Spanish arrival.
Piquillacta is a large archaeological site from the Wari culture, a pre-Inca civilization that influenced much of the central and southern Andes.
The site is known for its straight streets, long walls, rectangular buildings, and urban planning. Unlike Inca sites, which often adapt to mountain shapes with finely fitted stonework, Piquillacta has a more rigid and ordered layout.
This makes it an important stop for travelers who want to see what existed in the Andes before the Inca Empire.
Tipón is one of the clearest examples of Inca hydraulic engineering near Cusco.
The site includes terraces, stone channels, fountains, and water systems that still function. The Incas guided water through the site with careful planning, creating a place that may have had agricultural, ceremonial, and elite residential use.
Tipón is also connected to local food traditions, especially baked guinea pig, which is commonly served in nearby restaurants.
Trip went very smoothly and was very well organized. Easy to highlight is Machu Picchu, but our visit of Amantani island on Lake Titicaca was a real interesting and unique experience. Read more.
This was an excellent well-organized tour at a great value with plenty of variety and lots of free time to explore. Read more.
This was our first trip with Bookmundi and we are extremely happy. From start to finish the experience was excellent. Read more.
We saw all the highlights, the guides were excellent and the trip flowed nicely. The pacing was just right. Read more.
Private service is the best format for this route because it gives you more control over timing and pace.
Why Private Service Can Be a Better Choice
Entrance fees are not included in the tour price.
To enter Tipón and Piquillacta, travelers must purchase the Boleto Turístico.
Partial Ticket / 1-Day Ticket
General Ticket / 10-Day Ticket
The Boleto Turístico can be used for several sites in Cusco and nearby valleys, such as:
The entrance to Saint Peter Church of Andahuaylillas is not included in the Boleto Turístico and must be paid separately.
Payment should be made in Peruvian soles.
Discounts depend mainly on the Boleto Turístico type.
Travelers should bring valid physical documentation if they want to request a reduced rate.
If you have mobility limitations, knee problems, respiratory concerns, food restrictions, or need special assistance, please inform our reservations team before booking.
If you plan to bring professional photography or video equipment, ask in advance because some sites, especially churches, may have restrictions.
Hotel pick-up is included from your accommodation in Cusco.
Possible schedules
Please send your hotel name and address in advance so our operations team can organize the pick-up properly.
This is a half-day tour, so we recommend bringing only a small daypack.
Your main luggage can usually be stored at your hotel. If needed, you may ask our team about storage options before the tour.
A deposit may be required to confirm the tour, guide, transport, and lunch logistics.
The remaining balance can be paid according to the method confirmed with our reservations team.
Cash payments in Cusco may help avoid extra card processing fees. Online or card payments may include service fees depending on the payment platform.
Entrance tickets are paid separately in soles and are not included in the tour price.
The South Valley Tour can usually be arranged with short notice, depending on guide and transport availability.
For the best coordination, we recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance. Same-day requests may be possible, but they depend on availability.
This tour is mainly offered as an add-on for travelers booking a 2-day, 3-day, 4-day, or longer Machu Picchu tour or trek with us.
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may affect roads, city access, or transport routes.
If this happens, our operations team will try to keep your tour as close as possible to the original plan. In some cases, this may require changing the order of sites or adjusting pick-up times.
Tours may also be canceled if safety conditions are not suitable. Any change or cancellation will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is always the priority.
Please pay attention to your personal items during transport, site stops, lunch, and church or archaeological areas.
You are responsible for your belongings during the tour. Always check your seat, daypack, restaurant table, and personal items before leaving any place.
This tour is considered easy, but Cusco and the South Valley are still at altitude. Some sites include uneven paths, stone areas, stairs, and exposed walking sections.
Travelers who have just arrived in Cusco should walk slowly and stay hydrated.
Older travelers or travelers with balance, knee, or respiratory concerns should inform us before the tour so the guide can manage the pace more carefully.
Weather can change during the day. Mornings may feel cool, midday sun can be strong, and rain may appear during the wet season.
Bring a light jacket, sun protection, and a rain jacket or poncho depending on the season.
The South Valley Tour is a strong half-day route for travelers who want to see a different side of Cusco.
In a single route, you see the painted church of Andahuaylillas, the pre-Inca city of Piquillacta, and the water channels of Tipón. It is easy, calm, and full of detail when guided well.
With Machu Picchu Peru Lovers, the tour is arranged with private transport, professional guidance, clear timing, and a route designed to make the South Valley easy to understand.
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If you have a question about this or any other trip, our travel experts are ready to help with dates, availability and private options.
