When Cusco, the ancient sacred city of the Incas, was conquered by the Spaniards, both cultures combined in the form of art products, traditions, food and beverages, attire, and much more. Don’t miss the chance to experience our Two World Encounter City Tour, an easy-paced and relaxing journey where you will witness the cultural richness of Cusco City and learn about its complex historical roots. As for the logistics, don’t worry! Our Venturia team will make take care of every detail for you to have the best experience.
First of all, a private English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel and give you a brief overview of the tour’s most important details. Then, you will head towards the first stop, Mercado Central de San Pedro, which is just like a local farmer’s market that opens all week long. As you step inside, you will be surprised by the multiple colors and cheerful buzz of the vendors, which will instantly try to show you the various products they have to offer. Here you will find various types of delicious Andean cheeses, juices of exotic Peruvian fruits like lúcuma or chirimoya, various types of native potatoes and the delicious pan serrano, the local bread that has a unique and distinctive smoked aroma. Don’t forget to buy a palo santo, a scented wooden stick that is used by locals for its various medicinal properties.
Then, we will head towards the great Qorikancha, a complex where you will find the great temples of the sun and moon. This place used to be so sacred for the Incas, that some of its walls were fully covered in gold and silver plates, and they were required to enter barefooted, carrying heavy weights on their shoulders and without having eaten for a few days.
When the Spaniards arrived, they destroyed most of the temples to build the San Pedro Church in the same place and conserved only some of the structures, which can still be seen within the great colonial building. Hence, here you will appreciate an architectural representation of the cultural clash that occurred hundreds of years ago between these two powerful cultures. Don’t forget to bring your camera, this site is sui generis! There is no need to worry about entry tickets, we will have previously made all the arrangements for you to enjoy a stress-free tour!
Afterward, you will enjoy a relaxing and informative stroll along the classic stone-paved streets and colonial buildings in the center of the city. Your private guide will make sure to give you all the details of the various historical pieces that you cross by!
Finally, we will take you on an exclusive and fully personalized tour inside the great Palacio Del Inka A Luxury Collection, which is situated in the great historical building Mansion de Los Cuatro Bustos. Here you will find a vast collection of over 100 pieces from the members of Cusco art school, some of them being up to 500 years old. Also, you will get to see the marvelous stone door frame in the main entrance, where you will find four perfectly carved busts -from which the place gets its name- representing the members of the family that owned the mansion.
This tour lasts approximately 2-3 hours and it is available 7 days a week, with flexible departure times. However, we recommend avoiding Sunday mornings, as the Qorikancha temple is closed at that time. If you visit on the rainy season (November -April), do bring a raincoat or jacket! And, if you are doing the tour in the evening, remember to bring a coat or sweater as nights tend to get chilly.
Although Cusco has various attractions, the central city is the home of the main architectural pieces from colonial times, which are an important part of the local cultural heritage. We guarantee you won’t regret going on this light and wonderful tour. Our Venturia staff looks forward to taking you on this adventure!
To design truly unforgettable travel experiences in Peru, you need a specialized, skilled and passionate team to make that happen time and time again. Here at Venturia we have just that, an expert group of people whose creativity, knowledge, inspiration for and love of Peru transmits through to every single trip, embodying the pure beauty of travel along the way.
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Amador Merino Reyna 551 - Lima 27, Perú