Overview
Overview of Tour
- Pick up at your hotel at 9am or 1pm
- Private transport to Andahuaylillas, Tipon and Piquillacta
- Visit of the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas,” and the archeological sites of Tipon and Piquillacta
- Lunch with baked guinea pig in Tipon
- Trip back to your hotel in Cusco
Itinerary
South Valley Tour: Tipon, 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 archaeological site of Tipon, where we will see the best of Inca hydraulic water work system. Finally, we head back to the village of Tipon, which is known, for its baked guinea pig dish, a typical dish of the region of Cusco. We stop to taste it and then we are on our way back to your hotel in Cusco.
Inclusions
What is Included
- Professional English speaking guide
- Private transport
- Traditional Cusquenian lunch in the rural village of Tipon famous for the local delicacy guinea pig!
What is not Included
- Entrance tickets to archeological sites: 70 soles (1 day only) or approximately US$22 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?
- Gratitude/tips
Price
Please note: The Cusco City Tour is only offered to our clients doing a 2, 3, 4 or more days tours or treks to Machu Picchu.
PRICE $150
- GROUP of 1 to 6 persons – $150 for the total group (not per person)
- GROUP of 7 to 12 persons – $190 for the total group (not per person)
Why SAM
WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL
SAM (initials of Saul Alvarez Montalvo) Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and direct local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 1oo% Cusquenian Company without any shareholders.
My dream as the owner was to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in having a reputation as being a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. My staff are my extended family. I ensure they are supported financially by paying them a good wage. I am proud of my team without them I couldn’t give the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
SMALL GROUPS
In an effort to provide a more personalised service to our passengers, we, in SAM Travel Peru have a policy to keep our groups small. With private tours we do 1 to 6 person and a larger group of 7 to 12 if requested. By keeping our groups small, this sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with much larger groups.
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES
I am very proud of my guides! Highly professional, speaking fluent English, very knowledgeable, passionate for the Inca heritage/ history, dedicated to a steady personal development, learning to ensure that you receive accurate and recognised theories about the Inca Andean culture. Fun loving, great sportsmen and well educated crew as well as having a degree in Archaeology, Botany, History or Anthropology. Some of them are great entertainers and the best “Salsa Dancers” on this side of Machu Picchu.
OUR SOCIAL PROJECTS
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should “give back” to the communities we pass through when on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many social projects and hire locally.
Have a look our recent social work: “We, (the students from Patachancha Community) got to go to Machu Picchu for the first time”
SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only employing them work but also to keep things at grassroots, to share in their homes and with their families. This makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
A beautiful reflection of our attitude in everything we do, is making life richer and more meaningful for all involved.
Important Info
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 ticketcosts70 soles (US $20) 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 enter16 archeological and cultural sites in Cusco, the south valley and the Sacred Valley. The price of this ticket is 130 soles (about US $40) 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 (US $20). Children under 11 are free.
Here is a list of sites where you can use your Boleto Touristico:
- Sacsayhuaman
- Qenqo
- Pucapucara
- Tambomachay
- Pisaq
- Ollantaytambo
- Chinchero
- Moray
- Tipon
- Piquillaqta
Note : The entrance ticket to the main archeological sites like Sacsaywaman, 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 Touristico.
- The entrance to Qoricancha or Santo Domingo Convent (10 soles)
- The entrance to the Cathedral (25 soles)
What to Bring
WHAT TO BRING
- Warm jacket
- Hat
- Water
- Sun protection
- Some money for souvenirs
- Money in soles to purchase boleto touristico y entrance to salt mine
- Original passport
- If you are a student, take your ISIC card (only works for the 10 day boleto touristico)
