Cusco Walking Tour: Explore the City on Foot

The Cusco Walking Tour gives you the chance to explore the City of the Incas in a unique way, with different departure times available to fit your schedule and preferences.

To begin this tour of Cusco, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a 20-minute drive to Cristo Blanco, located on El Calvario Hill, also known as Pukamuqu Hill. This statue of Christ was gifted to the people of Cusco by the Palestinian Arab community as a token of gratitude. From this point, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Cusco and the surrounding landscape of Cusco, which is said to be shaped like a puma. We will then start our walk, passing near the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuamán.

As we make our way down, we will reach the San Cristóbal viewpoint, where you can see the qolqas, or Inca storage structures.. We will walk through the picturesque streets of some of Cusco’s oldest and most traditional neighborhoods and visit the Colonial Aqueduct of Sapantiana. The name is believed to come from the Quechua words Sapan, meaning unique, and Tiana, meaning seat. Located at 3,500 meters above sea level over the P’ujru River, this colonial hydraulic structure was built on four levels of arches, likely incorporating stone elements from the sacred huaca of Sapantiana, located just a few meters away. It was used to channel water from one hillside to another. This is a perfect spot to take plenty of photos, and we will also enjoy the lovely views along Siete Borreguitos Street with its colorful and charming surroundings.

Our next stop will be the artisan neighborhood of San Blas, also known as T’oqokachi, a Quechua name that means “Salt Cave.” This is a traditional and picturesque area where the San Blas Church is located, and where many artisans live and work in their workshops and craft shops. The neighborhood is full of cafés, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. We will walk along its narrow, steep streets lined with old houses built by the Spanish on top of important Inca foundations. We will also stop at the famous Twelve-Angled Stone for photos.

We will continue our walk toward Cusco’s Main Square, which during the Inca period was known as Auccay Pata, meaning “the most important place.” It was once a large square measuring about 250 meters long by 120 meters wide, divided into large open spaces and important Inca enclosures. This site was the origin of Qosqo (Cusco) as a city. It served as a place for the exchange of goods, ideas, concepts, traditions, and customs, becoming the political and economic center before the arrival of the Spanish in 1533.

You will learn the names of the streets and the arcades surrounding the Main Square, along with some of Cusco’s hidden stories. Cusco is one of Peru’s best-known tourist destinations, and the square is a pleasant place to stop for a coffee or a meal at one of the surrounding restaurants. We will then continue through Plaza Espinar, where you will notice bullet marks still visible on the façade of La Merced Convent, remnants of a battle between followers of Piérola and Cáceres.

Our final stop will be the local San Pedro Market, where you will experience the living culture of the people of Cusco. This market operates every day of the week and offers a wide variety of products, including local handicrafts, food, fresh juices, delicious cheeses, large loaves of bread, tropical fruits, herbs, spices, coca leaves, and even some unusual and exotic items. The prices are affordable, and the quality of the products is excellent.

You will have time to explore the many small stalls throughout the market and shop for traditional souvenirs, bringing our Cusco Walking Tour to a close.