A trip to Cusco in the Southern Andes of Peru should be on everybody’s bucket list. The city is filled with beautiful churches, Inca ruins, and cobblestone streets. Did you know that within the Imperial city you can experience a free walking tour of Cusco Peru? That is right, it is free. This city tour leaves every day for you to enjoy and learn about the fabulous Inca city of Cusco. Traveling to Cusco is easy and many flights are leaving daily from the Peruvian capital Lima. The flight takes around one hour and passes over the wonderful Andes mountain range before landing in the valley, where the Imperial city is located. And together with Machu Travel Peru, we have prepared a small article about the walking tour in Cusco. Where you can get to know everything Cusco has to offer.
All about the free walking tour of Cusco
- Arriving in Cusco
- The free walking tour in Cusco
- Knowing the San Pedro Market
- Visiting the beautiful colonial churches
- Exploring the neighborhood of San Blas
- Alternative attractions to know around
- Advantages of the free walking tour in Cusco
- Knowing the citadel of Machu Picchu
- Tourism in Cusco
ARRIVING IN CUSCO
After arriving in the city of Cusco, you will be taken to your hotel of choice. Conveniently, it is near or in the surroundings of the historic center of the city, preferably near the Plaza de Armas. In this way, you will have the rest of the day to acclimate to the altitude and thus start your walking tour in Cusco early. It is also advisable that you drink water, avoid alcohol, and do not eat large meals during the first days when you arrive in Cusco. Most hotels have oxygen tanks at the reception if you feel like you are having trouble breathing.
THE FREE WALKING TOUR IN CUSCO
Most things in Cusco will cost you as in any tourist area in the world. But there is one service, in particular, that is free within Cusco. We are talking about the free walking tour in Cusco, which starts at Plaza Regocijo, also known as Plaza Cusipata. This is located two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, and the tour usually begins at 10:20 AM. You can choose to book a tour, although most people only show up and look for those with green jackets and flags. It is precisely they who will offer this tour of the city of Cusco. The tour will begin with the basic attractions of the Plaza and its surroundings. You will have the opportunity to know the Twelve Angle Stone and many other incredible places in Cusco.
KNOWING THE SAN PEDRO MARKET
This tour also passes through the renowned and popular San Pedro market, one of the best-known local markets in Cusco. Inside the market, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are sold, including passion fruit and cherimoyas. You will also find an excellent range of handicrafts and souvenirs at more reasonable prices than the stans in the Plaza de Armas. You can even buy flowers in any range of colors you want, which is impressive. As if that were not enough, the market has an entire section where you can enjoy a classic “menu” which is a meal consisting of a soup and a main course at an extremely affordable price. There is also a section where you can buy fresh fruit juice and breakfast. Choose to order a delicious mix of the fruits you want the most.
VISITING THE BEAUTIFUL COLONIAL CHURCHES
From the market, you will return to the Plaza de Armas and see the beautiful and picturesque colonial churches that there are to explore around. These beautiful churches show the great architectural mix between the ancient Inca Empire and the different architectural trends brought by the Spanish. The Cusco Cathedral and the Church of the Company of Jesus are two great examples to know. Some of these even offer displays of religious art from the beautiful Cusco school.
EXPLORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAN BLAS
Then from the Cusco main square, you can continue down a series of sloping steps towards the curious and beautiful neighborhood of San Blas. In San Blas, you will be able to appreciate the main square and a lovely old church with one of the most beautiful altars you have ever seen. In San Blas, you will find a large number of travelers and backpackers trying to sell you their wares to pay for their trips. Besides, within San Blas, you will find a great variety of vegetarian restaurants, bars, art shops, and souvenir shops among other things.
ALTERNATIVE ATTRACTIONS TO KNOW AROUND
From San Blas, you can return to the Main square and go down to the main shopping street of Cusco. This is called Avenida Sol and here you will find banks and money exchange houses. Also very close is the Palace of Justice, an imposing white building that occupies almost an entire block. Further down the avenue is Korichanca, a must-see on any Cusco city tour. Korichanca was a large Inca temple used for many great ceremonies in Inca times. When the Spanish arrived, they dismantled most of the temple and built the Santo Domingo church on the ruins. The beautiful Spanish colonial building is filled with colonial art and houses, a must-see museum. If you have time, it is a good idea to visit the different Inca sites such as Sacsayhuaman and Q’enqo.
ADVANTAGES OF THE FREE WALKING TOUR IN CUSCO
The free walking tour in Cusco is full of history and useful tips for your time in Cusco, the guides are very informative and love what they do. Do not hesitate to ask them any questions and they will answer you with pleasure. If the tour passes through the different museums in Cusco, you cannot miss it. At the end of the tour, you can choose to tip; Tours usually last around 3 hours, so a tip is required. The amount you provide depends on the service you think you received. Take a free walking tour as part of your experience in Cusco and Peru.
KNOWING THE CITADEL OF MACHU PICCHU
Your vacation in Peru would not be complete without a trip to the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. If you are wondering why visit Cusco city, Machu Picchu is the answer. This is located about 4 hours by train from Cusco. The trip to Machu Picchu is an experience in itself. You will find yourself passing through the picturesque Sacred Valley of the Incas, where the landscapes are truly spectacular and mind-blowing. A trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu is essential for any visit to the Cusco area.
TOURISM IN CUSCO
Tourism in Cusco attracts thousands of people each year, sparking different new infrastructure projects in the city. You will have many options for hotels, tours, and restaurants and bars with something for all budgets, from luxurious to budget. The variety of tourist agencies will leave you speechless, but the idea is to have something organized before your arrival, especially if you are going to travel in the high tourist season. Keep in mind that during this time the prices can be higher than normal, so it is a good idea to book in advance. The different archaeological sites in Cusco are reason enough to go and explore the city of Cusco.
“THE WORLD IS A BOOK AND THOSE WHO DO NOT TRAVEL READ ONLY ONE PAGE.”
As you can see, the free walking tour in Cusco is a possibility that you cannot miss. Especially if you are not willing to enjoy the many tourist attractions in the beautiful Imperial City. We hope, together with the experts from Machu Travel Peru, to have been of help. If you want to know more about our scheduled tours around Cusco, you can consult with our qualified advisers.
