South Valley Cusco Private Tour: Tipon, Pikillacta & Andahuaylillas

Hidden Masterpieces South of Cusco

Leave the bustling crowds behind and journey into the South Valley of Cusco, a tranquil region celebrated for its fertile landscapes and archaeological treasures spanning over a millennium of Andean history. This exclusive, bespoke half-day private tour offers an intimate look into three distinct eras—Pre-Inca Wari, Imperial Inca, and Spanish Colonial—meticulously curated for discerning travelers.

Your private historian guide and chauffeur will lead you through the royal Inca water gardens of Tipon, the sprawling pre-Inca Wari metropolis of Pikillacta, and finally to the colonial plaza of Andahuaylillas. Here, you will step inside the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes," an unassuming adobe church that conceals one of the most dazzling displays of 17th-century Baroque art and gold leaf in the Americas. Pair this half-day escape with our Sacsayhuaman Megalithic Tour or explore the full southern corridor in our 12-Day Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu Package.

Expedition Highlights

Detailed South Valley Itinerary

The Historic South Route

Duration: 4 - 5 Hours · Flexible Morning or Afternoon Departure

1. Scenic Departure from Cusco

Your private chauffeur and historian guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco. We head southeast along the fertile Huatanay River valley, leaving the city behind to enter a pastoral Andean landscape dotted with traditional villages and wetlands.

2. The Hydraulic Mastery of Tipon

Our first stop is Tipon, a royal Inca estate and sanctuary dedicated to water worship—recognized as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Your private guide will explain the precise mathematics and hydraulic engineering that allow its ceremonial fountains, aqueducts, and 12 agricultural terraces to flow seamlessly after more than 500 years.

3. The Pre-Inca Enigma of Pikillacta

Continuing south past the Huacarpay wetlands, we arrive at Pikillacta. Unlike the organic contours of Inca stone architecture, this sprawling 50-hectare complex features strict geometric grids, two-story stone-and-mud buildings, and defensive walls constructed by the Wari Empire between 600 and 900 AD.

4. The Glory of Andahuaylillas

Finally, we reach the tranquil colonial plaza of Andahuaylillas, shaded by ancient pisonay trees. Inside its modest 16th-century church of San Pedro Apóstol lies an astonishing treasure: the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes." You will be mesmerized by the Mudéjar coffered ceiling, the lavish gold-leaf high altar, historic pipe organs, and murals by Luis de Riaño illustrating the paths to heaven and hell.

5. Private Return to Cusco

After absorbing the history of the South Valley, board your private vehicle for a relaxing drive back to Cusco, with the option to stop in Saylla or Tipon village if you wish to sample traditional Cusco cuisine before returning to your hotel.

Inclusions & Prices