Things to do in

San Blas

Become a pisco pro on this Cusco tour that will sharpen up your cocktail mixing skills, and help you to get to know local Peru culture at the same time. Because let’s face it, there are few better ways to get to know a nation’s culture than through its boozy creations! Meet your friendly local guide at Plaza San Blas, the bohemian area of Cusco and a place that has been the heart of the “fiesta” in Cusco since a long time ago! You’ll get to explore the square a bit as well as all the outstanding buildings that make this plaza one of the most beautiful ones in the city before officially beginning your Cusco tour. From there, you’ll wander along ancient streets to admire the dramatic Inca Walls, constructed of mammoth granite blocks, side-by-side with colonial buildings. It’s here that you’ll also get to see a famed Inca masterpiece, the 12-angle stone. Then it’s back to the order of the day: Pisco! As you wander through the city, your local guide will tell you all about traditional Pisco as well as fill you in on the distillation process, how this sour drink is made, and its place in Peruvian history. The first stop will be at a local bar where you can taste a few different flavors of Pisco, and learn how to prepare the Chilcano, a cocktail made with Pisco, which is a very famous drink among the locals. Finally, it’s your time to shine! Get your mixologist hat on and try your hand at making your very own pisco sour, using all the knowledge that you’ve picked up along the way on this Cusco city tour. And the best part? You get to drink it afterward — Salud!

Explore Cusco city, its history along with the cathedral on a private half-day guided tour. Begin your tour with a visit to the beautiful temple of Coricancha (Temple of the Sun), one of the most important temples in the ancient city of Cusco. The temple was used as a base for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent upon the arrival of the Spaniards. Follow your guide and explore the temple where the sun was worshipped during the Inca Empire and know the history of the golden corn and the llamas. Visit the Cathedral, the most important building of the main square. The construction of the church started in 1560 and ended in 1654. It is one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America. Know about the Latin cross and the colonial paintings related to the church. Your guide will be with you to inform you about the site and answer any questions. Next, continue to the San Blas neighborhood and discover many hidden gems filled with charm. During the tour learn more about the history and ancient cultures of the city.

Explore the historical sights of Cusco with a guide born in the city and get an insight into what it is like to live there. Hear tales and historical facts about local highlights and marvel at colonial buildings and unique Inca monuments from pre-Hispanic days. Take in some impressive panoramic views of the city before making your way to San Pedro Market. Learn all about the regional produce on sale as you soak up the atmosphere. Continue to the Inca temple of Coricancha, dedicated to the sun god Inti and mostly destroyed after the 16th century to build the neighboring Convent of Santo Domingo . Visit the convent before taking a stroll from the artisan neighborhood of San Blas to the beautifully preserved street of Hatun Rumiyoc that originally led to the Antisuyu quarter of the Inca Empire. Continue to Plaza de Armas to visit the cathedral and marvel at masterpieces of colonial architecture.

Take a walking tour of Cuzco, the imposing Imperial City and an example of the harmonious coexistence between the Andean and Spanish cultures. The tour begins with a visit to the Plaza de Armas, where you will discover the Cathedral of Cuzco, the most important temple in the city. After spending some time exploring, continue on foot until reaching the Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca palace and cult center of the Sun God. Here, the order of the Dominicans built a church, which remains standing to this day. Enjoy plenty of time to snap some great photos. Finally, finish the tour with a visit to the Bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, also known as "the artists' district," home to many well-known folk artisans and crisscrossed with narrow and winding streets filled with popular art and knick-knacks shops.

Discover Sacsayhuamán, one of the emblematic buildings of the Incas, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Delve deeper into the rich history and heritage of the Inca Empire with a visit to San Blas, La Merced and Coricancha. Meet your guide and start the tour of Sacsayhuamán, a citadel on the northern outskirts of Cusco. See the massive fortress walls built with large stones. Learn about its military significance for the Inca Empire from your guide. Admire the beauty of this archaeological site. Return to the city and explore the neighborhood of San Blas, originally inhabited by the Inca nobility. Today it is a conglomerate of beautiful cobbled streets and popular among artisans. Then, visit the Cathedral located in Main Square. Continue to the church of La Merced, a masterpiece of modern Baroque style. Marvel at its beautiful interior courtyard, carved wooden ceilings, and imposing altars. Finally, visit Coricancha. Discover the ancient Temple of the Sun, the sacred Convent of Santo Domingo and the colossal Cusco Cathedral. Learn how it became the basis for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent after the arrival of the Spanish.

A tour to stretch your legs. San Blas quarter was originally used as dwellings for the Inca nobles, which built impressive stone constructions at a short distance of what used to be Huacaypata and it is the current place of the Main Square. It is still possible to see the unmistakable rigor of the Inca walls at the base of many constructions. Today the quarter is a conglomerate of charming small cobblestone streets that are very popular among craftspeople, who sell their works on the street. Among its main attractions is the Church of San Blas, a temple that is a work of art of incalculable value. Your visit will be panoramic because it is in refraction. At the end of the tour, you will return to your hotel.

Take a walk through Incan and colonial history on this city tour of Cusco. See the site of the Temple of the Sun and Spanish colonial architecture. Start your tour in Coricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun. It was demolished by the Spanish in the 15th century in order to build a convent on the foundations. Visit the Cathedral, one of the most splendid colonial churches in South America. See over 400 colonial paintings from the Cusco Art School on display. Check out the San Blas quarter, near the main square. Stroll this collection of charming cobblestone streets and have a look at San Blas Church, built over an Incan sanctuary and housing a cedar filigree carved by a Cusco craftsman.