5 destinations in Cusco for the whole family

Cusco hosts different spaces to visit, some of the best-known archaeological remains require a long trip or long walks, which not everyone can access . It is for this reason that we want to show the following 5 destinations. This will be an alternative for trips with older adults and children due to the accessibility of the places. Next, the location, the ways to access and the archaeological remains found in these 5 destinations will be detailed.

1) Pikillaqta Archaeological Park

The first destination is Pikillaqta, an impressive pre-Inca site. It is located in the south zone of the valley of Cusco. This place still maintains most of its buildings in perfect condition. This first option is a must if you decide to leave the city and want to find a place where you can walk without any complications.

• a. Location and accessibility
  • This archaeological center is located 33 km from the city of Cusco. The trip can vary between forty minutes to an hour by bus or car.
  • You must follow the route Cusco – Sicuani. It is located between the territories of the districts of Lucre and Anduaylillas.
  • Accessibility is pretty straightforward. The bus trip arrives exactly a few meters from the place. Traveling in a private vehicle will ease any inconvenience.
• b. Importance
  • The archaeological center of Pikillaqta was an administrative center of the Huari culture.
  • It is estimated that creation and apogee date from between the 6th and 9th centuries AD
  • The complex demonstrates great knowledge of urbanization due to the order of the buildings.
  • The structures are based on uncut stone and mud without mortar. There are some constructions that reach 12 meters high.
• c. Price and opening hours
  • The entrance fee for foreign tourists is: S/130 (BTI-E) or S/70 (BTP-E-II).
  • The entrance fee for Peruvian tourists is: S/ 70 (BTI-N) or S/ 40 (BTP-N-II).
  • The Pikillaqta Park maintenance hours are every day of the week from 7:00 to 16:30.

2) Chinchero Archaeological Complex

The second option has almost the same travel distance. However, to get to the Chinchero district you have to take a different route. You must leave Cusco in the direction of Anta, but take the detour to Chinchero. Before heading or after going to the archaeological complex, you can enjoy the handicraft market, see the excellent fabrics, go to the handicraft market and even visit Lake Piuray.

• a. Location and accessibility
  • The trip by bus or car from Cusco to Chinchero is approximately one hour, 30 km of paved road.
  • One option is to take the transportation service they offer on Belempampa Street.
  • Accessibility is simple, you can see a large number of Inca walls, beautiful platforms, the foundations of a royal palace and some niches.
• b. Importance
  • It was the place chosen by Túpac Yupanqui to build a palace for him to reside with his family.
  • It is a place of fertile land, where potatoes are mainly cultivated, with an extension of 43 hectares.
  • It has a museum, where remains found in this territory are exhibited.
  • You can see some paintings made by the artist Diego Quisto Tito.
• c. Price and opening hours
  • The entrance fee for foreign tourists is: S/130 (BTI-E) or S/70 (BTP-E-III).
  • The entrance fee for Peruvian tourists is: S/ 70 (BTI-N) or S/ 40 (BTP-N-III).
  • Visiting the Chinchero Archaeological Complex is possible every day of the week from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

3) Tipón archaeological complex

Tipon is as spectacular as Machupicchu In addition, it is an unmissable place to visit with the whole family, due to its easy accessibility. Apart from the archaeological complex, you can enjoy different restaurants that serve baked guinea pig as the main dish. Making the guinea pig a symbolic emblem of this district. This is the third travel alternative for the whole family, let’s learn a little more.

• a. Location and accessibility
  • The archeological complex of Tipón is 26 km away. Therefore, the trip by bus or car will not exceed 50 minutes.
  • The route to follow is from Cusco to Sicuani. From the city of Cusco there is the Oropesa transport company. However, to get to the ruins you will have to take another service for approximately 15 minutes.
  • Accessibility to the complex is simple, since cars can reach the enclosure.
• b. Importance
  • It was an important complex, it worshiped water.
  • You can see different water pipes. The Inca engineering surprises more than one because it is still in operation today.
  • For the reasons mentioned, it is considered a marvel of civil engineering.
  • It has an approximate area of ​​240 hectares.
  • There are ceremonial and royal precincts such as the Intiwatana (altar to the sun), the Mirado Cruzmoqo (summit where there is a cross) among other smaller precincts
  • It is a place that did not suffer many alterations during the conquest.
• c. Price and opening hours
  • The entrance fee for foreign tourists is: S/130 (BTI-E) or S/70 (BTP-E-II).
  • The entrance fee for Peruvian tourists is: S/ 70 (BTI-N) or S/ 40 (BTP-N-II).
  • Attention is every day of the week from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

4) Pisac Archaeological Park

Pisac is the fourth destination that we propose. Pisac has different tourist options, which can be attended before or after visiting the archaeological park. You can visit the Andean market or go to the Sarapampa hacienda, among other activities. You can also enjoy the gastronomy of the place and try the different variations of chicha, the traditional drink of the Inca empire.

• a. Location and accessibility
  • This archaeological park is less than an hour away. Exactly 34 km. from the imperial city of Cusco.
  • The route to take is: Cusco to Urubamba.
  • To get to this park, there are two options: walk from the district of Pisac to the park for about an hour to an hour and thirty minutes; the other option is to take a bus service where the trip will be 30 minutes.
  • Although it may seem complicated, accessibility is increased by the immediate availability of buses, to the venue itself.
• b. Importance
  • Pisac is considered one of the most important Inca cemeteries.
  • Despite some looting and destruction, this park still preserves a large number of buildings in good condition.
  • You can see overlapping terraces, some ceremonial baths.
  • Temples of great variety, but all with delicate granite carvings.
  • There is the temple of the sun, water wells, different constructions of Inca origin.
• c. Price and opening hours
  • The entrance fee for foreign tourists is: S/130 (BTI-E) or S/70 (BTP-E-III).
  • The entrance fee for Peruvian tourists is: S/ 70 (BTI-N) or S/ 40 (BTP-N-III).
  • The attention is during the days of the week from 7:00 to 18:00.

5) Raqchi Archaeological Park

The last option is further away from the rest. From Cusco it can take a day to visit. However, access is quite simple as we will see later. Raqchi has some museums near the archaeological park. It also has a small chapel of colonial origin. 10 minutes from this community is the district of Tinta, where you can visit the House of Tupac Amaru II and a colonial church very similar to the Checacupe temple.

• a. Location and accessibility
  • Perhaps this is the destination that requires more travel. Raqchi is 120 km away from Cusco.
  • Travel time will be 2 hours and 30 minutes. However, the archaeological park is a few meters from the bus stop,
  • The way to get there is through the route: Cusco – Sicuani. Located in the district of San Pedro in the Cusco province of Canchis.
  • The price of a bus trip from Cusco can vary from 10 to 15 soles.
  • It’s a great place to hang out with everyone in the family.
  • The accessibility of the place is not complicated, much less to go around it.
• b. Importance
  • It is considered an important complex, very similar in importance, as Machupicchu.
  • It is a sacred place, whose heyday was generated at the end of the 15th century.
  • It has an extension of more than a thousand hectares and in the surroundings it is said that you can find some tombs, pre-Inca constructions and some aqueducts.
  • You can visit different venues, such as the most emblematic, which is the Huiracocha Temple. It is estimated that these walls could easily reach 20 meters high. It has some doors and windows.
  • There is a large presence of colcas that served as food stores in the heyday of Raqchi.
  • Precincts included as barracks and some dwellings are shown. Likewise, you can see parts of the Qhapac Ñan routes.
• c. Price and opening hours
  • The entrance fee is 10 soles.
  • The attention is during the days of the week from 7:00 to 18:00.

By Machupicchu Terra – Last updated, August 28, 2023