Cusco is a magical city where the Inca legacy merges with the Andean landscape. Among its greatest treasures are its ancient ruins, which hold stories and mysteries of a millennial civilization. If you’re planning your next adventure in the heart of the Andes, taking the “Cusco Inca Ruins Tour” is a must-do experience that will lead you to discover the true power and beauty of this historic place.
From the majestic Sacsayhuaman to the mystical Tambomachay, each site offers a unique glimpse into the glorious past of the Incas. Keep reading to discover the best of these Inca ruins near Cusco and how to make the most of your visit.
What Are the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins?
The “4 Cusco Inca Ruins” refer to four archaeological sites located around the city of Cusco, known as Inca ruins around Cusco: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay. Each holds a unique historical and cultural significance, and together they form a popular tourist circuit that allows visitors to experience the splendor of the Inca Empire.

Explore the 4 most important archaeological sites of Cusco.
These archaeological sites, known as the “4 Cusco Inca Ruins,” are testimonies to the ingenuity and grandeur of the Inca Empire, and are some of the most significant Cusco Inca sites. According to stories and histories, they were looted and destroyed by the Spanish during their invasion. These places not only reflect the technical mastery of the Incas but are also fundamental for understanding the history of the Inca civilization in its religious, military, and social aspects.
Why Visit the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour?
Taking the “Cusco Inca Ruins Tour” offers an enriching experience for history lovers as well as archaeology and culture enthusiasts interested in Inca sites near Cusco. Each site provides a unique insight into the Inca past, allowing visitors to appreciate the complexity and beauty of their architecture.
- By touring the “4 Cusco Inca Ruins,” you’ll be transported to a time when the Incas dominated the region. You can imagine daily life, rituals, and the importance of these sacred places.
- The precision in the stone construction and the complexity of the designs will leave you astonished. Inca engineering was advanced for its time and remains surprising even today.
- A tour guide will explain the history, significance, and importance of each ruin, enriching your experience.
- You will discover the Andean worldview and how the Incas saw the world and their relationship with nature.
- The ruins offer spectacular settings for photos that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
- Many of the ruins are surrounded by beautiful landscapes, allowing you to enjoy nature while learning about history.
Archaeological Sites of the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins:
Sacsayhuaman
What Is Sacsayhuaman?
The Archaeological Complex of Sacsayhuaman is an impressive Inca fortress, considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Inca architecture and a living testimony to the technological advancement of this civilization. Normally, this will be your first place of stop on the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour.

Get up close to the most imposing constructions of the Inca culture.
History and Significance
It is believed that the construction of Sacsayhuaman began in the 15th century under the mandate of Inca Pachacutec. Its main function was to protect the city of Cusco and also serve as a ceremonial and religious center.
Regarding its significance, it is known that the word Sacsayhuaman comes from Quechua and translates to “place where the hawk is satiated.” However, there are various interpretations due to the importance of this bird in the Andean worldview.
Architectural Features:
- Enormous stones: The stones used in the construction of Sacsayhuaman are of impressive size and weight, some weighing several tons.
- Precision in construction: The stones fit together perfectly without the need for mortar, demonstrating a high level of knowledge in engineering and architecture.
- Shape of a puma’s head: It is believed that the overall shape of Sacsayhuaman represents the head of a puma, a sacred animal for the Incas.
How to Get There:
Sacsayhuaman is located about 2 km from the center of Cusco, making it one of the most accessible Inca ruins near Cusco. This represents about a 40-minute walk or a 15-minute taxi ride from Cusco’s main square. For greater convenience, many visitors prefer to take a taxi from the city center or visit it with a booked tour, as the route is uphill.
Visiting Hours:
The archaeological site is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee for National Tourists and CAN Citizens:
To enter Sacsayhuaman, you need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which has two types of rates: one for foreign tourists and another for national tourists (Peruvians).
Rates for Foreign Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 130.00 – Valid for 10 days and includes 16 tourist sites in Cusco.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, depending on the chosen circuit.
Rates for National Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 10 days, covering the same 16 sites as the integral ticket for foreigners.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 40.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, depending on the chosen circuit.
Qenqo
What Is Qenqo?
The most enigmatic archaeological center of the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour, whose name translates to “Labyrinth,” referring to the underground galleries and channels carved into the rocks of the place.

Explore every space of the most enigmatic place on the Cusco Inca Ruins tour and recharge your energies.
Function
It is believed that Qenqo was an important Inca ceremonial center where rituals and offerings to the gods were performed, such as:
- Religious ceremonies: Rituals were conducted in honor of the gods, especially those related to fertility and the earth.
- Offerings: Offerings of food, drinks, and valuable objects were made to the gods.
- Rites of passage: It may have been a space to celebrate rites of passage, such as births, deaths, or changes in social status.
What to See in Qenqo?
- Underground galleries: A labyrinth of tunnels and passages that delve into the mountain, creating a mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere.
- Zigzag channels: These channels, carved into the rock, may have had a ritual or symbolic meaning related to water and fertility.
- Carved rock: The large central rock of Qenqo presents a series of concavities and channels that suggest it was used to make liquid offerings.
- Altar: At the top of the hill, there is an altar where ceremonies were held outdoors.
How to Get There
Qenqo is about 3 km from the center of Cusco and is generally visited along with other sites on the circuit of the 4 ruins. You can get there by taxi or with an organized tour that includes this and other nearby Cusco Inca sites.
Visiting Hours
Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee
To enter Qenqo, you need the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which has options for national and foreign tourists.
- Foreign Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 130.00 – Valid for 10 days, includes 16 archaeological sites and museums in Cusco.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days.
- National Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 10 days, covering the same 16 sites.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 40.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days.
Puka Pukara
What Is Puka Pukara?
Also known as “Puca Pucara,” it is an archaeological center that, translated to English, means “The Red Fortress,” due to the peculiar reddish color its walls acquire at sunset and the result of mineral erosion in the area. Although it is the smallest archaeological site on the Cusco Inca Ruins tour.

The smallest but not least important “Red Fortress.”
The Red Fortress and Its Function
Although there is still debate about the exact function of Puka Pukara, it is believed that the place served as a defensive military fortress due to its strategic location on a hill overlooking the Cusco valley.
On the other hand, evidence has been found indicating that the place was an administrative center for agricultural resources and possibly a resting place for the Inca entourage going to Tambomachay.
Architectural Features
- Stone walls: Its walls are built with finely carved stones that fit perfectly, a typical characteristic of Inca architecture.
- Terraces and platforms: It features a system of terraces and platforms that served to optimize land use and for agriculture.
- Water channels: Remains of water channels have been found that supplied the fortress and its surroundings.
How to Get There
Puka Pukara is about 4.7 km from the center of Cusco and is generally visited along with the other ruins on the circuit. You can get there by taxi or by hiring a tour that includes the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins.
Visiting Hours
Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee
To enter Puka Pukara, you need the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which has rates for nationals and foreigners.
- Foreign Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 130.00 – Valid for 10 days, includes 16 archaeological sites and museums in Cusco.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, covering the Puka Pukara circuit and other sites on the same route.
- National Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 10 days, including the same 16 sites.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 40.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, including only the Puka Pukara circuit and nearby sites.
Tambomachay
What Is Tambomachay?
Tambomachay is a highly famous and fascinating archaeological site due to its great architecture and hydraulic system. Standing out from the other complexes on the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour for its religious architecture as a homage to water. Its name translates to “Place of Rest,” suggesting that the place was used as a site of worship and relaxation for the Inca nobility.

The sacred space of water worship of the Incas.
Hydraulic Architecture “A Sanctuary of Water”
One of the most outstanding features of Tambomachay is its water channels, which flow through finely carved rocks, forming small waterfalls. Together with the site’s pools and fountains, they denote this place as a sanctuary to the vital element of water, fundamental for understanding the Inca worldview.
What Can You See at Tambomachay?
When visiting Tambomachay, you can appreciate:
- Water channels: A complex system of channels that transport water through the rocks.
- Waterfalls: Small waterfalls created by the water channels.
- Pools: Enclosures where water accumulated to perform rituals.
- Carved rocks: Stones finely carved with shapes reminiscent of fountains and benches.
How to Get There
Tambomachay is another fascinating Inca site near Cusco, located about 6.5 km from the city center. It is usually visited as part of the circuit of the 4 ruins. You can get there by taxi or as part of a tour (City Tour) that includes other nearby sites.
Visiting Hours
Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee
To enter Tambomachay, you need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which offers rates for national and foreign tourists.
-
Foreign Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 130.00 – Valid for 10 days, includes 16 archaeological sites and museums in Cusco.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, covering the Tambomachay circuit and other sites on the same route.
-
National Tourists
- Integral Ticket: S/ 70.00 – Valid for 10 days, includes the same 16 sites.
- Partial Tickets: S/ 40.00 – Valid for 1 or 2 days, including only the Tambomachay circuit and nearby sites.
Information About the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour
Where to Stay Before the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour?
The main recommendation is that your stay is preferably in accommodation located in the central and tourist area of the city of Cusco. This will allow you to access different services such as food and transportation more quickly and safely.
Also highlighting that many of the tours, including the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour, depart from these meeting points, and in case your purchased package includes pick-up from your hotel, it should be located in the recommended area.
Where Does the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour Start and End?
The Cusco Inca Ruins Tour begins in the city of Cusco, usually with the pick-up of visitors from their hotel or a central meeting point (Main Square). From there, the tour visits the following nearby archaeological ruins:
- Sacsayhuaman: An impressive fortress located about 2 km from Cusco, famous for its enormous perfectly fitted stones.
- Qenqo: A ceremonial site with underground passages and areas carved into rock believed to have been used for rituals.
- Puca Pucara: An ancient military construction that probably served as a checkpoint in Inca times.
- Tambomachay: A site associated with water worship, known for its ceremonial fountains and channel systems.
The tour starts and ends in Cusco, after visiting all the archaeological sites, leaving tourists again in the city center.

Inca sites included in the “Cusco Inca Ruins” tour
What Does It Include?
The Cusco Inca Ruins Tour includes:
- Briefing before starting the tour.
- Professional guide (English/Spanish).
- Tourist transportation (start to finish).
- Medical kit.
Does Not Include:
- Entrance tickets (Tourist Ticket)
- Travel insurance.
- Tips.
- Additional costs.
Best Time to Visit?
Definitely, your experience during the tour of the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins will be influenced depending on the weather and the season in which you travel.
- Weather in Cusco: Like much of the highlands, the weather in Cusco is governed by 2 well-marked seasons: the rainy season (November – March) and the dry season (April – October), the latter being ideal for outdoor tours like the Cusco Inca Ruins circuit.
- High and low season: Likewise, you should choose between the season with the highest influx of travelers (dry season) or the one with fewer travelers (rainy season).
- Special events: If you like to enjoy festivities, we recommend traveling in June and July, two very festive months in the city of Cusco.
What to Bring to the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour?
Essential List:
- Water: Stay hydrated during the tour, especially due to the altitude.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses: The sun in Cusco is strong, even on cloudy days.
- Hat or cap: Protect your face and neck from direct sun.
- Camera or phone with a full battery: The views are impressive, and you’ll want to capture every moment.
- Light snacks: Energy bars or nuts can be useful to recharge your energy.
- Cash: Some sites charge entrance fees and may not accept cards.
Clothing Tips:
- Breathable and layered clothing: Start with a lightweight long or short-sleeved shirt. Over it, add a sweater you can remove when it gets warm.
- Comfortable pants: Preferably trekking or sports pants that allow mobility and are suitable for walking.
- Thermal socks: Recommended in case temperatures drop, especially in the morning.
- Comfortable shoes: Preferably trekking boots or sneakers for safely walking on uneven terrain.
- Waterproof or windbreaker jacket: The weather can be unpredictable, so it’s good to be prepared for light rain.
With this list and clothing tips, you’ll be ready to enjoy the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour to the fullest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Do the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour on My Own?
Yes, you only need to have purchased your Partial Tourist Ticket I, which you can buy at its main office on Av. El Sol or at the different control zones before starting the tour.
How to Get to the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins?
To visit the impressive 4 Cusco Inca Ruins, or Inca ruins near Cusco, there are currently various alternatives that adjust to the economy, preferences, and time of each traveler. This allows you to visit them on your own or through a travel agency (recommended).
Transportation Options
- Public service: There is a transportation line called “Huerto,” whose route passes through the different archaeological centers of the 4 Cusco Inca Ruins until reaching Tambomachay. The fare is 2.00 soles as of the blog’s publication date.
- Taxis: They are a much more comfortable and private option, which can be hired to tour the different points of the 4 ruins circuit. However, the price is usually much higher compared to public service.
- Guided tours: They are your best option as they provide a complete experience with professional guides and suitable transportation to enjoy the landscapes throughout the tour.
- Group: It is the most economical option with an average price of 15 dollars per person and allows you to share the experience with other travelers.
- Private: Ideal if you’re traveling with family or friends, allowing you to enjoy the entire trip exclusively and at your own pace.
How Much Does the Entrance for the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour Cost?
To access the archaeological centers of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, you must purchase Partial Tourist Ticket 1, which currently costs S/.70.00 (PEN) for foreigners. It is only valid for 1 day.
How Long Does the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour Last?
The Cusco Inca Ruins Tour usually lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours, giving you enough time to get to know each place in depth.
Plus: Qoricancha
What Is Qoricancha?
Qorikancha, also known as “Coricancha” or “Temple of the Sun,” is one of the most important religious centers of the Inca Empire, being one of the most sacred buildings in all of America. Due to its location, the Incas considered it the “navel of the world.”
Although this place is not part of the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour, you can include it in your visit to the famous “City Tour.” Remember that it has its own entrance ticket, costing PEN 20.00.

Qoricancha, the center of the world for the Incas.
The Temple of the Sun: History and Significance
The word Qoricancha comes from Quechua and translates to “Golden Enclosure” or “Temple of Gold,” reflecting the importance the enclosure had for the Incas. According to history, it is believed that the temple and surroundings were filled with gold and silver sculptures, representing the empire’s flora and fauna.
Fusion of Cultures
With the arrival of the Spanish, Qoricancha underwent a radical transformation, as the conquerors destroyed much of the temple and used its precious materials to enrich themselves. Later, on the remaining foundations, the Spanish decided to build the “Convent of Santo Domingo,” which can be visited today.
What to See Inside the Qoricancha Temple?
Despite the damage and alterations suffered, during your tour you can still appreciate some of the original Inca walls of Qoricancha, built with finely carved stones adorned with Inca motifs. You can also observe the foundations of the ancient structures and some remains of the gold and silver sculptures.
Visiting Qoricancha is a unique experience that will allow you to:
- Connect with history: Immerse yourself in the history of the Inca Empire and understand the importance this place had for their culture.
- Admire Inca architecture: Appreciate the beauty and precision of Inca architecture.
- Discover the fusion of cultures: Learn how Inca and Spanish cultures mixed in this place.
Conclusion About the Cusco Inca Ruins Tour
The Cusco Inca Ruins Tour is much more than a simple visit to archaeological sites. It’s an immersion into the grandeur of a civilization that left its mark on every stone, every temple, and every landscape of the Cusco Inca sites. By touring Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay, you’ll be transported to the heart of the Inca world and feel the connection between its glorious past and the timeless beauty of the Andes.
Remember that you can also create a more extensive travel package by combining it with expeditions to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, such as the Sacred Valley Tour and Inca Trail.
If you’re looking for an experience that combines history, adventure, and nature, this tour is a must-stop on your journey. Get ready to take away more than photos; you’ll carry with you the essence of Cusco and its eternal legacy!