South Valley Ruins Tour

Discover the South Valley of Cusco

The South Valley Ruins Tour takes you beyond the typical tourist circuit to three remarkable sites south of Cusco: Tipón, Pikillacta, and Andahuaylillas. This half-day journey reveals a side of Peruvian history that most visitors miss — from Inca hydraulic engineering masterpieces to a pre-Inca Wari civilization city to one of the most ornate colonial churches in South America.

Your private guide picks you up from your hotel and drives approximately 30 minutes southeast along the Cusco-Puno highway, returning via the same route with stops at each site.

Tipón — Masterpiece of Inca Hydraulic Engineering

Tipón is considered one of the finest examples of Inca water engineering anywhere in Peru. Terraced gardens fed by an intricate network of channels, aqueducts, and fountains demonstrate the Inca mastery of hydraulics that modern engineers still study today. The irrigation system is so well designed that water still flows through the original channels after more than 500 years. The site sits in a dramatic mountain setting and sees far fewer visitors than the ruins closer to Cusco.

Pikillacta — The Pre-Inca Wari City

Pikillacta is the only major pre-Inca archaeological site in the Cusco region, built by the Wari civilization around 600-1100 AD — centuries before the Inca Empire. This massive urban complex covers over 2 square kilometers with rows of identical buildings, plazas, and defensive walls reaching up to 12 meters high. The geometric grid pattern reveals a highly organized civilization that influenced Inca urban planning. Walking among these ruins with mountain and lake views provides perspective on Peru’s layered pre-Columbian history.

Andahuaylillas — The Sistine Chapel of the Americas

The Church of San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas is an unassuming adobe exterior that conceals one of the most spectacular baroque interiors in South America. Built by Jesuits in the late 16th century, the church features floor-to-ceiling murals, gilded altarpieces, and artwork attributed to Luis de Riaño and the Cusco School of painting. The contrast between the humble mud-brick exterior and the explosion of gold, color, and artistry inside is unforgettable. This church earned its nickname “The Sistine Chapel of the Americas” for the quality and scale of its interior decoration.

A Journey Through Three Civilizations

What makes this tour unique is the historical range it covers: Wari pre-Inca ruins (Pikillacta), Inca engineering (Tipón), and Spanish colonial art (Andahuaylillas) — three civilizations in one half-day experience. It pairs perfectly with a Cusco city tour or 4 ruins tour on a separate day for a comprehensive understanding of the region’s history.