TOUR IN PERU is a travel agency which is always looking to give customers the best we have available in Cusco and other destinations in our country. This is why we cover all bases: adventure, classic, spiritual, cultural, all kinds of packages. This time we will talk about the best cultural experiences, the top cultural tours for learning really typical features of our region’s history and traditions.
These tours are private, conducted by professional, native, expert guides, who have grown up here, listening and learning about the history and legends of the Andean world and later, the Inca kingdom and empire. These top cultural tours are a unique chance you won’t find anywhere else, even with specialists outside Peru; nothing can compare with the knowledge our native guides have accumulated since early childhood.
Let’s check the 5 top cultural tours we have for making your great vacation here even better!
Cusco City Downtown
Anytime you are at Cusco City’s Plaza de Armas (Main Square) remember that from there, a vast empire that reached Colombia and Argentina was ruled. The Main Square was the place where the Inca emperor and all the court lived. Unfortunately their palaces were destroyed and churches were built over them, but history still remains (the Spanish churches themselves also have their history). However, several other amazing Inca palaces can be seen nearby. Also, before the Incas became an empire, they were a regional kingdom, which left many amazing constructions downtown as well. The top one is the fantastic palace of Manco Inca, a powerful king; the palace covers an entire block, with massive green, granitic stones, which depict animal shapes and also contain hidden religious messages on its carving. Many tourists do this walk everyday, it should be in our top cultural tours. The comparison between Inca regional and imperial architecture is priceless!
The Coricancha Temple
This place was the core of Inca imperial religion; there lived the High Priest and all his shamans, who performed the rituals to worship Inca divinities like the Sun God (Inti), Pachamama (Mother Earth), and all sorts of natural elements, like water, lightning and others. Their religion was based on the belief in subtle energies within nature. Back in the days of the empire, the interior walls were covered in silver and gold, and all the statues were also golden. Nowadays, a Catholic church and monastery stand over most of the old Inca temple, but the neat interior architecture is mostly preserved. I would say this one is a must among top cultural tours in Cusco!
Saylla Village
For a change on this list of top cultural tours, a trip to one of the traditional gastronomic places for Cusco people. The small town is south of Cusco, close to 45-minute ride. There people flock to taste the delicious, yummy chicharron de cerdo, the village’s specialty. This traditional meal consists of big chunks of pork meat, with sweet potatoes, onion salad, Andean beans and peppermint. It can be a chance to try also a variety of typical soups, beverages and desserts, while enjoying beautiful natural landscapes and countryside quietude. People in Cusco go to Saylla for chicharron several times a year.
Ollantaytambo Village
A personal favorite of mine among top cultural tours! Located at the wonderful Sacred Valley, this town is a gem of the ancient Inca empire. Actually, it is called “living Inca town”, because so much is still preserved: urban design, water channels, people’s clothes, farming and so on. On the archaeological side, nothing short of spectacular: mighty hilltop constructions of barns, administration buildings, residential areas, watchtowers, religious temples. In some cases, the stones are so massive that spiritual seekers have even proposed the Incas may have had help from alien technology… all this in the middle of a surreal mountainous landscape, which actually can make you feel like exploring another planet.
Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary
Last but not least in our best, top cultural tours in Cusco, this lovely and impressive place. Actually, it is a kind of zoo and preservation project for typical Andean animals. Here it goes, all the amazing species you can only find here in their original habitat: the mighty condor, which is allowed to fly beneath a high-placed net to be photographed; Andean camels like llamas, alpacas and vicunas (don’t forget to take the famous llama selfie!); the mighty cougar, a symbol of power in all Andean culture (indeed, old Cusco City has the shape of a cougar, whose head is the Sacsayhuaman fortress); the Peruvian hairless dog, who actually came from the coast and used to hunt fish on the beach (check its paws; you will find they have small flippers!). This animal sanctuary is located close to Cusco City, on the way to Sacred Valley’s Pisac village. A must visit too in my humble opinion.
So this is it, the 5 top cultural tours in Cusco! Doing them in a private fashion is a great thing, you will have personalized services and will learn much, much more.
Talk to our staff if you also want to give a try on these top cultural tours. Cusco has everything to offer, everything it takes to make a perfect vacation time!
