Cusco Old Town Walking Tour: A Detailed Review

Planning a trip to Cusco and thinking that, perhaps, you might take a wander through its iconic Old Town? You know, it’s almost essential when visiting this Peruvian gem. So, let’s take a look at the ‘Cusco Centro Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour’ – is that something that really fits the bill, or could be, maybe, you know, it falls short? We are going to cover everything. That means you can decide if that, perhaps, is the top way for you to experience all that history and beautiful architecture.

Why Choose a Walking Tour of Cusco’s Old Town?

Ok, so, you might be asking yourself that why exactly should you even consider hoofing it around Cusco instead of grabbing a bus, could be, right? Well, frankly, a walking tour actually lets you soak in that charm at a slower pace. It’s like this: that way you actually notice, I mean really see, the unique details in those architecture, you get to, just maybe, stumble upon cute little side streets, plus you can ask questions along the way and basically get a way more personalized experience. You get way more up close than if you are on a bus tour.

And, actually, when you are talking about a city that’s just packed with this amazing history like Cusco, that having a knowledgeable guide is super great. They sort of, actually, bring everything to life – those stories about the Incas, the Spanish conquistadors, plus just that blend of cultures actually become super vivid when someone’s there, almost, filling in all the details and adding those details.

What the ‘Cusco Centro Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour’ Offers

So, basically, this tour, really, focuses on showing off that main stuff that Cusco has on offer, is that not the case? And that actually includes visiting places, you know, like the Plaza de Armas, which, for instance, is the city’s very heart, and then the Cusco Cathedral, a building which is absolutely jaw-dropping that everyone really wants to see. Plus, often, tours will also, in some respects, take you to the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) – is that not what people want, by the way?

But, I mean, one of the best things about picking a “private” tour is, I think, it’s really just the flexibility that you can get. And that means that you can move at whatever speed you fancy, could be, if something really grabs your attention you, you know, just maybe, can hang out there for a bit. Plus, you can sort of tailor it; that is, tell the guide that things you are keen on checking out and just bypass all that other stuff which really is of no interest to you.

Now, in practice, what that looks like is maybe that if you are seriously into architecture that you can ask them to chat more on the Cusco Cathedral’s construction plus any artistic style that you are thinking about. Or just maybe that if you are interested in Incan history, that you could, as a matter of fact, spend a bit longer at Qorikancha listening to how vital it was.

A Closer Look at the Key Stops

Plaza de Armas

So, this bustling plaza, actually, sits right in the center of Cusco. Very, very historically that was like the core of Cusco right from when the Incas controlled that. And now you’ll be able to find that surrounded by beautiful buildings with great big balconies, is that something that strikes you, too?

As a matter of fact, during Incan times, this, in a way, used to hold massive ceremonies plus celebrations, which is not very surprising, as such, that’s remained just a pretty key spot up to this very day.

Cusco Cathedral

Speaking of Cusco, the Cusco Cathedral’s one stunning sight – could be, honestly. You know, I mean, its construction, apparently, started, possibly, in the 1500s and it took almost a hundred years to finish that thing, which really gives it like an awesome, sort of, historical vibe.

Also, it blends that Gothic with Renaissance styles so wonderfully, it houses just a stack of artwork too that comes with like a mix of both that European influence along with local indigenous artists flair. So really you could be wandering round for ages to really see all that.

Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)

Now Qorikancha – wow, in my opinion – is, in short, a super vital Incan temple which the Incas originally dedicated to the sun. By the way, the gold walls once apparently reflected a light, sort of, dazzling anyone nearby.

Yet after that the Spanish rocked up, as you likely can predict, they put up the Convent of Santo Domingo right on top which kind of creates this quite striking clash and mixture of architecture that just begs people to think on how all that history interplays there.

What to Expect from the Guide

Really, a guide may be your best mate whilst you’re getting around. The kind you wanna get, basically, is someone that knows that history backwards, knows Cusco’s past but then just puts across all that history in just this enthusiastic plus fun style so people actually feel a part of it. At times they may even get into things that you might not see within those history books.

Yet on top of all that historical knowledge, an awesome guide knows where those ideal little hidden spots sit – like your local bakery to grab empanadas, I would argue, or whatever viewpoint most people don’t know about. They will likely dish the dirt too regarding those great spots for photos.

Also a cracking guide, clearly, caters for everyone on this walking tour, as such, modifying their route or maybe how deep they go in any given detail in line with everyone else in this group. Also, they, arguably, deal perfectly well with questions coming their way so that this whole tour ends up way more appealing too, just the same as it becoming educational.

The Pros and Cons of a Private Tour

There are, possibly, stacks of amazing ups-sides which can come of that tour being private. I mean for beginners it’s seriously bespoke to whoever is taking that; you can change this path if the mood rocks you, linger that touch longer at any museum or monument in case anything is appealing. And then just skip stuff that might bore you in case historical knitting doesn’t interest anyone. By the way, you may actually even feel far braver asking loads of those random randoms questions. That ends up becoming, seemingly, a seriously satisfying exploration when it comes to anyone loving this individual touch.

Nonetheless the downside might be obviously a price factor. Those private tours, really, regularly ask for serious cash in contrast with, basically, this massive bunch outing in which expenses divide within groups of people. Even though loads of people consider how much they’re improving this adventure is justifiable particularly anyone hoping to dodge all that craziness regarding groups in bigger sizes.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Walking Tour

Firstly it might make that experience more easy should you prep those feet on top of everything else, because those streets are definitely cobblestone ones so just throw on anything you walk in which helps and, honestly, stops people ending up rubbing blister-creams all trip, it really sucks to have rubbing blisters on this adventure, basically.

Yet with Cusco standing really tall altitude-wise, anyone taking that trek actually requires to take hydration seriously; transport with you liquid in great plenty which really helps hold altitude-sickness feelings in check which means there’s not really as many disruptions coming to what happens during sightseeing.

Then I’d argue it helps checking ahead for weather scenarios because mountainous conditions actually shift quickly. Basically bring coats and then light tops you, that is, actually ready if that sunshine ends up changing, as I was saying.

Other Walking Tour Options in Cusco

Other stuff exists other than private explorations too should they turn costly, obviously! Is that not so, honestly? And that’s just where taking little wanderings inside groups might just offer amazing economics although you end up sharing these times alongside others along their voyages just in case all that flexibility shrinks along this outing compared against the kind you customize totally personally like those before it were mentioned just ahead.

And I will add there are loads of theme expeditions in which leaders emphasize certain topics so deeply such that, maybe, it becomes trips highlighting Incan sites mostly and anyone into architecture mainly, then sometimes certain wanders center those shopping avenues in contrast, I would argue.

Now, it could be too, honestly, some roam gratis or else what they phone as pay-what-you-think-it’s-okay-with-after excursions although that part really might need some consideration to anyone deciding that way simply to just know any leaders count entirely as tipping – this thing is that free hardly arrives free ever because someone might want their fair money eventually – actually.

Is the ‘Cusco Centro Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour’ Worth It?

Really in short, deciding whether shelling cash in Cusco especially on one private walking trek deserves this judgement boils almost wholly to your own requirements/likings in travel so.

If you actually care that things shift perfectly to the specific, the ability for deeper-dive querying-then with avoiding massive crowd numbers? Actually, it is yes every ounce deserved due mainly to just personalized learnings obtained while at ancient settings throughout the Old Town, like yours!

Then perhaps someone feeling more content wandering those avenues through more economics may feel just wonderfully catered with group/self running trips – honestly. I suppose weighting all your top desired must-gets along with your monetary restrictions lets travelers settle reasonably with treks as their thing!

• Personalized exploration of Cusco’s Old Town.
• Flexible itinerary to match your interests.
• In-depth historical plus cultural insight coming just directly through experts who know what happens where and when at Old Cusco now days too
• Bypassing bigger number events which sometimes hinder getting personally-involved insight inside sights especially significant really always really
• Potentially fairly higher charges really does warrant considering properly dependent entirely off individual touring budget planning things clearly.