Walking Tours

Sacsayhuamán and Cristo Blanco Self-Guided Audio Walk: Inca Walls, Stone Channels and Down to the Plaza

Start at the white Christ above Cusco and walk downhill past Sacsayhuamán to the Plaza de Armas.
See Inca stone channels, the Sapantiana arches, San Cristóbal's niche wall and, if you go in, the zigzag walls.
Discover why the Spaniards called Sacsayhuamán a fortress while Cusco called it the House of the Sun.
Follow the hill's water and stone down into the city, ending on the square they helped build.
10 stops over 1.3 km, about 2 hours, with English and Spanish audio you start whenever you like.

Self-guided audio tour, English and Spanish
10 stops, 1.3 km, 2 hours- Visit Sacsayhuamán, Cristo Blanco, Sapantiana, San Cristóbal, Plaza de Armas
GPS map and walking directions in your phone browser
Lifetime access to the tour, start anytime
Entry to Sacsayhuamán not included, 70 soles

Entry fees to Sacsayhuamán and other sites
Food and drinks
Tips or gratuities
Live guide
Museum and monument tickets

체험 시작 24시간 전까지( 24 ) 티켓을 취소하고 전액 환불받을 수 있습니다.

The Spaniards called Sacsayhuamán a fortress, because they had to fight for it in 1536. The people of Cusco, a chronicler wrote, called it the House of the Sun. This walk starts on the hill and comes down the way its water and much of its stone came down into the city.
Begin at Cristo Blanco, the white Christ over Cusco, then follow a stream the Incas lined with stone, down an old road beside it, past the old stone arches of Sapantiana to an Inca prince's church beside an Inca wall of eleven niches. With a ticket, step inside to the giant zigzag walls, a round tower's foundations and a slide of polished rock. The outside walk works on its own.
Ten stops, about 1.3 km and 75 minutes (about two hours with the inside visit), nearly all downhill, in English and Spanish, at your own pace. Start with a short taxi ride up. Steep stone steps at high altitude, three road crossings with no signal. Sacsayhuamán entry (Boleto Turístico) is not included.

What to bring

Tour access code: Enter the ticket code from your confirmation on the Roamer page before you set off, while you have signal.

Phone and earphones: Bring a fully charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided audio tour.

Mobile data or Wi-Fi prep: Use mobile data if possible, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before you start walking.

Footwear: Wear sturdy walking shoes, as the route includes steep stone steps and uneven paths.

Daylight timing: Plan to walk in daylight, ideally in the morning, while the park is open.

What's not allowed

Park rules: Do not climb on the walls, and do not bring food inside the archaeological park.

Substances: Do not bring spirits into the park and avoid drinking them during your first 48 hours at altitude.

Drones and animals: Do not use drones without a permit, and do not bring animals into the park.

Accessibility

Wheelchair and stroller access: The walk is not step-free and is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Terrain: The route includes steep stone steps, a long stairway, and the Pumacurco steps without a handrail.

Additional information

Tour format: This is a self-guided audio walk, so there is no live guide on the route.

Opening hours: The archaeological park is open daily from 07:00 to 17:30.

Start point access: To reach Cristo Blanco, take a taxi from Plaza de Armas and agree on the fare before you get in.

Tickets for Sacsayhuamán: Sacsayhuamán uses the Boleto Turístico partial ticket for Circuit I, valid for one day for foreign visitors.

Road crossings: You cross Don Bosco road three times with no crossing, so look both ways and cross quickly.

Daylight only: Walk only in daylight, as the park closes at 17:30 and hillside paths are unlit after dark.

Altitude advice: The walk starts at about 3,570 meters, so follow CDC advice to do only mild exercise and avoid spirits for 48 hours.

Altitude symptoms: If you feel a severe headache, nausea, or dizziness, you should stop, rest, and descend to a lower altitude.

Route length and time: The audio walk covers about 1.3 km with 10 stops and takes around 2 hours at a gentle pace.

Lifetime access: You have lifetime access to the tour, so you can start any day, at any hour, and replay it.