9:00 AM – HOTEL PICKUP & START OF THE CUSCO CHURCHES TOUR
Your Cusco Churches Tour begins at approximately 9:00 AM with pickup from your hotel in or near Cusco’s historic center. You will meet your professional guide and receive a short introduction to the history of Cusco, from its importance as the capital of the Inca Empire to the profound transformations that took place following the arrival of the Spanish.
Most of today’s tour is completed on foot through the historic center, allowing you to appreciate Cusco’s streets, plazas, colonial buildings, and original Inca stonework along the way.
9:15 AM – CUSCO CATHEDRAL
Our first major visit is the impressive Cusco Cathedral, located in the Plaza de Armas. Built during the Spanish colonial period, the cathedral is one of the most important religious monuments in Peru.
Inside, you can appreciate elaborate wooden altars, religious sculptures, silverwork, and an exceptional collection of paintings from the Cusco School of Painting. Your guide will explain how European Christian traditions were combined with Andean artistic elements, creating a distinctive style that developed in Cusco during the colonial period.
10:30 AM – CHURCH OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS
We continue to the Church of the Society of Jesus (Compañía de Jesús), another magnificent religious monument located directly on Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. The church is particularly known for its impressive façade, richly decorated interior, monumental altar, and beautiful examples of colonial religious art. Your guide will explain the influence of the Jesuits in colonial Cusco and the historical importance of the site on which the church was constructed.
11:30 AM – SANTA CATALINA CHURCH & CONVENT
Our next stop is the Santa Catalina Church and Convent, located in the historic center on an area historically associated with the Inca ceremonial complex of Acllawasi. This visit provides an interesting perspective on how religious spaces changed after the Spanish conquest and how colonial institutions were established over important areas of the former Inca capital.
12:15 PM – LA MERCED CHURCH & CONVENT
We then visit the historic La Merced Church and Convent, one of Cusco’s most significant colonial religious complexes. The convent is known for its beautiful colonial architecture, peaceful cloisters, religious artwork, and important historical objects. During the visit, your guide will explain the role of the Mercedarian order and its influence during the colonial period.
1:00 PM – LUNCH BREAK
At approximately 1:00 PM, we will take a break for lunch at a restaurant in Cusco’s historic center. This is also an opportunity to rest before continuing with the afternoon portion of the tour.
2:00 PM – SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH & CONVENT
After lunch, we continue to the San Francisco Church and Convent, another important example of Cusco’s colonial religious heritage.
The complex contains colonial artwork, historic architecture, religious paintings, and impressive interior spaces that reflect the influence of the Franciscan order in Cusco.
Your guide will provide historical context and explain some of the most important artistic and architectural features of the complex.
3:15 PM – COLONIAL CUSCO & ADDITIONAL RELIGIOUS SITES
During the afternoon, we continue walking through the historic center to discover additional churches, chapels, colonial buildings, and religious landmarks.
Depending on opening hours and access on the day of your tour, the guide may include additional sites or exterior visits to other historically important religious monuments.
Along the way, you will also observe how Inca stone foundations and Spanish colonial architecture coexist throughout Cusco, providing one of the clearest examples of the cultural transformation that shaped the modern city.
4:30 PM – PLAZA DE ARMAS & FINAL EXPLANATION
We return toward the Plaza de Armas, where your guide will provide a final explanation about the evolution of Cusco from the capital of the Inca Empire to one of the most important colonial cities in the Andes.
This is also a great opportunity to ask questions, take photographs, and appreciate the remarkable architectural contrast between Cusco’s Inca foundations and colonial monuments.
5:00 PM – END OF THE CUSCO CHURCHES TOUR
Our Cusco Churches Tour finishes at approximately 5:00 PM in Cusco’s historic center. From here, you can continue exploring the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets independently or return to your hotel.
At the end of this full-day experience, you will have gained a deeper understanding of Cusco beyond its famous Inca heritage, discovering the colonial art, architecture, religion, and history that have also played an essential role in shaping the cultural identity of the city.
Please Note: The order of the churches and religious sites may change depending on opening hours, religious ceremonies, special events, holidays, or temporary access restrictions. Your guide will organize the most appropriate route available on the day of the tour.
TOUR SUMMARY
- Duration: Full Day
- Starting Time: Approximately 9:00 AM
- Ending Time: Approximately 5:00 PM
- Location: Historic Center of Cusco
- Tour Type: Cultural, Historical & Religious Tour
- Difficulty: Easy
- Maximum Altitude: Approximately 3,400 m / 11,155 ft
- Walking: Moderate walking through Cusco’s historic center
