Free Inca Walking Tour

Explore the Inca history of Cusco on a free two-hour walking tour run on GuruWalk. A local guide leads the way, and the walk operates on a pay-what-you-want basis.

Overview

This is a free walking tour listed on GuruWalk: there is no fixed ticket price, and you pay the guide what you want at the end. This is a two-hour walking tour of Inca Cusco, run in English and Spanish, and it works on a tip basis: booking costs nothing and guests pay the guide what they feel the walk was worth at the end. Guides with a background in archaeology, history and anthropology lead the route through the historic center, focusing on the Inca city that sits beneath the colonial one. Expect talk of palaces, temples, the engineering behind Inca stonework, and the Andean worldview that made Cusco the spiritual center of the Tawantinsuyo.

The walk begins at the Cathedral corner on Calle Marques, where guides in a company t-shirt gather the group. Confirmed stops include the Plaza de Armas, Kusicancha and the Twelve-Angled Stone, with more sites spread across an eight-stop route through the old Hanan Qosqo sector. Along the way, guides share stories that reviewers still repeat afterward, such as the city being laid out in the shape of a puma.

One reviewer recommends this walk for a first day in the city, since it covers the key spots and gives enough context on the city's culture and heritage to make sense of everything that follows on a longer stay.

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Cathedral cornerThe group gathers at C. Marques 219, on the Cathedral corner of the Plaza de Armas. Look for the guide in the company t-shirt.
2. Plaza de Armas de CuscoThe walk starts in the main square, with an introduction to the city's history and layout.
3. KusicanchaThe route continues to this archaeological site among the streets of the historic center, where guides interpret the remains of the Inca city.
4. Piedra de los 12 angulosThe walk reaches the Twelve-Angled Stone, a chance to hear how Inca walls were engineered and fitted.
5. Further stops on the routeThe full route has 8 stops in total; the listing shows only the first 3, so the remaining stops are not named in advance.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk before you book.

• Bring cash for the tip. Booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.
• Pace and fitness. The tour lasts two hours on foot through the historic center. Reviewers describe the guides as informative and passionate about Inca history, but you should be comfortable walking for that stretch.
• Best on day one. One reviewer recommends this walk for a first day in the city. It covers the key spots and gives historical and cultural grounding for the rest of a stay.
• Guides rotate. Different guides lead this tour, and reviews across several of them describe the same thing: informative, friendly hosts with a real passion for Inca history. Do not expect one specific guide.
• Meeting point logistics. There is no pickup or hotel transfer. You meet at the Cathedral corner on C. Marques and look for the guide in the company t-shirt, so arrive a little early to find the group.
• Language. The tour runs in English and Spanish. If you need another language, check with the operator through the booking page before you go.

Common issues. The route lists 8 stops but the listing only names the first 3, so you will not know every stop in advance. There is no pickup, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point at the Cathedral corner. As with any free walking tour, a tip at the end is expected even though booking costs nothing. One reviewer mentioned stops at a chocolate museum and a tourist shop during their walk.

Common Questions