Tipon
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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1,113 reviews
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Willowbroom Sam
Houston, TX1,231 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Great Architecture and Water System. According to history the two brothers of Incas were at loggerheads. The father wanted the sons to make peace. So one son went to meet the other and was ambushed (at the behest of the father). But he prevailed and killed his half-brother(?) and was forced to arrest and exile his father here. I could not find reference to this but this is what the guide told me. A beautiful palace with irrigation systems was built. There are two sources of water with exclusive hydraulic engineering. One source comes from the mountains and one from a natural spring. The spring is providing water at 50 liters per second. Stepped terraces are available but the guide told me it was most likely that only garden flowers were grown. I did see a place for food storage. I did it trek further up due to lack of time .
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah G
30 contributions
We had a passing day in cusco to enjoy so decided to make our way here. When we got to the admission box we were told we had to purchase a ticket for various sites around Cusco, and that to pay to just see this site is not possible. We tried the 'slip them 20 soles' technique someone on here suggested but it didn't work. They've possibly clamped down on that in recent months. Anyway I think it's pretty ridiculous you have to pay for a 130 soles ticket that 'entitles' you to see places you may not want/ have the time to see. This place just represents the very worst part of visiting cusco - they try to milk tourists for all they're worth.
Written November 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zelanie
Corvallis, OR14 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
We visited Tipón as a day trip and not part of a tour, and it was hard to find transportation info, so here's how it went for us.
Taxi, from our AirB&B in a residential area: 5 soles
We just asked the taxi driver to take us to where we could get a bus or colectivo to Tipón. We were expecting to be taken to Avenida de la cultura, instead he went west and dropped us off on Avenida del Ejército. He literally drove us to the bus and pointed, and we got on.
Bus, Cusco to Tipón (town): 4 soles for 2 people
The bus had to wind all the way back through Cusco, although since we got on so far west, we got seats and didn't have to stand. We told them we were going to Tipón when we got on, and they let us know when to get off.
We kept our phones in airplane mode for the trip, but it's worth mentioning that GPS still works without data. It doesn't navigate, but it does show you where you are on the map, and has all the map info that loaded earlier when we had wifi.
Taxi, Tipón town to ruins, waited for us at the ruins, then drove us to Oropesa: 30 soles
The taxis are lined up right by the bus stop, and they were in general nicer than your average Cusco cab.
The cab driver agreed to wait for an hour at the ruins, and didn't need payment until our final drop-off later on.
We already had our Boleto Turístico bit you can pay separately on the way in if you don't.
An hour was plenty for us, although we didn't go all the way up to the top (we went up to the ceremonial fountains and slightly above). There is a steep path that goes way up the cliff, to get there and back in an hour would have felt rushed I think, unless you're better at altitude than we were.
The site itself is wonderful for the incredible waterworks and engineering. There aren't a lot of buildings or structures, so if that's what you're looking for this might not be the best spot.
After we came back down, we went to Oropesa and the taxi driver dropped us off in the town square.
We walked around the square and then back down to the main road where all the bakeries are located. They all have the same kind of bread that is typical of the area.
From there, we went to a nearby bus stop and headed back to Cusco.
Bus, Oropesa to Cusco: 3 soles for two people
We just got on the first bus that came by going in the right direction, which was full because it was coming from a more remote town. We probably could have waited for a different bus, since we had to stand for a bit, but it was a smooth ride.
Taxi, bus terminal in Cusco back to where we were staying: 5 soles.
Altogether, it cost us 47 soles for a relaxed half day trip. We never had to wait more than 2 minutes for a bus or cab.
Taxi, from our AirB&B in a residential area: 5 soles
We just asked the taxi driver to take us to where we could get a bus or colectivo to Tipón. We were expecting to be taken to Avenida de la cultura, instead he went west and dropped us off on Avenida del Ejército. He literally drove us to the bus and pointed, and we got on.
Bus, Cusco to Tipón (town): 4 soles for 2 people
The bus had to wind all the way back through Cusco, although since we got on so far west, we got seats and didn't have to stand. We told them we were going to Tipón when we got on, and they let us know when to get off.
We kept our phones in airplane mode for the trip, but it's worth mentioning that GPS still works without data. It doesn't navigate, but it does show you where you are on the map, and has all the map info that loaded earlier when we had wifi.
Taxi, Tipón town to ruins, waited for us at the ruins, then drove us to Oropesa: 30 soles
The taxis are lined up right by the bus stop, and they were in general nicer than your average Cusco cab.
The cab driver agreed to wait for an hour at the ruins, and didn't need payment until our final drop-off later on.
We already had our Boleto Turístico bit you can pay separately on the way in if you don't.
An hour was plenty for us, although we didn't go all the way up to the top (we went up to the ceremonial fountains and slightly above). There is a steep path that goes way up the cliff, to get there and back in an hour would have felt rushed I think, unless you're better at altitude than we were.
The site itself is wonderful for the incredible waterworks and engineering. There aren't a lot of buildings or structures, so if that's what you're looking for this might not be the best spot.
After we came back down, we went to Oropesa and the taxi driver dropped us off in the town square.
We walked around the square and then back down to the main road where all the bakeries are located. They all have the same kind of bread that is typical of the area.
From there, we went to a nearby bus stop and headed back to Cusco.
Bus, Oropesa to Cusco: 3 soles for two people
We just got on the first bus that came by going in the right direction, which was full because it was coming from a more remote town. We probably could have waited for a different bus, since we had to stand for a bit, but it was a smooth ride.
Taxi, bus terminal in Cusco back to where we were staying: 5 soles.
Altogether, it cost us 47 soles for a relaxed half day trip. We never had to wait more than 2 minutes for a bus or cab.
Written December 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
born2travelit
Cesena, Italy16,832 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Tipón, located east of Cusco, are Inca ruins which may have been a park for the upper class or an agricultural centrum. Even today water rushes through the channels, and the wide terraces are in perfect condition. Several surrounding ruins have been excavated, and many more are visible below the soil.
Written March 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FSYMP
Mt Prospect, IL224 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
It takes some doing to get there on your own. 70-90 minutes in a colectivo (under 2 soles) that you can catch at Plaza San Francisco in Cusco. It is only about 10 miles away from Cusco but you have to go through its entire suburbia with lots of traffic. Then from the village square of Tipon you can either hike up to the site in about 45 minutes or take a taxi (4-6 soles depending on the number of people). Just be aware that you may have to wait for the taxi for 5-10 minutes.
Once you are at site, you will be rewarded. Compared to Saqsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo.., there is no crowd and very few tour buses. The site is an old Inca farming village with wonderful terraces and a small fort. What sets Tipon apart is its irrigation system that has been restored in 2002. Make the trip and you won't regret it!
Once you are at site, you will be rewarded. Compared to Saqsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo.., there is no crowd and very few tour buses. The site is an old Inca farming village with wonderful terraces and a small fort. What sets Tipon apart is its irrigation system that has been restored in 2002. Make the trip and you won't regret it!
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erika
Caracas, Venezuela9,854 contributions
Mar 2022
The entrance fee is included in the tourist ticket. You can spend 4 or 5 hours here.
Try to arrive early to avoid tours.
One of the most important works of irrigation on terraces of the Incas
Try to arrive early to avoid tours.
One of the most important works of irrigation on terraces of the Incas
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tor2tor
England30 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
We caught the local bus from Cusco and walked an hour uphill to the site ( you could catch a taxi) 10 soles entry fee. We didn't have a guide so found the lack of a map or information limited us. Hardly anyone there when we visited- very peaceful and atmospheric- loved the irrigation channels. Suspect the whole of the site would warrant a visit of several hours. Walked back down and easily found a place to enjoy a well earned beer.
Written March 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie P
Nimbin, Australia12 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
I guess I got a little 'ruined-out' by the end of my time here in Peru but this one was my favourite and I'll always remeber it. Its history is very interesting, but what really stood out for me was the peace and serenity. A lovely place to stop, rest a while and take it all in!
Written March 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MelOshawa
Oshawa, Ontario511 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
While not as grand as Machu Picchu and other Incan sites and a little more difficult to find, this site is one of my favourites because it is out of the way and not as popular. As a result your are often the only ones there and it retains a very peaceful and spiritual character that puts you in touch with history. The heart of Tipon is the flow of water through its aqueducts and the terracing that falls dramatically down the site. The views are spectacular and if you make the effort to hike up the trail to your left as you walk into the site you will end up with a dramatic view across the Andes, especially at dusk as the sun sets.
If you follow the aqueduct up into the hills you will be amazed at how far it goes and the peacefulness that you find. Apparently it is a two hour hike to the upper ruins and the source of the water. I have been there twice with groups of students and we have had a local shaman or holy man who has done a blessing ceremony. It is quite moving in this setting.
If you follow the aqueduct up into the hills you will be amazed at how far it goes and the peacefulness that you find. Apparently it is a two hour hike to the upper ruins and the source of the water. I have been there twice with groups of students and we have had a local shaman or holy man who has done a blessing ceremony. It is quite moving in this setting.
Written April 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wldtravels
florida236 contributions
Aug 2019
Size: This site is large--and its origin is pre-Incan (which typically means it became part of the Incan Empire but was built before that time...this site is no exception).
Condition: It is a site of ruins, strategically situated at the top of some mountains in the south Cusco valley, tucked behind them for strategic/defensive purposes. The terraces and irrigation canals/channels are superbly maintained and provide some of the best examples of water engineering we saw (fountains/channels/canals/small pools/etc). I really liked this area because it was not crazy crowded like many other sites at this time of year since it was south of Cusco in the opposite direction of Machu Picchu and the other Cusco/Sacred Valley archeological sites. It was easy to explore, had no crowds and was so massive we couldn’t tell if we missed a lot. The site expands up the mountain from, and all around the centerpiece terraces and there are a few, but limited, signs to some of the more unique highlights. Much of those areas are still ruins and with the limited signage, it is hard to know where to best spend your precious time. There are no details available to get a feel for everything you are seeing, so a guide is really helpful (or a really good guidebook with maps, which we never found). We would never have known the unique sub-surface engineering of the site without a guide (because you can’t see the below ground features) to know exactly how amazing the engineering of the terrace irrigation was, especially for the time period. You might be able to see some of the design features used to control the water flow (pools, corners, natural hydraulic designs, etc) if you knew what to look for, but having a guide to point them out made the site MUCH more interesting. This was why we were there!
Entrance Fee: This site was included in the 16-attraction tourist ticket for the Cusco area
Timeline: This was pre-Incan, but became part of the Incan Empire once it was unified
Access and mobility requirements: Access to this site is up steps and steep, uneven paths. People with mobility limitations would have problems with the numerous steps and uneven ground at this site.
Nearby sites: This site is 30-45 min south of Cusco by car, and if you can travel here it would be worth the time to include a visit about 20 minutes farther south to Piquillacta/Pikuillaqta and Rumicola.
Can you do this on your own? This site requires a car to get to because it is a 30-45 min drive from Cusco. If you have transportation, you can go there on your own. Parking at the site can be tight because of the location on the side of a hill, but you can turn around at the top and park along the access road.
Restrooms? Unfortunately, I do not know if there was a restroom in the ticket building or not. If there is one, remember 2 things: always bring your own hand sanitizer and toilet paper in case they run out (or don’t have any soap), and you do not flush your toilet paper in Peru. You place it in the trash can next to the toilet. This might sound awful, but it prevents the toilet from clogging, which would be worse for everyone.
Overall Suggestion for the Visit: Also remember to take some bottles of water since this site was off the beaten path and had no amenities that we saw. Wear sturdy shoes. This was well worth visiting if you have the time (half-day) and transportation to get to the Southern Valley (Rumicola, Piquillacta and Tipon). Finally, make sure you have a map to guide you from the highway to the sight. Since you can’t see if from the highway, you want to make sure you know where to turn. While the turnoff is marked, getting to the entrance is still several kilometers from the highway.
The down-side:
- All the sites in this area have unique attributes but the information available and provided either at the site (signs, maps, descriptions, etc), or about the location (pamplets, tourist centers, etc) are VERY limited. Because of this, it is almost impossible to know what you are seeing or where the important areas are without the use of a guide. While it is possible to see this site on your own, it would be hard to get the most out of your visit unless you have a VERY good and detailed guide book or you use a guide. We had a guide for our half day trip to the area and found it very worthwhile. The unique engineering features of this site are not well documented and a guide (or very good guide book) would make the visit more worthwhile. Otherwise this would be “just another site” that looks no different.
Condition: It is a site of ruins, strategically situated at the top of some mountains in the south Cusco valley, tucked behind them for strategic/defensive purposes. The terraces and irrigation canals/channels are superbly maintained and provide some of the best examples of water engineering we saw (fountains/channels/canals/small pools/etc). I really liked this area because it was not crazy crowded like many other sites at this time of year since it was south of Cusco in the opposite direction of Machu Picchu and the other Cusco/Sacred Valley archeological sites. It was easy to explore, had no crowds and was so massive we couldn’t tell if we missed a lot. The site expands up the mountain from, and all around the centerpiece terraces and there are a few, but limited, signs to some of the more unique highlights. Much of those areas are still ruins and with the limited signage, it is hard to know where to best spend your precious time. There are no details available to get a feel for everything you are seeing, so a guide is really helpful (or a really good guidebook with maps, which we never found). We would never have known the unique sub-surface engineering of the site without a guide (because you can’t see the below ground features) to know exactly how amazing the engineering of the terrace irrigation was, especially for the time period. You might be able to see some of the design features used to control the water flow (pools, corners, natural hydraulic designs, etc) if you knew what to look for, but having a guide to point them out made the site MUCH more interesting. This was why we were there!
Entrance Fee: This site was included in the 16-attraction tourist ticket for the Cusco area
Timeline: This was pre-Incan, but became part of the Incan Empire once it was unified
Access and mobility requirements: Access to this site is up steps and steep, uneven paths. People with mobility limitations would have problems with the numerous steps and uneven ground at this site.
Nearby sites: This site is 30-45 min south of Cusco by car, and if you can travel here it would be worth the time to include a visit about 20 minutes farther south to Piquillacta/Pikuillaqta and Rumicola.
Can you do this on your own? This site requires a car to get to because it is a 30-45 min drive from Cusco. If you have transportation, you can go there on your own. Parking at the site can be tight because of the location on the side of a hill, but you can turn around at the top and park along the access road.
Restrooms? Unfortunately, I do not know if there was a restroom in the ticket building or not. If there is one, remember 2 things: always bring your own hand sanitizer and toilet paper in case they run out (or don’t have any soap), and you do not flush your toilet paper in Peru. You place it in the trash can next to the toilet. This might sound awful, but it prevents the toilet from clogging, which would be worse for everyone.
Overall Suggestion for the Visit: Also remember to take some bottles of water since this site was off the beaten path and had no amenities that we saw. Wear sturdy shoes. This was well worth visiting if you have the time (half-day) and transportation to get to the Southern Valley (Rumicola, Piquillacta and Tipon). Finally, make sure you have a map to guide you from the highway to the sight. Since you can’t see if from the highway, you want to make sure you know where to turn. While the turnoff is marked, getting to the entrance is still several kilometers from the highway.
The down-side:
- All the sites in this area have unique attributes but the information available and provided either at the site (signs, maps, descriptions, etc), or about the location (pamplets, tourist centers, etc) are VERY limited. Because of this, it is almost impossible to know what you are seeing or where the important areas are without the use of a guide. While it is possible to see this site on your own, it would be hard to get the most out of your visit unless you have a VERY good and detailed guide book or you use a guide. We had a guide for our half day trip to the area and found it very worthwhile. The unique engineering features of this site are not well documented and a guide (or very good guide book) would make the visit more worthwhile. Otherwise this would be “just another site” that looks no different.
Written August 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fernanda C
1 contribution
Quanto custa o ingresso para visitar?
Daniel_mottac
Belem, PA69 contributions
Não vendem mais o ingresso só de Tipon.Vc deve adquirir o boleto turístico que lhe dará acesso as principais atrações de Cusco. Seu custo é de S/130 inteiro e S/70 estudante. Cotação hoje 29.12.2017 S/ 3,21 = US$ 1.
Alguém sabe me dizer até que horas pode entrar no sítio arqueológico e por quanto tempo posso ficar? (Estarei indo em um fim da tarde)
Daniel_mottac
Belem, PA69 contributions
Somente até as 17:00.
Travelpapi153
Rochester, NY1,380 contributions
Hello, spending 4 days in Cusco after our trip to MP. Tipon looks like a must, can you suggest anything we can add on to a visit to Tipon since we will hire a private taxi for the day (or half) . We like off the beaten places to visit and as much local culture as possible. As beautiful as Cusco appears, we plan on devoting two of our four full days there. Any suggestions as to what to do with the other two would be greatly appreciated. The rainbow mountains are a bit too far for us. Many thanks, Mike
Jackson P
1 contribution
I don't know. Not much in tipon. The ruins are overrated. on the way back from Machu Picchu, when the train ends in oyantambo, ask your taxi to stop at the maras salt flats.
Is it easy to catch a bus or taxi from Tipton back to Cusco?
Barbara S
Midland, MI5 contributions
We booked a taxi from our hotel, and he waited for us. It was 99 soles for the day, and he took us to another site as well. Super easy and a great way to get there.
Lauren6527
Antigua, Guatemala1 contribution
Where do buses to tipon leave from?
Sam and Linda L
Quito, Ecuador51 contributions
In Cusco there are buses running from the street "Calle San Augustin". Close to the Qorikancha. This takes you right out to Tipon. You will have to wait for a bus with Tipon on it's windscreen.
From memory you pay around 2 sol. You should have a bus within 10 minutes. Goodluck
Christine V
Los Angeles, CA57 contributions
Are there guides on location that I may hire there?
CndRod
Atlanta, GA13 contributions
Agree with Mike from Texas. We also hired a guide from Sacsayhuaman for the day! I am sure there would be one there for any other site(s) you would like to learn about.
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