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Voykit pocket guide · Peru
Andahuaylillas
Half-day stop from Cusco to see the 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas' church, then continue to Urcos or back to Cusco. Not an overnight destination.
Andahuaylillas is a small farming town in the Southern Sierra of Peru, surrounded by mountains and farmland, with a population of farmers and cattle workers. It is known for one sight: the Jesuit church San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, started in 1570 and completed in 1606, built on top of an indigenous ceremonial site. Its murals and interior decoration earned it the name 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas'; locals reportedly guard it around the clock because of its gold and silver treasures. Most travellers see it as a stop on the Cusco–Urcos road rather than a place to sleep.
- Country
- Peru
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PEN
- Money
- Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget S/ 30–60 (half-day stop, excluding transport) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.
- Emergency
- Police 105 · Fire 116 · Ambulance (SAMU) 106
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US devices need to be dual-voltage (most chargers are).
- Tipping
- Restaurants: About 10% if service is not included.; Inca Trail porters and cooks: Per the operator's guidance; pooled at the end.; Guides: S/ 20–50 per person for a day tour.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Church entry (non-Peruvian) | S/ 10 |
| Bus Cusco–Andahuaylillas (one way) | check |
| Simple lunch (menu del día) | check |
| Bottle of water | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CUZ · Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Cusco
- Nearest airport; buses toward Urcos leave from Cusco (journey time check)
Typical fares
- Bus Cusco → Andahuaylillas
- check
- Taxi Cusco → Andahuaylillas
- check
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. Buses from Cusco drop you on the main road, a 5-min walk from the church.
See and do
Known for
- San Pedro de Andahuaylillas church (Sistine Chapel of the Americas)
- Colonial murals and gold-leaf interior
- Farming and cattle landscape
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco | Bus from Cusco heading toward Urcos | check |
| Urcos | Continue on the same bus toward Urcos | check |
Sleep
- Town centre
- One basic hospedaje; most visitors sleep in Cusco or Urcos.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buenos días / Buenas tardes |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the church? | ¿Dónde está la iglesia? |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Food pride: Ask about local dishes; avoid: Comparing pisco or ceviche unfavourably with Chile's
- Photos: Ask and pay if asked; avoid: Photographing people without asking
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides in protests
Scams and watch-outs
- Church entry is S/10 per person for non-Peruvians (check current price and hours).
- Hours and any lunchtime closure: check locally before you travel.
- Photography rules inside the church: check at the door.
Very safe during the day; no street crime reported. The main risk is traffic on the Cusco–Urcos highway.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Andahuaylillas yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- San Pedro de Andahuaylillas church (Sistine Chapel of the Americas)
- Colonial murals and gold-leaf interior
- Farming and cattle landscape
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Andahuaylillas, revision 5337792 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5337792
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/andahuaylillas). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.