In addition to the Boleto Turistico, there’s another ticket you can buy that gets you into some of Cusco’s main religious sites at a decent (though not huge) discount. The ticket is the Boleto del Circuito Religioso, or the Religious Circuit Ticket.
Administered by the office of the Archdiocese of Cusco, the Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket gives visitors access to four of the most important religious sites that fall under the Archbishop’s jurisdiction in Cusco.
What’s included in the Religious Circuit Ticket?
There are four major religious sites that you can enter with this ticket. Each of them is a major Catholic institution in Cusco. The ticket includes three major churches, along with the Archbishop’s Palace.
- Cathedral de Cusco
- Templo del San Blas
- Iglesia de San Cristóbal
- Archbishop’s Palace
Here is a description of each, along with the price to enter if you just want to buy a separate ticket.
Cusco Cathedral
This is the main Cathedral in Cusco. Located at the Plaza de Armas Cusco, the massive building is one of the churches that you simply can’t miss!
We recommend that you visit Cusco Cathedral even if you don’t want to buy the full Boleto Religioso and even if you have no interest in churches. It’s incredible.
The Cusco Cathedral is famous for its unusual Last Supper mural that has a local flavor. During the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples are depicted eating a guinea pig along with Chica Morada – both local delicacies.
And in this depiction, instead of it being Judas who betrays Jesus, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro takes his place.
If you don’t have the Boleto del Circuito Religioso, you can still enter with a single ticket. Here are the ticket prices for Cusco Cathedral:
Adults: S/. 25.00
Students: S/. 12.50
Cusco Cathedral Tip: Even if you don’t have the ticket in possession, you can enter the Cathedral de Cuzco for free from 6 am to 9 am. Every morning, the Cathedral is open for morning prayer, and you can join devoted Catholics to offer a prayer inside the Cathedral free of charge!
Templo del San Blas Cusco
The San Blas Barrio is one of the coolest neighborhoods of Cusco. In the heart of the barrio, just north of the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, is the San Blas Church.
Like other churches in Cusco, the Templo de San Blas is notable for the works of art hanging on the inside of the church. One of the most famous pieces of art at San Blas is not a painting. It’s the pulpit – an intricate carving from a single piece of cedar in the 17th century.
To enter the church, you’ll either need the Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket or you can pay a single entrance fee:
Price for one Adult: S/. 10
Student Price: S/. 7
San Cristobal Church
In our opinion, San Cristobal Church offers the very best view of the entirety of Cusco. San Cristobal is just a short, uphill hike from the city center.
When you arrive, you’ll come to a large walled square. From there, you can see a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Cusco along with the majestic mountains that surround this ancient city.
We absolutely loved San Cristobal. One of the highlights of our visit to Cusco was seeing a wedding rehearsal inside the church. Don’t miss the climb to the bell tower. It offers an even better view of the city.
You can get in for free: Even without the Religious Circuit Ticket, entrance to San Cristobal Church is free. However, you’ll have to pay S/. 5 to go up into the bell tower – but it’s free with the ticket.
The Archbishop’s Palace
Commonly known as the Museum of Religious Art, the Archbishop’s Palace in Cusco houses many paintings from the “Cusco School” of artists.
Just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, the palace is on a pedestrian street – Hatunrumiyoc Street – and sits atop a foundation that includes Cusco’s famous “12-angled stone.” You can see a photo of the 12-angled stone in our list of things to see and do in Cusco.
To get into the Archbishop’s Palace, you’ll need the Religious Circuit Ticket. They do not sell separate tickets for this museum.
Photo with an Inca king: Outside at the 12-angled stone, you’ll usually find one or two locals dressed as Inca kings. You can take a photo with the “king” for just a couple of soles.
But there are 6 sites on the ticket!
You have a sharp eye! Yes, when you buy it, there may indeed be six sites listed on the Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket.
There were six venues on our ticket, and out of curiosity, I asked the attendant about them. She told me that the list constantly changes, so keep in mind that the price of the ticket, as well as the venues it includes, might be different when you visit.
Unfortunately, the Templo del Truinfo and the Templo de la Sagrada Famila are no longer part of the ticket.
We thought this was a bit strange but just assumed after they told us this that they were just trying to get rid of the old tickets before they printed up new ones.
At least they’re trying to be a bit environmentally friendly.
Where do I buy the Religious Circuit Ticket?
Like the Boleto Turistico, you can buy the Cusco Religious Ticket at any of the venues it covers. Simply let the attendant know that you want to buy the Boleto Integral so he or she doesn’t just charge you the single entrance fee for the specific place you’re visiting at the time.
Boleto del Circuito Religioso price
The Religious Circuit Ticket will set you back around S/. 30 – or less than $10 US. The ticket is valid for 30 days from the day you purchase it.
Is the Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket worth buying?
Certainly, if you’re not interested in seeing the interior of opulent Catholic Churches, you may want to go ahead and skip this one. But if you’re interested in seeing beautiful art and in understanding the influence of the Catholic Church in South America, then this is really a no-brainer.
Like we said above, the cost of the ticket is S/. 30 – which is less than $10 US. To just see the inside of the churches and climb the bell tower at San Cristobal adds up to S/. 40. And you can’t even go to the Archbishop’s Palace without the ticket.
It’s not a huge discount from paying separately by any means. But if you’re on a budget, any savings is good savings. Plus, it’s worth it if you were planning on seeing all of these things anyway.
And if you weren’t planning on it, then we think you really should.
Other things to do in Cusco
While we heartily recommend seeing all of the major churches and cathedrals in Cusco, don’t stop there.
If you’re staying for more than a few days and want to do more than just visit Machu Picchu, we think you’ll really enjoy visiting all the cool places in the sacred valley. You can either do them on your own or as an organized tour.
We explain how to do it either way in our day trips from Cusco post.
We highly recommend that you stay in Cusco for a while. From museums to archaeological sites and more, there is so much here to see and do.
Want more like this? Subscribe to our newsletter below (mobile) or in the sidebar (desktop) to get our posts delivered to your mailbox! And like our Facebook page and Instagram feed. We’re also on YouTube. Watch our Travel vlogs right here.
Michael is originally from Canada but now resides in Atlanta, GA with his husband, Halef, who also writes here. He is a Couchsurfing expert. Michael has traveled to over 50 countries learning how to experience more for less as he travels.
Cusco Tourist Ticket Sites You Can Visit in the Sacred Valley
Leave a Reply