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See it all on our 7-day Best of Cusco itinerary! This is the perfect way to see the highlights of Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu in just seven days.
We take you from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, culminating in a visit to the unparalleled Machu Picchu. Book early enough (at least 3-4 months in advance!) and we can even include a one-day hike along the famous Inca Trail for the complete Cusco to Machu Picchu tours experience.
High quality personalized experience
Unique, off-the-beaten track routes
Experienced staff
Verified sustainability practices
$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru
Meals
Accommodation
Entry Fees
Transportation
Other
We offer you the opportunity to personalize your tour and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.
Cusco can experience every season in a single day, so you should be prepared for sun and rain, cold and hot weather on your Machu Picchu tours! We recommend a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, sweater, rain gear or plastic poncho, winter hat or toque and gloves. In addition, you should bring:
You can also see What To Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for a trek in the Andes. For more great suggestions, check out our blog about How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru
Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!
Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!
Upon your arrival to Cusco, we will meet you at the airport and start our journey towards the Sacred Valley. We recommend a morning flight in order to get the most out of the day. If a later flight can’t be avoided, talk to your Travel Consultant about how the day’s itinerary can be adjusted.
As we head out of Cusco, we will enjoy a picturesque drive through the mountains to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which held great significance in Inca culture. The Valley has a milder climate than Cusco and we will see a succession of quaint villages, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites.
Our first stop is Awanacancha, where we will see llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, all camelid species endemic to the Andes and culturally significant through the centuries as pack animals and for their fleece. We will also have a chance to learn a bit about traditional weaving, a practice that dates back nearly 5000 years.
After this stop, we continue on to Pisac, famous for its artisan market and the Incan ruins that tower high above the city. We’ll start with a stroll through the lively tourist market, followed by a picnic lunch in the village. We can travel up to the ruins afterwards where we can marvel at these Incan constructions and enjoy breathtaking views over the valley.
From here, we continue our journey through the Sacred Valley until we reach our hotel. Along the way, time- and interest-permitting, we can stop at a traditional ceramics workshop where we can shop for beautiful earthenware souvenirs. If you’re more of a museum type, there is a fascinating museum of pre-Columbian art and artifacts that we can visit as well, but this will incur an extra charge (approximately $15 per person).
Finally, we arrive at our hotel, nestled in the beautiful landscape alongside the Urubamba river. Enjoy a tranquil evening relaxing in your room or strolling the gorgeous grounds, and enjoying a delicious dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant (not included).
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
This morning we pick you up from your hotel and drive up above the city of Urubamba to the spectacular Moray archaeological site, one of the most unusual and interesting in the area.
A pre-Incan site believed to have been used by the Incas, Moray is a series of circular agricultural terraces which are believed to be an experimental agricultural station for different crop strains.
We’ll have about an hour to stroll around this site before we head higher up into the mountains to the nearby Misminay community. Here, the traditionally-dressed community members will welcome you with song and dance. Here, we will enjoy a healthy and delicious meal featuring traditional Andean fare, including potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes.
Next, we start to head back down towards the valley, with jaw-dropping views unfolding before us as we descend. Reaching the Maras salineras, or Cusco salt flats, we have about 40 minutes to spend taking in this fascinating sight from the lookout point.
The Maras salt flats are a collection of watered terraces that take salt from an underground salty stream. Locals collect the salt through a fascinating process of evaporation. The pools and salt embankments are an incredible sight against the stunning mountain backdrop. Warning: it can get really hot in the salineras on a sunny day! Make sure to pack suitable sun protection in your day pack.
After perhaps picking up a few salty souvenirs, we return to the Sacred Valley and back to your hotel, where you can enjoy another relaxing evening on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva Valle, or similar (Yanahuara)
Today we have two options, depending on your interests and Inca Trail permit availability.
OPTION A – The Short Inca Trail
Km 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu
You will be picked up at your hotel around 6:30-6:45 AM and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station. It’s a short, 20-minute drive to the quaint village of Ollantaytambo and we’ll head straight to the station in order to catch our 7:45 AM train.
We travel on a very picturesque route for an hour and 45 minutes until we reach kilometre 104 – the start of the Inca Trail for us. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the Rio Urubamba we visit the site of Chachabamba (2050m / 6726 ft) which is a lovely site with its water channels and fountains.
From here, we will hike upwards for about 8km (approximately 4 hours). The trail is well established, but there are many stairs and the hike is mostly upwards! While this is one of the shortest treks around the Cusco region, you still need to have a reasonable level of fitness to complete it.
After our upwards climb, we arrive at the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) (2680m / 8792 ft). Here we will have our boxed lunch. This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural centre with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. Many consider this the most impressive site on the whole Inca Trail!
After lunch, we continue for about one hour further until we reach Inti Punku, the famous Sun Gate (2730m / 8792 ft) from where you will have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu (2400m / 7873 ft). As you are arriving late in the day you may be lucky enough to enjoy the view by yourself!
After getting those classic photos, we will walk down the last part of the trail towards the ancient city itself. Before entering the ruins themselves, we will take a side path off the trail to go down to Aguas Calientes, saving the culmination of our Machu Picchu tour for tomorrow.
Instead, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we will check into our accommodations and enjoy a celebratory dinner before getting to bed early in preparation for the next day’s early start.
OPTION B – Train to Machu Picchu
If you choose Option B, then today you have some free time to explore Ollantaytambo on your own.
The design of Ollantaytambo and the majority of its foundations date from the Incan era when it was a strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive Inca fortress which guarded the entry of this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long staircases
Spend the morning exploring the many shops and cafes that line the central plaza, tour around the artisan market or, if you’re feeling adventurous, climb up the fortress ruins.
After an early lunch, we’ll catch a midday train to Aguas Calientes. This is an approximately 2-hour, picturesque journey through changing landscapes.
Arriving in Aguas Calientes, we check into our hotel. You’ll have some free time to explore on your own, perhaps checking out the orchid or butterfly sanctuary, if they’re open, or even checking out the city’s namesake hot springs!
In the evening, join your guide for a celebratory dinner as he helps you prepare for tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu – the highlight of our Must-See Machu Picchu tour!
Important Notes:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tierra Viva, or similar (Aguas Calientes)
After an early breakfast, we take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at this ancient Incan citadel, your guide will give you a 2h walking tour of the ruins.
Exiting the site, we head over to the nearby Belmond Sanctuary Lodge for a delicious buffet lunch at the Tinkuy Restaurant. After lunch, we then catch the bus back down to Aguas Calientes.
From there, you will travel back to Ollantaytambo by the Expedition train. We then continue to Cusco by car, where you will be dropped off at your hotel. Total travel time is about 4 hours, and you can expect to arrive at your hotel between 7 and 8 PM.
Feeling adventurous? You can add an extra hike before touring the Machu Picchu citadel. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain offer interesting birds-eye views over the ruins and a bit of extra adventure. But take note – these hikes require an additional permit that must be purchased at the time of booking, as they can sell out months in advance. Talk to your Travel Consultant for more details, or check out this blog.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
After an exciting and fun-filled several days, you can relax and sleep in this morning! Wander the city’s cobblestone streets, do some souvenir shopping or whet your appetite at one of the city’s excellent restaurants. This is also a great day to do some laundry! There are many full-service laundromats in the touristic centre who offer same-day services and charge just a few soles per kilo of laundry.
Alternatively, join your guide on a walking tour of this cosmopolitan city. Cusco (originally “Qosqo”) means “Navel of the World”, and was once the heart of the Inca Empire.
During our walking tour we will wander the city’s enchanting narrow streets, visiting the Plaza de Armas, Santo Domingo Monastery (atop the legendary Q’oricancha Temple), the artisan quarter of San Blas and the lively San Pedro market.
At the end of the tour, your guide will either leave you in the Plaza de Armas to continue exploring on your own, or accompany you back to your hotel.
If you opt for the walking tour, we recommend doing it in the morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
We leave Cusco city at around 7:30 am for our Rainbow Mountain day trip, a not-too-early start compared to the standard 3 am departure that other companies have! Thankfully, we will be fully rested and prepared for the long day ahead.
Our trip starts with a 3-hour drive along a paved road across the altiplano. We’ll travel through the fertile Vilcanota Valley, in the direction of Puno, until we reach Chillihuani (4700m / 15,419 ft). Arriving in Chillihuani, we’ll be treated to magnificent views of the valley and its surrounding mountains. We’ll begin hiking around 11 am – just as the morning crowds should be coming down from the mountain. The path will be busy climbing up, but we should reach the viewpoint when most people have left.
From the trailhead at Phulahuasipata (4650m / 15,255 ft), we climb for about 1.5-2 hours, gaining 390m in altitude as we go. This is a challenging climb and our breathing is sure to become more laboured as we gain altitude. There is a rest stop halfway at Phuñacancha (4740m / 15,551 ft), with toilets available for 1 sol (about $0.30 USD).
When we reach Vinicunca Pass (5040m / 16,535 ft), we will enjoy spectacular views of the unique colored rock formations that give Rainbow Mountain its name. This is your reward for the strenuous climb: glorious layers of turquoise, orange, brown, and red rock sediment. There may be some cold gusts of wind here so please ensure that you are bundled up and that your head is covered with a woolly hat! When the day is clear, we will also be treated to impressive views of the snow-capped Apu Ausangate in the distance, the most important apu, or mountain deity, in Andean cosmology.
After some time to rest and take those classic shots for your Instagram feed, we return down the mountain the same way we came. Our private transport will be waiting for us when we arrive back at the trailhead.
We then continue our return journey to Cusco, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way.
We should arrive back at your hotel around 5 or 6 PM.
For a more unique and less strenuous experience, consider the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain hike instead! Read more about the differences between both hikes in our blog.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions: Private transport; private English-speaking guide; all entry fees
Overnight: Tierra Viva San Blas, or similar (Cusco)
Sadly, it’s just about time to say goodbye on our Best of Cusco tour. Depending on your flight departure time, you might have time for some last-minute souvenir shopping or a stroll around Cusco’s atmospheric streets before getting ready for the journey home. We will then transfer you to the Cusco airport and assist you with your departure flight.
Keep in mind: it is recommended to be at the airport at least 1.5 hours prior to domestic flights, and 3 hours prior to international flight departures. If you are flying to Lima and have an international connection, please make sure you allow enough time between flights in Lima.
Meals: Breakfast
