Ideal Cusco: A Complete 5-Day Experience

Upon arrival at Cusco airport, we will meet you and take you to your selected hotel. After some time to settle in, your Cusco experience begins in the afternoon, at approximately 1:30 PM.

We will start with a guided visit to the historic Plaza Mayor, the impressive Cusco Cathedral, and the sacred Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun). Then, we will board our tourist bus and head outside the city to explore four fascinating archaeological sites.

Our first stop is Sacsayhuaman, an impressive fortress built on a hill overlooking Cusco. Here, you can admire its enormous carved stones, which were fitted together with remarkable precision.

We will then visit Qenqo, a sacred site believed to have been associated with puma worship. Next, we will explore Puca Pucara, known as the “Red Fortress” because its rocks can take on a reddish tone at dusk.

Finally, we will visit Tambomachay, an important ceremonial site associated with the worship of water. After completing the tour, we will return to your hotel at around 6:00 PM, giving you the evening free to relax or explore Cusco on your own.

At 7:20 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel for a guided excursion to the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, nestled along the Vilcanota River. Enjoy panoramic views of the Pisac Inca Citadel and visit the important and vibrant Pisac Indian Market, where you’ll have the opportunity to observe local customs and purchase unique handcrafted products. A delicious buffet lunch will be served at a countryside restaurant in the Sacred Valley. After lunch, the tour continues through Calca and Urubamba, en route to the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. This is one of the most significant towns in the Sacred Valley, uniquely preserving its ancient Inca urban design and serving as a crucial stop before reaching Machu Picchu. After the tour, you will connect to Ollantaytambo train station. Your train departs at 7:00 PM, arriving in Aguas Calientes around 8:45 PM, where you will be met and transferred to your selected hotel.

This is an excellent opportunity to wake up early and witness a beautiful sunrise. Transfer to the bus station to board a tourist bus for a 30-minute zigzagging journey up to the marvelous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, enjoy an approximately 2-hour guided tour, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the sacred Intihuatana (Sun Dial), the Royal Quarters, and the Temple of the Three Windows. Afterward, you will have free time to explore the citadel on your own, take photographs, or opt to hike up Huayna Picchu Mountain (optional and subject to availability), from where you can experience spectacular views of the valleys and mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. After your visit, descend to Aguas Calientes town to board your return train. The train departs Aguas Calientes at 4:22 PM, heading to Ollantaytambo station. You will be met at the station and transferred back to Cusco, arriving approximately 7:40 PM.

The tour begins with hotel pickup at 8:00 AM by tourist bus, heading towards the town of Maras. Along the way, you’ll enjoy picturesque villages and beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival, you will visit the following sites: Maras, located in the province of Urubamba at 10,827 ft (3,300 m.a.s.l.). From here, you can admire the Vilcanota Mountain Range and the snow-capped peaks of El Chicon (18,143 ft / 5,530 m.a.s.l.), Putukusi, and La Verónica (18,642 ft / 5,682 m.a.s.l.). This charming town preserves pre-Hispanic, colonial, and republican attractions, notably its colonial streets and doorways adorned with coats of arms from 17th and 18th-century nobles and chiefs. Next, explore Moray, situated approximately 4 miles (7 km) southwest of Maras and 33 miles (53 km) from Cusco, at an altitude of 11,105 ft (3,385 m.a.s.l.). This unique archaeological complex features gigantic natural depressions that the Incas transformed into agricultural terraces with sophisticated irrigation canals, serving as a prototype greenhouse. The largest depression is 492 ft (150 m) deep, with terrace heights averaging 5.9 ft (1.80 m). What truly stands out is the average annual temperature difference of up to 59°F (15°C) between the top and bottom levels, which allowed for incredible agricultural advancements. Finally, visit the Salineras, or ‘Salt Mines,’ located northwest of Maras village. These consist of approximately 2,000 small salt evaporation ponds, exploited since Inca times as a means of economic exchange and still actively used by local residents. Saltwater springs from inside the mountain fill these ponds every three days during the dry season. The tour concludes with your return to Cusco city, arriving approximately 3:00 PM.

At the indicated time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Cusco Airport to board your flight to Lima, connecting to your international flight.