When arriving in the city of Cusco, you may be quickly overwhelmed with the number of tour agencies in the city and the people approaching you to try and sell you different experiences. Below is a list of the most popular activities to do from Cusco so you can enter these agencies with an idea of how you want to spend your time.
The only thing that you should book and pay for before arriving in Cusco is your tour to Machu Picchu, especially if you want to do the multi-day hike to the archaeological site. The other activities can be reserved in town and you will get a much, MUCH, better price when reserving it in person. We recommend researching some tour agencies online and heading directly there when you get into town to reserve your tours. You may want to go to a few different agencies to compare the prices and make sure you are getting the best deal. Finally, if you reserve multiple experiences with the same agency, they often bundle the experiences and give you a slight discount.
Explore Cusco (1/2 Day)
Cusco is a colonial city with some beautiful plazas and churches. You should spend half a day wandering through the historical center, visiting the churches, walking through the markets, eating some ceviche and local cuisine, and taking in the city’s energy. The places you should consider walking through and visiting include:
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- Plaza Mayor de Cuzco
- Plaza Regocijo
- San Blas Market
- San Blas Neighborhood
- Mercado Central de San Pedro
- Plaza Mayor de Cuzco
You may run into different performances, celebrations, or festivals if you are just wandering through the city’s main gathering spaces.
Machu Picchu (1-4 Days)
Machu Picchu is often the reason that you are visiting Cusco. It is a World Wonder and the religious center of the Incan empire. Today, it is the most visited site in South America in a variety of ways, ranging from a one-day visit to a number of multi-day hikes.
Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century, abandoned during the conquest of the Spaniards in the region (although the Spaniards never found the site), and rediscovered in 1911 by some local people who then notified Hiram Bingham, an American explorer. Today, it is known for its incredible destination nestled in the steep Andes mountains, its incredible stone architecture, and its representation of the ingenious engineering and technological knowledge of the Incan empire.
You can read more about the different options to visit Machu Picchu here, especially the Short Inca Trail (2-Day option).
Visiting Machu Picchu in 1 Day (1 Day)
The 1-day tour is the quickest and most popular way to visit the site. This can be done as an independent experience or in conjunction with an alternative trek (such as Lares or Salkantay). While popular, it may not be the best option as you may not have enough time to truly appreciate this magical site and may be battling some crowds. Many different tour agencies around Cusco provide this service.
Embracing the Magic of Machu Picchu (2 Days)
This 2-day/1-night hike can be done either by camping or at a hotel. This can be done as an independent trek or in conjunction with an alternative trek (such as Lares). The structure of this trek allows you to visit Machu Picchu with much fewer crowds and gives you time to take in the entire experience. You can read more about this option below and why we recommend it so much.
We did the Short Inca Trail with Alpaca Expeditions, a Peruvian-owned travel organization that provides superior service for its clients and takes care of all its employees. You can read more about their tour and reserve the experience here.
The Classic Inca Trail (4 Days)
This 4-day/3-night hike with camping follows the original and traditional Inca trail. This is the most popular trek and is often reserved months in advance. As soon as you know your travel dates, check the availability of this hike if it interests you.
There are several different agencies that provide this experience. You should consider the total value of the experience, the reputation of the agency, and the way they treat their guides, chefs, and porters when choosing an agency. We recommend Alpaca Expeditions and you can read about their trek here.
Alternative Hikes to Machu Picchu (4-7 Days Depending on the Trek and Machu Picchu Tour You Choose)
Several multi-day treks are incredible alternatives to the Classic Inca Trail. While these alternatives are typically considered when you cannot get a permit for the Classic Trail, these should be considered as a primary trek option because they fit different goals and personalities. Don’t do the Classic Inca Trail just because it is the most well-known option.
For Those Who Want A Challenging Hike and a Variety of Landscapes: Salkantay Trek (5-7 Days)
The Salkantay trek is a multi-day hike that takes you through a variety of different landscapes in the region around Cusco and Machu Picchu. Throughout the trek, you have the opportunity to glamp in unique accommodations (domes, hobbit homes, etc.) and see the different ecosystems of Peru, including deserts, jungles, high alpine mountain passes, glaciers, and beautiful blue lagoons. The classic Salkantay trek is 5 days and includes a 1-day visit to Machu Picchu. (You do not need to book this trek months in advance because it does not require permits.) If you want to challenge yourself or experience the Inca trail, you can link into the Classic Inca Trail, making the whole hike 7 days. (You must plan this further in advance to ensure the appropriate permits for the Inca Trail.)
For Those Who Want a Cultural Experience and to Explore the Local Communities: Lares Trek (4-5 Days)
The Lares Trek is a 3-day hike through the Lares Valley of the Peruvian Andes. It winds around waterfalls, over mountains, and through local communities. Because of this, the hike has a cultural aspect to learn more about the high Andean culture that dates back to before the Incan empire. The classic Lares Trek is 4 days and includes a 1-day visit to Machu Picchu. (You do not need to book this trek months in advance because it does not require permits.) If you want to experience part of the Inca trail and dive deeper into Machu Picchu, you can link into the Short Inca Trail, making the whole hike 5 days. (While there isn’t as much demand for the Short Inca Trail as the Classic Inca Trail, you should still consider reserving this experience in advance.)
For Those Who Want to Be Off the Beaten Path and Pioneer to a Hidden Gem: Choquequirao Trek (5-7 Days)
The Choquequirao is the least known alternative trek. The goal of the hike is to reach the Choquequirao Incan ruins, a beautiful “sister” archaeological site to Machu Picchu. It is nestled deep into the Vilcabamba mountain range in the Andes and takes 2.5 days to reach. While this site is currently a hidden gem, there are plans to build a tram to reach the site, making it potentially as popular as Machu Picchu. It is the perfect place to visit if you want to experience the magic of Machu Picchu without the large number of tourists. The classic 5-day trek does not include a visit to Machu Picchu. You can add on the 1-day visit or a Short Inca Trail 2-day hike to include Machu Picchu in your experience.
Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley (1 Day)
The Rainbow Mountain, locally known as Vinicunca, has become an internet sensation in recent years. It was discovered in 2013 by some hikers after the snow and ice that perpetually covered the mountain melted to reveal the mineral colors below. Many agencies take people just to the mountain where you will have the opportunity to do a 1.5-hour hike to the peak and back. However, we recommend finding a tour that includes the hike to the Red Valley to get all the incredible views of the region.
The other thrill, and danger, of this mountain is the elevation of its peak at 5,036 meters (16,522 feet). At this elevation, the air is incredibly thin. However, if you walk incredibly (incredibly) slowly, you can make it up the mountain. And if you are really struggling, you can pay for a horse or motorcycle to take you closer to the peak. Some tours include 4x4s to get up the mountain, which could be a more adventurous experience.
It is also important to manage your expectations of the colors of the mountains. Many photos on the internet saturate the colors, making them look unrealistic in comparison to the true mountain colors. The photo above is an unedited photo of the colors of the mountain.
Super Sacred Valley Tour, also known as the Sacred Valley Tour VIP (1 Day)
This tour outside of Quito visits several archaeological sites built by and used by the Incan people. The super Sacred Valley Tour visits the Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac sites. Each of these is significant for either their agricultural contribution, their archaeological findings, or their current cultural significance. The main difference between the Super or VIP Sacred Valley Tour and the regular Sacred Valley Tour is that the regular tour does not visit Pisac. Because you are spending a full day to tour around the Sacred Valley, it is worth it to take the time to visit Pisac. These tours also stop at textile factories and artisanal silver manufacturers where you can learn about the local artisanal practices and purchase some souvenirs. You will also need to purchase a tourist ticket to visit these sites, which you can read about here.
Cusco City Tour (1/2 Day)
The city of Cusco was the administrative center of the Incan empire. To this day, the city has several archaeological sites that can be visited and give some perspective on what the city was before the conquest of the Spanish. These sites include Qurikancha, Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, and Q’enqo. This half-day tour takes you to these different sites and gives you an explanation of the historical and archaeological significance of each location. Every tour agency in town provides this tour. You will also need to purchase a tourist ticket to visit these sites, which you can learn more about here.
Humantay Lake Tour (1 Day)
The Humantay Lake is a beautiful alpine lake and you can get a tour that will take you to the trailhead to hike to the lake. On this hike, you will get to see the iconic peaks of Salkantay and Humantay, eventually reaching the beautiful turquoise waters. The hike is at a high elevation, peaking at 4200 meters (13,776 feet) so you will need to walk slowly if you are not used to the elevation. This hike is great for those who want to experience the beautiful nature of the high Andean mountains.
Example Itineraries Based on Your Interests
You can build out your itinerary to visit Cusco based on your personal interests. In addition, the variety of activities and lengths of time of each activity truly allows you to customize your experience. We have put together some sample itineraries based on some different personas that we met during our time in Cusco. Take these as a starting point to plan your incredible trip to this historically and archaeologically significant city.
Extreme Hikers (9 Days)
Day 1: Cusco City Tour, walk around Cusco
Day 2: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
Day 3-9: Salkantay Trek to Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Archaeology and History Interest (7-Days)
Day 1: Cusco City Tour, walk around Cusco
Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour
Days 3-7: Lares Trek to Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Icons (6-Day Trip)
Day 1: Cusco City Tour, walk around Cusco
Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour
Days 3-6: Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Highlights (3-Day Trip)
Day 1: Cusco City Tour, walk around Cusco
Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour
Day 3: Machu Picchu 1-Day Tour