Tour overview
Classic Cusco 6D/5N is our six-day program with the essentials of Cusco. On the first day we pick you up at the airport, give you a few hours to acclimatize, and in the afternoon do the Cusco City Tour (Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay). On the second day we tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Taray viewpoint, Pisaq, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo) and take the train to Aguas Calientes. On the third day we visit Machu Picchu with a guide and return to Cusco. On the fourth day we see the South Valley (Tipón, Pikillaqta, and Andahuaylillas), on the fifth day we do the half-day tour to Chinchero, Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines, and on the sixth day, after breakfast and free time, we transfer you to the airport. We run the program with tourist transport, a professional guide, admission to every place, the Cusco Tourist Ticket, train tickets to Machu Picchu, and ongoing support from our team.
-
Best time to travel Approx. April to October (dry season)
-
Approximate altitude Cusco ~3,400 m · Machu Picchu ~2,430 m · Moray ~3,500 m
-
Physical difficulty Moderate at Machu Picchu and on the archaeological visits; easy otherwise
-
Minimum number of passengers 2 adults (double-room base rate)
-
Maximum number of passengers Depends on the hotel
-
Booking lead time Book in advance; confirm flights, train, and hotel category
Overview
- Day 1 – Arrival and Cusco City Tour: airport pickup, transfer to the hotel, time to acclimatize, Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay, and return to the hotel.
- Day 2 – Sacred Valley tour – Aguas Calientes: Taray viewpoint, archaeological site of Pisaq, Pisaq craft market, buffet lunch in Urubamba, archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes, briefing with the guide, and overnight in Aguas Calientes.
- Day 3 – Machu Picchu full day – Cusco: bus to the sanctuary, guided tour of about 2 hours at Machu Picchu, lunch in Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo, and transport to Cusco.
- Day 4 – Cusco South Valley tour: archaeological site of Tipón, Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas church (Sistine Chapel of the Americas), and return to Cusco.
- Day 5 – Maras and Moray half-day tour: Chinchero (wool dyeing and weaving), archaeological site of Moray, Maras Salt Mines, return to Cusco, and the rest of the day free.
- Day 6 – End of the trip: breakfast at the hotel, free time, transfer to the airport, and farewell.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival and Cusco City Tour
When you arrive at Cusco airport, our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city. Once you get there, you will have a few hours to acclimatize to the altitude.
In the afternoon we start the Cusco City Tour. We pick you up in our vehicle and take you to the city center. Our first stop is Cusco Cathedral, on the main square. After the guided visit to the Cathedral, we walk to Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, where Inca and Spanish cultures meet.
When we finish at Qoricancha, we leave Cusco. Our first stop is the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, where your guide explains the importance of its massive walls. We then continue a few minutes outside Cusco to Qenqo, a mysterious place you will get to know.
To finish the tour we visit Pucapucara and Tambomachay and learn a little more about the Incas. When the circuit ends, we drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Day 2 — Sacred Valley tour – Aguas Calientes
You have breakfast at your hotel in Cusco and our vehicle picks you up. Your hotel needs to be in central Cusco; if it is outside the center, arrange an extra transfer with our travel agency. On the way we stop at the Taray viewpoint for photos of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
We continue with a visit to the archaeological site of Pisaq and then the Pisaq craft market, where you can buy a few souvenirs. After that we head to Urubamba, where you have our buffet lunch.
After lunch we continue to Ollantaytambo to visit its archaeological site. When the tour ends we go to Ollantaytambo station and board the train to Aguas Calientes; the ride takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
At Aguas Calientes train station we will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you have a briefing with your guide. You spend the night at your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 3 — Machu Picchu full day – Cusco
You have breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes and we take you to the bus station. There we board the bus to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. After entering the sanctuary, we start the Machu Picchu tour with our guide, for about 2 hours.
When the visit ends we take the bus back from the sanctuary to Aguas Calientes, where we have lunch. To return to Cusco we go to Aguas Calientes station and board our train back to Ollantaytambo.
In Ollantaytambo our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Day 4 — Cusco South Valley tour
You have breakfast at your hotel in Cusco and our South Valley tour picks you up there. We board our vehicle and head south of Cusco. Our first stop is the archaeological site of Tipón, where we take a guided walk through its streets and beautifully built water channels.
We then drive to Pikillaqta for another guided visit to see its ancient streets. After Pikillaqta we go to Andahuaylillas to visit its church, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas.
When the tour ends we board our vehicle and return to Cusco.
Day 5 — Maras and Moray half-day tour
You have breakfast at your hotel and our Maras, Moray, and Salt Mines tour picks you up at your hotel in Cusco. We drive toward the Sacred Valley of the Incas and make a first stop in Chinchero, where you have a guided visit to a place where animal wool is dyed and hundreds of garments are woven from those same materials.
We then drive on to Moray and walk its archaeological site, a set of circular terraces once used for agricultural climate experiments. After visiting Moray and taking photos, we head to Maras to see the salt mines.
We walk the Maras Salt Mines, natural salt ponds that produce a mineral (salt) used for medicinal purposes. When the visit ends we drive back to Cusco, drop you off at your hotel, and you have the rest of the day free for time on your own.
Day 6 — End of the trip
You have breakfast at your hotel. The day is free for time on your own.
At the agreed time, our travel agency picks you up and takes you to the airport, where we say goodbye.
Recommendations
General
- Leave your luggage at the hotel and bring a small backpack for each excursion.
- Bring snacks or small drinks.
- Follow your guide’s advice on what to wear.
- Bring your camera and extra batteries.
- Bring some cash for souvenirs.
Acclimatization
- When you arrive in Cusco, give yourself at least half a day to acclimatize, because the altitude can affect you.
- At your hotel, drink some coca tea to help you acclimatize.
- If you have any health issues, tell your travel agent so we can take them into account in your program.
What's included
Included
- Airport–hotel transfer on arrival and hotel–airport transfer at the end of the trip.
- Tourist transport for all our excursions.
- A professional guide on all our excursions.
- Admission to every place we visit.
- Cusco Tourist Ticket.
- Tourist train tickets to Machu Picchu.
- Ongoing support from our travel agency team.
Meals included
- Breakfast at the hotel: days 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
- All lunches: day 2 (buffet lunch in Urubamba) and day 3 (in Aguas Calientes).
Not included
- International flights.
- Domestic flights.
- Dinners.
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Tips or extra expenses.
- An extra transfer if your hotel is outside central Cusco (arrange it with our agency).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I sleep each night?
Night 1 in Cusco, night 2 in Aguas Calientes, and nights 3, 4, and 5 back in Cusco.
Do I have time to acclimatize on arrival day?
Yes. When you reach your hotel you have a few hours to acclimatize to the altitude, and we start the Cusco City Tour in the afternoon.
How long is the Machu Picchu visit and the train ride?
The guided tour at Machu Picchu lasts about 2 hours. The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
What do we visit in the South Valley and on the Maras and Moray tour?
In the South Valley we visit Tipón, Pikillaqta, and the church of Andahuaylillas. On the half-day tour we visit Chinchero (wool dyeing and weaving), the archaeological site of Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines.
Which meals are included?
We include hotel breakfast from day 2 through day 6 and lunches on days 2 and 3. Dinners are not included.
Does my hotel have to be in central Cusco?
Yes. For the Sacred Valley pickup, your hotel needs to be in central Cusco. If it is outside the center, arrange an extra transfer with our agency.
How is the price calculated?
The price is based on 2 people in a double or matrimonial room and varies with the hotel category you choose (category 1, 2, or 3). We confirm the exact amount when we quote.
