Tour overview
Enchantment of Cusco 8D/7N is our eight-day program based in 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 spend a full day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Taray viewpoint, Pisaq, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero). On the third day we travel by train to Aguas Calientes, 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 hike to Humantay Lake, on the sixth day we do the half-day tour to Chinchero, Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines, on the seventh day we leave before dawn for Rainbow Mountain, and on the eighth 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.
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Best time to travel Approx. April to October (dry season)
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Approximate altitude Cusco ~3,400 m · Machu Picchu ~2,430 m · Humantay ~4,200 m · Vinicunca ~5,000 m
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Physical difficulty Moderate to demanding on days 5 and 7; moderate otherwise
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Minimum number of passengers 2 adults (double-room base rate)
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Maximum number of passengers Depends on the hotel
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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 full-day tour: Taray viewpoint, archaeological site of Pisaq, Pisaq craft market, buffet lunch in Urubamba, archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, archaeological site and craft market of Chinchero, and return to Cusco.
- Day 3 – Machu Picchu full day: transport to Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the sanctuary, 2-hour guided visit at Machu Picchu, buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes, craft market, 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 – Humantay Lake tour: very early departure, breakfast in Mollepata, Soraypampa, a hike of about 1 hour to Humantay Lake, lunch in Soraypampa, and return to Cusco.
- Day 6 – 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 7 – Rainbow Mountain full-day tour: predawn departure, about a 2-hour drive to Cusipata, breakfast in Cusipata, one more hour by vehicle, a 1-hour to 1-hour-30-minute hike to the Seven Colors Mountain, lunch in Cusipata, and return to Cusco.
- Day 8 – 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 full-day tour
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 that ends we go to Chinchero for a guided visit to its archaeological site and its craft market.
When the tour ends we set off back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Day 3 — Machu Picchu full day
You have breakfast at your hotel in Cusco and we pick you up to drive you to Ollantaytambo train station. From there you travel by train to Aguas Calientes, where we meet you at the station and go to the bus station to board the bus to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
We enter the Machu Picchu Sanctuary for a 2-hour guided visit. When the guided tour ends we board the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you have a buffet lunch. After lunch you have time to visit the craft market in Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo.
At the agreed time we go to the train station and board the train back to Ollantaytambo. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo we will be waiting with our vehicle to return 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 — Humantay Lake tour
You skip breakfast at the hotel today because we leave very early for Humantay Lake. We board our vehicle for Mollepata, where we have breakfast. We then continue by vehicle to Soraypampa, where the hike begins.
The hike from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake takes about 1 hour, and along the way your guide points out the beautiful places on the route. At Humantay Lake you can take photos and hear your guide’s explanation.
After a reasonable time we return to Soraypampa, where we have lunch. After lunch we board our vehicle back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Day 6 — 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 7 — Rainbow Mountain full-day tour
You leave the hotel without breakfast today because the tour starts before dawn. We board our vehicle for Cusipata, south of Cusco; the drive takes about 2 hours. In Cusipata we have breakfast and then drive for another hour to the start of the hike.
We start the hike to Rainbow Mountain, which takes about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. At the end you can take in the Seven Colors Mountain, take photos, and enjoy the setting.
At the right time we head back to Cusipata, where we have lunch. After lunch we set off for Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Day 8 — 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, 6, and 8.
- Breakfast on the road: day 5 (in Mollepata) and day 7 (in Cusipata).
- All lunches: day 2 (buffet lunch in Urubamba), day 3 (buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes), day 5 (in Soraypampa), and day 7 (in Cusipata).
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?
Every night (1 through 7) you sleep at your hotel in Cusco. We visit Machu Picchu in a single day, with a round-trip train from Ollantaytambo.
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 visit to Machu Picchu?
The guided visit in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary lasts 2 hours. After the buffet lunch you have time to visit the craft market in Aguas Calientes.
How much walking is there at Humantay and on Rainbow Mountain?
The hike from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake takes about 1 hour. The hike to the Seven Colors Mountain takes about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Your guide is with you on both.
Which meals are included?
We include hotel breakfast on days 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8, breakfast on the road on days 5 (Mollepata) and 7 (Cusipata), and lunches on days 2, 3, 5, and 7. 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.
