Cusco Best Tours

Cusco was once the capital of the large Inca Empire, known as the center of the world. Because of this, it is surrounded by famous archaeological sites that are considered among the best trips from Cusco. But it’s not just about historical places, nearby there is also amazing nature—mountains, lagoons, glaciers… Really, its landscapes are breathtaking.

Cusco is a region in Peru that pulls you in. They spent three weeks there, and from their experience, they made this list of must-see places. Although there are many day trip options from Cusco, depending on how many days you have, you’ll need to choose.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the best trips from Cusco that you shouldn’t miss. The large Inca ruins, the natural setting of this valley, and thinking about how it could have been built with such perfection more than 500 years ago will leave you amazed.

In just a few kilometers, you’ll see many different archaeological spots. The most famous places are:

• Pisac: A town known for its crafts and impressive archaeological remains. It has the largest group of ruins in the whole valley.
• Ollantaytambo: During the Inca Empire, this was one of the most important fortified cities for both military and religious reasons. Today, it’s also known as the place where you catch the train to Machu Picchu.
• Chinchero: A beautiful town built on top of ruins, famous for its crafts and its church that was built on the old palace of Emperor Túpac Yupanqui.
• Urubamba: Halfway between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, tours usually stop here for lunch and a quick visit to the main square and its market. You can try the famous dish “cuy,” one of the local specialties.
• Moray: This place was the main agricultural research center of the Inca Empire. Its terraces are built with irrigation channels, and each one creates a different microclimate. It’s said that there’s a difference of up to 15 degrees between the upper and lower levels.
• Maras Salt Mines: These salt mines have been used since Inca times. In this unique place, you’ll see a small spring of salty water, thousands of drying ponds at different stages, and piles of salt ready for sale. (Not included in the ticket, costs 10 soles)

To visit the archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, you need to buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket. Here they explain HOW IT WORKS and WHERE TO GET IT.

How to visit the Sacred Valley?

Although it’s close to Cusco, there are so many places to see, and they’re so grand that it’s hard to visit in one day. Some tours offer it, but it’s more like rushing through the sites from a distance… and you might not fully enjoy it. They recommend spending two days.

Sacred Valley Private Tours

Here are the most typical options for visiting the Sacred Valley, so you can choose what fits your trip best:

• SACRED VALLEY ON YOUR OWN, the option they chose, and in this post, they explain how.
• SACRED VALLEY TOUR, where you’ll stop at all the places except the Salt Mines and Moray.
• Trip to MORAY AND SALT MINES, the most fun way is on an ATV tour, or you can choose a cheaper, more traditional tour.
• FULL SACRED VALLEY TOUR, this nearly 13-hour trip covers all the main points, but it’s a fast-paced one.

You can easily book any tour in Cusco, with plenty of agencies available (don’t forget to haggle a bit). But if you prefer to plan ahead from home and avoid asking around, they recommend this tour, which offers both partial and full options.

Machu Picchu, the great must-see

It needs no introduction, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and of course, the crown jewel of the 7 best trips from Cusco.

Since it’s such a famous place, there are many ways to visit, depending on your preferences and how much time you have.

TO VISIT IT IN ONE DAY ON YOUR OWN, you can take a bus or shuttle to the town of Ollantaytambo, where you’ll catch the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes, you can take a bus up to the entrance or walk up, following an Inca staircase, which takes about 1 hour—and you’ll feel it in your legs the next day!

The 1-day tour to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular offers at agencies in Cusco. If you only have that much time, it’s recommended to do it this way.

If you prefer to have everything organized before arriving in Peru, you can book this GUIDED TOUR TO MACHU PICCHU + TICKETS + PICK-UP FROM HOTEL.

OTHER WAYS TO VISIT MACHU PICCHU, especially if you have more days, include:

• Multi-day hiking routes: Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, or Jungle Trek. The feeling of reaching your goal and arriving at Machu Picchu, tired but happy, is indescribable.
• By bus + walking 12km: Buses leave from Cusco and are cheaper than the train, although they take many hours, and you’ll need to walk the last part along the train tracks. For this option, you’ll need to spend the night in Aguas Calientes.

If you plan to go on your own, don’t forget to buy your ticket in advance, especially in high season or if you want to climb Wayna Picchu.

Vinicunca, the famous mountain of colors

The most famous and crowded Rainbow Mountain is Vinicunca, located over 5,000 meters above sea level. You reach it after a 2-hour hike (it’s important to be well-acclimated, altitude sickness is no joke).

It’s one of the most popular tours from Cusco, and while it’s beautiful, it’s not highly recommended because it’s extremely full of people when the tours arrive. A better option, although a bit more expensive, would be to hire a private driver and be the first to arrive in the morning or go around lunchtime when there are fewer people. They mentioned that it costs around $100.

Palcoyo , the (still) not very well-known mountain of colors

Their choice! Located also at almost 5,000 meters, Palcoyo is much less known, and unlike the crowds that visit Vinicunca, here you’ll be almost alone. In 2021, there were only about 3 different groups.

Another advantage of visiting Palcoyo is that the hike from where the transport drops you off is only 30 minutes, with less incline, so the risk of altitude sickness is much lower. To book this tour in Cusco, you’ll need to ask around at a few agencies because not all of them offer it, but they’ll quickly tell you where to find it.

Instead of just one, on this trip you’ll see three rainbow mountains! And you can hike to the top, to what they call the stone forest, to get panoramic views of the rainbow mountains, snowy peaks, and a beautiful reddish valley.

If you prefer to book these tours online and have everything ready before you go, you can do it here.

Las siete lagunas Ausangate

This trip offers stunning views of a group of seven lagoons formed by the melting of the famous Ausangate glacier, which stands at 6,384 meters. It’s the toughest of the best trips from Cusco.

The starting point of the route is in the village of Pacchanta, about 100 km from Cusco. The circuit to see all the lagoons takes about 3 hours, and while it’s not too demanding, the altitude makes it challenging. At the end, you have the option to relax in some hot springs at the entrance of the village, which is a nice way to unwind.

The easiest option is to book a tour in Cusco, but you can also go on your own by taking a colectivo early in the morning from Huayruropata Avenue toward the town of Ocongate. From there, take another colectivo to the nearby village of Tinke, and once there, find a taxi to take you to Pacchanta.

Ruins on the outskirts of Cusco

Around the city of Cusco, there are four archaeological sites that can be visited in one day. While they might not be the top favorites on the list of best trips from Cusco, they’re useful for getting acclimated. The easiest way is to book a tour, which are offered everywhere in the city. These tours cover the four sites and stop at a few viewpoints, but don’t expect small groups.

You can also visit on your own, like they did. You can hire a guide at the entrance of the sites, or just listen to a guide who’s already explaining (though the information is usually quite brief).

If you choose to go on your own, you can take a bus heading toward Pisac or a taxi. In Peru, taxis are super affordable, so to avoid hassle during your vacation, it’s recommended. Between the ruins, you can use a taxi (you’ll find them at the exits) or flag down any bus passing by and tell them where you’re headed.

Access to all these ruins is included in the tourist ticket or with a ticket called Circuit 1, which costs 70 soles and is valid for 1 day.

The ruins are:

• Sacsayhuaman: The Sacsayhuaman Fortress is an Inca archaeological site built in the 15th century.
• Qenqo: A large open-air space with many carved rocks by the Incas and remains of ancient structures.
• Tambomachay: A site dedicated to water worship. It has several levels, aqueducts, and fountains.
• PukaPukara: A military construction on the outskirts of Cusco, serving as a checkpoint for visitors entering the city. It’s very close to Tambomachay, so you can walk between them.

Humantay Lake

The last of the best trips from Cusco is the one-day route to the breathtaking Humantay Lagoon. This was a sacred place in the Inca Empire where offerings were made to Pachamama.

If you’re lucky to go on a sunny day, you’ll be amazed by the turquoise water and the snow-capped mountains surrounding it. Humantay Mountain rises just above, giving its name to the lagoon, and you’ll also see Salkantay along the way. The total hike takes about 2 hours up and 1 hour down.

The turquoise color comes from the minerals in the mountain that collect at the bottom, so even if it’s cloudy, you’ll still see the color.

As is often the case in Peru, booking a tour is the most practical option, and they’re quite affordable. But you can also go on your own, avoiding other tour groups and going at your own pace.

To get to Humantay on your own, take a bus from the Arcopata terminal (15 soles) to Mollepata, which takes about 2 hours. Once in Mollepata, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee to Humantay (10 soles for Peruvians, 20 for foreigners). From there, you’ll need to take a taxi or hitchhike to Soraypampa, the starting point of the hike. It takes about 1 hour and costs around 70 soles each way. Ideally, you’d find other travelers to share the taxi and agree on a pickup time, or even stay overnight and return the next day.

They did this trip as part of their route to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay Trek, an incredible 5-day experience.

Important tips

They didn’t want to end the post without giving three important tips for your enjoyment and safety on the best trips from Cusco:

BEWARE OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS. It’s not a joke; it’s real and serious. They experienced it firsthand, and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. They also saw others suffering from it on some trips due to not being acclimated to the altitude.

You can’t arrive in Cusco and go to Humantay Lagoon the next day. They might tell you it’s possible to sell you the tour, but it’s not recommended. Check out their tips for preventing and treating altitude sickness.

Except for the Sacred Valley, the ruins in Cusco, and Machu Picchu, the other trips require good acclimatization. At least 2-3 days at over 3,000 meters above sea level.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Yes, these places are popular and beautiful, and you want to see them. But really, consider your physical condition. You can’t hike 3 hours at over 4,000 meters if you get winded going up three flights of stairs. Choose trips that match your abilities, so you can enjoy them and have a good memory.

If you’re going to do any of them on your own, remember to be well-prepared and have experience. The Andes are no small challenge!

Contact With Machu Picchu Peru Travel