Treasures of Cusco 7-day Tour

🥾 Walking distance: 3 km / 1.8 mi (hiking) + 15 km / 9.3 mi (biking)
⏱️ Estimated time: 6 to 7 hours total
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 3,762 m / 12,342 ft (Chinchero)
🍽️ Meals: Lunch included

Today we will visit Chinchero, Moray, and Maras in a combined excursion of adventure and culture. We start by exploring the colonial town and terraces of Chinchero, visiting a traditional weaving workshop. Then we continue to Moray, a fascinating agricultural laboratory with concentric terraces where the Incas experimented with crops in different microclimates. Finally, we enjoy a downhill bike ride towards the ancient Maras salt mines, enjoying spectacular landscapes and crop fields before returning to Cusco.

🥾 Walking distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi (round trip)
⏱️ Estimated time: 3 to 4 hours hiking + 6 hours travel
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 4,200 m / 13,779 ft
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Departure at 04:30 a.m. from Cusco to Mollepata for breakfast. Then we continue by transport to Soraypampa, the base camp of the Salkantay trek. We will start a 2-hour uphill hike to the beautiful Humantay Lake. Its intense turquoise color and the stunning glacier in the background will take your breath away. After enjoying the scenery and taking photos, we descend to Soraypampa and return to Mollepata for lunch before returning to Cusco around 6:00 p.m.

🥾 Walking distance: Light walking and exploration
⏱️ Estimated time: 8 to 9 hours of full day tour
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 2,980 m / 9,776 ft (Ollantaytambo)
🍽️ Meals: Buffet lunch included

We will tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a key agricultural region for the Empire. We will visit the spectacular terraces and traditional market of Pisac, where you can buy local handicrafts and appreciate Andean customs. Enjoy a buffet lunch in Urubamba before continuing to Ollantaytambo, an Andean military fortress that preserves its original Inca urban layout and majestic stone temples. We will spend the night in Ollantaytambo or return to Cusco depending on Inca Trail logistics.

🥾 Walking distance: 12 km / 7.4 mi
⏱️ Estimated time: 6 to 7 hours of hiking
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 2,720 m / 8,923 ft (Wiñayhuayna)
🍽️ Meals: Box-lunch and dinner included

Early transfer to the train station to travel to Km 104. Here we cross the Urubamba River and begin the Inca Trail. We ascend gradually, visiting the archaeological complex of Chachabamba and then the stunning Wiñayhuayna, with its steep agricultural terraces and water fountains. After a box lunch, we continue to Inti Punku (The Sun Gate) for our first panoramic view of Machu Picchu. We descend to the main entrance and take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.

🥾 Walking distance: 2 to 3 km / 1.2 to 1.8 mi (inside the site)
⏱️ Estimated time: 2 to 3 hours guided tour + return travel
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast included at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, we will board the bus to ascend to the citadel entrance. We will enjoy a 2 to 3-hour guided tour of the agricultural and urban sectors of Machu Picchu, visiting temples, sacred sites, and squares. You will capture the classic postcard view. Optionally (pre-booked at additional cost), you can climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. In the afternoon, return by bus to Aguas Calientes, board the train to Ollantaytambo, and take our transport back to Cusco.

🥾 Walking distance: 6 km / 3.7 mi (round trip)
⏱️ Estimated time: 3 hours hiking + 6 hours travel
⛰️ Maximum altitude: 5,036 m / 16,522 ft
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Departure at 04:00 a.m. to the south of Cusco. We will have breakfast in Pitumarca or Cusipata before continuing to the trailhead. We begin the hike surrounded by breathtaking landscapes with herds of alpacas and llamas. Around 11:00 a.m. we will reach the Vinicunca viewpoint, the famous Rainbow Mountain. Here you can admire the colorful mineral stripes and the views towards the snow-capped Ausangate mountain. We descend to the starting point for a buffet lunch and start our return trip to Cusco, arriving around 7:00 p.m.

The tour has a moderate to high difficulty level because it includes challenging high-altitude hikes such as Humantay Lake (4,200m/13,779ft), Rainbow Mountain (5,036m/16,522ft), and the 12 km (7.4 mi) hike of the Short Inca Trail. We recommend decent physical fitness and at least 1 or 2 days of acclimatization in Cusco before these treks.

Since this package includes the Short Inca Trail and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, we highly recommend booking at least 3 to 4 months in advance, especially if you travel during the high season (May to September), as daily government permits for the Inca Trail are strictly limited.

The standard package includes 5 nights in Cusco and 1 night in Aguas Calientes in 3-star category hotels (private rooms with private bathroom, buffet breakfast, and WiFi). Upon request, you can upgrade to 4-star or boutique hotels for an additional cost.

You only need a small daypack (about 20 to 30 liters) with your personal items for 2 days: water, rain poncho, change of clothes for the night in Aguas Calientes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and your original identity documents (passport). Your heavy main luggage will remain securely stored at your hotel in Cusco.

On full day excursions (Maras-Moray, Sacred Valley, Humantay, and Rainbow Mountain), lunches are included. For dinners in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, and the first day’s breakfast, you will have total freedom to explore the excellent local gastronomy and choose restaurants according to your preferences.