2 Days
Machu Picchu
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu 2 Days
Two days instead of one: the train to Aguas Calientes, a night at the foot of the mountain and an early, unhurried visit to Machu Picchu.
Price
On request
Our home base
Cusco Travel and Tours
The old Inca capital is where our team lives and where almost every trip in the southern Andes begins. Here’s how to plan your time in Cusco, handle the altitude and choose what to do from the city.
Welcome
Welcome to Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the Inca world, and it still feels like the center of the southern Andes. The city sits in a high valley at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft), its colonial churches and mansions built directly on top of Inca walls, its streets climbing steeply from the main square to neighborhoods like San Blas. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s a place where people live and work, not just a backdrop for visitors.
It’s also our home. Our team lives here, and nearly every trip we plan starts in Cusco: the train to Machu Picchu, the drive into the Sacred Valley, the early departures for high-altitude hikes and the start of every multi-day trek. This page helps you plan your time in the city and decide what to do from it.
- Altitude
- About 3,400 m / 11,150 ftPlan an easy first day
- Getting here
- Flights from LimaA short domestic flight
- Dry season
- April to OctoberRains from November to March
- Before high hikes
- Two or three nightsIn Cusco or the Sacred Valley
A natural base
Why Travelers Base Themselves in Cusco
- The gateway to Machu Picchu. Trains to Aguas Calientes leave from the Cusco region, and almost every way of reaching Machu Picchu, by rail or on foot, begins here.
- The Sacred Valley next door. The valley’s Inca sites and market towns are about an hour away by road, and lower than the city.
- The start of the big treks. The Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate and Choquequirao routes all start from Cusco.
- Day trips in every direction. Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and the 7 Lakes of Ausangate are each within a long day’s round trip.
- A city worth your evenings. Restaurants, markets, museums and quiet plazas make Cusco a comfortable place to rest between trips.
The historic center
Inca Walls and Colonial Streets
The best way to understand Cusco is to look at its walls. Many streets in the center still run along Inca foundations of finely fitted stone, with colonial buildings on top. At Qorikancha, once the most important temple of the Inca capital, a Dominican convent rises from Inca stonework, and on Hatun Rumiyoc street a single stone with twelve angles draws a small crowd most of the day.
Above the city, the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán look down on the old town, while the Plaza de Armas, with its cathedral and arcades, is the center of daily life. Many sites in and around Cusco, Sacsayhuamán among them, are covered by the Boleto Turístico del Cusco; we’ll tell you which ticket your plans need.
A slow walk through the center is a good way to spend your first afternoon: close to your hotel, full of detail and an easy start at altitude.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu From Cusco
Machu Picchu is several hours from Cusco by road and train, so you can see it in one long day or, more comfortably, with a night in Aguas Calientes. If you’d like to arrive on foot, the Inca Trail and several other treks end there. Compare the options on our Machu Picchu tours and Inca Trail pages.
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley Next Door
Below Cusco, the Urubamba River runs through the Sacred Valley, lined with Inca terraces, market towns and the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo. It’s lower than the city, which makes it a comfortable place for your first nights, and it lies on the way to Machu Picchu. Read more on our Sacred Valley page.
Tours from Cusco
Tours That Start in Cusco
A selection of the trips travelers most often plan from the city, from Machu Picchu to the high Andes.
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4 Days Inca TrailCusco to Machu Picchu
Classic Inca Trail 4 Days
Four days on the original Inca road, through cloud forest and mountain passes to the Sun Gate.
Price On request
Full Day Day TourCusco and the Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley Tour
A full day in the valley below Cusco: Inca terraces, market towns and the stone streets of Ollantaytambo, with a local guide.
Price On request
4 Days TrekSalkantay to Machu Picchu
Salkantay Trek 4 Days
The classic alternative to the Inca Trail: over the Salkantay Pass at about 4,600 m, down into cloud forest and on to Machu Picchu in four days.
Price On request
Full Day Day HikeCusco to Vinicunca
Rainbow Mountain 1 Day
A short but very high hike to the striped slopes of Vinicunca, at about 5,000 m. An early start, a slow climb and big views of the Vilcanota range.
Price On request
Full Day Day HikeCusco to Humantay Lake
Humantay Lake 1 Day
A steep morning climb to a turquoise glacial lake below Humantay peak, on the Salkantay side of the Andes. A great warm-up before a trek.
Price On request
Browse by type: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu tours, treks, day tours or all tours.
Day trips
Day Trips From Cusco
With a free day or two, you can visit the Inca sites of the Sacred Valley, the terraces of Moray and the salt pans of Maras, or head for the high country on a day hike to Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake or the lakes below Ausangate. The high hikes start very early and reach 4,200 to 5,000 m, so plan them after a couple of nights in Cusco. Our Cusco day tours page compares them.
Treks
Treks From Cusco
For several days on foot, choose between the Inca Trail, which needs permits, and routes that don’t: the Salkantay Trek over a glacier pass, the cultural Lares Trek, the remote Ausangate trek and the canyon trail to Choquequirao. Our Cusco treks page explains how they differ.
Altitude
Altitude in Cusco
At about 3,400 m (11,150 ft), Cusco is high enough that most visitors feel it: a headache, shortness of breath on stairs or a restless first night are common, and they usually ease within a day or two.
Take your arrival day slowly, drink plenty of water, eat light and go easy on alcohol. Plan at least two or three nights before any trek or high hike, and consider spending your first nights in the Sacred Valley, which is lower. If you have a heart or lung condition, or questions about altitude medication, talk to your doctor before you travel.
Seasons
When to Visit Cusco
Cusco has two seasons. From April to October the days are dry and often sunny, with cold nights, especially from June to August, the busiest months. From November to March, the rainy season brings greener hills, afternoon showers and fewer visitors; the Inca Trail closes in February.
Festivals shape the calendar too. Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun held on June 24, fills the city, so book early if you’ll be here that week.
Families
Cusco With Children
Cusco works well for families with a little extra pacing. Children feel the altitude too, so plan a slow first day, keep the early days short and consider sleeping in the Sacred Valley, where it’s lower. Machu Picchu by train, a Sacred Valley day with terraces and a market, and short walks in the city suit most ages; the high day hikes need more care. Talk with our local team about your children’s ages and interests and we’ll help you shape the days.
Questions
Planning Questions About Cusco
How many days should I spend in Cusco?
It depends on what you want to do, but plan at least two nights in the city or the Sacred Valley before any trek or high hike, plus the time for Machu Picchu and any day trips. Tell us your interests and we’ll suggest a realistic plan.
Should I stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley?
Many travelers do both. The Sacred Valley is lower, quieter and on the way to Machu Picchu, which helps with the altitude. Cusco has more restaurants, museums and evening life, and most day trips start there.
Can I visit Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cusco?
Yes, by train, although it’s a long day with an early start and a late return. See our day trip by train, or the other ways to visit.
Do I need the Boleto Turístico del Cusco?
If you plan to visit sites such as Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero or Moray, you’ll need it or a partial version. We’ll tell you which ticket fits your plans and whether it’s included in your quote.
How do I get to Cusco?
Most travelers fly from Lima; the flight is short, and Cusco’s airport sits close to the city. Give yourself a slow first day after you land.
Cusco
Things to Do in Cusco: A Local’s List
What to see and do in Cusco, from the Qorikancha and the Inca walls to San Blas, the San Pedro market and the Inca sites above the city, with tips from our team.
9 min readCusco
Cusco Altitude: How to Acclimatize and Avoid Altitude Sickness
How high Cusco is, what the altitude feels like, a calm plan for your first 48 hours, why starting in the Sacred Valley helps and how many days to allow before a trek.
7 min read
Cusco
How Many Days in Cusco? Sample Itineraries from 3 to 7 Days
How many days to plan for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with day-by-day plans for 3, 5 and 7 days, a slower family version and tips for fitting in a trek.
7 min read
Cusco
Cusco and Machu Picchu with Kids: A Family Planning Guide
How to plan Cusco and Machu Picchu with children: the altitude, pacing, which trips suit which families, tickets and site rules for kids, food and packing.
8 min read
Plan your trip
Start Planning Your Days in Cusco
Tell us when you arrive and what you’d like to see. We’ll help you pace your time between Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.