Cusco Vacation Package

Upon arriving in Cusco, our representative will be waiting for you at the airport to take you directly to the hotel. The first thing to do, and this is not optional, is to rest. Cusco Peru is over 3,400 meters high and the body needs time to adapt. A quiet morning, a coca tea and no rushing is the best way to start the trip right.

In the afternoon, the guide will pick you up and the city tour starts.

The first stop is the Cathedral in the Main Square, one of those buildings that is hard to believe exists until you have it in front of you. Then, a few steps away, the Qorikancha: what was the most important temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the worship of the Sun and which was originally covered in gold in the Inca times. What was left after the conquest is still impressive.

From there, the transport takes you to the outskirts of the city to go up to Sacsayhuaman. The walls of this archaeological center are built with blocks that weigh up to 130 tons, fitted with a precision that still does not have a completely satisfactory explanation. Seeing them up close changes the perspective. The circuit continues through Qenqo, a rocky maze with a ceremonial function that has something difficult to describe, and continues toward Puca Pucara before finishing in Tambomachay, the Inca temple dedicated to water, where the original channels still run.

The return to Cusco is around 6:30. Time to have dinner, rest and prepare for the Sacred Valley that comes the next day.

The guide will pick you up around 7:20, after breakfast. The destination of the day is the Sacred Valley, one of those routes that combine archaeology, landscape, and local life in a way that is hard to find anywhere else. And it is no coincidence: this valley has been the agricultural heart of the region for centuries, and even today it supplies a large part of what is eaten in Cusco.

The first stop is Pisaq. First, you go up to the ruins, which dominate the valley from above with an architecture that impresses with its scale and state of preservation. Then you go down to the town's craft market, one of the most authentic in the region and a good place to take all the time you need. Later, we will have lunch in Urubamba, the capital of the valley, with an Andean food buffet that gives a fairly complete idea of what local gastronomy has to offer.

In the afternoon, we will visit Ollantaytambo, an important historic town, as it is one of the few Inca settlements that remains inhabited with its original layout. Likewise, we will also tour its Inca fortress, an archaeological complex located near the town, with defensive terraces that climb almost vertically over the Urubamba River; from there it is understood why this was one of the few places where the Spanish were defeated during the conquest. It is not a minor detail.

On the way back to Cusco, the last stop is in Chinchero: a picturesque town and an archaeological site that worked as an astronomical and lunar worship center during the peak of the Empire. The guided tour helps to understand what might otherwise just seem like a pile of stones.

The arrival in Cusco is around 19:00. The end of a long day, but one of those that are remembered.

This day begins before dawn. We will pick you up from your hotel at 4:00 a.m., for this you have to wake up early, since it is a three-hour trip to the starting point of the trail in Quesiuno, at 4,326 meters of altitude. Upon arriving at the Inkintuyoc bridge, we will have breakfast before continuing the trip, since at that altitude and with what is coming, it is good to eat well.

The hike goes up following the course of an Andean stream, with alpacas and llamas appearing on the sides of the path almost from the beginning. On the way there is an opportunity to cross paths with local people and, if you are lucky, spot chinchillas or vicuñas, the only Andean camelid that was never domesticated. The landscape changes as you gain altitude, between potato fields and wildlife that is not seen anywhere else.

After lunch on the route, the hike continues upwards, the journey to the mountain takes 5 hours in total until reaching the summit, at 5,020 meters. Up there, the colors of the mountain of Vinicunca (red, yellow, green, purple, all in stripes) are exactly what the photos show, but in person they have a scale and intensity that the screen does not transmit. There are about 30 minutes at the top to catch your breath, look and take the photos you need.

The descent follows the same route and takes between four and five hours. The return to Cusco is another three hours by vehicle. The arrival at the hotel is between 8:00 and 9:00 at night, which for what the day has been, feels quite reasonable.

Technical data

• Minimum altitude: 4,326 masl (14,189 feet)
• Maximum altitude: 5,020 masl (16,466 feet)
• Walking distance: 15 km
• Hiking time (approx.): 5 to 6 hours up / 4 to 5 hours down
• Difficulty level: Intermediate - Challenging

• Airport pickup and transfer to your hotel
• Private transportation throughout all tours
• Professional bilingual tour guide for all 3 days
• Buffet lunch in Urubamba on Day 2
• Pre-trek briefing at your hotel the night before Rainbow Mountain
• Breakfast and lunch on Day 3 (Rainbow Mountain Trek)
• Emergency oxygen bottle
• First aid kit

• Cusco tourist ticket — $22 per person
• Cathedral entrance fee — $8 per person
• Qorikancha entrance fee — $5 per person
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities for guides and local staff
• Personal expenses and extras not mentioned in the itinerary

The Plaza de Armas of Cusco is not just a square — it is where the entire history of Peru played out in the open air.

The Incas called it Awqaypata, a Quechua word meaning "place of the warrior." It was the ceremonial heart of the empire, where the Inti Raymi — the Festival of the Sun — was celebrated every year, where the victories of the Inca army were honored, and where the most important gatherings of Tahuantinsuyo took place. Few public spaces in the world have held that kind of weight.

Then the Spanish arrived. Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco right here, in this same square. The Inca palaces became foundations for colonial mansions, cathedrals, and chapels. The stone arcade that surrounds the plaza today was built by the conquerors on top of what was already there — a layer of history on top of another layer of history.

In 1781, the square witnessed one of the most defining moments of Andean resistance: the public execution of Túpac Amaru II, leader of the largest indigenous uprising against Spanish colonial rule.

Today, the Cathedral and the Church of the Company of Jesus dominate two sides of the plaza, both built on the remains of Inca structures. Standing in the middle of it, with all of that surrounding you, is one of those moments that reminds you why you traveled this far.

Before the Spanish built their convent on top of it, Qorikancha was the most sacred place in the Inca Empire.

The walls of this temple were reportedly covered in sheets of gold and silver. Inside, the most powerful deities of Tahuantinsuyo were housed — the Sun, Thunder, Wiracocha — alongside the mummies of Inca rulers. Access was reserved for the highest ranks of the empire, yet representatives from distant regions traveled great distances just to pay tribute at its entrance. That alone tells you what this place meant.

The original temple was built by Manco Qapac, the first Inca. But it was Pachacutec — the ninth Inca and the ruler who transformed Cusco into an imperial capital — who rebuilt and expanded it from 1438 onward, turning it into the architectural and religious centerpiece of the entire empire. The precision of its stonework, the perfect fitting of its walls without mortar, remains one of the most studied and admired examples of Inca construction to this day.

When the Spanish arrived, they did not demolish it. They built the Convent of Santo Domingo directly on top of its foundations — a decision that, centuries later, preserved the lower walls almost intact. The contrast between the two structures is visible and striking.

Even the name carries layers. The complex has been called Intiwasi (House of the Sun), Intikancha (Sun Palace), and most commonly Qorikancha, which translates as Golden Palace. Historian Maria Rostworowski believed the original name was Intikancha, and that Qorikancha came into use after Pachacutec's reconstruction. Whatever you call it, walking through it is one of the most memorable hours you will spend in Cusco.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas stretches between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, following the course of the Vilcanota River through one of the most fertile and historically significant landscapes in all of Peru. The Incas knew what they were doing when they chose this valley — the climate is mild, the soil is generous, and the views are the kind that make you stop walking just to look.

The day begins with a drive to Pisac, 32 kilometers from Cusco. The first stop is the archaeological site above the town, where Inca terraces and temples climb the hillside with a scale and precision that is hard to fully grasp until you are standing in front of them. Afterward, you come down to the artisan market in the main square — one of the most authentic in the region, with local craftspeople selling ceramics, textiles, and leatherwork made by hand.

The route then continues through the small villages of Coya, Lamay, Calca, Yucay, and Urubamba, where the valley opens up and the landscape does most of the talking. Lunch is in Urubamba, with a buffet of Andean cuisine that gives a genuine taste of what the region grows and cooks.

In the afternoon, the tour reaches Ollantaytambo — 93 kilometers from Cusco and one of the few places in Peru where people still live within the original Inca urban layout. The fortress above the town is remarkable: massive carved-stone terraces rising almost vertically above the Urubamba River, built to defend the valley and house structures like the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Hall, and the Princess Baths. This was also one of the very few places where the Spanish were decisively defeated during the conquest — a fact the site makes easy to believe once you see the terrain.

The last stop before returning to Cusco is Chinchero, a hilltop village built on Inca foundations where an important archaeological complex sits alongside a colonial church. It is quieter than the other sites and often the one that visitors remember most clearly.

Rainbow Mountain — known in Quechua as Vinicunca or Winikunka — sits in the shadow of Ausangate, the most sacred peak in the Cusco region and one of the highest mountains in Peru. The valley below is fed by the Pitumarca River, born from Ausangate's glaciers and flowing down into the great Vilcanota. It is remote, it is high, and until a few years ago most people outside the local communities had never heard of it.

The drive from Cusco passes through the towns of Andahuaylillas, Quiquijana, and Checacupe — the last of which preserves an old Inca bridge and a colonial church with paintings from the Cusco School, including works attributed to Diego Quispe Tito, one of its most celebrated artists. The church is not always open, but the town is worth a look either way.

The mountain itself belongs to the peasant community of Pampachiri, on the border between the districts of Pitumarca and Cusipata. When visitors began arriving in growing numbers, the community of Pitumarca asked the regional Direction of Culture to conduct a formal study of the site — both to understand it and to share that knowledge with travelers.

What the study found is that every stripe of color on the mountain has a geological explanation. The pink and red tones come from iron-rich claystones and red clay sediments. The white bands are quartzose sandstone. Brown and purple come from limonite and marl with calcium carbonate. The green is produced by phyllites and clays rich in ferromagnesian minerals. The earthy brown by manganese-bearing fanglomerate from the Quaternary period. The mustard yellow by sandstone loaded with sulfur minerals.

In other words, what looks like something painted by hand is actually millions of years of geology made visible by erosion. For the communities that have lived here for generations, the mountain has always been something more — a sacred place, an Apu, a presence. Standing at the summit, it is not hard to understand why.

What is cusco altitude?

Why visit Cusco Peru? 

Many tourists see Cusco as the highest representation of Peru. And it has a lot of culture, tradition and tourist sites that do not disappoint any traveler. Know some other reasons why it is the ideal destination: 

• Faith and tradition with intangible heritage come together in Cusco 
• Allows you to taste an original gastronomy with naturally obtained ingredients 
• You can appreciate the great variety of folklore and the living culture that the region offers 
• It has a great diversity of tourist activities in great demand 
• The warmth of people, willing to treat tourists in the best way. 
• Products made from vicuña and alpaca, without envying textiles from other parts of the world. 
• The best quality in gold and silver products 
• The diversity in archeology that can be found in its streets. 
• The history that lasts regardless of the passing of the years 
• Cusco considered the navel of the world, highlighting its wonder worldwide Machu Picchu

When to visit Cusco Peru? 

This will depend on the type of climate that you like the most. The rainy season in Cusco goes from November to April, while from May to October is the dry season; But no matter what time of year you decide to come, you should always be prepared for the weather, since isolated rains can be given at any time of the year. Cusco can be visited throughout the year, but the months of June to October and the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year are usually the busiest times for travelers from all over the world. Given that Cusco is a tourist city, has many festivals and celebrations, you should plan your trip very well either to include them or to avoid them.

Cusco to Sacred Valley 

By bus 

Buses leave every day from Cusco to all the cities of the Sacred Valley. You will find buses that leave every 15 minutes heading to Ollantaytambo. However, an organized tour will allow you to save the time you spend making transportation connections; In addition, it will travel safer. Getting to Pisac by bus will take you 45 minutes to an hour. 

From Pisac, you can pass to Urubamba in 30 minutes, or to Ollantaytambo in one hour.  

In taxis 

Collectives are a popular and profitable way to reach the Sacred Valley. Small cars or minivans leave Cusco once full; this service can cost between 15 and 20 soles per person. You will be able to find buses in several points in the city of Cusco.  

In an organized tour 

Joining a group on a pre-organized tour is the most popular way to tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In addition to acquiring the Machu Picchu Tickets for you, we can organize your entire itinerary and transportation through the Sacred Valley. This guarantees qualified guides, reliable drivers and greater comfort. It also means that you will not waste "valuable" time making the transport connections yourself. In most cases an organized tour begins in Cusco, with stops in Pisac, its market, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and the town of Chincheros returning to Cusco. 

On a private tour 

Exploring the sacred valley on a private tour gives you more flexibility in the schedules and itinerary of your route. You can decide in which sites you want to spend more time, such as the Pisac market or somewhere that draws attention to others.

Cusco to Rainbow Mountain 

You leave the city in a vehicle, the estimated travel time is 3 hours, when you arrive in Chilca, you will start the 3-hour walk towards the mountain of colors (you walk about 4 km ½ aprox.). It can be done in a private car or by hiring a tour. The road to Ausangate is one of the most amazing experiences you can have, enjoy the scenery, be accompanied by birds and native animals during the trip is only part of what this great opportunity offers, you can find yourself, where you will receive the protection and wisdom of what was once sacred to our culture.

Cusco what to pack?

• A valid passport is necessary to enter Peru. Depending on the country of your citizenship, you may need a visa to come to Peru. (Citizens of the United States, Canada and the European Union do not need a visa). 
• Proper hiking shoes are necessary for your personal safety and pleasant travel experience. The shoes should be comfortable, they should have good tread. Closed shoes are the best way to keep your feet warm, safe and protected. 
• All hotels and hostels in Cusco - Peru offer soaps and shampoo, but it is a good idea to bring toiletries to your own toilets. 
• Other things you might want to bring: Large Travel Backpacks, Cloths or disinfectant towels, A small flashlight - this is a good idea in case of failure of electricity, and for personal safety, A notebook or diary, and the pen to record any information, A cell phone or another small device that will serve as an alarm clock, of course, a photo or video camera with the appropriate battery and with the respective charger.

Cusco what to wear?

Depending on the month and place you visit Cusco, you can expect from very heavy rains to intense heat. In addition, temperatures are often different in the day and at night. It can be very hot at times and quite cold for the night, so it's good to have some clothes for both types of weather.

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