Cusco Highlights tour

Welcome to the Imperial City of Cusco, also known as the cultural capital of Peru. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel to drop off your luggage and freshen up. This first day is to relax, so you’ll have enough time to rest before finding a place to have lunch. After lunch, we will take you on a half-day tour of this impressive city to acclimatize to the altitude (3,400 m.a.s.l.).

An unforgettable experience awaits you as you know the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas. People have lived in Cusco since approximately 1,000 BC and consider it the center of the regional culture known as Qosqo. It has played a significant role in all the civilizations that have lived in the area throughout history, starting with the native peoples of Peru, long before the Incas, with whom we usually associate the region today.

On this half-day city tour, you will learn much more about the history of Cusco and see some of the most important landmarks and archaeological sites.

The attractions on the tour include

The Cathedral of Cusco: One of the most emblematic places in Cusco is the Cathedral, located in the main square and has incredible artistic value. It is a colonial monument built over the Inca Palace of Wiracocha. Inside the Cathedral, you will find many carved, detailed, and refined wooden works: the choir, the pulpit, and the altars. There are also many beautiful paintings from the Cusco School of Art and impressive pieces of embossed silver.

Qoricancha Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo: This religious center was important to the Incas and was built to worship the sun, the deity par excellence for the ancient civilization. Inside, you will find smaller temples dedicated to various celestial bodies: the sun, the moon, and the stars. Outside, you will see beautiful gardens and royal fountains. What is most striking is the combination of extraordinary Inca and Spanish colonial architecture. More pieces from the Cusco School of Art are also on display.

Sacsayhuaman: 2 km from the city center, you will find this impressive site built with huge carved rocks that come together harmoniously. You will see that three superimposed platforms have an average length of 360 meters. Some stones rise over 9 meters high. Take some time to walk around and appreciate the fantastic architecture while enjoying the most spectacular view of Cusco and the surrounding mountainous landscape.

Q'enqo: 1.4 km from Sacsayhuaman is the Inca ceremonial center of Q'enqo. The most outstanding feature of this complex is an open space known as an amphitheater. Hundreds of years ago, Inca mummies would have been found in the various niches surrounding the site. Today, the amphitheater is only half its original height.

Puka Pukara: The name of this site means "red fort" due to the reddish tint that is the result of a large amount of iron in the rocks. Many believe it was an old warehouse (Tambo) that served as a place of rest and surveillance to protect Tambomachay. In this complex, you can appreciate impressive architecture, fountains, aqueducts, and several Inca enclosures.

Tambomachay: The last stop of the City Tour is this fascinating complex, where you can see finely carved stones, fountains, and aqueducts to transport water from nearby springs and hot springs. For this reason, Tambomachay is associated with the cult of water. In front of this construction, there is a tower that is believed to have served as a watchtower and communication tower.

We will pick you up early from your hotel and head to the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is Chinchero, a beautiful place known not only for its breathtaking scenery but also for the quality of its textile art. Here, we will visit a local craft center, where we will learn about the leading textile techniques preserved from generation to generation.

We will continue appreciating diverse cultivated fields, small traditional communities, and substantial snow-capped peaks. We’ll arrive in Moray for a visit to its spectacular circular terraces. Studies have proven that Moray functioned as an agricultural laboratory where food from other altitudes and climatic regions was produced. Afterward, we will go to the salt mines of Maras, a place functioning since pre-Inca times. There, you will find more than 3,000 salt pools flooded daily with water coming from the underground.

At noon, we will head to Urubamba for a well-deserved lunch and continue through the Sacred Valley until we reach Ollantaytambo. This picturesque and charming place is considered the last Inca city, with many of its cobblestoned streets still kept intact today.

Once you’ve finished exploring this town, you will head to Ollantaytambo station and begin your train ride through the mountains and along agricultural fields. It will be an hour and forty-five minutes trip along the mighty Vilcanota River, one of the affluents of the Amazon River. Finally, we will arrive in Aguas Calientes, an intense miniature metropolis, where we will have dinner and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Today, you will wake up early at 5:00 a.m. for a filling breakfast. This is the only way to board one of the first buses leaving for Machu Picchu, avoid the crowds of tourists, and enjoy the complex peacefully while the sun rises and casts on its enormous stones.

Once at the Inca citadel, it’s important to show your passport; it’s your ticket to access the Wonder. Before you go on the tour, we will take some time to feel the powerful energy of this fantastic archaeological site. Happiness will flood you as you observe how the golden sunlight gradually covers every corner of Machu Picchu.

The guided tour will take approximately 2 hours walking through the most essential parts, including observatories, temples, alleys, and amazing terraces. Our expert guide will explain life in this city hundreds of years ago. It’s also a great place to learn about the local flora and fauna, including rarely-seen species like the famous spectacled bear and the vizcacha. Machu Picchu holds the title of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, so it won’t fail to impress you all day.

If you have booked tickets for Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, it's time to go hiking! They’ll offer spectacular views only a few can have. Next, you will return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

Back at Aguas Calientes, you’ll be free for lunch before taking the panoramic Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo. There, our transport will take you to Cusco and drop you off at the door of your accommodation. Your arrival time will depend on the time of your train ticket.

Early today morning, your exciting 2-day adventure begins with a pick-up and transfer from your accommodation in Cusco. The first stop of the day will be in Mollepata for a nutritious breakfast. Then, we will continue driving until we reach Challacancha, the starting point of the trek.

From here, we will begin the hike to Soraypampa, admiring the unique scenery until we reach our campsite. This first stretch is not very challenging and will help you adapt to the altitude. You will walk along a small Inca canal most of the way, where you can contemplate the beautiful Andes and sheer Mollepata Valley.

We will arrive at our Sky Camp in front of the majestic and snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay There, the chef will be waiting for us with an exquisite lunch. Afterward, you will have some time to rest in your igloo or walk around the site before preparing for our afternoon hike.

Then, you will ascend to the Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). Once you reach the top, you will need to take it easy due to the altitude. Here, you will have time to enjoy the beautiful view of the lagoon that sparkles like a jewel amidst the white background of the snow-capped mountain.

Later, you will return to our Sky Camp to enjoy a nice dinner and contemplate the stars. Your guide will tell you all about Inca astronomy. When you go to bed, you can look out the roof of your igloo and let the constellations lull you to sleep.

Today is the toughest day as you’ll reach the highest point of the trip, the Salkantay Pass. You will encounter beautiful landscapes surrounded by impressive mountains. After breakfast, you’ll gradually ascend to Salkantaypampa and traverse the challenging trail known as "The 7 Snakes Trail". You’ll reach the impressive Salkantay pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). around 10 a.m., where you’ll spend some time taking memorable photos and enjoying the fantastic scenery.

After contemplating the view of the snow-capped mountains and feeling the force of nature, we will pass through rocky landscapes and begin our descent until we reach our lunch spot in Soraypampa. You’ll be treated to a filling lunch prepared by our chef and have a view of the great forest of snow-covered stones in the distance. All your efforts will be greatly rewarded with incredible scenery all around.

Once we arrive at Sky Camp, we will have a break to drink water or eat some snacks before we embark on the final stretch for half an hour to board the transport. Throughout this last part of the trip, you will have plenty of opportunities to take great pictures of valleys, mountains, rivers, and farmland. Finally, we will arrive in Cusco and drop you off at your accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

Your last adventure begins at 4:00 a.m. We will pick you up in our transportation and drive to Cusco's South Valley for three hours. Despite the early start, you will have the opportunity to sleep a little longer on the way.

Along the way, we will observe picturesque Andean villages, Inca-era agricultural terraces, fertile valleys, and beautiful mountain gorges. We will stop to appreciate the herds of llamas and alpacas before enjoying a tasty breakfast that will give you the boost to start the trek.

We will continue our journey until we reach the starting point of the trek, Llacto; from there, we will follow a winding path in the middle of the Andean mountains. As we ascend, you will be rewarded with the breathtaking view of Ausangate Mountain (6,372 m / 20,905 ft). This remote region is home to many people, and you will have the opportunity to be amazed to see the traditional clothing they wear and make, thanks to the artistic textile talents inherited from their ancestors.

After an hour and a half hike, we will arrive at Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732 ft). Take your time to admire the astonishing beauty of this impressive natural formation and feel the thrill of witnessing a unique natural site. You will also see the imposing Ausangate Mountain at the distance, considered an Andean deity. You will explore the surroundings and admire the breathtaking scenery while the guide explains the theories about the origin of this mountain that looks taken out of a dream.

Take some amazing pictures or simply immerse yourself in the scenery. We will spend about 30 minutes to an hour at the top, depending on your pace and the weather conditions. If you want to stay longer, let your expert guide know.

It will take us another hour to start the hike; from this point, we will board our transportation to the restaurant in Quiquijana, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch. Then, we will continue back to Cusco. We will leave you at the door of your accommodation to rest after an incredible day.

It's time to bid farewell, but keep the best memories of this trip. At the most convenient time, we will take you to the airport or bus station.

Or continue exploring the countless activities Cusco has to offer. There is so much to see, and we are here to plan your perfect vacation. Feel free to consult our specialists for more details.