Cusco on a budget: plan your own 5-day itinerary

Cusco doesn’t have to be an expensive destination. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, the secret is to be independent and to know what to pay for on your own and what to book with an agency.

We put together this 5-day itinerary so you can spend as little as possible without missing the best of a trip through the Andes.

Day 1: acclimatization and culture (cost: US$ 5)

The first day is for getting used to the altitude. Don’t pay for a tour: explore the city on foot.

• Morning and afternoon. The Plaza de Armas and the historic streets, for free. Walk along Loreto Street, see the Twelve-Angled Stone and stroll through the San Blas neighborhood.
• Food. Go to the San Pedro Central Market. The set lunch costs 6 to 10 soles (about US$ 2.50).
• Lodging. Look for hostels in neighborhoods like San Blas or Wanchaq. Beds in shared dorms cost US$ 7 to US$ 10 per night.

Day 2: the Sacred Valley on your own

Skip the organized tour and use local transport to see the main sites.

• Local transport. At the Pavitos terminal, take a minibus (combi) to Ollantaytambo. It costs about 10 soles (US$ 2.70).
• Entry ticket. Buy the partial Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Parcial, valid for 1 or 2 days), which covers only the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero). It costs S/ 70 (about US$ 19). The saving comes from not buying the full ticket.
• Guide. Instead of paying for a tour, hire a local guide by the hour at the entrance to the ruins.

Day 3: Machu Picchu on the cheap, via Hidroeléctrica

This is the cheapest route to Machu Picchu.

• Estimated cost (one way). Van from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica (S/ 50 to 60) + train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes (S/ 20 to 40, if you don’t want to walk).
• Where you save. Walk the 3-hour stretch between Hidroeléctrica and Aguas Calientes (free, but tiring). You save up to US$ 20.
• Lodging. Book your hostel in Aguas Calientes in advance: prices there are higher than in Cusco.

Day 4: Machu Picchu and a budget trip back

• Entry ticket. The Machu Picchu ticket has a fixed price. There’s no way to save here, but it’s worth every penny.
• Getting back. If your budget is really tight, walk back from Aguas Calientes to Hidroeléctrica and take the night bus to Cusco: you save a night of lodging.

Day 5: a budget high-altitude hike (US$ 5 in transport)

• Destination. Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. Instead of the famous Vinicunca (more expensive and more crowded), go to Palcoyo: it’s less demanding physically and the view is just as impressive.
• How you save. Take public transport to Pitumarca (the starting point) instead of an organized tour. It costs about S/ 15 (US$ 4) each way.

Why book with an agency, even on a budget?

You can do it all on your own, but an agency gives you safety, efficiency and a guide. An organized tour to Machu Picchu or Rainbow Mountain secures your entry ticket and safe transportation, and saves you the logistics headaches.