Updated November 6, 2026. Times are taken from our tour programs; they may vary by a few minutes depending on the train and the time of year.
Quick answer
With three days you see the essentials: on day one, a city tour of Cusco; on day two, the Sacred Valley and the train to Aguas Calientes; on day three, Machu Picchu and the trip back. With two days, you do the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without going back to Cusco in between.
With five or six days, you add the mountains: Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain or the Salkantay Pass. Leave them for the end, once you’re acclimatized.
Cusco and Machu Picchu in 3 days and 2 nights
This is the plan we recommend most for a first visit. It’s how our Cusco Tradicional works, in groups of up to 8.
| Day | What you do | Times and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Cusco City Tour | Cathedral and Koricancha; then Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay by minibus. | About 4.5 hours. Ends near the Plaza de Armas. Night in Cusco. |
| Day 2 · Sacred Valley | Chinchero and its wool spinning and dyeing workshop, Moray, buffet lunch in Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. | Hotel pickup between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. In the afternoon, train to Aguas Calientes. Night there. |
| Day 3 · Machu Picchu | Two-and-a-half-hour guided tour, free time for photos, and lunch in Aguas Calientes. | Meet at 8:00 a.m. and enter at 9:00 a.m. Return train at 3:20 or 4:12 p.m. and transfer to Cusco. |
Spending the second night in Aguas Calientes lets you enter Machu Picchu early without traveling before dawn. If you’d like a dinner show in Cusco, Saquisqa Awquicuna follows the same route with the dinner included.
Cusco and Machu Picchu in 2 days and 1 night
If you’re short on time, skip the city tour and start with the Sacred Valley, which is also lower than Cusco.
| Day | What you do | Times and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Sacred Valley | Chinchero, Moray and the Maras salt mines (Salineras de Maras), buffet lunch in Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. | Hotel pickup between 6:20 and 6:30 a.m. Train to Aguas Calientes. Night there. |
| Day 2 · Machu Picchu | Guided tour and free time in Aguas Calientes. | Meet at 8:00 a.m. and enter at 9:00 a.m. Return train in the afternoon. |
This is our Sacred Valley with connection to Machu Picchu. For groups of up to 8 and a panoramic train, there’s Sumac Llacta, and the budget option is Machu Picchu by car, via Hidroeléctrica. If you only have one day, the Full Day leaves before dawn and returns at night.
Cusco in 5 days: Machu Picchu and the mountains
With five days, there are two ways to plan the trip, depending on whether you lean more toward adventure or culture.
Adventure: ATVs, Humantay and Vinicunca
This is Cusco Aventurero, our most requested five-day package.
| Day | What you do | Times and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Maras and Moray by ATV | We pick you up at the airport and, in the afternoon, you ride an ATV from Cruz Pata toward Moray and the Maras salt mines. | Departure at 12:30 p.m. Night in Cusco. |
| Day 2 · Machu Picchu | Transfer to Ollantaytambo, round-trip train, bus to the citadel and a guided tour of the traditional circuit. | Departure from Cusco at 4:00 a.m. |
| Day 3 · Humantay Lake | Hike to the lake, at about 4,200 m (13,780 ft), with buffet lunch and a trekking pole. | Departure at 4:30 a.m. |
| Day 4 · Rainbow Mountain | Climb to Vinicunca, at about 5,000 m (16,400 ft), with breakfast and lunch. | Departure at 4:30 a.m. |
| Day 5 · Free day and departure | Free morning in Cusco and transfer to the airport or bus station. | Depending on your flight time. |
Culture: city tour, Sacred Valley and a night in an igloo
This is Killa Qawarinampac: three days of Cusco, the Valley and Machu Picchu, and two in the high mountains, with a night at Sky Camp.
| Day | What you do | Times and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · City tour and dinner show | Koricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and the Cathedral. In the evening, a dinner show. | From 8:30 a.m. Night in Cusco. |
| Day 2 · Sacred Valley | Chinchero, buffet lunch in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Pisac. | Pickup at 7:30 a.m., back around 6:00 p.m. |
| Day 3 · Machu Picchu | Panoramic train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the citadel and guided tour. | From about 3:40 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., round trip from Cusco. |
| Day 4 · Sky Camp and Humantay Lake | Breakfast in Mollepata, hike from Challacancha to Sky Camp and climb to the lake. | Departure at 4:40 a.m. Night in an igloo. |
| Day 5 · Salkantay Pass | Climb the 7 Snakes trail up to the pass, at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft), and lunch at Sky Camp. | Back in Cusco around 6:00 p.m. |
Cusco in 6 days: the full circuit
Urcu Llimpicuna covers the five days of Killa Qawarinampac and adds Rainbow Mountain at the end.
| Day | What you do | Times and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 5 | City tour with dinner show, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass. | Same as the previous itinerary. |
| Day 6 · Vinicunca | Breakfast in Cusipata, climb to Rainbow Mountain and lunch on the way down. | 4:40 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
How to order your days around the altitude
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,160 ft). The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are lower, so they’re good for your first days. Leave the mountains for the end.
| Place | Altitude | When to go |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco | About 3,400 m (11,160 ft) | From day one, taking it easy. |
| Sacred Valley | 2,800 to 3,000 m (9,190 to 9,840 ft) | On day one or two. |
| Machu Picchu | 2,430 m (7,970 ft) | From day two. |
| Humantay Lake | 4,200 m (13,780 ft) | After two days in the region. |
| Salkantay Pass | 4,600 m (15,090 ft) | After two or three days. |
| Rainbow Mountain | About 5,000 m (16,400 ft) | At the end of the trip. |
On your first day, eat light, drink water and avoid exertion. If you get a headache or feel dizzy, read how to prevent altitude sickness in Cusco.
Which itinerary is right for you?
| If you have | Best option | From |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Machu Picchu Full Day (one-day tour from Cusco) | US$ 375 |
| 2 days | Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu | US$ 415 |
| 3 days | Cusco Tradicional | US$ 485 |
| 5 days, adventure | Cusco Aventurero | US$ 760 |
| 5 days, culture | Killa Qawarinampac | US$ 947 |
| 6 days | Urcu Llimpicuna | US$ 1,058 |
Prices don’t include flights or a hotel in Cusco. Each package is broken down in how much a trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu costs. Before you set your dates, check that there are Machu Picchu tickets for your day.
Want us to plan your itinerary?
We’re a local agency in Cusco, registered with MINCETUR since 2003, with English-speaking guides. Tell us how many days you have and what interests you most: we’ll suggest the order of the days and send you the final price. If no package fits, we’ll build a custom one.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Cusco and Machu Picchu?
Three days cover the essentials: a Cusco city tour, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. With two days, you see the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. With five or six, you can add Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain or the Salkantay Pass.
What does a 3-day, 2-night Cusco itinerary look like?
On day one, a Cusco city tour with the Cathedral, Koricancha and Sacsayhuamán. On day two, the Sacred Valley (Chinchero, Moray, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo) and the train to Aguas Calientes. On day three, a guided tour of Machu Picchu and the return train in the afternoon.
Where do you sleep on the 3-day itinerary?
The first night in Cusco and the second in Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. That way, on day three, you enter early without traveling before dawn.
Can I go to Machu Picchu the same day I arrive in Cusco?
It’s not ideal, because the day starts before dawn. It’s better to do the Sacred Valley or the city tour first. Since Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco, you can go from day two.
When should I do Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain?
After at least two days in the region, once you’re acclimatized. Humantay is at 4,200 m (13,780 ft) and Vinicunca at about 5,000 m (16,400 ft).
What does the 3-day Cusco package include?
In our Cusco Tradicional: transportation, a bilingual guide, the Boleto Turístico, round-trip train, bus to the citadel, Machu Picchu entrance ticket and five meals. It costs from US$ 485 per person.
What can you do in Cusco in 5 days?
Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and two mountains: Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain, or Humantay and the Salkantay Pass, with a night in an igloo. You can also swap the Sacred Valley for the ATV tour of Maras and Moray.
Can you build a custom itinerary?
Yes. Message us with your dates, how many people are traveling and what interests you most. We’ll suggest the order of the days and send you the final price, with flights and hotel if you need them.
Sources
- Tari Tours: 2- to 6-day programs, day by day (checked November 6, 2026)
- Yapa Explorers: altitudes of Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu and the Salkantay Pass
- Andean Moments: Humantay Lake altitude according to INAIGEM
Photos in this guide are from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses; the author and license appear below each image.