Best 4-Day Cusco Itinerary with Machu Picchu Tour

Guided Tour of Cusco’s Inca and Colonial Highlights

Explore Cusco’s rich history as you visit key Inca ruins and colonial landmarks, each telling a unique story of the city’s past.

Sites you'll visit:

• Sacsayhuamán – A monumental Inca fortress with impressive stonework.
• Tambomachay – Known for its intricate water features.
• Puca Pucara – A small fortress with scenic views.
• Qenqo – A ceremonial site with fascinating carvings.
• Qoricancha – The Temple of the Sun, once the richest temple of the Inca Empire.
• Cusco Cathedral – A grand colonial cathedral in the city center.

At the end of the tour, we’ll drop you off at your hotel or in the main square, depending on your preference.

We begin the day at 7:30am, picking you up from your Cusco hotel in a private van, heading toward the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is at the Mirador of Taray for panoramic views of the Urubamba valley, before visiting the Pisac archaeological site, where you'll explore Inca terraces, tunnels, and a cemetery with over 2,000 tombs. Afterward, we visit the colorful Pisac market briefly and continue to Urubamba for lunch. Next, we explore Moray, known as the “Greenhouse of the Incas,” with its terraced microclimates, and visit the ancient salt mines of Maras, where pink salt is still harvested today.

Our final stop is the Inca village and ruins of Ollantaytambo. You’ll tour the impressive Sun Temple and learn about its significance during the Spanish conquest. After some free time for dinner, you’ll take a 7:04pm train to Aguas Calientes, arriving at 8:45pm, where you'll spend the night in your hotel.

After taking breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you at reception for the travel to Machu Picchu and escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to the Lost City of the Incas. The scenic route from Aguas calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour journey through the rich history of the citadel as you make your way through the complex with your personal tour guide. Aswell as visting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you will be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximatley 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4am for the Rainbow Mountain Trek, driving 3 hours through the South Valley to the trailhead at Llacto. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Inca terraces, villages, and Andean peaks. After breakfast, we begin the 1.5-hour hike with stunning views of Ausangate Mountain and local Quechua communities. Upon reaching Rainbow Mountain (5,020m), you'll have 30 minutes to explore and take photos, with an optional hike to the Red Valley.

Afterward, we hike back for lunch before starting the 3-hour return drive to Cusco, arriving around 6:00pm. Meals included: hot breakfast and lunch.