Cusco & Machu Picchu Travel Guide
Cusco and Machu Picchu in Five Days
A five-day plan that respects the altitude: start low in the Sacred Valley, take the train from Ollantaytambo, sleep in Aguas Calientes for an early Machu Picchu entry, then finish with Cusco's Inca and colonial sights.
Five days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Cusco and Machu Picchu: enough time to acclimatize properly, to see the Sacred Valley at a relaxed pace, to visit Machu Picchu without a frantic day trip, and to enjoy Cusco itself, which many visitors find they love as much as the famous citadel. The plan below starts low and finishes high, which is the kindest order for your body. It assumes you arrive in Cusco by air in the morning.
Before you fly: the booking list. Book your Machu Picchu ticket first, choosing the circuit and route carefully; for a first visit, Circuit 2 is the classic choice, and if you want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, book those routes as early as possible. Then book the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes for the afternoon of day two and the return for day three, and hotels to match. Arrange an airport pickup to take you straight to the Sacred Valley. Buy the full Boleto Turistico on arrival, as it covers most of the sites on this itinerary.
Day one — down to the Sacred Valley. From the airport, drive directly to the valley, stopping at Chinchero on the high plateau to see its colonial church, Inca terraces and weaving cooperatives, and continuing down to Moray and the Maras salt pans if you feel well, or saving them for later. Check into a hotel in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, have a light lunch and rest. The valley is several hundred meters lower than Cusco, which helps your body adjust. Take an evening stroll and have an early night, drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol.
Day two — Pisac or Ollantaytambo, then the train. If you are based near Pisac, visit the ruins early, taking a taxi to the upper entrance and walking down through the terraces, then browse the market. If you are in Ollantaytambo, climb the fortress at opening time to see the terraces and the monoliths of the Temple of the Sun before the tour buses arrive, and walk the Inca streets. In the afternoon, take the train from Ollantaytambo down the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes, choosing a Vistadome or 360 class for the views. Check into your hotel, buy shuttle bus tickets for the morning if your operator has not, and have an early dinner.
Day three — Machu Picchu. Take an early bus up the Hiram Bingham road to the citadel for your timed entry, with your passport and a licensed guide. Walk your circuit slowly, taking in the temples, plazas and terraces, and, if you have a mountain ticket, climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain within your slot. Return to Aguas Calientes by bus or on foot down the steps, have lunch, soak in the hot springs or walk in the cloud-forest gardens of your hotel, and take an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo or through to Cusco. If you can, add a second night in Aguas Calientes for a slower pace or a second visit.
Day four — Inca Cusco. By now Cusco's altitude should feel manageable. Start with Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun inside the Santo Domingo convent, then walk up Loreto and Hatun Rumiyoc to see the twelve-angled stone and the Inca walls. Visit the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, with its Cusco School paintings, and have lunch at the San Pedro Market or a restaurant nearby. In the afternoon, take a taxi to Tambomachay and walk back down through the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, past Puka Pukara and Q'enqo, to the great zigzag walls of Sacsayhuaman, timing your arrival for the late afternoon light, then walk down to the city at dusk.
Day five — San Blas and a final feast. Spend a slow morning in San Blas, browsing workshops and galleries, visiting the church with its carved pulpit and drinking coffee on a terrace with views over the rooftops. If you are interested in textiles, visit a weaving center or the Museo de Arte Precolombino near the plaza. Take a cooking class that begins with a market visit, or treat yourself to a tasting menu at one of Cusco's acclaimed restaurants for your last evening, with a pisco sour on a balcony above the Plaza de Armas.
If you have more time. Add a sixth day for Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, both long, high-altitude day trips that are only advisable once you have acclimatized, or for a full day of hiking or biking around Moray and Maras. A week allows the four-day Inca Trail, which replaces days two and three above; spend at least two days at altitude before you start. Other options include the South Valley, with the Andean Baroque churches of Andahuaylillas and the Inca site of Tipon, or a longer trek such as Salkantay.
Adjusting for the season. In the dry season from May to September, book everything well ahead and start early to beat the crowds. In the rainy season from November to March, which begins as this guide is published, plan outdoor sights for the mornings, carry a rain jacket, and keep an eye on train and road disruptions, building in a buffer day if your Machu Picchu date is fixed. February is the wettest month, and the Inca Trail is closed. In mid-November 2026, check for closures around the papal visit on the 15th.
Where to base yourself for this plan. In the valley, Explora Valle Sagrado suits active travelers who want guided outings included, and Pisac Inn is a friendly budget choice. In Aguas Calientes, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel make the night before Machu Picchu a pleasure. In Cusco, choose Belmond Palacio Nazarenas for luxury, the JW Marriott El Convento for international comfort, or Casa San Blas for boutique charm on a moderate budget.