Three days is the minimum to see the essentials of Cusco without rushing: the Inca city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It is also the plan where most mistakes are made, almost always for the same reason: ordering the days by booking convenience rather than by altitude. This itinerary is built the other way round. It starts gently, drops into the valley on day two and reaches Machu Picchu rested and at a lower altitude. It is the order we use with our travellers, explained day by day with times, tickets and what to book in advance. If you only have two days, 2 days in Cusco explains what to prioritise; with a week, see Cusco in 7 days.
The itinerary at a glance
| Day | What you do | Where you sleep | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, rest and the City Tour in the afternoon | Cusco | 3,399 m, with short climbs to 3,700 m |
| 2 | Sacred Valley all day, ending in Ollantaytambo | Ollantaytambo | Down to 2,792 m |
| 3 | Machu Picchu in the morning and back to Cusco | Cusco | Citadel at 2,430 m |
The logic comes from our acclimatisation guide: little effort on day one, 500 metres below Cusco on day two and lower still on day three. That way the altitude does not cost you any of the three days. The figures for each place are in our Cusco altitude guide.
Day 1: arrival and the City Tour in the afternoon
Most flights from Lima land in Cusco in the morning. The rule is to do nothing demanding until after lunch: hotel, water, coca tea, a shower and half an hour lying down. At two in the afternoon the private City Tour begins, five hours spent mostly in the vehicle:
- Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, in the centre and on the flat. It is the best introduction to Inca architecture. Here we explain what to see inside.
- Sacsayhuaman, the walls of giant stones above the city. On day one, see the walls and skip the viewpoint if you feel the altitude.
- Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, three short stops in the upper part, between 3,580 and 3,700 metres.
You are back at the hotel around seven. A light dinner and an early night. If you land after one o’clock or feel unwell on arrival, change the order: rest on day 1 and do the City Tour on the afternoon of day 3, after Machu Picchu. We explain it in the City Tour on your first day: when yes and when not.
Buy the full Cusco Tourist Ticket that day. It costs 130 soles, is valid for ten days and covers the City Tour ruins and those of the Sacred Valley. You pay at the first stop, in cash. The Qorikancha ticket is separate. All the details are in the Tourist Ticket guide.
Day 2: the Sacred Valley, ending in Ollantaytambo
This is the long day of the trip, and the easiest on the body because the whole valley lies below Cusco. There are two one-day routes, and for this itinerary the one that ends in Ollantaytambo, next to the train station, works best:
- Sacred Valley VIP: Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo. Pickup at 8:00. It passes the highest point, Chinchero, first thing and then it is all downhill. It is the one we recommend if you arrived yesterday.
- Classic Sacred Valley: the ruins and market of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. Pickup at 7:30. It has the valley’s best market, but it ends in Chinchero, at 3,762 metres, late in the afternoon.
If you are torn between them, Classic or VIP: which to choose compares them stop by stop. Both include lunch at a valley restaurant.
In the late afternoon the tour drops you in Ollantaytambo with your luggage instead of returning to Cusco. Sleeping there (or in another town: where to stay in the Sacred Valley) has three advantages: you are 600 metres lower than Cusco, the train leaves a few minutes from the hotel and you save almost two hours on the road before dawn. If you prefer to sleep in Aguas Calientes, you can take a train that same afternoon.
Day 3: Machu Picchu
The morning train runs from Ollantaytambo down the Urubamba canyon to Aguas Calientes in an hour and a half to two hours. From there, a bus climbs in about 25 minutes to the citadel gate. The guided visit takes around three hours, along the circuit on your ticket. Then you ride the bus down, have lunch in Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where the vehicle is waiting to drive you to Cusco. You arrive in the evening.
If you would rather not change hotels, the alternative is the Machu Picchu Full Day from Cusco: departure before dawn, vehicle to Ollantaytambo, train, bus, visit and return. It is about sixteen hours, but we organise all of it, with train, bus, entrance ticket and official guide included, from 305 USD per person depending on group size. You only need to bring your passport. The price of every tour in this itinerary is in Cusco private tour prices.
To choose your circuit inside the citadel, see the Machu Picchu circuits. The visiting rules are in the complete Machu Picchu guide.
What to book and how far ahead
| What | Approximate price | When to book |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu ticket | About 150 soles, foreign adult | Two months ahead; more for June to August |
| Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes train | Varies by service, date and time (which train to choose) | Weeks ahead, together with the ticket |
| Bus to the citadel | About 24 USD return | In Aguas Calientes or with the tour |
| Full Cusco Tourist Ticket | 130 soles | On day 1, at the first ruin |
| Qorikancha ticket | About 15 soles | At the door |
| Maras Salt Mines (VIP route) | About 10 soles | At the door |
Government entry fees change from time to time; check them before you travel. What cannot wait is Machu Picchu: without a dated ticket there is no day 3, and everything else is arranged around the date you get.
If you have one more day
With a fourth day, add it at the end, never at the start. Mountain trips need two or three days of acclimatisation:
- Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, at 5,200 metres. Departure at 3:30.
- Humantay Lake, a turquoise lake beneath the Salkantay snow peak (Humantay Lake guide: altitude and hike).
- South Valley, about six easy hours through Tipón, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas, if you would rather not get up early (guide).
How to fit in that fourth day, or a fifth, is explained in Cusco in 4 or 5 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in just 3 days?
Yes, in this order and without adding anything else. It is a full plan but not a rushed one: half a day on the first, a full day on the second and Machu Picchu on the third.
Is it better to do Machu Picchu on day 2?
No. On day 2 you are still acclimatising, and Machu Picchu in a day from Cusco means sixteen hours. The valley on day 2 brings you closer to the train and lets you sleep lower.
What do I do with my luggage if I sleep in Ollantaytambo?
You can carry it in the valley tour vehicle or leave your large suitcase at your Cusco hotel and travel with a backpack. The train only allows hand luggage of about 5 kilos.
What if I arrive in Cusco in the afternoon?
Rest on day 1 and move the City Tour to the afternoon of day 3, after Machu Picchu. The rest of the itinerary stays the same.
Can I do this itinerary with children or older travellers?
Yes. Choose the VIP valley route, which has short walks, and sleep in Ollantaytambo to avoid the early start on day 3. More ideas in the Sacred Valley with children. And for the whole trip, Cusco with kids.
Book your itinerary
- Private Cusco City Tour, on the afternoon of day 1.
- Sacred Valley VIP or Classic Sacred Valley, on day 2.
- Machu Picchu Full Day, on day 3.
If you message us on WhatsApp with your dates, we put the three days together, with transfers and trains coordinated.
