With two days in Cusco there is no time for everything, so the first decision is what to leave out. The essentials of the region are three, the Inca city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and two of them fit well into two days. Here are the two plans that work, day by day, what we do not recommend and what to book.
The two plans at a glance
| Plan | Day 1 | Day 2 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Cusco and the Sacred Valley | Arrival, historic centre and City Tour in the afternoon | Sacred Valley and back to Cusco | If you are not visiting Machu Picchu on this trip or are seeing it on other days |
| B. Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu | Sacred Valley, ending in Ollantaytambo | Machu Picchu and back to Cusco | If Machu Picchu is a must |
Both follow the logic of our acclimatisation guide: little effort on day one; on day two, below Cusco’s altitude, in the valley or at Machu Picchu.
Plan A: Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Day 1: the centre and the City Tour in the afternoon
Most flights from Lima land in Cusco in the morning. Drop your luggage, drink water and take the morning easy. If you feel fine, take a short, flat walk around the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, which opens roughly from 10:30 to 17:00, and have a light lunch at San Pedro Market, ten minutes away on foot.
At two in the afternoon the private City Tour starts, about five hours mostly by vehicle: Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. You are back at your hotel around seven; a light dinner and an early night.
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, while two partial tickets would add up to 140. Qorikancha and the Cathedral have separate tickets.
Day 2: the Sacred Valley
The whole valley lies below Cusco, so it is a long day but an easy one on the body. Choose one of the two full-day routes, which we compare in Sacred Valley Classic or VIP:
- Sacred Valley VIP: Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo, in about ten hours.
- Classic Sacred Valley: the ruins and market of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, in about eleven hours.
Both include lunch at a valley restaurant, and you are back in Cusco at the end of the day.
Plan B: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
If you will not leave without Machu Picchu, spend both days on the route that leads to it and leave the city for some free time on your return:
- Day 1. Sacred Valley VIP with your luggage, ending in Ollantaytambo. You sleep there, about 600 metres lower than Cusco.
- Day 2. Morning train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the citadel, a guided visit of about three hours and back by train and vehicle to Cusco, where you arrive at night.
We explain it with timings in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 2 days. For this plan you need your Machu Picchu entrance ticket first (check the quotas) and then the train (which train to choose).
What we do not recommend with only two days
- Landing on day 1 and doing the Machu Picchu Full Day from Cusco on day 2. It takes about sixteen hours, with a pre-dawn start, while you are still acclimatising. If it is your only option, rest completely on day 1.
- Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake. They reach 5,200 and 4,200 metres and need two or three days of acclimatisation first.
With a third day everything fits without rushing: see our 3-day Cusco itinerary and, with more time, Cusco in 4 or 5 days and Cusco in 7 days.
If you arrive in Cusco in the afternoon
Count on just one useful day. Spend your arrival afternoon resting and, if you feel fine, strolling around the Plaza de Armas, and choose between the City Tour and the Sacred Valley for the next day. Machu Picchu needs at least one night in the valley or in Aguas Calientes, so without an extra day we do not recommend it.
Indicative prices
| What | From | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Private City Tour | USD 45 | Private transport; you choose the guide when booking and entrance fees are separate |
| Sacred Valley VIP | USD 85 per person | Private transport, guide and lunch |
| Classic Sacred Valley | USD 95 per person | Private transport, guide and lunch |
| Machu Picchu Full Day | USD 305 per person | Transfers, train, bus, entrance ticket and guide, depending on group size |
| Full Cusco Tourist Ticket | 130 soles | City Tour and Sacred Valley ruins, for ten days |
| Qorikancha | About 15 soles | Paid at the door |
All our prices are in Cusco private tour prices. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will put the two days together with coordinated transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Are two days enough for Cusco?
For the city and the Sacred Valley, yes. To add Machu Picchu you need to spend both days on the valley route and leave the city for some free time. With three days all three fit without rushing.
Can I visit Machu Picchu with only two days in Cusco?
Yes: the Sacred Valley on day one, with a night in Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu on day two. What we do not recommend is the Full Day from Cusco the day after you land.
What to see in Cusco in one day?
In the morning, the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and San Pedro Market, at an easy pace; in the afternoon, the City Tour of Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
Which Tourist Ticket should I buy for two days?
The full ticket, at 130 soles: it covers the City Tour and the Sacred Valley and costs less than two partial tickets, which add up to 140.
What should I do on day one, the City Tour or the Sacred Valley?
The City Tour in the afternoon: it is half a day, mostly by vehicle, and leaves the morning for rest. The Sacred Valley is a full day best done once you are rested.
