The question we get asked most before a booking is this: “I arrive in Cusco in the morning, is it a good idea to do the City Tour that same day?” The short answer is yes, in the afternoon, if you feel fine, and it is also the best use of your arrival day. The long answer has conditions, and they decide whether the first day goes well or turns into an afternoon of headache. Here they are, with an hour-by-hour plan and the signs that tell you when to wait.
Why the City Tour is the first-day tour
- It is half a day. Five hours, from two in the afternoon to seven. It leaves you the morning to arrive, eat lightly and rest.
- Almost all of it is by vehicle. You drive between the five stops; at each you walk ten to thirty minutes, on the flat or up short stairs.
- The altitude does not climb much. Qorikancha is in the city at 3,400 metres; the four upper ruins are between 3,580 and 3,700. That is 300 metres more, not a thousand.
- It is the introduction. Qorikancha and Sacsayhuaman are the context for everything you will see later in the valley and at Machu Picchu.
Compare it with the usual alternative: a ten-hour Sacred Valley tour on arrival day, leaving at seven in the morning. That is the mistake behind most bad first days.
What you visit, what it costs and which tickets are separate is in the Cusco City Tour: what it includes, times and price.
The conditions
- Arrive before midday. The tour starts around two. You need two or three hours at the hotel first: drop the luggage, drink, eat something light, lie down for half an hour.
- Feel reasonably well. Some tiredness and breathlessness on stairs is normal and does not rule out the tour. A strong headache, nausea or dizziness are signs to stay at the hotel and move the tour to the next day. We explain it in the acclimatisation guide.
- Take it slowly. On a private tour the pace is yours: if at Sacsayhuaman you would rather not climb to the viewpoint, you do not. In a group of thirty, the guide sets the pace.
- Add nothing to it. No long dinner, no bar, no stroll around San Blas afterwards. The tour ends at seven; by nine, in bed.
A typical arrival day
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 9:00–10:30 | Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. No running up stairs. |
| 10:30–13:00 | Hotel: water, coca tea, shower, half an hour lying down. Light lunch, no alcohol. |
| 13:45 | Hotel pickup. |
| 14:00 | Qorikancha, in the city, on the flat. |
| 15:00 | Sacsayhuaman: the walls and, if you feel like it, the viewpoint. |
| 16:15 | Q’enqo and Puka Pukara, short stops. |
| 17:30 | Tambomachay, a flat 300-metre walk. |
| 18:30–19:00 | Back at the hotel. Light dinner and early night. |
When it is better not to do it on day one
- If you arrive after one o’clock: there is no time to rest first.
- If you fly in directly from sea level and notice clear symptoms as you step off the plane.
- If you travel with small children or older people who have had altitude sickness before.
- If the previous night was a long flight without sleep: tiredness and altitude add up.
In any of those cases, the good plan is to rest on day one and do the Sacred Valley on day two, 500 metres lower, leaving the City Tour for day three or for the afternoon you return from Machu Picchu.
Which tickets you need that day
The Cusco Tourist Ticket, bought at the first ruin with the guide, and the Qorikancha ticket, paid at the gate. If you are also doing the Sacred Valley, buy the full ticket that first day: it lasts ten days and covers both. Bring cash in soles and your passport.
Frequently asked questions
What if I start feeling unwell halfway through?
We stop. On a private tour the vehicle is always with you and the hotel is twenty minutes away from any point. There is no need to hold out until the end.
Is the morning City Tour better?
Not for the first day: there is no time to arrive and rest. From day two onwards, the morning has fewer groups at Sacsayhuaman and better light on the walls.
Can I do the City Tour and the Sacred Valley on the same day?
Not reasonably, and on day one even less so. They are separate tours: half a day for one, a full day for the other.
Can I book at short notice?
Yes, even the same morning, subject to availability. Message us on WhatsApp with your arrival time and we confirm the pickup.
Book your first day
- Cusco Private City Tour, half a day, hotel pickup.
- Sacred Valley, the best second day.
- All our Cusco city tours.
