With 4 or 5 days in Cusco you can see the essentials and add a mountain trip: the City Tour on day 1, the Sacred Valley on day 2, Machu Picchu on day 3 and Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain at the end. With five days, day 4 goes to something easy, such as the South Valley, and the mountain moves to day 5. The rule behind it all is altitude: low first and high last, once your body has adjusted. This itinerary builds on the three-day plan and explains what to add, in what order and why. If you have less time, see 2 days in Cusco; with a week, Cusco in 7 days.
Both itineraries in one table
| Day | With 4 days | With 5 days | Highest point of the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and afternoon City Tour | Same | 3,700 m / 12,139 ft (Sacsayhuaman) |
| 2 | Sacred Valley, night in Ollantaytambo | Same | 3,762 m / 12,342 ft (Chinchero); you sleep at 2,792 m / 9,160 ft |
| 3 | Machu Picchu and back to Cusco | Same | 2,430 m / 7,972 ft |
| 4 | Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain | South Valley, an easy day | 4,200 or 5,200 m · 3,400 m / 11,154 ft |
| 5 | Flight out | Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain | 4,200 m / 13,780 ft or 5,200 m / 17,060 ft |
We count full days in Cusco: your flight out is the day after the last one. Do not put the mountain on the day you fly, because these trips get back to Cusco in mid-afternoon or at nightfall.
Days 1 to 3: the base
The first three days are those of the 3-day itinerary, and it is best not to change their order:
- Day 1. A morning of rest and a private City Tour in the afternoon: Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, in about five hours, mostly by vehicle.
- Day 2. The VIP or Classic Sacred Valley, ending in Ollantaytambo. The whole valley lies below Cusco, so your body rests even though the day is long.
- Day 3. Machu Picchu by train from Ollantaytambo and back to Cusco at night. If you would rather not change hotels, the Machu Picchu Full Day leaves from Cusco and organises everything.
The detail of those days, with times and what to book, is in that guide. Here we focus on what changes with one or two extra days.
4-day itinerary: the mountain at the end
Day 4 is the first day when it makes sense to go above 4,000 metres (13,100 ft). You have spent three nights in the region, and days 2 and 3 were below Cusco, which is what helps most to acclimatise. Choose one of the two trips:
- Humantay Lake, at 4,200 metres (13,780 ft). It is about 3 km (1.9 miles) uphill from Soraypampa, in an hour and a half to two hours. It leaves at 4 am and takes about 12 hours. It is the safer choice for day 4 because it is the lower one. All the details are in the Humantay Lake guide.
- Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, at 5,200 metres (17,060 ft). It leaves at 3:30 am and takes about 14 hours. It is the highest and the most demanding; we explain it in the Rainbow Mountain guide. If you want the scenery with less effort, Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, at 4,900 metres (16,076 ft), has a shorter hike (we compare them in Vinicunca or Palcoyo).
If you cannot decide between the lake and the mountain, Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain compares them point by point. Keep one thing in mind: on day 3 you return from Machu Picchu at night and on day 4 you leave before dawn. Eat early, pack your daypack and go to bed as soon as you get back. If that sounds like too much, the five-day plan solves exactly that.
5-day itinerary: an easy day before going up
With five days, day 4 is used to recover from the long Machu Picchu day without wasting it. Our suggestion is the South Valley: Tipón, Pikillacta and the church of Andahuaylillas, in about six hours at 3,400 metres (11,154 ft), below Cusco and with no early start. Tipón and Pikillacta are covered by the full Tourist Ticket you bought on day 1. We cover it in the South Valley guide.
Day 5 is for the mountain, with one more day of acclimatisation than in the four-day plan. With that margin, Rainbow Mountain becomes a reasonable choice if you are fit, and Humantay is still the gentler one.
What about both mountains?
Not in five days. Humantay and Rainbow Mountain should not be done on consecutive days, and it is best to leave two or three days between them. If you want to do both, you need at least six days: Humantay on day 4, an easy day on day 5 and Rainbow Mountain on day 6.
The tickets these days add
| What | Approximate price | Where you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Full Tourist Ticket | 130 soles; also covers Tipón and Pikillacta | On day 1, at the first site |
| Church of Andahuaylillas | About 15 soles | At the door |
| Humantay Lake | About 10 soles | At the entrance, in cash |
| Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain | About 10 soles | At the entrance, in cash |
These are reference prices and they change from year to year: confirm them before you travel. The Machu Picchu ticket and the train are booked in advance, as explained in the 3-day itinerary.
If you have not picked your dates yet, see the best time to visit Cusco for each trip.
How much each tour on the itinerary costs is in Cusco private tour prices.
Frequently asked questions
Are 4 days in Cusco enough?
Yes, for the essentials and one mountain: City Tour, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain. With five days you gain an easy day before the mountain.
Can I do Rainbow Mountain on day 2?
We do not recommend it. It is at 5,200 metres (17,060 ft) and needs two or three days of acclimatisation. Put it at the end of your trip.
Humantay or Rainbow Mountain for the last day?
Humantay if the mountain falls on day 4 or if you do not know how the altitude affects you. Rainbow Mountain if you have five days and are fit.
Where do I sleep each night?
In Cusco, except the night of day 2, which is best spent in Ollantaytambo so you can catch the train to Machu Picchu without a very early start.
What if my Machu Picchu ticket is for a different day?
The Machu Picchu date sets the plan: move the other days around it, with the Sacred Valley the day before. What does not change is the mountain, which always goes on day 4 or later.
Book your itinerary
- Private Cusco City Tour, on day 1.
- VIP or Classic Sacred Valley, on day 2.
- Machu Picchu Full Day, on day 3.
- Private South Valley, on day 4 of the five-day plan.
- Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain, on the last day.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will put the days together, with transfers and the train coordinated.
