Cusco Highlights tour 7 Days

Welcome to the Imperial City of Cusco, also known as the cultural capital of Peru. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel to check-in, drop off your luggage and freshen up. You will have time to rest before finding a place to have lunch. After lunch, we will take you on a half-day tour of this impressive city to acclimatize to the altitude (3,400 m.a.s.l.).

An unforgettable experience awaits you as you know the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas. People have lived in Cusco since approximately 1,000 BC and considered it the center of the regional culture, known as Qosqo. It has been a place of great importance. It has played a significant role in all the civilizations that have lived in the area throughout history, starting with the native peoples of Peru, long before the Incas with whom we usually associate the region today.

Once the Inca empire spanned beyond Peru, Cusco became the center of the powerful and extensive reign. After the Incas, the Spanish also used the city as a colonial capital.

On this half-day city tour, you will learn much more about the history of Cusco and see some of the most important landmarks and archaeological sites.

The attractions you will visit on tour include:

The Cathedral of Cusco: One of the most emblematic places in Cusco is the Cathedral, which is located in the main square and has an incredible artistic value. It is a colonial monument built over the Inca Palace of Wiracocha. Inside the Cathedral, you will find many carved, detailed, and refined wooden works: the choir, the pulpit, and the altars. There are also many beautiful paintings from the Cusco School of Art (including a picture of the Last Supper in which Christ and his disciples eat guinea pig) and impressive pieces of embossed silver.

Qoricancha Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo: This religious center was of great importance to the Incas and was built to worship the sun, the deity par excellence for the ancient civilization. Inside, you will find smaller temples dedicated to various celestial bodies: the sun, the moon, and the stars. Outside, you will see beautiful gardens and royal fountains. What is most striking is the combination of extraordinary Inca and Spanish colonial architecture. More pieces from the Cusco School of Art are also on display.

Sacsayhuaman: 2 km from the city center, you will find this impressive site built with huge carved rocks that come together harmoniously. You will see that three superimposed platforms have an average length of 360 meters. Some stones rise over 9 meters high. Take some time to walk around and appreciate the fantastic architecture while enjoying the most spectacular view of the city of Cusco and the surrounding mountainous landscape.

Q'enqo: 1.4 km from Sacsayhuaman is the Inca ceremonial center of Q'enqo. The most outstanding feature of this complex is an open space known as an amphitheater. Hundreds of years ago, Inca mummies would have been found in the various niches surrounding the site. Today, the amphitheater is only half its original height.

Puka Pukara: The name of this site means red fortress, due to the reddish tint that is the result of a large amount of iron in the rocks. Many believe that the fortress was perhaps an old warehouse (Tambo) that served as a place of rest and surveillance to protect Tambomachay. In this complex, you can appreciate impressive architecture, fountains, aqueducts, and several Inca enclosures.

Tambomachay: The last stop of the City Tour is this fascinating complex where you can see finely carved stones, fountains, and aqueducts to transport water from nearby springs and hot springs. For this reason, Tambomachay is associated with the cult of water. In front of this construction, there is a tower that is believed to have served as a watchtower and communication tower.

We will pick you up early from your hotel to head to our first stop in Chinchero, a beautiful place known not only for its breathtaking scenery but also for the quality of its textile art. Here, we will visit the home of a local family, where we will learn some of the leading textile techniques that have been preserved from generation to generation.

We will continue appreciating diverse cultivated fields, small traditional communities, and substantial snow-capped peaks. We will then arrive at Moray and visit its spectacular circular terraces. Studies have proven that Moray functioned as a valid agricultural laboratory where food from other altitudes and climatic regions could be produced. Afterward, we will go to the salt mines of Maras, a place functioning since pre-Inca times. There, you will find more than 3,000 salt ponds flooded daily with water coming from inside the earth.

At noon, we will head to Urubamba to recharge our batteries with a well-deserved lunch. We will continue our tour through the Sacred Valley until we reach Ollantaytambo, considered the last living Inca city. It is a picturesque and charming place to visit.

Once we have finished exploring this beautiful city, we will head to Ollantaytambo station and begin our train ride through the Amazon jungle. It will be an unforgettable hour and forty-five minutes along the tracks next to the mighty Vilcanota River. Finally, we will arrive in Aguas Calientes, an intense miniature metropolis where we will have dinner and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Today you will wake up very early at 5:00 a.m. to enjoy breakfast without rushing. This way, we can board one of the first buses leaving for Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972 ft.). This is the only way to avoid the crowds of tourists and enjoy the complex in peace while the sun rises and casts an impressive orange glow on the enormous stones.

Once at the Inca citadel, you will need to show your entrance ticket and passport. If you are a student, you must bring your ID card. You will not be allowed to enter without these documents.

You will feel the powerful energy of this fantastic archaeological site as soon as you enter. Happiness will flood you as you observe how the golden sunlight gradually covers every corner of Machu Picchu. You will learn all its secrets and mysteries during a guided tour in which you will also learn a lot about its history and the local flora and fauna. Our guide will take you for approximately two hours through the most significant parts of the tour. If you have booked tickets for Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, now it's time to go hiking. Then, you will return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

In Aguas Calientes, you will find a place to have lunch and then board the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo; from there, you will travel to Cusco in our private transportation, and we will drop you off at the door of your accommodation. Your arrival time will depend on the time of your train ticket.

Early today morning, your exciting 2-day adventure begins when the tour guide and our transportation will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco. The first stop of the day will be in Mollepata for a nutritious breakfast. Then, we will continue the trek until we reach Challacancha for a short rest.

From here, we will begin the hike to Soraypampa, where our campsite is located. This first stretch is not very challenging and will help you adapt to the altitude. You will notice that you follow a small Inca canal most of the way, and you will be able to contemplate the beautiful Andean landscape.

We will arrive at our Sky Camp located in front of the majestic and snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay, where the chef will be waiting for us with an exquisite lunch. Afterward, you will have some time to rest in your igloo or walk around the site before preparing for our afternoon hike.

Then, you will ascend to the Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). Once you reach the top, you will need to take it easy due to the altitude. Here, you will have time to enjoy the beautiful view of the lagoon that sparkles like a jewel amidst the white background of the snow-capped mountain.

Later, you will return to our Sky Camp to enjoy a nice dinner and contemplate the stars. Your guide will tell you all about Inca astronomy. When you go to bed, you can look out the roof of your igloo and let the constellations lull you to sleep.

Today is the big day because we will reach the highest point of the trip, where you will encounter beautiful landscapes surrounded by impressive mountains. You will enjoy a full and nutritious breakfast before gradually ascending to Salkantaypampa. Then, you will traverse a challenging trail known as 'The 7 Snakes Trail' until you reach the impressive Salkantay pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). Here you will spend some time taking some memorable photos and enjoy the fantastic scenery.

After contemplating the view of the snow-capped mountains and feeling the force of nature, we will pass through rocky landscapes and descend until we reach our lunch spot at a place called Soyrococha. After lunch, we will continue descending towards Soraypampa and have a view of the great forest of snow-covered stones in the distance. All your efforts will be greatly rewarded with incredible scenery all around.

Once we arrive at Sky Camp, we will have a break to drink water or eat some snacks before we embark on the final stretch for half an hour to board the shuttle. Throughout this last part of the trip, you will have plenty of opportunities to take great pictures of valleys, mountains, rivers, and farmland. Finally, we will arrive in Cusco and drop you off at your accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

Our last day of adventure begins at 4:00 a.m. We will pick you up in our private transportation and drive for three hours to Cusco's South Valley. Despite the early start, you will have the opportunity to sleep a little longer on the way, thanks to the comfortable transportation and cozy blankets we will provide you with.

Along the way, we will observe picturesque Andean villages, Inca-era agricultural terraces, fertile valleys and beautiful mountain gorges. We will stop to appreciate the herds of llamas and alpacas that will entertain you while enjoying a delicious continental breakfast that will give you the nutritional boost you need to start the trek.

We will continue our journey until we reach the starting point of the trek, Llacto (4,630 m / 15,190 ft); from there, we will follow a beautiful stream and go along a winding path in the middle of the Andean mountains. As we ascend, you will be rewarded with the breathtaking view of Ausangate Mountain (6,372 m / 20,905 ft). Take a few minutes to understand why this mountain is a living deity for the Andean people.

This remote region is home to many people, and you will have the opportunity to see them working the land. Also, you will be amazed to see the traditional clothing they wear and make thanks to the artistic textile talents they have inherited from their ancestors. By keeping these traditions alive, an ancestral culture is preserved. Your guide will explain the meaning of some of the garments, and if you wish, you can ask him to teach you some words in Quechua, the native language of many inhabitants of the area that has been spoken since the time of the Incas.

After an hour and a half hike, we will arrive at the incredible Colored Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732 ft). Take your time to admire the astonishing beauty of this impressive natural formation and feel the thrill of witnessing a unique natural site. You will explore the surroundings and admire the breathtaking scenery while the guide explains the theories that exist about the origin of this mountain that looks like something out of a colorful dream. Take this opportunity to take some amazing pictures or simply immerse yourself in the scenery. We will spend about 30 minutes to an hour at the top, depending on how fast you have walked and the weather conditions. If you want to stay there longer, let your expert guide know.

It will take us another hour to reach the starting point of the hike; from this point, we will board our transportation to the restaurant in Cusipata, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch. Then, we will board our private transportation again to return to the city of Cusco. We will leave you at the door of your accommodation to rest after an incredible day.

It's time to say goodbye but keep the best memories of this trip. At the most convenient time, we will take you to the airport or bus station.

Or continue exploring among the countless activities Cusco has to offer. There is so much to see and we are here to plan your perfect vacation. Feel free to consult our specialists for more details.