PERU · DAY TRIPS IN CUSCO
This is the shortlist worth sending to whoever you are travelling with: 15 day trips in Cusco, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Early guided hike to Rainbow Mountain and optional Red Valley from Cusco with breakfast and buffet lunch, plus private or shared options.
“Had a fantastic day. Eduardo and Renato were our lovely guide and driver, super friendly, helpful and funny. Food was great. Got very lucky with the weather! Would highly recommend!”
Early 3am trek to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley from Cusco, with breakfast and buffet lunch, plus small-group guides and altitude support.
“10/10 experience Kristien and Vicky trekked with us to the top to make sure we didnt fall of the track, or if we needed oxygen, and very informative.”
Private Cusco day trip to Rainbow Mountain and optional Red Valley with early pickup, hearty breakfast, buffet lunch, and altitude safety gear.
“Fantastic experience, guide Vicky was incredibly kind and supportive. Well organised and great to beat the crowds and enjoy the spectacular views!”
Cusco to Machu Picchu day trip with train and shuttle, included entrance ticket, and a guided walk on your timed circuit. Relax, then explore.
“Am I glad I did it? Yes. The journey over is not so great! Almost 4 hours on a train with no wifi, no plug ins for phones. Smh all throughout the ride you heard the speakers of them being in business for 35+ years but no simple amenities? Ha don't get my started on the "food" they give you snacks. 4 hrs without an actual meal is rough, bring a sandwich! Once we got to Machu piccu it was so beautiful, I did find it weird that I had a whole guide to myself. Idk it felt like he was quizzing me at one point which was annoying. The…”
Early pickup from Cusco for a guided hike to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), with breakfast and lunch plus oxygen support for altitude.
“Alfredo is an amazing guide. Wonderful service. Give 5 star and highly recommend this tour and rainbow mountain is worth the visit”
Cusco to Machu Picchu in one day with hotel pickup, train to Aguas Calientes, guided citadel tour, and return transport.
“Such a great, amazing and fun experience with this company to visit Macchu Pichu. Our guides, Mauro and Reuben were amazing. They both provided so much information about the history of Macchu Pichu as well as taught us the native language of the people of the region. Everything from the logistics and operations was superb. You literally just show up and they take care of all of the operations. You do have to go into their office in Cusco for a quick orientation and confirmation. Make sure to download and use WhatsApp to communicate with them as well!”
Full-day Machu Picchu trip from Cusco with early pickup, scenic train, timed entry, and a guided circuit plus bus rides included.
“Tour was amazing. January weather makes is very mystical up there, one minute you can see everything, the next minute machu picchu vanishes in the fog. The bus ride was good, train was amazing with the views. We had multiple guides throughout the day. The final bus to Machu Picchu is a bit chaotic, on the way back it can be a bit hard to find your bus. The guide on the mountain was very informative and we heard lots of interesting stories about the incas. Be prepared for some walking. It's a magical place where you feel overwhelmed by the views. All in all, it was a great trip…”
Two days from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to a guided Machu Picchu visit, with train ride, Aguas Calientes overnight, and lunch.
“Lennin was the absolute man. Loved this tour, if you want to forget about everything book it.”
Early Cusco hike to sacred Humantay Lake with breakfast, buffet lunch, bilingual guide, small-group transfers, and optional horse ride.
“Despite I asked 5 times the day before about pick up time and woke up at 3:50am the day of the tour, texted a few more times, called, waited until 4:50am, the tour operator NEVER RESPONDED and NEVER SHOWED UP. Just terrible. Avoid at all cost.”
A one-day, guided Machu Picchu trip from Cusco with train, bus, and entry tickets included, plus a private guide and flexible mornings.
“We booked the tour only 3 days before and they managed to arrange the transportation and entrance tickets successfully. Our guide Tatiana is professional and knowledgeable. She also helped us to take a sneak peek of Machu Picchu from the higher platform which was not included in the ticket. Overall, the tour was well arranged and the trip was memorable.”
Train from Cusco to Machu Picchu via Aguas Calientes with transfers, circuit-guided ruins tour, and a smooth small-group day.
“Transportation was pretty seamless and Jaf (I hope I spelled that correctly) was a great guide! He was passionate about Machu Picchu and made sure we all had a really great day and knew all of the relevant facts!”
Private Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco to Moray terraces, Maras salt pools, and Chinchero textiles, with pickup and an English guide.
“I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Peru. It's great to combine with two day tour to Macchu Picchu/Pisac/Ollayantambo. Percy was our guide and he was amazing. Extremely passionate about Incan history and culture. Moray and Maras may not be as famous as Macchu Picchu but I think they are unmissable sites. Peruvian roads can be bumpy but our driver was an expert. You won't regret booking this tour and it will be a highlight of your trip.”
Small-group Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco with train, guided circuit, hotel pickup, and bus rides, with entry tickets included.
“My husband was hiking the Inca Trail and I just wanted to do a day trip to Machu Picchu. I'm very glad that I chose this Viator tour. There were 5 other individuals on the tour and I quickly became part of the group. Jorge was an extraordinary guide. He was very knowledgeble and took great care of us by answering all our questions and getting us where we needed to be when we needed to be there. I highly recommend!”
One long day that strings together Cusco pickup, shared train to Aguas Calientes, bus to Machu Picchu, and a guided citadel visit.
“My family and I booked this trip with much anticipation and we had the best time. The agency communicated with me from day 1 and had a full itinerary planned out for my trip. Every detail was thoughtfully mapped out and it turned out to be better than I ever expected. I highly recommend this tour. It’s an unforgettable experience to experience Machu Pichu and Im glad I had all this help planning it.”
Rainbow Mountain day trip from Cusco with early pickup, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, walking sticks, and an optional Red Valley stop for different views.
“Our guide Jonathan made sure we were well prepared and safe throughout. He provided good informational points along the way. He also knew how long to wait for the fog to clear so we could see the mountain and the valley proper. The hike itself wasn't too difficult (for two 30 somethings in good shape, and compared to the 4 day Inca trail which we did prior to this hike). There are a few steep hills that you need to take slowly, but the hiking poles provided were a great help. The Red Valley add on is definitely worth the extra soles- a totally different and very stunning view with…”
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