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Cusco Culture & history

Our most recommended Cusco Culture & history

From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

1. From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

Travel from Cusco to learn about the majestic Inca city: Machu Picchu and the ancient civilization living there. Discover the secrets that are hidden in it. Go back in time as you explore the streets of these ruins located in the Peruvian Andes.  Begin with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco for transfer to the train station. Get on board and enjoy the comforts offered by the train during the journey to Machu Picchu. Choose from the option of a standard train or a Vistadome train that offers panoramic views. Enjoy the dynamic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. Arrive in Aguas Calientes and take a bus to the entrance of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Learn about the history of this wonderful place. Depending on the option you select, enjoy a guided visit of Circuit 5. Visit Qolqas, the Agricultural Zone, the waterway, dry pit, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, water sources, set three covers, Pisonay Square, and the archaeological reserve. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and get recommendations for lunch. Board the train back to the Ollantaytambo or Poroy station where transportation will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

Cusco: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4-Day Trek

2. Cusco: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4-Day Trek

Tackle the unforgettable Inca Trail, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hike to Machu Picchu. Departing from Cusco, discover one of the world’s oldest pilgrimages on this 4-day trip and explore a cloud forest. Depart from your Cusco hotel early in the morning and drive 82 kilometers to the starting point in Llactapata. Begin your guided hike to the first campsite in Ayapata, located 3300 (10826 feet) meters above sea level. In the morning, make your way to Warmiwañuska, passing two mountains for a total of 10 hours of hiking. Traverse Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail at 4215 meters (13829 feet). Then, cross the Runqurakay Pass, with 4000 meters (13123 feet) to Chaquicocha. After a good night's rest at Chaquicocha, take on the 6-hour trek to Phuyupatamarca and finally the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna at 2600 meters (8530 feet). Pass through a number of ecological zones, home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Spot orchids and bromeliads, as well as hummingbirds, foxes, and deer. Wake up early and hike for 2 hours to Machu Picchu through the Sungate, and enjoy a unique view of Machu Picchu. After exploring Machu Picchu, board the Panoramic train back to Cusco and be dropped off at your hotel in the evening.

From Cusco: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac Tour

3. From Cusco: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac Tour

Explore Cusco's Sacred Valley and see Incan Ruins, salt mines, local markets, and textile production. Make stops in Moray, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac on this full-day tour by van. Be picked up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning before heading to an archaeological zone and textile center located in Chinchero. See how locals dye alpaca wool with natural plants of the region. Visit the archaeological site in Chinchero and see its terraces before moving on to Moray to learn about the history of the Incas and wonder at their mysterious circular terraces. Head to the nearby village of Maras and learn about its history as a center for salt production at the Maras Salt Mines. Admire the unique quilt work of over 3,000 salt ponds spilling into the Sacred Valley. Travel to Urubamba and enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Stop at the ruins of Ollantaytambo and marvel at the remarkable Incan architecture built during the Incan Empire's heyday. See an amazing rock formation that represents the Incan god of Wiracocha. Arrive at the last tour stop, the archaeological park of Pisaq, after which you will visit the nearby town to explore the craft market. Return to Cusco and be dropped off in the town center after the tour is over.

From Cusco: Moray and Salt Mines Quad Bike Tour

4. From Cusco: Moray and Salt Mines Quad Bike Tour

Get your adrenaline pumping as you ride quad bikes through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the Incan archeological site of Moray and discover the Maras Salt Mines on a trip from Cusco. Depart Cusco and head to Maras where you'll receive instructions on how to drive your quad bike safely. Start your adventure riding through the Sacred Valley while taking in beautiful views of snow-capped mountains. Reach the Moray archaeological site and enjoy a quick visit with your guide. Drive your quad bikes to the Maras Salt Mines. Park the quads and take the van to visit the mines. Hop back on your quad bikes to continue your adventure back to the base.

Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu: Entrance Ticket

5. Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu: Entrance Ticket

Discover the landmarks of Machu Picchu Lost Citadel and be one of the 400 people allowed to climb Huayna Picchu per day. Explore the lost Inca citadel at your own pace, discover ancient buildings such as the temple of the sun, the water mirrors, and the terraced fields of the agricultural sector, and climb the famous Huayna Picchu mountain. Take in the stunning views at Huayna Picchu, and be amazed as you see this infamous, historical city in real life.

Machu Picchu: Standard Admission Ticket

6. Machu Picchu: Standard Admission Ticket

Explore the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu at your own pace with a standard entrance ticket to the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reserve your entrance ticket to enter the site. You can independently organize transportation and tour guide for the visit.  Discover landmark attractions at your own pace, such as the Temple of the Sun, the terraced fields of the agricultural sector, and the Intihuatana stone, and take the famous picture from the observatory with the lost citadel behind.  For entering the Lost Citadel of Machu Picchu, it is mandatory that you are accompanied by an accredited guide. You are able to hire the tour guide directly at the entrance of the ruins.

From Cusco: 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour

7. From Cusco: 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour

Embark on an adventurous 2-day tour of the Lake Titicaca area. Discover some of the highlights located in and around Puno, Uros, Taquile, and Cusco, stopping with plenty of time to absorb the local flair and experience the main attractions. Spend the night in Puno and savor the tasty local cuisine along the way. Day 1: Cusco to Puno with stops Pick up from your hotel is at 630 AM to go to the tourist bus station in Puno. During the trip, enjoy a series of exciting stops at different centers and tourist attractions. Start with a 35-minute tour of the Andahuaylillas Sistine Chapel of America Temple and prepare to be amazed. Later, explore the Raqchi Archaeological Complex, before reaching Sicuani, where you can sit down to enjoy a buffet lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Paso la Raya, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Explore the Pucará Lithic Museum. Arrival at your hotel in Puno in Puno they will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel. Day 2: Puno, Uros, Taquile, Cusco Your second day will start early with a 715 AM hotel pickup and a transfer to the Port of Puno. Board your boat and head to the Uros, where you will participate in a cultural demonstration that will allow you to discover the Uros way of life. Visit the Taquile Islands and get to know the local culture Take a beautiful walk and full of incredible photo opportunities. Pause for lunch in the afternoon at a local restaurant where there will be a local menu of fried trout and quinoa soup where you can see the life of the taquiles. Then, return to Puno in the afternoon, usually around 4 PM. Then you will return to the hotel where you can wait in the waiting room and go out for dinner on your own. At 915 PM, your transfer will arrive to take you to the bus station, boarding at 10 PM. Arrive at the Cusco terminal at 5 AM in the morning, and end of the tour. Here you can find taxis to your hotel.

Machu Picchu: Full-Day Tour from Cusco with Optional Lunch

8. Machu Picchu: Full-Day Tour from Cusco with Optional Lunch

Discover the magic of the Andes and Machu Picchu on a full-day trip from Cusco. Marvel at mountain views on a train to Aguas Calientes. Hop on a comfortable bus to Machu Picchu and begin a guided tour. Upgrade your experience with the option to include an authentic Peruvian lunch. Start with pickup from your hotel in Cusco and travel to Ollantaytambo Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes. This is the nearest town to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a scenic train journey through dramatic Andean landscapes. The train has ample seats with large windows allowing for grand views of the surrounding jungle and mountains.  Board a coach for a 25-minute ride to Machu Picchu. The city of Machu Pichu is believed to have been built in the 1450s by the Inca emperor Pachacuti as a holiday retreat. Within a century the city would be abandoned following the Spanish conquest. The Spaniards never found it, so it was spared the destruction they brought on other Inca sites. Instead, it was slowly swallowed up by the jungle and hidden from harm. Take a guided tour of the site which explains the origins behind this awe-inspiring citadel and its most prominent landmarks such as the monumental Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial, and the Burial Grounds. After the tour, be returned to Aguas Calientes where you can take some free time to explore the city, or enjoy an optional lunch.  After some time in the town, return to Aguas Calientes station to take the train back to the Ollantaytambo Station, from there you will be taken back to your hotel.

Cusco: Open Bus City Sightseeing Tour

9. Cusco: Open Bus City Sightseeing Tour

Discover the main sights and learn about the history of the city of Cusco while you acclimatize on this sightseeing tour. Enjoy a carefully curated itinerary that gives you the best introduction to the city and its traditions. This tour takes you to the main highlights of Cusco and its surroundings. Feel free to sit back and relax in the open-top sightseeing bus and ride the entire route in 2.5 hours. Start the tour by driving through the historic center of Cusco. Sit back and enjoy the views while a bilingual guide explains the importance of each landmark within the city. Later drive through some of the main archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, and Puca Pucara. Get a panoramic view from the top deck of the bus. On the way back to Cusco, stop at a shamanic center. Witness a traditional Inca ceremony that pays homage to the Pachamama (Inca mother earth), the mountains, and the natural world. Stop at an alpaca wool weaving center where one of the workers will explain the differences between the various types of wool. Learn to recognize authentic alpaca wool when shopping for gifts. Before ending the tour, visit the large white statue of Christ that stands on the hill overlooking the city of Cusco. From here, enjoy fantastic views of the entire city. Then proceed back to the bus station in Cusco.

From Cusco: 4-Day Inca Trail Guided Trek to Machu Picchu

10. From Cusco: 4-Day Inca Trail Guided Trek to Machu Picchu

Walk the world-famous Inca Trail on this guided trek over 4 days and 3 nights. Follow an ancient footpath through the Sun Gate and into Machu Picchu, passing magical cloud forests on the way. Enjoy scenic camping, tasty meals and the expertise of local guides and porters. Day 1 Start with pickup from your hotel in Cusco, Urubamba, or Ollantaytambo on the first morning. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and meet your team of guides and porters before an 82km drive to the trail’s starting point. Hike in 2 hour intervals, with regular stops to eat and take a break. The first night’s campsite will be at Ayapata with an elevation of 3300 meters. Relax here with a hot drink, dinner and a well-deserved rest. Day 2 Wake up early for the trek’s longest day which will include the trail’s highest point, Dead Woman’s Pass, at 4215 meters. Stop here to enjoy the spectacular views before you descend into the Pacaymayu Valley in time for lunch. Next, climb to the Inca site of Runcu Raccay where you can admire two huge waterfalls across the valley before another descent to the remote site of Sayacmarca. After a quick tour, take a short walk to the second campsite, where you can watch the sun set over the Vilcabamba mountains before dinner. Day 3 Start early again for the trail’s most beautiful day. Walk along gradual inclines as you approach the Cloud Forest and Salkantay, the second highest peak in the Sacred Valley. Then, begin the climb to the final peak, Phuyupatamarka, where you’ll get your first views over Machu Picchu. From here, it’s a 3-hour walk down a flight of steps to Wiñay Wayna, where you’ll camp in close proximity to Machu Picchu. Share a relaxed final evening with your guides and porters, and get an early night before your final day of exploring. Day 4 Get up at the crack of dawn to catch a stunning sunrise over the ruins of Machu Picchu. Trek down to the Sun Gate and make your way into the Lost City of the Incas, where your private tour of the ruins will begin. After the tour, head down to Augas Calientes by bus. Take a few hours here to explore the city, or optionally to climb Huayna Picchu, before catching the train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. From here, a driver will transfer you back to your hotel by bus.

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Frequently asked questions about Cusco

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What are the best day trips and excursions from Cusco?

The best day trips and excursions from Cusco are:

Machu Picchu

Other Sightseeing Options in Cusco

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What people are saying about Cusco

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 894 reviews

A wonderful excursion, very long, yes, you have to get up early and spend all morning between buses and trains to get to Machu Picchu but it is worth it, it is true that it is one of the wonders of the world, beautiful. I have a very good opinion about the guides and the company, we had the tour on January 4 but it was canceled due to the strikes in the country, they notified us and we had to cancel it although the tour is non-refundable but because of the protests as they were cut off the roads there were no ways to go up, they returned our money, which is what a company would be. We had to take it out for another day before because the protests were just beginning on the 4th, we took it out another day for the 3rd. They fulfilled their promise, they returned the money for the tour on the 4th and on the 3rd they took us without any problem. I am very grateful for Lee, good organization, good guide who explained the entire history of Machu Picchu in Spanish and English. Everything is g

Legit service. I was a bit scare but everything turned out good. We didn’t receive tickets in 48 hours but the company reached out to us to explain the situation so we were aware of a little delay. They also responded very quickly to every concern that we had. Def would recommend if you buy last minute tickets

We had an incredible time - Pablo was an amazing guide and he took care of us so much! An unforgettable experience - the hotel they booked for us had a glass top to bottom view of Aquas Calientes and it was beautiful! We will cherish these memories forever - thank you to the team!!

It is impressive to see the city from above, the nature and the mountains are spectacular. The place has high energy.

Elisa was a great tourist guide. We had a great time…