Trip highlights
- 1Sunrise at Machu Picchu — the Inca citadel emerging from the clouds
- 2Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) at 5,200m — otherworldly Andean scenery
- 3Cusco's Plaza de Armas and San Pedro Market for authentic local life
- 4Lima's Miraflores dining district — home to Central, one of the world's best restaurants
- 5Humantay Lake turquoise trek and Sacred Valley ruins at Ollantaytambo
Daily spend
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival in Lima — Miraflores Food & Sea Cliff Walks
Tuesday, June 1
Est. spend
$220
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport
Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Lima
Flights from most international hubs arrive in Lima. Clear customs and take an authorised taxi or Uber (book inside the terminal) to Miraflores — about 40 minutes in normal traffic. Check into your hotel and rest briefly before heading out. Lima sits at sea level, so there is no altitude acclimatisation needed here.
Only use official yellow taxi booths inside the arrivals hall. Agree on the fare before getting in — around S/. 65–80 (USD 17–22) to Miraflores.
Larcomar Shopping Cliff Walk
Malecón de la Reserva 610, Miraflores, Lima
After dropping your bags, walk to the edge of the Miraflores cliffs. The Malecón de la Reserva runs along the top offering sweeping views of the Pacific. Larcomar shopping centre is built directly into the cliff face — walk through to the outdoor terraces for your first proper look at Lima's coastline. The sea air is cool and crisp, ideal for recovering from a long flight.
The cliffs are safe during the day. Come back at sunset on a later day for the full golden-hour effect over the Pacific.
☀️ Afternoon
Parque del Amor and Huaca Pucllana
Calle General Borgoño cuadra 8, Miraflores, Lima
Stroll through Parque del Amor — Lima's coastal park with its famous mosaic sculpture 'The Kiss' — before heading inland to Huaca Pucllana, an ancient adobe pyramid right in the middle of Miraflores. You can tour the ruins with a guide for about USD 4, with excellent context on Lima's pre-Inca civilisations. The contrast of an ancient pyramid surrounded by a modern city neighbourhood is genuinely striking.
Huaca Pucllana is open until 10pm if you want to return for their evening tour with dramatic lighting — the restaurant on site is also excellent.
Mercado N°1 de Surquillo
Pasaje Nicolás de Piérola, Surquillo, Lima
Cross Ovalo Gutierrez and walk 10 minutes into Surquillo to visit Lima's most authentic food market. Unlike tourist-facing markets, this is where Lima's top chefs — including Virgilio Martinez of Central — actually shop. Browse aisles of exotic Andean tubers, fresh ceviche stalls, chillies of every colour, and tropical fruits you've never seen. An essential taste of real Lima.
Buy a small bag of chifles (plantain chips) and some chicha morada (purple corn drink) from the market stalls — cheap, authentic, and delicious.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at Central (reservation required months ahead)
Av. Pedro de Osma 301, Barranco, Lima
If you managed to snag a reservation at Central — number one on Latin America's 50 Best list and regularly in the global top 5 — tonight is the night. Chef Virgilio Martinez's tasting menu is structured around Peru's ecosystems and altitudes, from Amazon ingredients to Andean altitude. Each course is a revelation. If Central is booked (it often is), Maido or La Mar are outstanding alternatives on the same block.
Central moved to Barranco. Book via their official website 60–90 days ahead for weekend slots. Dress code is smart casual — no shorts.
🍽️ Meals
Mercado de Surquillo lunch stall
Peruvian market food · $8 · Grab ceviche or a sandwich at one of the market's informal stands — the freshest and cheapest option in the area.
Central
Modern Peruvian · $180 · One of the world's great restaurants — book months ahead.
Lima Deep Dive — Barranco, History & Peruvian Cuisine
Wednesday, June 2
Est. spend
$95
per person
🌅 Morning
Barranco Neighbourhood Walk
Puente de los Suspiros, Barranco, Lima
Lima's bohemian district of Barranco sits just south of Miraflores and is the city's cultural heart. Walk along Bajada de los Baños — a romantic laneway leading down to the sea — then cross the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), a Lima landmark. The neighbourhood is full of pastel colonial houses, art galleries, and artisan shops. Early morning is quiet and photogenic.
Barranco is Lima's safest bohemian neighbourhood. Most galleries open around 10am — plan your walk to coincide.
Larco Museum (Museo Larco)
Av. Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima
One of Peru's finest private museums, set in a colonial mansion in Pueblo Libre. The collection spans 5,000 years of Peruvian civilisation and includes an extraordinary gallery of Pre-Columbian gold and silver. The famous 'erotic pottery' gallery is candid and genuinely interesting from an anthropological perspective. Allow 2 hours minimum — the garden café is lovely for a coffee break.
Buy tickets online to skip the queue. The museum's app has excellent audio guides — download it before your visit.
☀️ Afternoon
Plaza Mayor de Lima (Historic Centre)
Plaza Mayor, Cercado de Lima, Lima
Lima's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vast Plaza Mayor is anchored by the Government Palace on the north, Lima Cathedral on the east, and the Municipal Palace to the west. The Cathedral holds Francisco Pizarro's remains — entrance costs about USD 4. The ornate wooden balconies on surrounding colonial buildings are among the finest in the Americas.
Visit on a weekday — the Changing of the Guard at Government Palace happens at noon Monday to Saturday with full military fanfare.
Mercado Central and Chinatown (Barrio Chino)
Calle Capón, Barrio Chino, Lima
Walk five minutes east from Plaza Mayor to Lima's Chinatown — the oldest in South America, established in the 1850s. Chifas (Chinese-Peruvian fusion restaurants) line the main street of Calle Capón. The Mercado Central next door is intense, colourful, and full of fresh produce, dried herbs, and live poultry. A fascinating slice of Lima's layered immigrant culture.
Try lomo saltado (stir-fried beef) at any chifa on Calle Capón — it's the best expression of Chinese-Peruvian fusion you'll find.
🌙 Evening
Pisco Sour Making Class + Dinner in Miraflores
Parque Kennedy, Miraflores, Lima
Join a 90-minute pisco sour and cocktail class at a Miraflores bar (several run daily, book the previous day). You'll learn the history of pisco, the correct technique, and make three different sour variations. Pair with ceviche and tiradito (Peruvian sashimi). Afterward, walk to Parque Kennedy for people-watching — the park is famous for its resident cats, fed nightly by locals.
BarBarian and La Revuelta both offer well-run pisco classes in Miraflores for around USD 30 including drinks and a snack.
🍽️ Meals
Café del Museo Larco
Peruvian · $20 · Set in the museum's colonial garden — the ceviche here is outstanding.
Pisco class appetisers + street food
Peruvian fusion · $35 · Combine the class with dinner nearby.
Fly to Cusco — Acclimatisation Day
Thursday, June 3
Est. spend
$110
per person
🌅 Morning
Morning Flight Lima to Cusco (Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport)
Av. Velasco Astete s/n, Cusco
Catch a morning flight to Cusco — LATAM and Avianca both operate multiple daily services from Lima. The flight takes about 1.5 hours. As the plane descends into Cusco, the city appears in a natural bowl at 3,400m (11,200 feet) — one of the most dramatic airport approaches in South America, with Andean peaks close on both sides. Have coca candy ready to chew as you descend.
Book morning flights — afternoon flights are frequently delayed due to mountain weather. Window seat on the right side of the plane for Andean views during descent.
Check In and Rest — Altitude Acclimatisation
Cusco city centre
Cusco sits at 3,399m above sea level. Altitude sickness (soroche) affects most visitors on the first day — symptoms include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, and nausea. The cure is simple: rest. Check into your hotel, lie down for 2 hours, drink plenty of water, and accept coca tea when offered. Most people feel significantly better by the following morning.
Avoid alcohol on your first day in Cusco. Altitude and alcohol is a very unpleasant combination. Acetazolamide (Diamox) helps but requires a prescription — get it before leaving home.
☀️ Afternoon
Gentle Walk — Cusco Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Once rested, take a slow walk to the Plaza de Armas — Cusco's magnificent colonial main square, built on top of the original Incan Huacaypata plaza. The plaza is surrounded by Spanish colonial arcades, the imposing Cathedral of Santo Domingo (built using stones from Incan temples), and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. Sit at a café table under the arches and absorb the altitude gradually.
Take the steps slowly and stop to breathe. The altitude is real — even fit people get headaches. One cup of coca tea from a café on the plaza works remarkably well.
San Blas Neighbourhood — Artisan Quarter
Calle San Blas, Cusco
Uphill from the Plaza de Armas, San Blas is Cusco's traditional artisan district — a steep maze of cobblestone streets, whitewashed walls, and the tiny San Blas church containing Peru's most famous carved pulpit. Workshops and galleries sell silver jewellery, textiles, and ceramics. Walk slowly — the altitude makes even gentle inclines noticeable on day one.
Prices in San Blas are negotiable. Offering 70% of the asking price is normal — don't feel awkward about bargaining politely.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at Chez Maggy
Calle Procuradores 365, Cusco
Chez Maggy on Calle Procuradores is a Cusco institution — wood-fired pizzas and hearty Peruvian-international dishes in a warm, candlelit atmosphere on two floors. It's been feeding travellers since the 1980s and remains excellent value. The alpaca steak and the ceviche are both highly recommended. Coca tea and herbal infusions are on every table as standard.
Chez Maggy fills up by 7:30pm — arrive early or put your name down. The alpaca lomo saltado is their best non-pizza dish.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast + in-room rest
Peruvian · $0 · Most Cusco hotels include breakfast — eat lightly on your first altitude day.
Café Morena or similar Plaza café
Peruvian café · $10 · Light lunch only on arrival day — soup and bread is ideal at altitude.
Chez Maggy
Peruvian-International · $22 · Cusco institution since the 1980s.
Cusco Deep Dive — Sacsayhuamán, San Pedro Market & Incan Ruins
Friday, June 4
Est. spend
$95
per person
🌅 Morning
San Pedro Market (Mercado Central de San Pedro)
Santa Clara s/n, Cusco
Lima has its fancy food markets, but San Pedro in Cusco is the real deal — a vast covered market where locals buy their food, textiles, herbs, and household goods. Stalls sell guinea pig (cuy), Andean grains like kiwicha and maca, herbal remedies, chillies, and hand-woven textiles at a fraction of tourist shop prices. Arrive early to see it at full activity before tourist groups arrive.
Try a fresh juice at the market's juice stalls — papaya, mango, and lucuma blends cost about S/. 5 (USD 1.50). The jugueras are the wooden stalls near the entrance.
Sacsayhuamán Incan Fortress
Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park, Cusco
A 20-minute uphill walk or short taxi ride from the Plaza de Armas brings you to Sacsayhuamán — the enormous Incan fortress overlooking Cusco. The massive zigzag stone walls were built without mortar using stones weighing up to 125 tonnes. The precision of Incan engineering is genuinely astonishing — no blade of grass fits between the perfectly joined stones. The views down over Cusco are magnificent.
Sacsayhuamán is included on the Cusco Boleto Turístico (Tourist Ticket, around USD 40) which also covers Qorikancha and several other sites. Buy it first thing on Day 4.
☀️ Afternoon
Qorikancha — Temple of the Sun
Calle Santo Domingo 103, Cusco
Once the most sacred and richest building in the Inca Empire, Qorikancha (Golden Temple) was stripped of its tonnes of gold by Spanish conquistadors and a Dominican convent built on top of its foundations. Today you can see the extraordinary Incan masonry preserved beneath the colonial church — a haunting juxtaposition of two civilisations. The curved Incan wall is one of the finest examples of Incan stonework on Earth.
Included in the Boleto Turístico. Arrive at 1pm when tourist groups have typically left for lunch — you'll have the inner chambers almost to yourself.
Cusco Cathedral (Catedral del Cusco)
Plaza de Armas s/n, Cusco
The dominant building on the Plaza de Armas took 100 years to complete (1560–1654) and was built using stones quarried from Sacsayhuamán. Inside are some of the finest examples of Cusqueña (Cusco School) religious painting — including a famous Last Supper painting where Jesus and the apostles eat cuy (guinea pig) and drink chicha. The interior is enormous and ornate, with gilded altars throughout.
Photography inside is not permitted. The entrance fee includes a guide — take it, as the history of the paintings is fascinating and easy to miss without context.
🌙 Evening
Chicha por Gaston Acurio — Dinner
Plaza Regocijo 261, Cusco
Chef Gastón Acurio's Cusco restaurant Chicha showcases regional Andean cooking in a beautiful colonial courtyard on the Plaza Regocijo. The menu is a celebration of Cusco's own culinary identity — think chicharrón de cerdo (fried pork) with chillies and potato, corn-based drinks, and slow-cooked Andean stews. More accessible in price than Lima's top restaurants and just as satisfying.
Book a table for 7pm via WhatsApp or their website — they fill up nightly. The second-floor terrace overlooking the plaza is the best seating.
🍽️ Meals
San Pedro Market juice and snacks
Peruvian market food · $5 · Fresh juice and tamales from the market vendors — the best breakfast deal in Cusco.
Marcelo Batata
Peruvian · $18 · Excellent ceviche and Andean dishes near the Plaza de Armas.
Chicha por Gastón Acurio
Modern Andean · $35 · Gastón Acurio's tribute to Cusco regional cooking.
Sacred Valley — Pisac Ruins & Ollantaytambo
Saturday, June 5
Est. spend
$155
per person
🌅 Morning
Pisac Incan Ruins (early morning)
Pisac Archaeological Park, Pisac, Cusco Region
A private driver or organised tour from Cusco takes you through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, reaching Pisac in about 1.5 hours. The Pisac ruins sit high above the valley on a mountain spur — an extraordinary complex of terraces, temples, and an astronomical observatory. The site spans several kilometres and has very few visitors before 10am. The valley views from the highest point are among the best in Peru.
Combine Pisac ruins with the Pisac market town below (different location, down in the valley). The ruins and the market are often confused — the ruins are up on the mountain.
Pisac Traditional Market
Plaza de Armas, Pisac, Cusco Region
Drop down into Pisac village for its famous Sunday artisan market — the best in the Sacred Valley for textiles, ceramics, and silver jewellery. Unlike the tourist-heavy markets in Cusco city, Pisac market still has a genuine feel with local vendors selling to local buyers as well as visitors. Alpaca goods here are excellent quality and more reasonably priced than in Cusco proper.
The best market day is Sunday when it's largest, but the market runs Tuesday and Thursday too. Bring soles cash — most vendors don't take cards.
☀️ Afternoon
Drive to Ollantaytambo — Sacred Valley Floor
Ollantaytambo, Cusco Region
Continue west through the Sacred Valley, stopping at the viewpoint above Chinchero for panoramic valley photographs, before arriving at Ollantaytambo — arguably the most impressive Incan site that isn't Machu Picchu. The town itself has been continuously occupied since Incan times, making it one of the oldest living Incan urban settlements in existence. The streets follow the original Incan grid plan.
The Sacred Valley is noticeably lower than Cusco (around 2,800m) and you'll feel the difference — breathing becomes easier and appetite returns. Enjoy it.
Ollantaytambo Ruins & Temple of the Sun
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park, Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo's fortress-temple is built in a commanding position above the town on a mountain face. Six enormous monolithic stones — each weighing over 50 tonnes — form the unfinished Temple of the Sun, an extraordinary feat of logistics given they were quarried across the valley. The agricultural terraces below are still farmed by local communities. This is the last Incan military victory over the Spanish, achieved here in 1537.
Climb to the top terraces for the best photograph of the town below and the Vilcanota River curving through the valley. The climb is steep but very much worth it.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Ollantaytambo + Overnight Stay
Estación de Tren, Ollantaytambo
Stay overnight in Ollantaytambo to be positioned perfectly for tomorrow's Machu Picchu train. The town has several excellent small hotels. Dinner at El Albergue restaurant inside the train station building is a Cusco institution — they grow ingredients on their own farm and smoke their own meats. Simple, honest Andean cooking by candlelight.
El Albergue fills up fast — arrive by 7pm or book ahead via their website. Their woodfire-smoked trout from the Urubamba river is exceptional.
🍽️ Meals
Picnic lunch in the Sacred Valley
Peruvian takeaway · $10 · Ask your hotel to pack a lunch or buy from market vendors in Pisac.
El Albergue Restaurant
Andean farm-to-table · $28 · Inside Ollantaytambo train station — book ahead.
Machu Picchu — The Lost City of the Incas
Sunday, June 6
Est. spend
$205
per person
🌅 Morning
Peru Rail Train: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Estación Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo
Board the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo station — the journey to Aguas Calientes takes 1.5 hours along the Urubamba River gorge, passing through cloud forest as the vegetation changes dramatically with altitude. The panoramic roof windows make the ride itself a highlight. Arrive in Aguas Calientes and immediately take the shuttle bus up the switchback road to Machu Picchu entrance.
Book Peru Rail tickets online weeks ahead — they sell out. The Vistadome is USD 10 more than the Expedition but the panoramic windows are worth it for this route.
Machu Picchu — Morning Circuit with Guide
Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu at 7am on a clear winter morning is one of the greatest sights on Earth. Enter through the gate and walk the classic viewpoint path to the guardhouse for the iconic panorama — the entire citadel spread across its ridge with Huayna Picchu rising behind it. A licensed guide (booked in advance) will explain the Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana stone, and Royal Tomb in the 2-hour guided circuit. No guide, no context.
Entrance to Machu Picchu is now by timed ticket — Circuit 1 or Circuit 2 (most popular). Book your entry ticket (USD 55 per person) and guide (USD 25–35) well in advance via the official government portal or through your tour operator.
☀️ Afternoon
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain Hike
Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary
After the main guided circuit, hike either Huayna Picchu (the iconic peak behind the citadel, requires separate ticket, steep, 2 hours return) or Machu Picchu Mountain (larger, quieter, better panoramic views, 3 hours return). Both offer perspectives of the citadel that you cannot get from inside. Huayna Picchu has fixed rope sections and is not suitable for those with vertigo.
Huayna Picchu tickets sell out months ahead — book them at the same time as your main entry. Only 400 visitors per day are permitted. Machu Picchu Mountain is easier to book last-minute.
Aguas Calientes Town Walk & Hot Springs
Baños Termales, Aguas Calientes
Return to Aguas Calientes (also called Machupicchu Pueblo) via shuttle bus. The town exists almost entirely for Machu Picchu visitors but is charming enough — a small river town hemmed in by steep cloud forest. The municipally run hot spring pools (Baños Termales) offer genuine thermal water pools for around USD 5, ideal for tired legs after a full day of hiking.
Bring flip-flops and a towel for the hot springs. The pools are cleaned daily and open until 8pm.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at Indio Feliz, Aguas Calientes
Calle Lloque Yupanqui 103, Aguas Calientes
Indio Feliz is the best restaurant in Aguas Calientes and a legendary stop on the Peruvian traveller circuit. A French-Peruvian fusion menu in a warmly lit two-floor space — their set dinner includes soup, entrée, and dessert for a very reasonable price. The trout almondine and roasted chicken are both outstanding. The walls are covered in traveller messages and artwork accumulated over decades.
Indio Feliz is consistently rated the best value restaurant in the Cusco region. Arrive by 7pm to guarantee a table. Cash and cards both accepted.
🍽️ Meals
Café in Aguas Calientes
Café · $8 · Eat early in Aguas Calientes before taking the first shuttle bus up.
Packed lunch or Machu Picchu café
Peruvian snacks · $12 · You cannot bring food into Machu Picchu sanctuary. The on-site Sanctuary Lodge café is expensive — bring a snack bar for inside and eat lunch after returning to Aguas Calientes.
Indio Feliz
French-Peruvian · $25 · Best value restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
Humantay Lake Trek
Monday, June 7
Est. spend
$125
per person
🌅 Morning
Early Departure for Humantay Lake (Soraypampa)
Soraypampa Trailhead, Mollepata, Cusco Region
Depart Cusco or Aguas Calientes (return to Cusco first by train) at 4:30am with an organised tour. The 3-hour drive heads southwest toward the Salkantay Trek base area, arriving at Soraypampa (3,900m) around 8am. The hike to Humantay Lake is 4km round trip with 350m elevation gain — steep but manageable for anyone reasonably fit. The rewards are extraordinary.
Return to Cusco from Aguas Calientes on the first train (departures from 5:30am) on Day 7 to make the Humantay Lake tour departure. Train to Ollantaytambo, taxi to Cusco, join the tour.
Humantay Lake Hike
Laguna Humantay, Cusco Region, Peru
Humantay Lake sits at 4,200m in a glacial cirque below the Salkantay glacier. The hike is steep but clear — a wide stone-stepped path through puna grassland past grazing alpacas. The lake itself is a brilliant, almost surreal turquoise from glacial melt, surrounded by snowcapped peaks on three sides. An Apacheta cairn ceremony at the top is performed by local guides, leaving offerings to Pachamama.
Altitude at the lake is 4,200m — significantly higher than Cusco. Take the ascent slowly, drink water constantly, and carry an extra layer. The air is cold at the top even in bright sunshine.
☀️ Afternoon
Lunch at Soraypampa Camp and Descent
Soraypampa, Mollepata, Cusco Region
Descend to the Soraypampa camp area where tour operators typically provide lunch — usually quinoa soup, rice, and grilled chicken cooked over camp stoves by a local cook. The meal tastes extraordinary after the hike. Sit and absorb the silence of the high Andes before the drive back to Cusco.
Lunch is usually included in the tour price. Confirm this when booking. If not, bring packed food from Cusco.
Return Drive to Cusco
Chinchero, Cusco Region
The drive back to Cusco takes approximately 3 hours, often with a stop at the Chinchero weaving cooperative — a community of women who demonstrate traditional Andean backstrap loom weaving and natural dyeing using plants and minerals. The textiles are beautiful and purchasing directly supports the community.
Chinchero weavings are sold at fair trade prices by the community directly. This is one of the most ethical places to buy Peruvian textiles.
🌙 Evening
Rest and Massage in Cusco
Calle El Sol 604, Cusco
After a long trekking day, book a 60-minute Andean massage at one of Cusco's many spa centres. Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo on Calle El Sol offers authentic Andean massage combining heated stones, coca leaves, and traditional herbal compresses — an entirely Peruvian wellness experience for around USD 30.
🍽️ Meals
Early café in Cusco before departure
Café · $6 · Eat before the 4:30am departure — many Cusco cafés open at 6am but you'll need breakfast even earlier.
Camp lunch at Soraypampa
Peruvian camp food · $0 · Typically included in tour price.
Pachapapa Restaurant, Cusco
Traditional Andean · $28 · Traditional Cusco dishes including cuy al horno cooked in a clay pot — set in a beautiful colonial courtyard in San Blas.
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) at Dawn
Tuesday, June 8
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Pre-dawn Departure for Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca Trailhead, Cusco Region
A 3am departure from Cusco is standard for Rainbow Mountain tours — the 3-hour drive south to the trailhead at Pampachiri reaches 4,300m before you even start hiking. Sunrise on the approach reveals the extraordinary polychrome Andes landscape: stripes of red, gold, turquoise, and purple in the mountain rock caused by mineral oxidation. The mountain reaches 5,200m at the summit viewpoint.
This is a genuinely demanding day — 5,200m altitude, 10km hiking round trip, early start. Do not attempt it on your first two days in Cusco. Day 8 is ideal after you've acclimatised fully.
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) Summit Trek
Vinicunca, Cusipata District, Cusco Region
The hike from the trailhead to the main viewpoint is 4km and takes 2–3 hours at altitude pace. Horses are available for rent at the trailhead (about USD 15 each way) for those who don't want to hike the full route. The summit view of the mineral-streaked mountain face, with the sacred Ausangate peak (6,384m) in the background, is one of the most photographed landscapes in South America and fully lives up to its reputation.
Arrive at the viewpoint before 11am — clouds regularly roll in by midday obscuring the colours. The morning light also produces richer colour saturation in photographs.
☀️ Afternoon
Red Valley Side Trek
Red Valley, Vinicunca area, Cusco Region
If energy allows, a 30-minute extension from the main Rainbow Mountain viewpoint leads to the less-visited Red Valley — a dramatic amphitheatre of crimson earth surrounded by snowcapped peaks. Almost no tour groups visit this area, giving you Andean solitude that's rare near Machu Picchu. The colour contrast between the red valley and turquoise sky is extraordinary.
Return Drive and Lunch Stop
Cusco Region highway
Tour operators typically stop at a community restaurant near the trailhead for lunch — the alpaca stew and quinoa soup at these stops are usually delicious and sustaining after a hard morning. The drive back to Cusco takes about 3 hours with some operators stopping at viewpoints along the way.
Sleep on the drive back — you'll have been up since 2:30am and the altitude exertion is tiring. You'll be back in Cusco by late afternoon.
🌙 Evening
Pisco Bar and Early Night
Calle Santa Catalina Ancha 398, Cusco
A gentle evening is mandatory after Rainbow Mountain. Visit Museo del Pisco on Calle Santa Catalina Ancha — part bar, part pisco education space. They run tasting flights of artisanal piscos from different regions, with excellent appetisers. Learn the difference between pisco acholado, quebranta, and italia varieties. Then an early night ahead of the final few days.
The pisco tasting flight at Museo del Pisco (5 varieties, USD 18) is the best value pisco education experience in Cusco.
🍽️ Meals
Pre-departure snacks (self-catered)
Packed snacks · $5 · Eat before departing at 3am — bananas, energy bars, bread from the previous evening.
Community restaurant near trailhead
Andean · $0 · Usually included in the tour price.
Light dinner at a Cusco café
Peruvian café · $15 · You'll be exhausted — eat something simple and nutritious. A bowl of sopa de quinoa works perfectly.
Cusco Cultural Finale — Museo Inka, Cooking Class & Farewell Dinner
Wednesday, June 9
Est. spend
$178
per person
🌅 Morning
Museo Inka (Inca Museum)
Cuesta del Almirante 103, Cusco
The finest museum in Cusco for understanding Incan civilisation, housed in a colonial mansion on Calle Cuesta del Almirante. The collection covers Incan textiles, ceramics, mummies, quipus (the knotted string communication system), and gold artefacts. It's far less crowded than expected given its quality. The rooftop terrace has excellent views over the Cusco rooftops.
The museum's quipu collection is one of the largest in Peru — take time with these extraordinary objects. Each quipu recorded census data, tax records, and narrative information in a system still not fully decoded.
Peruvian Cooking Class with Market Visit
Mercado de San Pedro, Cusco (meeting point)
Many Cusco cooking schools begin their class with a guided market visit to San Pedro or Mercado de San Blas, then move to a kitchen for a hands-on 3-hour class covering ceviche, lomo saltado, causa rellena (potato terrine), and pisco sour. It's one of the best ways to take Peru home with you — the techniques are genuinely practical.
Condor Travel and Haku Tours both offer excellent cooking classes starting from San Pedro Market. Book the morning class — you eat your full lunch as part of it.
☀️ Afternoon
Mercado de Artesanías (Artisan Market Shopping)
Av. El Sol cuadra 1, Cusco
Spend the afternoon doing final souvenir shopping at the Mercado de Artesanías on Avenida El Sol — the official artisan market with hundreds of stalls selling alpaca knitwear, silver jewellery, ceramics, and paintings. Unlike San Pedro, this market is specifically organised for tourist shopping, making it easy to compare vendors and negotiate. Prices are fixed at some stalls, negotiable at others.
Best alpaca buys: baby alpaca scarves (USD 15–25), fingerless gloves (USD 8), and hand-knitted sweaters (USD 30–60). Avoid acrylic — feel the softness to verify it's real alpaca.
Cusco Cathedral & Plaza — Final Golden Hour
Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Return to the Plaza de Armas for the last time in the late afternoon light. Cusco's thin altitude air makes the light extraordinary at dusk — the stonework glows amber and the cathedral takes on an almost surreal quality. Sit at the outdoor terrace of Café Varayoc, order a Cusqueña beer or hot chocolate, and absorb the view.
🌙 Evening
Farewell Dinner at MAP Café
Plazoleta Nazarenas 231, Cusco
End the Peru journey in style at MAP Café — inside the glass cube within the Museos Arte Precolombino courtyard, surrounded by pre-Columbian artefacts. The modern Peruvian menu is seasonal and superb — the alpaca loin with Andean tuber purée and the quinotto (quinoa risotto) are both extraordinary. It's the finest restaurant in Cusco proper.
MAP Café requires a reservation — book via email or WhatsApp 2–3 days ahead. The 8pm slot allows time for a pre-dinner drink in the courtyard.
🍽️ Meals
Cooking class meal (lunch)
Peruvian (self-cooked) · $0 · Included in the cooking class — you eat what you cook.
MAP Café
Modern Peruvian · $65 · Finest restaurant in Cusco — book ahead.
Final Morning in Cusco — Departure
Thursday, June 10
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Sunrise Walk to Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán, Cusco
Rise early for one final walk up to Sacsayhuamán as the sun rises over the Cusco valley. At 7am the site is almost empty — just you, the ancient stones, and the extraordinary panorama over the terracotta rooftops of Cusco catching the first light. This is how to end a Peru journey. Take your time descending through San Blas back toward the Plaza for a final breakfast.
Sunrise is around 6:15am in June. Leave your hotel by 5:45am to be at the viewpoint before the light hits the valley. Entry to Sacsayhuamán is free before 7am.
Final Breakfast and Plaza de Armas Farewell
Calle Choquechaka 509, Cusco
Take a final breakfast at Jack's Café on Calle Choquechaka — the Cusco institution that's been serving travellers hearty breakfasts for 20 years. Eggs, fresh bread, great coffee, and enormous portions. Then a final stroll around the Plaza de Armas before heading to the airport.
Jack's Café opens at 7am and queues form quickly. Arrive early to get a table before your taxi to the airport.
☀️ Afternoon
Depart Cusco — Flight to Lima or Onward
Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete, Cusco
Check out and take a taxi to Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport for your departure flight. Most international connections go through Lima. Allow 2.5 hours before departure given airport security queues during high season. The flight back over the Andes is equally spectacular — book a window seat.
Cusco airport is small and can get congested. Check in online and arrive 2.5 hours before departure during June high season.
🍽️ Meals
Jack's Café
International café · $12 · Cusco's favourite traveller breakfast spot — generous portions, excellent coffee.
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
May to September (dry season) — clear skies, no rain, ideal trekking conditions. Avoid November to March when heavy rains make trails muddy and Rainbow Mountain clouds over.
🛂 Visas
Most Western passport holders (US, EU, UK, Australia, Canada) receive a free 90-day tourist visa stamp on arrival. No advance visa required. Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date.
💱 Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN/S/.). USD is widely accepted in tourist areas but you'll get better rates paying in soles. ATMs (Globonet is most reliable) charge around USD 5–6 per withdrawal. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently. MasterCard works more reliably than Visa in rural areas.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 105
ambulance: 106
tourist police: 084-235123 (Cusco)
iPeru tourist helpline: 01-574-8000
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Acclimatise for at least 24 hours in Cusco before doing any strenuous hikes — altitude sickness is real and ruins trips for those who rush.
- Carry coca leaves or coca candy throughout your Cusco stay — chewing them provides mild but genuine altitude relief and is a 5,000-year Andean tradition.
- Book Machu Picchu entry tickets (USD 55 per person) and Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (USD 15 additional) as far in advance as possible via machupicchu.gob.pe — they sell out completely in high season.
- Carry toilet paper everywhere outside Cusco city — public facilities and trekking stops rarely provide it. A small roll in your day pack is essential.
One thing worth not skipping
A 10-day trip to Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
Comprehensive cover for 150+ adventure activities, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage. Recommended for most travellers.
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