Cuzco Department Peru Travel Guide
The Lost city of the incas, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) / Palcoyo, Humantay Lake are popular day trip or overnight spots from Cusco.
All logistics, like transport plus local experts, are handled, presenting informative commentary.
You set your own pace and spend time at sites as you wish, often leading to more local interactions.
The broader Cusco region has breathtaking scenery, some needing multi-day expeditions.
A biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon rainforest rainforest rainforest. Access through flights to Puerto Maldonado or long bus and boat journeys. Plan multi-day visits.
A less strenuous way to see similar geological formations with multiple colored mountains. Has fewer crowds than Vinicunca.
A high-altitude trek around Mount Ausangate, a sacred mountain. Known for stunning landscapes, glaciers, and vibrant lakes. A distant experience.
Explore the Amazon rainforest from Cusco via trips to Manu National Park or Tambopata National Reserve.
Beyond the Inca Trail, explore remote routes like the Ausangate trek for incomparable mountain beauty.
Beyond the main circuit, several historical sites and rural villages give cultural insights.
A significant Inca archaeological site featuring a large temple dedicated to Viracocha, the Inca creator god.
A striking Inca agricultural and ceremonial site known for its advanced water engineering and hydraulic skills.
Pre-Inca Wari culture ruins. A large adobe complex, one of the few pre-Inca sites in the Cusco area.
Explore traditional Andean life and weaving communities in locations such as Patacancha Valley.
Consider visiting Qoyllur Rit'i, a consecrated event drawing thousands of pilgrims with traditional dances and rituals.
A special mix of Catholic and Andean traditions.
Dates are variable, usually in May or June, before Corpus Christi.
Features ice-star pilgrims from various communities.
Consider adding a few days to your itinerary to explore more of Peru beyond Cusco.
Staying one night in Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu early and avoid the rush.
Stay in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba to explore the valley more deeply, enjoy local hikes, or relax.
A 2-3 day extension to visit floating Uros islands and Taquile Island for Andean culture.
Lima -> Cusco (Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley) -> Puno (Lake Titicaca) -> Arequipa (Colca Canyon) -> back to Lima.
Combine Cusco with a multi-day Amazon jungle lodge experience from The port Maldonado.
Add Paracas and Nazca Lines for a desert and coastal experience from Lima.
