Cusco Complete in 8 days: the most complete way to see Cusco

Cusco Complete is the longest of our Cusco-based packages and the one that leaves the fewest gaps. In eight days you see the Inca capital, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, hike to Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain, ride an ATV to Moray and Maras, and discover the quiet South Valley, which most visitors never reach.

The package at a glance

Why choose eight days

The difference from the 7-day Highlights is a full day in the South Valley: Tipón, Pikillacta and the painted church of Andahuaylillas. It costs only US $30 more, and it falls between the two high-altitude hikes, giving your legs a rest before Rainbow Mountain.

Eight days at a steady pace also leave time to enjoy Cusco itself in the evenings. It suits travellers who want to see the region properly in one go. If you would like to finish at Lake Titicaca instead, look at the 8-day Cusco and Titicaca package.

Day 1: arrival and Cusco city tour

We meet you at the airport or bus terminal and take you to your apartment in central Cusco (3,400 m), with a welcome coca or muña tea and a full briefing on your trip. Then your guide takes you to Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, whose Inca walls still carry a colonial convent, and up to the hills above the city: the giant zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, the carved rock shrine of Qenqo, the checkpoint of Puca Pucara and the water shrine of Tambomachay.

Included: guide, transport, Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) and Qorikancha entrance. Meals: not included on this day.

Day 2: the Sacred Valley of the Incas

A full day in the valley below Cusco. You start in Chinchero, a weaving village with Inca walls and a colonial church, then see the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans, still worked by local families. After a buffet lunch in Urubamba come the temple terraces of Ollantaytambo and, to finish, the hillside ruins and craft market of Pisac. The valley lies lower than Cusco, which makes it a gentle day for your body.

Included: transport, guide, entrances and BTC. Meals: breakfast and buffet lunch.

Day 3: Machu Picchu

The big day starts at about 4:30 am. You drive through Chinchero and Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, ride the tourist train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes and take the bus up to Machu Picchu (2,430 m) for a guided tour of its temples, plazas and terraces. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, the train and a road transfer bring you back to Cusco in the evening.

Included: train, buses, Machu Picchu entrance, guide, breakfast and lunch. Bring your original passport: it must match your ticket, so we ask for passport details when you book, together with your choice of Machu Picchu circuit.

Day 4: ATV ride to Moray and Maras

After a safety briefing you ride an ATV (quad bike) along farm tracks to the circular terraces of Moray, often called the agricultural laboratory of the Incas, and on to the Maras salt pans, thousands of small pools still harvested by hand. You already saw both sites on the Sacred Valley day; this time the attraction is the ride itself, through open countryside with snow peaks on the horizon.

Included: transport, guide, BTC and a snack.

Day 5: Humantay Lagoon

An early start at about 4:30 am takes you via Mollepata to Soraypampa (3,900 m). From there a steady climb of about an hour and a half leads to Humantay Lagoon (about 4,200 m), a turquoise lake beneath the glacier of the same name, where you can join an optional Andean offering ceremony. A buffet lunch in Mollepata comes before the drive back to Cusco.

Included: transport, guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, trekking poles and oxygen. Difficulty: moderate to challenging. More in our Humantay Lake guide.

Day 6: the South Valley

A quiet day east of Cusco, far from the crowds: the terraces and still-flowing water channels of Tipón, the walled city of Pikillacta, built by the Wari centuries before the Incas, and the church of Andahuaylillas, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” for its painted interior. More in our South Valley guide.

Included: transport, guide, entrances and breakfast.

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

You leave at about 4:00 am for Cusipata and the trailhead (about 4,400 m). A gradual climb of around three hours brings you to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint at 5,030 m, with its bands of coloured minerals and the Red Valley beyond. After the descent you have a buffet lunch in Cusipata and are back in Cusco in the late afternoon.

Included: transport, guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, trekking poles and oxygen. It is the highest point of the trip, which is why it comes after several days of acclimatisation. More in our Rainbow Mountain guide.

Day 8: departure

A final transfer takes you to the airport or bus terminal for your onward journey.

What is included

Making the most of eight days

• Use the lighter days to recover. The ATV and South Valley days are gentler, so they balance the early starts of Machu Picchu, Humantay and Rainbow Mountain.
• Explore Cusco in your free time. San Blas, the San Pedro market and the museums are close to the apartment; see our Cusco travel guide.
• Budget for dinners and extras. Most lunches are included, dinners are not; our money guide covers cash, cards and ATMs.
• Pack for every climate: warm layers for 5,030 m and sun protection for the valleys. Our packing list covers both.
• Book early in the dry season, when Machu Picchu tickets go fast.

Which Cusco package is right for you?

All our Cusco packages side by side:

Frequently asked questions