Cusco Essential in 4 days: city, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Four days is the classic first visit to Cusco, and for good reason: it covers the Inca capital, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without rushing. The Cusco Essential package puts the three in the order that suits the altitude best and handles every ticket, train and transfer for you.
The package at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 days, 3 nights |
| Highlights | Cusco city tour, Sacred Valley and a guided visit to Machu Picchu |
| Highest point | About 3,700 m, on the city tour |
| Accommodation | Fully equipped apartment in central Cusco (twin share) |
| Group | Shared group of 2 to 14 travellers |
| Price | US $530 per person; 5% less for under-18s |
Why this order works
Most first-time visitors want the same three things, and this package delivers them in a sensible sequence. Day 1 is a short city tour after arrival; day 2 takes you down into the Sacred Valley, which lies lower than Cusco and gives your body time to adjust; on day 3, already settled, you visit Machu Picchu. Day 4 is your departure transfer.
Compared with the 3-day Express, the extra US $40 buys a full guided day in the valley with Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisac. If you are fit and curious about the high Andes, the 5-day Discovery adds Rainbow Mountain.
Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 4 days
City tour, Sacred Valley, guided Machu Picchu visit, train, entrances, apartment and transfers — US $530 per person.
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: departure
A final transfer takes you to the airport or bus terminal for your onward journey.
What is included
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Arrival and departure transfers, welcome tea and trip briefing | Dinners |
| Accommodation in a shared, fully equipped apartment in central Cusco | Private apartment (optional upgrade) |
| Professional guide on every excursion | Travel insurance |
| Ground transport, tourist train and Machu Picchu buses | Tips |
| Machu Picchu entrance, Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) and site entrances | Personal expenses and optional activities |
| Breakfasts and the lunches listed day by day | — |
Tips for your four days
- Keep your BTC to hand. The Cusco Tourist Ticket is included and is checked at the city sites and in the Sacred Valley; our BTC guide explains how it works.
- Bring cash for the markets. Textiles in Chinchero and Pisac and salt from Maras make good gifts, and small sellers rarely take cards.
- Dress in layers. Mornings are cold and middays strong; a fleece, a light rain jacket and sunscreen cover most days. See our Cusco packing list.
- Go to bed early on day 2: the Machu Picchu day starts at about 4:30 am.
- Book early in the dry season. Machu Picchu tickets sell out weeks ahead from May to September; check ticket availability.
Which Cusco package is right for you?
Want more, or less? Here is the full range of Cusco packages:
| Package | Days | What it adds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cusco Express | 3 days | City tour and Machu Picchu | US $490 |
| Cusco Essential | 4 days | + Sacred Valley | US $530 |
| Cusco Discovery | 5 days | + Rainbow Mountain | US $595 |
| Cusco Explorer | 6 days | + Humantay Lagoon | US $690 |
| Cusco Highlights | 7 days | + ATV ride to Moray and Maras | US $860 |
| Cusco Complete | 8 days | + South Valley | US $890 |
| Cusco & Lake Titicaca | 8 days | Cusco highlights + Puno and Lake Titicaca | US $950 |
| Cusco & Lake Titicaca | 9 days | The same + ATV ride | US $990 |
Frequently asked questions
For a first visit, yes: four days cover the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Add a day or two for high-altitude hikes such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lagoon.
US $530 per person in a shared group, with 5% off for under-18s and an automatic discount for groups of 8 or more.
Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt pans, Ollantaytambo and Pisac, with a buffet lunch in Urubamba.
Yes. There are no long hikes, the pace can be adapted, and under-18s get 5% off.
Dinners, travel insurance, tips and personal expenses. A private apartment is an optional upgrade.
