Cusco Explorer 6 days: the full guide
Six days, all the icons. Cusco Explorer is the sweet spot for many travelers — the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with just enough time to enjoy each.
What this package covers
Six days cover Cusco, the key Sacred Valley sites and Machu Picchu, with a sensible acclimatization buffer before the citadel.
Included highlights
- Hotel pickup and all transfers
- Expert bilingual guides
- Sacred Valley and Cusco city sites
- Machu Picchu entrance and guided tour
- Train to and from Aguas Calientes
- Selected meals and accommodation
The itinerary at a glance
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco city and acclimatization |
| 2 | Cusco Inca sites |
| 3 | Sacred Valley |
| 4 | Train to Aguas Calientes |
| 5 | Machu Picchu guided tour |
| 6 | Departure |
See the full itinerary and dates
Read the complete day-by-day plan, inclusions and prices.
Who it suits and when to go
The Explorer suits travelers who want to go beyond the icons — two contrasting day trips and deeper Sacred Valley time — at an unhurried pace, with a rest built in. It is for those who would rather experience the region than rush its highlights. Because it includes Machu Picchu, we collect each traveler’s passport details at booking, and the calendar opens 25 days out for ticket and train arrangements.
Go in the dry season (May–September) for the clearest weather; April and October are quieter. Acclimatize on arrival — see our altitude guide — and check Machu Picchu and Inca Trail options on the calendar.
Day-by-day: two signature day trips, not one
The sixth day lets you do something a five-day trip forces you to choose between: see both Rainbow Mountain and the Maras & Moray circuit, or swap one for a deeper Sacred Valley experience such as the Maras salt pans plus the Humantay Lake day hike.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco city tour and acclimatization |
| 2 | Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo |
| 3 | Machu Picchu guided tour |
| 4 | Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) |
| 5 | Maras & Moray or Humantay Lake |
| 6 | Free morning, departure |
The Explorer's theme: colour and contrast
Where shorter packages are about ticking the icon, six days lets a trip develop a character. The Explorer leans into Cusco's visual extremes — the engineered green amphitheatres of Moray, the geometric white of the Maras salt terraces, the mineral reds and golds of Vinicunca, and the glacial turquoise of Humantay. Back-to-back, these are some of the most distinctive landscapes in the Andes.
A word on stamina at six days
Two high-altitude day trips in a row (Rainbow Mountain followed by Humantay, for example) are achievable once you are acclimatized, but they are genuinely tiring — both involve early starts and hiking above 4,000 m. If you would rather not stack two strenuous days, replace one with the lower, gentler Maras & Moray circuit. Read our altitude guide before committing to back-to-back high days, and tell your trip planner your fitness honestly so the order can be tuned.
Want to trade a day trip for a short trek instead? The 7-day Highlights opens the door to a multi-day hiking component.
Frequently asked questions
Six days cover Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, plus two contrasting day trips — typically Rainbow Mountain and Maras and Moray, or Humantay Lake — at an unhurried pace with a rest built in.
Yes. The Explorer is designed around two signature day trips rather than one, letting you see more of the region's most photographed landscapes without rushing.
More than enough — six days lets a trip develop real character, with time for the icons, two day trips and a rest day, all comfortably spaced for altitude.
Choose six for two day trips at a relaxed pace. Choose seven if you'd rather trade a day trip for a short trek such as Lares, Salkantay or the Short Inca Trail.
