Cusco Highlights 7 days: the full guide
A week that hits every essential. Cusco Highlights packs the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu into seven well-judged days — enough to see the greats without ever feeling rushed.
What this package covers
Seven days give you the Inca capital, the Sacred Valley’s finest sites and Machu Picchu, balanced so you acclimatize properly before the high points.
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 |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Cusco city and acclimatization |
| 3 | Sacred Valley: Pisac |
| 4 | Ollantaytambo and Maras-Moray |
| 5 | Train to Aguas Calientes |
| 6 | Machu Picchu guided tour |
| 7 | Cusco and 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 Highlights suits travelers who want to add a short trek — Lares, a Salkantay section or the Short Inca Trail — to the classic circuit without dropping the headline sights. It is the first length where genuine trail time fits comfortably. Because it includes Machu Picchu, and a permit if the Inca Trail is chosen, we collect passport details at booking and advise reserving early, as permits sell out months ahead.
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: room for a short trek
Seven days is the threshold where a multi-day trek becomes realistic without dropping the classic sights. A common shape keeps the Cusco–Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu core, then devotes two or three days to a short trek such as the Short Inca Trail, Lares, or a Salkantay section, before a final free day.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco city tour and acclimatization |
| 2 | Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo |
| 3 | Rainbow Mountain or Maras & Moray |
| 4 | Begin short trek (Lares / Salkantay / Short Inca Trail) |
| 5 | Trek continues toward Machu Picchu |
| 6 | Machu Picchu guided tour |
| 7 | Free morning, departure |
Which short trek fits a 7-day trip
Each short trek changes the flavour of the week. The Short Inca Trail delivers the original Inca stonework and the Sun Gate arrival in two days. Lares trades ruins for living Andean culture — weaving villages, hot springs and high passes. A Salkantay section is the choice for big-mountain scenery beneath a 6,000 m peak.
All three end with Machu Picchu, so you keep the icon while adding genuine trail time. If you are unsure which suits you, our Inca Trail vs Salkantay vs Lares comparison breaks down difficulty, scenery and permits.
Book early if the Inca Trail is involved
One scheduling reality shapes any seven-day plan that includes the Classic or Short Inca Trail: permits are capped and often sell out months ahead, and the trail closes every February for maintenance. If a trek is the heart of your week, lock the permit first and build the rest of the itinerary around its dates. Our permits and booking guide explains the windows, and live availability is on the Inca Trail calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — seven days is the first length where a short trek fits comfortably alongside the classic sights. You keep the Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu core and add two to three days of trekking.
Popular choices are the Short Inca Trail (original Inca stonework and the Sun Gate), Lares (living Andean culture) or a Salkantay section (high-mountain scenery). All finish at Machu Picchu.
Only if you choose the Short or Classic Inca Trail, which require a government permit that sells out months ahead. Lares and Salkantay need no permit and can be booked later.
Yes. Seven days comfortably combines the headline sights with a short multi-day trek, making it ideal for travelers who want trail time without dropping Machu Picchu or the Sacred Valley.
