See the best of Cusco in a day
Rainbow Mountain by ATV, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and the Sacred Valley — the best of the Andes in one guided day from Cusco. Most tours can be booked online up to 5 hours before pickup.
One day, unforgettable memories
Short on time but big on dreams? Our full-day tours from Cusco pack the most breathtaking corners of the Peruvian Andes into a single seamless day — early pickups, comfortable transport, hearty meals and a knowledgeable local guide from start to finish.
From the famous stripes of Rainbow Mountain to the turquoise water of Humantay Lake, the ruins of the Sacred Valley and the wonder of Machu Picchu, every tour below is run by our own team in small groups — never crowded, always personal.
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Every day tour on this page — except Machu Picchu — can be booked online up to 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). A 4:00 AM Rainbow Mountain departure, for example, stays open until 11:00 PM the night before. Machu Picchu needs at least 25 days because tickets and trains are issued in each traveler’s name.
Most bookedRide your own quad to the Red Valley and Vinicunca: about 2 h on foot instead of 4.5. Share a quad and pay $60 each.
No hikeJust a 5-minute walk to the Vinicunca viewpoint. Your own quad, entrance included, 6:00 AM shared group.
Wonder of the WorldTrain, bus, entrance ticket and guide handled — the Inca citadel in one day. Book 25 days ahead.
ClassicThe classic Vinicunca hike with the Red Valley view, breakfast, buffet lunch and entrance.
Best sellerA rewarding climb to a turquoise glacier lake below snow-capped Salkantay.
Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray and Chinchero in one day, with buffet lunch.
The easy rainbow mountain: three striped ridges with a 1-hour walk and few crowds.
Seven glacial lakes below sacred Ausangate, finished in the Pacchanta hot springs.
NewThe razor-edged “poncho mountain” plus the Inca Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi.
A little-visited Inca fortress on horn-shaped cliffs above the Apurímac canyon.
Cross the last hand-woven Inca rope bridge, rebuilt by local communities every June.
Hike from Piuray Lake over a 4,393 m pass to the Inca estate of “Little Cusco”.
400 permits/dayClimb the peak behind the classic postcard and tour the citadel in one day.
Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay in one morning.
The Maras salt mines and the circular Inca terraces of Moray, plus Chinchero.
Tipón, the Wari city of Pikillacta and the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”.
Quality service
We are committed to world-class experiences that go far above and beyond the mass-produced tours so common today.
Every detail was perfect — the early start, the guide, the views. Rainbow Mountain with INKANET was the highlight of our whole Peru trip.
Why book with us
We leave before dawn so you reach the best viewpoints in soft morning light, ahead of the crowds.
Day trips capped at 14 travelers with a guide who has time for every question.
Guides trained in high-altitude first aid, carrying oxygen and a pulse oximeter.
Transport, entrances and meals clearly listed — no hidden extras, 20% deposit option.
Good to know
Rainbow Mountain is our most popular, but Humantay Lake and the Sacred Valley are equally spectacular. If you are acclimatizing, the Sacred Valley or Maras & Moray are gentler choices.
Most high-altitude trips start very early, between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., to reach the viewpoints before the crowds. City and valley tours start later.
Most full-day tours include breakfast and a buffet lunch. Exact inclusions are on each tour page — tell us any dietary needs.
Yes. We recommend at least two days in Cusco before any high-altitude day trip. Our guides carry oxygen on every departure.
Absolutely. Every full-day tour can be arranged as a private departure for couples, families or groups.
All our full-day and half-day tours except Machu Picchu: online booking stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). Rainbow Mountain by ATV, Humantay Lake or the Sacred Valley can usually be booked the evening before.
The Rainbow Mountain ATV Express: you ride your own quad and walk only about 5 minutes to the viewpoint. If you want the Red Valley too, the ATV tour with the Red Valley has about 2 hours on foot instead of 4.5.
Yes. Our Machu Picchu full day leaves at 4:30 AM by train from Ollantaytambo and returns around 9:30 PM, with entrance, bus and guide included. Book at least 25 days ahead.
The Cusco City Tour, Maras & Moray and the South Valley — ideal for your first acclimatization days.
See the highlights in a day
Short on time? Cusco is surrounded by world-class sights you can reach and return from in a single day. Our full-day tours are the efficient way to see Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley, Humantay Lake or Machu Picchu without an overnight stay.
Each departure includes hotel pickup, a licensed guide, transport and the key stops — so a full day feels effortless rather than rushed. They pair perfectly with a longer trip or work as a complete taste of the Andes on a tight schedule.
Because everything is planned around altitude and driving times, you spend your day at the viewpoints, not in logistics. Bring layers, water and a camera; we handle the rest.
Tell us your dates and group size — we’ll recommend the perfect full-day tour and handle every detail.
From our journal
Expert guides and stories to help you plan, straight from our team in Cusco.
Rainbow MountainA friendly comparison of Cusco’s two rainbow mountains to help you pick the right day trip.
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HumantayWhy an early start makes all the difference at this glacier-fed turquoise lake.
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Machu PicchuEverything you need to know about the full-day Machu Picchu trip by train.
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