Cusco and Machu Picchu
Cusco and Machu Picchu, in a few days
From the old Inca capital of Cusco through the Sacred Valley to the citadel of Machu Picchu: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Cusco Days 1-2
- 2 The Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo Day 3
- 3 Machu Picchu Day 4
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Cusco
The Inca capital, at 3,400 metres. Spanish churches stand on Inca walls fitted without mortar, and the first two days are for letting your body adjust to the altitude.
- Cusco and Sacsayhuamán, guidedHalf day · from €30The Inca walls of the centre, the cathedral and the Qorikancha, then the fortress above town, built of blocks weighing many tonnes.
- Plaza de Armas
- San Blas, the artisans' quarter on the hill
- San Pedro market
The Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo
The Urubamba valley below Cusco, lined with Inca terraces and market villages. Ollantaytambo, a fortress town still laid out on its Inca street plan, is where the train to Machu Picchu starts.
- Sacred Valley day tourFull day · from €40The terraces and market of Pisac, then the fortress of Ollantaytambo, in a day out of Cusco.
Machu Picchu
A fifteenth-century Inca citadel at 2,430 metres, on a ridge above the Urubamba, unknown to the outside world until 1911. It is reached by train, then by bus.
- Machu Picchu entry with a guideHalf day · from €70Timed entry to the citadel on a set circuit, with a licensed guide, which is compulsory. Daily numbers are capped and tickets sell out weeks ahead in the dry season.
- Aguas Calientes, the village below the ruins
Worth sorting before you go
Road, rail, then the bus up · Cusco to the Sacred Valley by road, then the PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, and the shuttle bus up to the ruins. No road reaches Machu Picchu.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Lomo saltado: beef stir-fried with onion and tomato, served with chips and rice, a Chinese-Peruvian classic.
- Ají de gallina: shredded chicken in a creamy yellow chilli sauce.
- Cuy: roast guinea pig, the festive dish of the Andes.
- Ceviche: raw fish cured in lime juice with chilli, a coastal dish that has made it up the mountains.
- Pisco sour: grape brandy shaken with lime, sugar and egg white. Go easy at altitude.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Take the altitude seriously: Cusco is at 3,400 metres, so rest for the first day or two and go easy on alcohol.
- Drink bottled water only, and be wary of ice.
- Use official taxis or ride apps, and agree the fare before setting off.
- Book Machu Picchu tickets and the train well in advance, especially from May to September.
Words that help
English ↔ Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hola |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| Please | Por favor |
| Yes | Sí |
| No | No |
| Excuse me | Perdone |
| Goodbye | Adiós |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? |
| I don't understand | No entiendo |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where are the toilets? | ¿Dónde están los baños? |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor |
| Help! | ¡Socorro! |
| Cheers! | ¡Salud! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/machu-picchu
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.