A Cusco 5 day itinerary would be more relaxed and enjoyable and give some time to acclimate while in Cusco. The Salkantay trek is one of most popular alternative treks to the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Peru, altitude sickness is commonly known as Soroche, which may come in handy if heading to a local pharmacy or Botica. Altitude sickness symptoms can include: dizziness, loss of appetite, sleepiness, shortness of breathe, headaches, and nausea. Want adventure in your inbox every month? Dont forget about the Sacred Valley, just over the hillside, filled with charming hamlets, snow-capped peaks, hidden lakes, and so much more. Includes a 1-day extension to Machu Picchu. So you're going to Cusco! Id never seen anything quite like the salt plots. The Classic Inca Trail is a bucket-list item for many travelers. From here, its about an hour and half hike to reach the colorful turquoise lake. Enough space to cover the rest of the main points. The day will be long, but gives a small taste of the magic of this special place. Drink plenty of coca tea, this will prevent you from getting sick of altitude sickness. The Cusco Tourist ticket does include some museums, a statue, and a nightly show, but the biggest draw of the Cusco Tourist Ticket are the Inca ruins. Most Lares treks include a stop at the local Lares Hot Springs. Id so love to get a closer look to see their harvesting process and learn more about that. I did not know this at first and was panicking the entire weekend trip. The unique circular terraces are unlike other ruins in the Sacred Valley. I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. I hope your dream comes true! Those salt plots look really interesting. But youll definitely want to plan a few extra days for day trips from If you only have 3 days in Cusco, its time efficient to book a tour. The dry season is the busiest months in Cusco and prices are higher. In general, Cusco is safe city to visit even for solo travelers. And, most importantly, time to sit down and contemplate what one has around. From there, overnight in Huacachina and continue the next day or two to Cusco. Yes, cocaine can be extracted from coca leaves. Drink coca tea before bedtime if you have a headache. If you feel more comfortable, use the handy public bus system or collectivos to go to and from Cusco. It's a can of oxygen you can take when you arrive in Cusco. Pro Tip: In order to avoid food poisoning or other digestive issues hitting you somewhere along the Inca Trail, be cautious about diving right into street food. If you have more time, its totally doable to visit Machu Picchu on your own. If you have more time to spare, You can buy small bags of salt on the way out for just S/ 1. window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { When planning a Cusco itinerary, be sure to consider these three popular Cusco day trips. Pro Tip: I recommend the boleto turistico del cusco ticket (S/ 70). Here is a great resource to plan your budget for visiting Machu Picchu. Pro Tip: Visit on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday to experience Pisaqs market with local products and foods! There are organized day trips, independent travel options by train, or a plethora of one day treks or multi-day treks. The first couple of rows in the market are quite touristy, so walk past those to reach the food vendors. I would love to visit the plaza. Be sure to have a cash strategy for purchasing things along the trail such as water (or Pisco!). Personally, I spent almost a year in the region and only scratched the surface. Some tour companies had cheaper options, but they only stopped in 2-3 places. The two sites in Cusco South Valley of Tipon and the only Wari (Pre-Inca civilization) on the ticket, Pikillaqta. Nobodys got time for altitude sickness on the trail! The good news is that theres plenty of things to do in Cusco while acclimating that wont take a toll on your legs and lungs before the hike! Sadly, most travelers dont have that kind of time. Check the official website to verify which tour peaks your interest. In my humble opinion, there is no bad time to visit Cusco, since the city offers so many unique things to do and each season has its perks. That's right. Cusco Travel Guide | Heres how to visit all 16 sites on the Cusco Tourist Ticket without a Tour. In the morning we will visit fascinating ruins located very close to the center of Cusco: Sacsayhuamn, Kenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. The Cusco historical city center is extremely walkable, so one of the best ways to enjoy the Imperial City is to simply walk, stroll, and take it all in. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I arrived three days before the hike for this exact reason. However, if looking for more things to do in Cusco check out the ideas below. The authentic village is centrally located and close to so many of the Sacred Valley highlights. Wow, there is so much to see and do near Cusco! All organized treks have porters, guides and meals included, so that the weight you must carry is significantly reduced. Read our Coronavirus FAQs, Top 10 Best Things to do around Machu Picchu. We were one of the first people there and practically had the place to ourselves! Three days in Cusco allows to see the best of the city, but also allows for time to truly appreciate the Sacred Valley. In the end, it comes down to time vs. money. Some did, some didnt. I appreciate your tips on booking tours and questions to ask to make sure youre getting what you need out of it! The most popular day trip from Cusco is the Lost City of Machu Picchu, a Modern World Wonder and the reason so many travelers are drawn to the allure of Peru and South America. I made an appointment to get a prescription (called Acetazolamide) and my doctor recommended I take them starting the night before, and then 1-2 per day as needed. The short answer is at least two to three days. The Inca trails will take you through beautiful landscapes, with mountains, rivers, exotic vegetation, and flooded with Inca sites; Although you need good physical condition, it is a simply wonderful experience. function ml_webform_success_2601308(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-form").hide()} Ive read so much about hiking Inca but not much about what to do in Cusco, it looks awesome! WebThis is the price per person based on a group size of 4 to 6. I think this is a great way to prepare for a hike! With a private driver, I was able to ask him to stop along the way for photos or just get out and enjoy the view. }); Do you identify as a female and blog about the outdoors? One full day is plenty of of time to explore Cusco itself. Avoid alcohol the first few days, or at least hydrate frequently with water if you consume liquor. Have you visited Cusco? Tipon is massive and sees very few tourists. The Waqrapukara ruins are gaining popularity and now require a 10 PEN entrance fee ($2.75 USD), but that includes using the camping facilities. If you can, tour the Baroque Route in combi, which includes the town of Andahuaylillas and its church. WebA Cusco 5 day itinerary would be more relaxed and enjoyable and give some time to acclimate while in Cusco. However, depending on the hike you do, you could potentially be at high elevation (the traditional 4-day, 3-night Inca trail hike reaches almost 15,000 ft). Check out this awesome 1 Day Lares Valley Trek. Most legends say the Incas rose from the depths of Lake Titicaca. Cusco itinerary for seven days of travel Days One and Two: Cusco. The Salkantay trek does not require a guide, but many hikers chose an organized guided tour. Pro Tip: Allow 2-3 days to acclimate in Cusco before hiking the Inca Trail. Dont worry, three days of acclimatization in Cusco wont feel like a waste of time. I love trying to capture the moments . The city of Cusco sits around 11,400ft. I highly recommend it. Based in the area around Ollantaytambo, the Cachicata walk takes you through high waterfalls, Inca ruins and beautiful places. Things to Do in Cusco While Acclimating (Before Hiking the Inca In the main tourist spots and popular Cusco restaurants you will likely hear English spoken. You will see incredible landscapes on that old path. The dramatic entrance through Inti Punku Machu Picchu leads to the first dramatic views of Machu Picchu. If the altitude in Cusco is still bothering you, tell one of the mamitas serving food and drink and they give you a healing tea, or at least point you in the right direction. Although not as catered to tourists, Urubamba is the best place to stay in the Sacred Valley. If you want to choose the best scheduales and the day you want to enter the mountain Huayna Picchu, we recommend you book these tickets 6 months in advance. The 3 days definitely helped me acclimatize. window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { Make sure to stop at Cristo Blanco, the hilltop White Jesus with open arms that offers a great view of Cusco City. If we do not want to miss anything there is so much to see, we must arrive very early, first thing in the morning, since the complete visit does not take less than six or seven hours. One unique thing about Cusco is that check-in and check-out times are very early, so if you arrive on a morning flight you can likely check in as early as 10am. It is advisable to do this tour with an excursion since there is no transport that takes from one place to another. Take it easy when you land in Cusco and try not to do anything too strenuous. And I also didnt know about the salt terraces what a stunning sight and intriguing technique to farm salt. You can watch family members harvesting the salt by shoveling it out of the water into piles and then transferring it into large bags as it dries. There are different levels to altitude sickness and how it affects each person you can read more about that here. The trek includes ascents and descents and river crossings with incredible views. I am yet to visit Peru but its on my list! Give your body some TLC. The Salkantay trek continues through the coffee region and arrives at the Central Hidroelectrica, where its possible to walk along the rail tracks to Aguas Calientes (MachuPicchu Puebla), or hop on a train to the center of town. In addition, the rainy season brings delicious seasonal fruits that you can not taste anywhere else in the world. I also loved your photos of the culture and the people!! Basically, eat your potatoes. While the ruins can be done as a full day tour from Cusco, I highly suggest camping here and sleeping next to this high energy sacred place. Arequipa is Perus second largest city. If you plan to stay several days, do not miss the opportunity to hike the AusangateTrek 3 days. I hope to make it to Peru one day. This occurs when the body doesn't have enough time to adapt to lower air pressure and lower oxygen levels. Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is an incredible journey, which combines beautiful landscapes and ancestral routes. The puma is one of three sacred animals of the Incas and represents courage. This area is known for its handwoven goods. Thats what makes this place so special, it sees less than 20 visitors a day. The Rainbow mountain is reachable by a 3 hour car ride and followed by a 2 hour hike. On day 2, walk to the small community of Puca Marca, where the trail becomes even more spectacular. It is advisable to be 30 minutes before the scheduled travel time. Your body needs AIR and relaxation. It should be noted that the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor and the Intihuatana Stone are only accessible by the hour and from the "Plaza de los Templos" the path is only possible in one direction, so visitors are not allowed to go back. The trail passes by Inca terraces until it finally reaches the towering gates of Huchuy Qosqo. For this stop, I was particularly thankful to not be in a big tour bus because the road to get here is a bit dangerous. It should be noted that the waiting times for the bus both on the way there and on the way back can be up to several hours, depending on the number of visitors. Circuit#1 - 2 is the longest and most popular and passes all the important buildings such as a.o. It was a bit confusing to work through all of the options (especially since my Spanish is not great). The path then leads downhill and across the citadel built on artificial terraces. The duration of the trip by train (one way) depends on the station where the train is taken: If you want to know more information about the scheduales train and services, please visit: train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Basically, you do NOT want to get altitude sickness. On Day 2, visit the the four main Cusco Inca Sites of Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay. Read my full story here. Sure, there are hikers who arrive less than 24 hours before beginning the Inca Trail hike, but thats risky. From Aguas Calientes buses go up to Machu Picchu every few minutes. But, this will vary greatly depending on your fitness level, typical altitude, and many other factors. Those who want a little more luxury can look into the Andean Explorer, a Belmond Train that connects Arequipa, Puno (Lake Titicaca), and Cusco. Or There were groups of people carrying very large statues of different saints, each accompanied by a band. 11 years ago Both my Airbnbs provided leaves, you can find coca products in all pharmacies, and you can likely order coca tea at most restaurants in Cusco. Most tourists buy the standard ticket for Machu Picchu, which currently costs 152 soles (approx. In Cusco, find many tour groups offering a variety of Machu Picchu itineraries. That means that if you purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Ausangatetrek 3 days the standard ticket for Machu Picchu leads to the small community of Puca Marca, the. Sure youre getting what you need out of it one and two: Cusco Pre-Inca civilization on! We were one of the Sacred Valley ask to make sure youre getting what you need out of it city! Do anything too strenuous 3 hour car ride and followed by a 2 hour hike it. 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