Cusco is one of our favourite cities in the world, and although we had no intention of spending much time there when we were planning our trip to Peru, once we arrived we were hooked. The city is beautiful, the accommodation is great and the food is fantastic.
Added to that there are a number of amazing day trips you can make, allowing you to see some of the best sights in all of Peru, whilst still being able to come back to the amenities and vibrant culture that Cusco has to offer. All trips can be made independently or with a tour depending on your preference.
Here are some of the best day trips from Cusco, which we’ll no doubt add to over time, because we’ll definitely be back!
The most incredible day trips from Cusco
Some of the trips mentioned below can be combined to maximise how much you can see in a day. We’ve noted which fit best together if applicable, so it’s easier for you to plan your itinerary.
1. Rainbow Mountain
Distance from Cusco: 3 hours
Best combined with: Stand alone activity
We’ve all seen the pictures; a steep mountain with such vibrant colours that it almost doesn’t look real. In fact, before visiting I had been assuming that there was a fair amount of Photoshop trickery going on when it came to just how colourful it really is.
It turns out, it’s every bit as spectacular as it looks in photos, maybe even more so. And it’s a relatively easy day trip from Cusco, albeit there’s quite a lot of driving. There are a number of ways you can visit Rainbow Mountain, from hiking to riding a horse (not recommended) or even taking an ATV.
Those in the know also venture into the otherworldly Red Valley, which feels like you’ve just landed on Mars!
We visited Rainbow Mountain by taxi which we detail in this guide on how we got Rainbow Mountain all to ourselves, but if you prefer a tour, this one leaves at 8am, so you won’t need to depart in the middle of the night like the majority of tours do. This will make it less crowded and less tiring!
2. Humantay Lake
Distance from Cusco: 3 hours 15 minutes
Best combined with: Stand alone activity
Humantay Lake is spectacular; an iridescent blue lake surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains and glaciers. It’s the sort of view you might expect to walk days to reach, yet you can get there in just 1-2 hours.
It’s steep and the altitude will make it feel even harder than if it were at sea level, yet the fact it’s one of Cusco’s most popular day trips proves you don’t have to be an avid hiker to get there.
We visited by taxi but the more cost effective and popular way to get there is by tour. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s a must do.
Here’s our detailed guide on what to expect on the Humantay Lake hike, plus tips for avoiding the crowds.
Viator has plenty of options from private tours to group tours for as little as $22 USD - many are also free cancellation. You can compare them all using the button below.
3. Maras Salt Mines
Distance from Cusco: 1.5 hours
Best combined with: Moray Ruins and Ollantaytambo Ruins or Pisac
The Maras salt mines are one of the easiest day trips from Cusco and a highlight of the Sacred Valley.
I didn’t expect to say that, given how many amazing places there are to visit in the valley, but it turns out that thousands of salt pans high up on a mountain make for quite the spectacular sight - and provides a nice change if you’ve mainly been looking at ruins.
The views are phenomenal and though you can no longer walk extensively through the salt pans (as you once could), if you tip one of the guides then they’ll let you go for a little wander.
You can easily combine a trip here with a visit to the nearby Moray Ruins, and some people even add in the Ollantaytambo ruins too, though we prefer to take things a little more leisurely than that.
Here’s our full guide to the Maras Salt Mines (Salineras de Maras).
You can visit both the Maras Salt Mines and the Moray Ruins on the same tour, but for those wanting an adventure should check out this ATV tour that goes between the two!
Check out the tour on Viator by clicking the button below.
4. Pinkuylluna Incan Ruins
Distance from Cusco: 1 hour 45 minutes
Best combined with: Ollantaytambo Ruins and Moray or Maras Salt Mines
The ruins of Pinkuylluna in Ollantaytambo have the wow factor. Located on the side of a sheer cliff wall that looks impenetrable from a distance. It’s hard to believe not just that they were ever built there in the first place, but that you can actually hike up and visit them today.
Despite appearances, the walk is short (1.1km) and not overly challenging. Your reward is phenomenal views coupled with the chance to wander the ruins, which are left just as they are - you won’t find roped off sections here.
If you happen to visit in the late afternoon, the mountains and ruins are bathed in the most glorious golden light and it was easily one of the most memorable experiences we had during our month in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
It’s also free to visit which is pretty staggering considering how wonderful it is. You can read our full guide to visiting Pinkuylluna here. The ruins are easily combined with the ruins of Ollantaytambo and maybe the Maras Salt Mines or Moray if you’re a fast mover!
5. Moray Ruins
Distance from Cusco: 1.5 hours
Best combined with: Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo Ruins or Pisac
The concentric circles that make up the Moray ruins look like something created by an alien civilisation and are made all the more mysterious by the lack of information about them.
Unless you’ve read up beforehand, you’ll find yourself wondering where you are meant to go and what you are actually looking at!
There are two easy walks at the site, one which views the terraces from above and one from below. You can easily do both on a short visit as it’s a rare Incan site which is actually quite flat! Snow-capped mountains surround the terraces which makes for a truly beautiful setting and there are benches dotted around so you can relax and take it all in.
6. Naupa Iglesia
Distance from Cusco: 1 hour 25 minutes
Best combined with: Ollantaytambo Ruins/anything in Ollantaytambo
Naupa Iglesia is a mysterious little cave temple dug high into the cliff tops above a picturesque valley. No one actually knows for sure what it is or what it was built for, but essentially it’s an alter carved into an overhang in the mountain.
It’s thought to have been an Incan ceremonial site and it’s still very much a spiritual place today, often used for ayahuasca ceremonies.
It’s a fascinating spot which is free to visit and remains largely off the tourist radar, yet it’s a short easy adventure you can easily do independently alongside other sites in nearby Ollantaytambo.
Here’s our guide on how to find it and what to expect from the walk (which is 1.1km return).
7. Ollantaytambo Ruins
Distance from Cusco: 1 hour 45 minutes
Best combined with: Pinkuylluna Incan Ruins and or Moray Ruins and Maras Salt Mines
The Ollantaytambo Ruins were formerly home to Incan nobility and one of the most important sites in the Sacred Valley, it’s also one of the easiest to access. The steep terraces are the first thing that will catch your eye before you take in the ruins and dramatic mountain backdrop.
The walk up past the terraces is steep but the steps are well made, so it’s not too difficult and the climb is short. There are also bench seats along the way to take in the views of Ollantaytambo town nestled between the mountains.
Parts of the site are closed off, or were when we visited, but there’s still plenty to see. We’d recommend going early or late in the day as this was one of the few spots we visited in the middle of the day and it was predictably very busy.
The ruins are only around a five minute walk from the main plaza in Ollanta, so you can combine a visit here with a drink in the picturesque square as well as other nearby sites.
8. Palccoyo
Distance from Cusco: 3.5 hours
Best combined with: Stand alone activity
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain might be the smaller and lesser known neighbour of Vinicunca (aka the original Rainbow Mountain), but it’s no slouch in the looks department. What’s more, there are actually three rainbow coloured mountains along the walk, as well as countless other red peaks.
The 3km return walk at Palccoyo is breathtaking, taking you past llama filled valleys and under the shadow of looming jagged rocks.
It was our favourite walk in the area due to the beauty, and the fact it was so much easier than others, allowing us to really enjoy all the scenery, rather than panting our way along as we did at Vinicunca and Humantay Lake. You can read all the details on the hike in our Palccoyo guide.
If you’re looking to book your trip to Palccoyo in advance, Viator offers private tours as well as group trip options for as little as $30 USD. You can see all the prices and options by clicking the button below.
9. Machu Picchu
Distance from Cusco: 4 hours
Best combined with: Stand alone activity
Machu Picchu needs no introduction and no words can really describe what it’s like to be there in person. It’s of course the most popular day trip from Cusco and though entirely possible, it does make for a very long day. However, it’s more than likely to be your favourite day trip of them all.
The good news is that the train ride to get to the nearest town to Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful we have ever experienced so even the journey feels like an event.
Your experience in the citadel will largely depend on what ticket you secure, as there is now a very strict circuit system in place.
We walked every circuit to help you decide which is right for you, but if you want the short answer, on a one day trip we recommend buying the Ruta 2-B Terraza ticket. The mountain climbs are amazing but with just one day and coming all the way from Cusco, they’re a bit of a push.
10. Pumamarca Ruins hike
Distance from Cusco: 2 - 2.5 hours
Best combined with: Anything in Ollantaytambo such as the main Ollanta ruins
The old Incan fortress at Pumamarca is a must visit. Not necessarily for the ruins themselves, which are perhaps a touch underwhelming compared to the other grand sites on this list, but for the setting, solitude and the incredible walk back down to the the town of Ollantaytambo.
If you’ve enjoyed exploring the more famous ruins in the Sacred Valley, but felt the atmosphere is a little off due to big crowds, then you have to come up to Pumamarca.
You’ll likely be the only ones here, particularly if you visit in the late afternoon. You can then take the easy 7km path down the mountain enjoying spectacular views every step of the way. If you coincide your visit to finish up at sunset the soft light adds some magic to the already beautiful scenes.
You can read all the details on the Pumamarca Ruins hike in this guide.
11. Pisac market and ruins
Distance from Cusco: 1 hour
Best combined with: Stand alone if you want to hike a lot, or combine with Moray Ruins and Maras Salt Mines
You could make Pisac a whistle stop tour, combining it with other places such as the Moray Ruins, or you could spend an entire day here really soaking up all it has to offer.
The town itself is quite sweet with cobbled streets and an abundance of handicrafts - we’re not market people but even we couldn’t resist a few typical Peruvian purchases.
However, the jewel in the crown is of course the incredible ruins. You can actually hike up to them from town, which was our original intention before I got very, very food poisoned, so instead we drove up in our rental car (though you can of course take a taxi or tour).
The ruins and the walking tracks around them are phenomenal. The views are breathtaking and as most people crowd around the early part of the site, it’s easy to get some of the even more amazing bits to yourself by just walking a bit further.
A note on acclimatisation
Cusco sits at an altitude of 3500m above sea level. If you’re coming from sea level the effect this has on your breathing before you’ve acclimatised is not to be underestimated. Everyone experiences altitude slightly differently but most people on first arriving in Cusco will experience mild symptoms of altitude, such a headaches and breathlessness, especially when combined with exertion.
Almost all hotels, cafes and restaurants serve coca tea - most hotels provide this free of charge. It definitely helps a bit but don’t drink it too late in the day as it has the same effect as caffeine.
The general recommendation is to go easy on your first few days in the city, however, we know that not everyone has the luxury of time.
For this reason we’d recommend spending your first few day trips in the Sacred Valley, as most sites sit at a lower elevation than Cusco. Machu Picchu for example sits at 2400m and Ollantaytambo at 2800m. This will be more comfortable for acclimatising.
The most important thing is that you don’t attempt Humantay Lake (4200m), Rainbow Mountain (5046m) or Palccoyo Mountain (4900m) in your first few days. Ideally, if the weather is in your favour, you want to save them for as late as possible in your trip when you’ve had maximum time to acclimatise.
Getting from Cusco to the various sites
Everything in Cusco is well set up for tourists, whether you’re looking to join a group tour, take public transport, hike a taxi for the day, or even drive your own rental car.
We went for the latter, apart from a couple of trips where we chose to hire a taxi. Public transport won’t get you everywhere, but it will definitely cover most of these sites, although expect journey times to be slower. Taxis are affordable, particularly if you are prepared to haggle.
Renting a car in Peru
As we mentioned above, we hired a car in the Sacred Valley and it made visiting all these spots so easy. Outside of Cusco, the driving was easy and the roads were quiet and in good condition, so it’s a great option for independent travellers.
We use Discovercars.com as it allows you to compare all the car hire companies in Cusco with reviews. Each result also lists the vital info you need for driving in Peru, such as the mileage (you ideally want unlimited), transmission of the car and information about the insurance inclusions (just click on rental information).
You can click the button below to check the latest prices and options.
The Cusco Boleto Turístico
Some of the sites on this list (Pisac, Moray and Ollantaytambo Ruins) are part of the Cusco Boleto Turístico, basically a ticket which allows you into many tourist sites at a reduced rate. There are two options for this ticket.
The first option includes entry to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and the Moray Ruins for two consecutive days for 70 soles per person (about USD $20.50). Note they must be consecutive so plan accordingly.
The second option is to buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) which lasts for 10 days and includes the same places as the first option, but adds on the ancient ruins in Cusco such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay, as well as many of the museums in Cusco.
This option costs 130 soles per person (approx USD $38).
Where we stayed in Cusco
We’ve picked our favourite hotel below, but you can see an overview of all your options in Cusco here.
Palacio Manco Capac
We stayed at a couple of different hotels in Cusco but our favourite by far was the Palacio Manco Capac, we kept extending our stay as we loved it so much.
Set on a eucalyptus tree covered hill in San Cristobel overlooking Cusco, Palacio Manco Capac is walking distance to all the main attractions, but far enough away to escape the noise of the city. Request a room on the outside of the building which were lovely and quiet, as the interior rooms suffer from a bit of internal noise.
The rooms are set in a historic colonial house that is beautifully styled with lots of wonderful Peruvian touches. The beds are huge, the shower is great and the whole environment is truly relaxing.
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