3 Days in Cusco 2027: Itinerary with Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

How should you plan 3 days in Cusco? Like this: on day 1 you arrive, rest in the morning and join the City Tour from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.; day 2 is a full day in the Sacred Valley; and on day 3 you take the train to Machu Picchu and are back in Cusco that night.

We are a local operator based in Cusco, and this plan uses only our own tours. Below you’ll find the plan, two variations (one slower and one cheaper) and what you should know about the altitude.

3 Days in Cusco Itinerary: The Day-by-Day Plan

Times are approximate; on day 3 they depend on the train.

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Tour	From
1	Arrival in Cusco and rest to acclimatize	City sightseeing, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.	Cusco City Tour	US$40
2	Pickup around 7:00 a.m.; Pisac and its market	Lunch in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Maras; back between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.	Sacred Valley VIP tour	US$90
3	Pickup around 4:00 a.m., train and guided tour of Machu Picchu	Lunch on your own in Aguas Calientes and train back; in Cusco between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.	Machu Picchu Full Day tour	US$300 (tourist-class train)
Total			3 tours	From US$430 (US$172 online)

US$40 + US$90 + US$300 = US$430 per person: you pay 40% when you book, US$172, and the balance when you arrive in Peru. Flights and hotels in Cusco are not included. The Full Day already covers tourist-class trains, bus and entrance ticket; the price of each item on its own is in our guide to Machu Picchu cost.

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco, Rest and See the City

If you land in the morning, drop your things at the hotel, eat light, drink water and rest until midday: the city sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft) and almost every traveler feels the altitude on arrival.

The City Tour starts at 1:30 p.m., with hotel pickup or a meeting point in the Plaza de Armas. It lasts about 5 hours, in groups of 8 to 12 people: the Cathedral, Qorikancha (the Inca Temple of the Sun, with the church of Santo Domingo built on top), Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Entrance fees, transport and guide are included; you’re back around 6:30 p.m.

Sacsayhuamán is the highest point of the day, at about 3,700 m (12,140 ft). There’s little walking, but on cobblestones and steps: go at your own pace and bring a light jacket.

An honest note: ideally you’d do this tour after a day in Cusco. On a 3-day trip that isn’t always possible, so the plan works if you arrive early and feel fine. If you land in the afternoon or with a headache, rest: better to lose an afternoon than to start the trip badly. Book the Cusco City Tour and let us know if your flight changes.

Day 2: The Sacred Valley of the Incas, from Pisac to the Maras Salt Mines

We pick you up around 7:00 a.m. (have breakfast first, as it isn’t included) and head down to the Urubamba river valley. First come the Inca terraces and temples of Pisac and the town’s craft market; bring cash in soles, because not every vendor takes cards.

After a gourmet lunch in Urubamba (included), we visit the Ollantaytambo fortress, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt mines, with more than 3,000 salt pans in use since before the Incas. We spend 1 to 1.5 hours at each site and return between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Why day 2? The valley floor is at about 2,800 to 3,000 m (9,190 to 9,840 ft), lower than Cusco, and it gives you the background to understand Machu Picchu better the next day. Moray and Maras sit higher (the top point, Chinchero, is around 3,800 m, or 12,470 ft): dress in layers. Entrance to all four sites is included in the Sacred Valley VIP tour. More on each town in our Sacred Valley guide.

Day 3: Machu Picchu in One Day, by Train from Cusco

We pick you up around 4:00 a.m. and drive to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station, depending on availability. The train reaches Aguas Calientes and a bus climbs in about 25 minutes to the citadel, at 2,430 m (7,970 ft). The guided tour takes 2 to 3 hours (Temple of the Sun, Main Plaza, farming terraces), followed by free time: about 4 to 5 hours in all. You have lunch in Aguas Calientes (not included) and reach Cusco between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.

The Machu Picchu Full Day tour includes transport, trains, bus, entrance ticket and guide. Bring your original physical passport, required to enter and to board the train, and a small backpack: food and large backpacks aren’t allowed inside, nor trekking poles unless you need them (ask for permission at the entrance). Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are separate tickets with limited spaces: ask for them when you book.

Two Long Days in a Row? What You Should Know

Yes, and it’s better to say so plainly. On day 2 you leave at 7:00 a.m. and return in the evening; on day 3 you’re picked up around 4:00 a.m. for a day of about 16 to 18 hours. It works if you have energy and few days. If you’re traveling with children or older adults, or simply want to be less tired, choose the slower variation.

If you follow the main plan, sleep well on the night of day 2. Torn between a day trip and a night down below? We compare both in Machu Picchu in one day or two.

3 Days in Cusco at a Slower Pace: A Night in Aguas Calientes

Swap the Sacred Valley and the Full Day for the 2-day Machu Picchu tour: no 4:00 a.m. start, you reach the citadel well rested and don’t rush for the train.

Day	Plan	From
1	Rest in the morning and City Tour in the afternoon	US$40
2	Train to Aguas Calientes at the time you choose; free afternoon and a night in a tourist-class hotel	US$350 (days 2 and 3, tourist-class train)
3	Breakfast, early bus and guided tour of Machu Picchu; back in Cusco between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.	Included
Total	2 tours	From US$390 (US$156 online)

The 2-day Machu Picchu tour includes trains, bus, entrance ticket, guide, hotel and breakfast; dinner and lunches are on your own. In Aguas Calientes, at about 2,040 m (6,690 ft), the afternoon is free for the town, the craft market or the hot springs (optional). Leave your big suitcase in Cusco: the train has a luggage limit.

The Sacred Valley isn’t included as a tour, although the train runs through it. Maras and Moray don’t fit either: the morning departure (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) clashes with the City Tour, and on day 2 the trip leaves early. If you arrive a day earlier, add it that morning.

3 Days in Cusco on a Budget, with Shorter Days

Swap the Sacred Valley VIP for a half-day tour: on day 2 you finish after midday and have the afternoon to rest before the Full Day’s early start.

• Day 1: City Tour in the afternoon, from US$40.
• Day 2: Maras Moray tour, about 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from US$30: the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt mines. Entrance fees are extra: for Moray you need the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), and the salt mines are paid on site, in soles.
• Day 3: Full Day to Machu Picchu, from US$300 with a tourist-class train.
• Total: from US$370 in tours (US$148 online), plus the Moray and Maras entrance fees.

A quieter alternative is the South Valley of Cusco tour, back in Cusco around 3:00 p.m., from US$45 with entrance fees included: Tipón, the Wari city of Pikillacta and the church of Andahuaylillas, with fewer visitors. Total: from US$385 (US$154 online). Note that Moray and Maras (about 3,500 m, or 11,480 ft) and the South Valley (about 3,600 m, or 11,810 ft) are almost as high as Cusco.

For the free afternoon, try San Pedro Market or the Plaza de Armas, at a slow pace; more ideas in our list of things to do in Cusco.

Cusco Altitude: Why the Plan Starts Gently

Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft), and most travelers feel the altitude on arrival, especially when flying in from Lima, at sea level. That’s why day 1 has only an easy afternoon, and days 2 and 3 go to lower places: the Sacred Valley floor, at about 2,800 to 3,000 m, and Machu Picchu, at 2,430 m, about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) below the city.

During the first days, walk slowly, drink water, eat light and leave alcohol for later. If you have a pre-existing health condition, check with your doctor. The full chart is in our guide to Cusco elevation.

What doesn’t fit in 3 days are trips above 4,000 m (13,120 ft), such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake: it’s best to do them after a few days in Cusco (1 or 2 for Humantay, 2 or 3 for Rainbow Mountain), never the day after you arrive.

Got a Fourth Day? Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain

With one more day, and already acclimatized, you can add a high-altitude trip that leaves Cusco and returns the same night:

• Humantay Lake: a turquoise lake at the foot of Salkantay, at about 4,200 m (13,780 ft). Our Humantay Lake tour costs from US$55.
• Vinicunca: the mountain of colored stripes, at about 5,200 m (17,060 ft). Our Rainbow Mountain tour costs from US$50.

If you have a week or more, see our Peru itinerary for 7 to 10 days, which adds Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the jungle or the beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 3 days enough for Cusco and Machu Picchu?

For the essentials, yes: the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. What’s left out are mountains above 4,000 m and treks such as the Inca Trail, which need more days.

How much do 3 days in Cusco with tours cost?

From US$430 per person for the main plan, US$390 for the slower variation and US$370 for the budget one (plus the Moray and Maras entrance fees), without flights or hotels in Cusco. As for meals, only the Sacred Valley VIP includes lunch.

When is the best time for this itinerary?

The tours run all year. From April to October, the dry season, there are more clear days; from November to March it rains more: bring a poncho, because umbrellas aren’t allowed at Machu Picchu. See each month in our guide to the best time to visit Cusco.

How far ahead should I book?

Machu Picchu, at least 1 to 2 months ahead, especially from June to August. If you want Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, tell us when you book: they have their own spaces, also limited.

Does this plan work for children or older adults?

All three tours are easy, but there are steps at Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. For families with young children or older adults, we recommend the slower variation: the 2-day tour is usually more comfortable than the Full Day.

Book Your Cusco Trip with a Local Operator

If the plan suits you, book the Cusco City Tour, the Sacred Valley VIP tour and the Machu Picchu Full Day tour: you pay 40% of each online, US$172 in total, and the balance when you arrive in Peru. Guides speak English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Prefer a different combination? Write to us with your dates and we’ll put the plan together with our tours.