Cusco itinerary with the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres, and many first-time visitors spend day one in bed with a headache. Machu Picchu tickets are timed and limited, and trains sell out. This prompt asks your todo.is agent for a Cusco itinerary that starts low in the Sacred Valley, places Machu Picchu on a well-chosen day and leaves the hardest hikes for last.
The prompt
- Plan a Cusco itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, starting [ARRIVAL DATE], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Order the days to help with altitude: start in the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo), then Machu Picchu, then Cusco city. For Machu Picchu, explain the circuits and which suits us, give the official ticket site, and give train options from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. We want [HIKES]. In Cusco include the Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, San Blas, San Pedro Market and Sacsayhuamán, and say which sites the boleto turístico covers. Our fitness level: [FITNESS LEVEL]. Add altitude tips and when to see a doctor. Email me a PDF with all links. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "6". Five days is a sensible minimum with Machu Picchu.
- [ARRIVAL DATE]: E.g. "14 May, landing 10:30 from Lima". The agent checks the rainy season and Inca Trail closures.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple in our 30s", "family with a 12-year-old", "two retirees".
- [HIKES]: E.g. "Huayna Picchu", "Rainbow Mountain", "Maras and Moray by bike" or "easy walks only".
- [FITNESS LEVEL]: E.g. "we hike often", "average", "bad knees, avoid steep stairs".
Example result
- Cusco in 6 days, couple, average fitness
- Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Inca history · May (dry season)
- Day 1: Land and go down to the valley
- • Taxi or transfer straight from Cusco airport to Urubamba or Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours). The valley sits around 2,800 m, lower than Cusco.
- • Rest, drink water, eat lightly. Try coca tea.
- Day 2: Sacred Valley
- • Morning: Maras salt pans and the Moray circular terraces.
- • Afternoon: Ollantaytambo fortress, a living Inca town with original streets.
- • Early night: tomorrow starts early.
- Day 3: Machu Picchu
- • Early train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (about 1.5 hours).
- • Bus up to the site and enter at your timed slot. A guide is usually required.
- • Circuit 2 gives the classic view and the main temples.
- • Afternoon train back, then road to Cusco.
- Day 4: Cusco city
- • Morning: slow walk round the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral.
- • Qorikancha, the Inca sun temple under a colonial convent.
- • Lunch: San Pedro Market: fresh juice, soups, local cheese.
- • Afternoon: the hillside San Blas quarter with workshops and cafés.
- Day 5: Sacsayhuamán and the ruins above town
- • Walk or taxi up to Sacsayhuamán's giant walls, then Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
- • Evening: try alpaca, cuy (if you're curious) or a modern Andean menu.
- Day 6: Rainbow Mountain or a rest day
- • Vinicunca reaches about 5,000 m. Tours leave around 4:00. Skip it if you still feel the altitude.
- • Easier option: Pisac market and ruins.
- Altitude tips
- • Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first two days.
- • See a doctor if you have a severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion.
- Good to know
- • Machu Picchu tickets and train seats sell out in high season. Book them first.
- • Check entry rules and circuits on the official site; they change.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, arrival date, group, hikes and fitness level.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent orders the days for the altitude, finds the official ticket and train links and emails a PDF.
- Book Machu Picchu and trains first, then reply with your times so the agent can adjust the rest of the plan.
Tips for a better result
- Sleep low first. Going from Lima to the Sacred Valley before Cusco itself helps many people adjust.
- Book Machu Picchu tickets before trains or hotels. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain slots go fastest.
- Ask your agent to check if your dates fall in February, when the classic Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.
- Pack layers: Cusco mornings are cold and afternoons warm. Ask for a packing list with the plan.
Cusco itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Cusco? Plan at least five days with Machu Picchu: one or two for the Sacred Valley, one for Machu Picchu, and two for Cusco and its ruins. Add a day for Rainbow Mountain.
- When is the best time to visit Cusco? May to September is the dry season with clear skies and cold nights. December to March is rainy, and the Inca Trail closes in February.
- How do I avoid altitude sickness in Cusco? Go up gradually, take it easy for the first days, drink water and avoid alcohol. Ask your doctor before the trip about prevention, especially if you have health conditions.
- Can my agent book Machu Picchu tickets? No. It finds the official ticket site and the best circuit for you, and you buy the tickets yourself.
JavaScript is required to use the todo.is app.