Cusco Destinations

The valley of the Urubamba River, lower and warmer than Cusco, has Inca terraces, Andean villages and some of the most important Inca sites in the region. A typical day trip from Cusco visits Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, and many travelers spend a night here on the way to Machu Picchu.

Vinicunca, known as Rainbow Mountain, is famous for the colored mineral stripes on its slopes. At 5,036 m (16,522 ft) it is one of the highest points you can reach on a day trip from Cusco, with a steep walk at high altitude, so it is best done after a few days in Cusco. The Ausangate trek also passes Rainbow Mountain.

At Maras, thousands of small salt pools cover a hillside. They are fed by a salty spring and are still worked by local families. Nearby, Moray has circular Inca terraces built into natural hollows; each level has a slightly different temperature, which is why it is believed to have been used to test crops. The two sites are usually visited together on a Sacred Valley day trip.

Ollantaytambo is an Inca town that is still lived in, with its original street plan, water channels and large stone terraces climbing to a temple above the town. Most trains to Machu Picchu leave from its station, so many travelers visit the ruins on the way.

Above the town of Pisac, an Inca site of terraces, temples and lookouts spreads along the mountainside over the Urubamba valley. In the town below, the Pisac market sells textiles, ceramics and silver jewelry. Our Cusco Classic Tour stops in Pisac on its Sacred Valley day.

Cusco is also the starting point for treks to Machu Picchu and into the high Andes. The Inca Trail needs a permit that sells out months ahead; the Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle routes do not need one.

Cusco is at about 3,400 m. Spend one or two days in the city before any trek or high-altitude trip, drink plenty of water and take the first day easy. Days are often sunny and nights are cold, so pack layers, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes.