Peru · 5 days · Easy to moderate
5-Day Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley
The shortest itinerary that does Machu Picchu properly instead of sprinting at it. Cusco sits at 3,400 m, so the first days stay low-effort and the altitude has time to stop being a problem before the Sacred Valley and the train.
Highlights
- Cusco: the Cathedral, Qoricancha built over by the Spanish, Qenqo and the cyclopean stonework at Sacsayhuamán
- Moray — the concentric Inca terraces used as an agricultural laboratory
- The Maras salt pans: more than three thousand wells still worked by hand
- Machu Picchu by Voyager or Expedition train, with a guided tour on site
Where this 5-day trip goes
- 1 Cusco
- 2 Sacred Valley Road
- 3 Aguas Calientes Train
- 4 Cusco Train
Real coordinates, drawn to scale. Pick a day and the map zooms in on that leg.
Day by day
- Day 1
Cusco city tour
Met at the airport and taken to the hotel, with coca tea at check-in — which is not a gimmick at 3,400 m. Afternoon in the city: the Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun at Qoricancha, Qenqo, and Sacsayhuamán above the town.
Overnight: Cusco
- Day 2
Chinchero, Moray and the Maras salt pans
A morning with the weavers of Chinchero, where the dyeing and backstrap weaving are still done the old way, then Moray’s circular terraces and the salt pans at Maras — thousands of shallow pools worked by families who inherited them.
Overnight: Cusco
- Day 3
The Sacred Valley
Down the valley through Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the two great terraced sites, with time at the market and lunch on the way.
Overnight: Sacred Valley or Cusco
- Day 4
Machu Picchu
Train to Aguas Calientes and the bus up the switchbacks. A guided circuit of the site, then time on your own before the train back.
Overnight: Cusco
- Day 5
Cusco airport
Private transfer for your onward flight.
What is included
- Four nights in the selected hotel category with breakfast
- Meals as listed: 4 breakfasts, 2 set lunches
- Private ground transport and private airport transfers
- Certified English/Spanish-speaking guide
- All entrance fees, including Machu Picchu
- Voyager or Expedition train to Machu Picchu
- Personal assistance throughout
What is not included
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed
- Travel insurance
- Tips
Per person in double occupancy. Final price depends on your dates, party size and hotel category — high season and single occupancy carry supplements. Full breakdown →
When to do this trip
April to October is the dry season. January and February are the wettest months and the Inca Trail closes in February.
Questions about this itinerary
How long is the 5-Day Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley?
5 days and 4 nights, starting in Cusco and ending in Cusco.
How difficult is it?
Easy to moderate. Group size: Private service.
When is the best time to do this trip?
April to October is the dry season. January and February are the wettest months and the Inca Trail closes in February.
What extra costs should I budget for?
Per person in double occupancy. Final price depends on your dates, party size and hotel category — high season and single occupancy carry supplements.