Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain
Arrive in Cusco and descend immediately to the Sacred Valley to acclimatize, then visit Machu Picchu, and finally climb Rainbow Mountain.
Upon landing in Cusco, head straight down to the lower-altitude Sacred Valley, which makes acclimatizing to the highlands much easier than staying in the historic center first. Spend two days exploring ruins and salt mines, enter Machu Picchu via Aguas Calientes, and then return to Cusco. Rainbow Mountain is scheduled for the end of the trip when your body has fully adapted. This is perfect for first-time visitors with limited vacation time; the trade-off is skipping Puno and Arequipa.
During the rainy season, Rainbow Mountain can be covered in snow or obscured by clouds; May to September offers the most stable weather.
Day by day
Day 1 · Fly in & Descend Straight to the Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu（Awana Kancha、Pisac Archaeological Park、Pisac Market）
Take a chartered car from Cusco Airport to Pisac (approx. 1 hour), then continue to Urubamba (approx. 1 hour).
Avoid steep climbs on your first day. If you lack energy, stick to exploring the local markets.
Stay: Urubamba
Day 2 · Chinchero to Ollantaytambo
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu（Chinchero、Moray、Maras Salt Mines、Ollantaytambo）
Take a chartered car to visit Chinchero, Moray, and Maras, ending in Ollantaytambo (total driving time approx. 2.5 hours).
Moray is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), but the Maras Salt Mines entrance fee must be paid separately in cash.
Stay: Ollantaytambo
Day 3 · Scenic Train to Aguas Calientes
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu（Machu Picchu Trains (Ollantaytambo Station)、Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)、Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum）
Walk to the station in Ollantaytambo and take the train to Aguas Calientes (approx. 1.5–2 hours). Explore the town on foot.
Stay: Aguas Calientes
Day 4 · Full Day Exploring Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu（Machu Picchu、Huayna Picchu）
Take an early morning shuttle bus up the mountain (approx. 25 minutes). Take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, then transfer back to Cusco (approx. 2 hours).
To climb Huayna Picchu, you must purchase a specific ticket circuit that includes the mountain hike.
Stay: San Blas
Day 5 · Cusco Historic Center & Megaliths
Cusco（Plaza de Armas, Cusco、Cusco Cathedral、Twelve-Angled Stone & Hatun Rumiyoc Street、Qorikancha、Sacsayhuamán、Q'enqo）
Explore the historic center on foot. Take a taxi to Sacsayhuamán in the afternoon (approx. 15 minutes), and walk back down via Q'enqo.
Stay: San Blas
Day 6 · Rainbow Mountain Day Trip
Cusco（Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)）
Depart in the early morning by joining a tour or chartering a car (approx. 3–3.5 hours one way). The round-trip hike takes about 3 hours. Return to the city in the evening.
The summit is at around 5,000 meters; descend immediately if you feel unwell.
Stay: San Blas
Day 7 · San Blas & Departure
Cusco（San Blas、Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (MAP)）
Explore San Blas and local museums on foot in the morning. Take a taxi to Cusco Airport in the afternoon (approx. 20 minutes).