5 Days Exploring Peru’s Heartland: The Sacred Valley

The very first tip I have is to take at least one full day (24 hours), preferably two, in or around the city of Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude. Cusco is 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) above sea level. Especially if you are planning to do some of the hikes listed in this guide, as they are at even higher altitudes. This is the most popular piece of advice you will hear or see online, and for good reason. Check into your accommodation and plan some light activities to do around the city.

I suggest taking a walk around the city’s historical center to take in the sights. Search for traditionally dressed women with baby alpacas that you can take photos with for a small tip.

Take another day in Cusco to acclimatize to the high altitude. Things to see in and around the city include:

• San Pedro Market: A bustling local market offering everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts and textiles. I almost ran out of space in my luggage due to all the cool ponchos and souvenirs being sold around the city!

• Plaza de Armas de Cusco: Cusco’s main square always has something going on. It’s surrounded by colonial architecture and the Cusco Cathedral.

• San Blas Neighborhood: The “Artisan Quarter” of the city, characterized by narrow, cobblestone streets. Here you will find local artists, galleries and workshops, and the area has stunning views of the city.

• The Sacsayhuaman Complex: An Incan archaeological site located just outside Cusco. It is known for megalithic stone walls consisting of massive stones that fit together so precisely that no mortar was needed. The site also has panoramic views of Cusco.

As for places to eat in the city, there are a myriad of well-reviewed restaurants to choose from. For one example of a well-reviewed restaurant with some traditional Peruvian flavors, give A Mi Manera a try.

Wake up early and get prepared for a long but worthwhile day. Tours typically pick guests up from their hotels between 3–4 am and can cost as low as $22 per person. The drive from Cusco to the Rainbow Mountain hiking trail is almost three hours long, but most tours stop in the middle of the drive for breakfast, and lunch on the way back.

Make sure to take altitude sickness medicine or drink coca tea during breakfast and chew on coca candy throughout the day. This alleviates some of the effects of high altitude. Rainbow Mountain is 16,522 feet above sea level! Which is why it is important to acclimatize to the high altitude in Cusco before starting your tours.

The hike is about one hour and 45 minutes long and can be very difficult given the altitude. You can ride a horse most of the way for about 90 soles, or $25.

It can also be much colder at higher altitudes so make sure to dress in layers. The weather can be unpredictable in the mountains.

You will return to Cusco in the afternoon to have dinner and rest up for the next day’s adventure.

Tip: Consider doing other tours/activities in the region and waiting to do Rainbow Mountain later in your itinerary. Rainbow Mountain is likely at a higher altitude than those other activities. I.E. Machu Picchu is 7,972 feet above sea level.

Wake up early again for another long day, but it is one you won’t ever forget! A day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu may seem like a lot, as you have to take a 1.5-hour bus ride from Cusco to a train station, a 1.5 hour train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes and then another 15-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. It is not as difficult as it sounds, I promise.

For the best views during the train ride, make sure to book a train with a viewing cart.

There are three types (Circuits one, two and three) of tickets you can purchase for Machu Picchu. The tickets give you differing levels of access to Machu Picchu. Circuit one only gives you access to viewing platforms, but this is where you can take the best photos with Machu Picchu in the background. Circuit two allows you to walk in and around the citadel of Machu Picchu, while Circuit three allows you access to the lower parts of Machu Picchu.

While the pictures online are incredible, they still don’t do Machu Picchu justice. The entire time we were there, we kept saying to ourselves, “This doesn’t feel real.” Make sure to put the camera down at least a few times to soak it all in!

Tip: Book both circuit one and two if possible. I did this on my trip and am glad I did. Circuit one allowed us to take some iconic pictures, but the weather was very cloudy. After a quick lunch, we started circuit 2, and the weather was immaculate. The sun came out and we even saw a couple of rainbows around Machu Picchu. Spending more time at Machu Picchu allows for bad weather to pass.

For a final day-long adventure, wake up early in the morning to make your way to Humantay Lake. A turquoise-colored lake backdropped by snow-capped mountain peaks. This is another high-altitude hike that is just as, if not more difficult than the Rainbow Mountain hike. Again, there are horses that you can hire to take you up about 95 percent of the way.

Tip: Take one of the many tours that leave from Cusco if possible. I arranged for a private taxi to Lake Humantay on my trip, and it began to rain as soon as we reached the lake. The purpose of taking a private taxi was to have the lake more to ourselves, but there were still plenty of tourists there.

The tours to Lake Humantay are very similar to the Rainbow Mountain tours in both price and overall itinerary. They usually stop for breakfast and lunch on your way to and from the lake.