As soon as you step off the plane at Cusco Airport, our guy will be there with a big smile and your name on a sign straight to your hotel smack in the middle of town. Cusco sits at a breezy 11,000 feet, so grab a mug of coca tea the second you check in. Trust us, it’s the local hack for shaking off that altitude funk.

Check-in’s at noon, but if your flight lands early, stash your bags for free and hit the streets. Wander over to Plaza de Armas, snag some street empanadas or a killer trout ceviche at one of the spots ringing the square. You’ve got time.

1 PM sharp, your Cusco city tour kicks off. We start at the Main Plaza Inca walls meets Spanish balconies, total vibe check. From there it’s a quick hop to Qoricancha, the OG Inca sun temple that’ll blow your mind with its laser-cut stones and wild history.

Then we pile into the van and head up to Sacsayhuamán (just call it “sexy woman” and locals will grin). Those massive zigzag walls? Yeah, they’re even crazier up close. Your guide drops the real story why this fortress is the heavyweight champ of Inca builds.

We keep rolling to Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay smaller spots, but each one packs a punch. Carved rock tunnels, red-stone lookouts, and a crystal-clear aqueduct that still works after 500 years. Snap your pics, ask your dumb questions; the guide’s got answers and zero judgment.

By 6 PM you’re back at the hotel, boots dusty, head spinning with Inca facts, and officially hooked on Cusco. Day one in the books now you’re primed for the Machu Picchu madness ahead.

• Accomodation: Tierra Viva Hotelsor similar

• Ticket: Included

• Meals: NA.

It’s 8 AM, and we’re rolling. Hotel pickup, hop in the van, and we’re off to chase the Sacred Valley magic. First pit stop: a legit alpaca farm. You’ll eyeball llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas strutting their stuff. Your guide breaks it down: who’s the wool king, who’s the wild child, and why the Incas were obsessed. Petting encouraged.

Next up: Pisac. This place was the Inca breadbasket, corn and potato HQ. Depending on the month, you’ll catch farmers knee-deep in the fields. Then we climb to the ruins for a solid walkabout. Those circular terraces stack like a giant green staircase, ancient bedrooms carved into cliffs, and water channels that still trickle like clockwork. Pisac’s massive, and the views? Straight fire.

Post-ruins, we dive into the Pisac market. Silver jewelry, baby alpaca scarves, woven everything. Haggle a little, snack on roasted choclo, soak in the chaos.

Lunchtime hits in Urubamba. Think fresh trout, quinoa soups, and that purple corn drink you’ll crave forever. Bellies full, we cruise 30 minutes to Ollantaytambo, the last Inca town still kicking. The archaeological site is a beast: sun temple, princess baths, walls that laugh at earthquakes. Guide spills the rebellion stories while you’re gaping at stones bigger than your truck.

After the tour, you’ve got free time in the village. Cobblestone alleys, Inca doorways, maybe a pisco sour at a corner bar. Pure postcard vibes.

Evening train to Aguas Calientes, that cozy basecamp town at 6,500 feet. Windows up, Andes sliding by, total chill. Guide walks you to your hotel, check-in’s a breeze, and you’re set for tomorrow’s Machu Picchu takeover.

• Accomodation: Tierra Viva Hotels or similar.

• Ticket: Included

• Meals: B-L-D

Today’s the big one. Machu Picchu, baby. Early breakfast, scarf it down, then your guide scoops you from the hotel and hustles you onto one of the first buses snaking up the switchbacks. You beat the crowds, fog still clinging to the peaks.

Gate opens, and boom, you’re staring at the citadel glowing gold in the sunrise (weather gods willing). Snap the money shot from the top terrace, no selfie sticks in your face. Pure New Wonder vibes.

Your guide kicks off the 2.5-hour deep dive. Temple of the Sun, royal quarters, condor carvings, the whole deal. Every stone has a story, and they’re spilling them all while you’re trying not to trip over your jaw.

Huayna Picchu crew? If you snagged that $75 ticket (booked way ahead), peel off for the 2-hour heart-attack hike. Steep stairs, death-drop edges, but the summit? You’re literally looking down on Machu Picchu like an Inca drone shot. Worth every gasp.

No ticket? Wave goodbye to the ruins, hop the bus to Aguas Calientes, and link up with the squad for lunch (grab your own plate, tons of spots).

Afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, windows fogged with Andes scenery. Driver’s waiting, smooth ride to Cusco, and you’re rolling into your hotel around 8 PM. Head full of clouds and condors, legs like jelly, already planning the group chat brag post. Machu Picchu: checked.

• Accomodation: Tierra Viva Hotels or Similar.

• Ticket: Included

• Meals: Only breakfast at hotel.

4 AM wakeup call. Yeah, it’s brutal, but trust me, worth it. Your guide grabs you at the hotel, we pile into the van, and three hours later you’re chowing a hot breakfast on the road, coffee strong enough to wake the dead.

Trailhead hits at 14,300 feet. Bundle up, layers on layers, because it’s crisp. The 4 km hike to Rainbow Mountain (aka Vinicunca) is a steady grind, 2.5 hours of switchbacks and thin air. But when you crest that ridge at 16,900 feet? Bam. The mountain’s streaked in neon reds, purples, and golds like someone spilled paint across the Andes. Phones out, jaws dropped.

We’re not done. Flip to the backside for the Red Valley, a Martian-looking bowl of pure crimson. Higher vantage, zero crowds, 360° insanity. Snap your pics, catch your breath, maybe hug a rock.

Downhill’s faster, legs shaky but smiling. Driver’s waiting at the bottom, 50-minute cruise to a cozy spot for lunch, think roasted chicken, quinoa, and that purple corn chicha you’re now addicted to.

Back in Cusco by 5:50 PM. You’ll crash hard, but you’ll wake up tomorrow with Rainbow Mountain burned into your brain forever.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Hotelsor similar.

• Ticket: Included

• Meals: breakfast and lunch.

4 AM and your guide’s already at the door. Two-hour drive to Mollepata, sleepy mountain town, perfect for that first hearty breakfast of eggs, fresh bread, and coffee that actually works.

Fueled up, we bounce along a dusty hour to Soraypampa at 12,600 feet. It’s cold, so gloves, beanie, layers no heroics. May to October? Flip it: sunhat, sunscreen, because the sky’s wide open and the sun doesn’t play.

Two-hour climb to Humantay Lake. Steady at first, then the trail kicks your butt near the top. But when you crest that ridge? Holy turquoise. The lake glows like a dropped sapphire, backed by Salkantay snow-capped monster peak. Glaciers, silence, maybe a condor overhead. You’ll stand there like an idiot, grinning, phone forgotten.

Chill, breathe, shoot your pics. Then 1.5 hours back down knees creak, but the views keep you distracted.

Mollepata lunch is your reward: hot soup, grilled trout, that purple corn drink again. Full belly, happy heart.

Back in Cusco by 6 PM. You’ll smell like dust and victory, with Humantay Lake now living rent-free in your head. Best kind of tired.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Hotels or similar.

• Ticket: Included

• Meals: NA.

It’s time to say goodbye. We recommend booking your flight for the afternoon, allowing you some free time in the morning to explore Cusco and purchase souvenirs. You’ll have the opportunity to visit local markets and enjoy the city’s charm one last time.

Two hours before your flight, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport, ensuring you have a smooth transfer. We’ll say our farewells, wishing you a safe journey and leaving you with unforgettable memories of your Peru adventure. Until next time!

• Accommodation: NA

• Ticket: NA

• Meals: Only Breakfast at Hotel.