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5 days · Inca citadel, Sacred Valley & high Andes

Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru Itinerary: 5 Perfect Days

This 5 days in Cusco and Machu Picchu itinerary is built around the two things that actually shape a trip here: altitude and timing. You'll spend day one acclimatising in Cusco's plazas and markets, ride through the Sacred Valley to sleep at the railway town of Ollantaytambo, then take an early train to Aguas Calientes so you can walk the citadel at its quietest. A full second morning at Machu Picchu leaves room for the Sun Gate or Huayna Picchu, and the trip finishes with the hilltop ruins above Cusco itself. Book the citadel entry, train seats and any Huayna Picchu permit well ahead, and let the first day stay slow — the Andes decide the pace, not you.

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Golden-hour view of the stone ruins and agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu in Peru, with the pointed peak of Huayna Picchu rising behind and morning clouds drifting through the Andes valley

Best time to visit

May to September is the dry season: crisp sunny days around 18–20°C, cold nights, and the clearest mountain views — but also the busiest, so book entries and trains early. April and October are quieter shoulder months with a mix of sun and showers. The wet season runs November to March: warmer nights, dramatic afternoon downpours, lush green terraces and thinner crowds, though trails can be muddy and fog sometimes hides the views. Machu Picchu is open year-round; February often sees short maintenance closures on the Inca Trail, but the citadel itself stays open.

Getting around

Fly into Cusco (CUZ) from Lima — the flight is under 90 minutes — and take a taxi or transfer into town. Shared colectivos and minibuses connect Cusco with the Sacred Valley towns (Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo) cheaply; private day tours cover the same ground with a guide. From Ollantaytambo, PeruRail and Inca Rail run the scenic train to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Pueblo), about 90 minutes; buses shuttle the winding 25-minute road up to the citadel entrance. Book train seats and Machu Picchu entry (with a chosen circuit) online in advance — walk-up availability is not guaranteed in high season. Inside Cusco, the historic centre is walkable; agree taxi fares before setting off or use an app.

The 5-day Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Cusco and acclimatise

  1. Morning

    Airport transfer roughly S/25–40 (US$7–11)

    Fly in and take it easy

    Land at Cusco's airport, 3,400 metres above sea level, and transfer to a hotel in or near the historic centre. Keep the arrival gentle: walk slowly, drink plenty of water and skip alcohol tonight. Many hotels offer coca tea at reception; it's a friendly local ritual for easing the altitude.

    Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru

  2. Afternoon

    Cathedral entry roughly S/40 (US$11); Qorikancha roughly S/15 (US$4)

    Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Qorikancha

    Wander Cusco's arcaded main square, step into the baroque cathedral on the plaza, then visit Qorikancha — the Inca temple of the sun whose perfectly fitted stone walls now sit inside the colonial Santo Domingo convent. Buy your Machu Picchu entry and confirm tomorrow's Sacred Valley transport today if you haven't already.

    Qorikancha, Cusco, Peru

  3. Evening

    Dinner roughly S/40–80 (US$11–22)

    Dinner in San Blas

    Climb (slowly) to the San Blas neighbourhood, a grid of cobblestone lanes, artisan workshops and balconied houses above the plaza. Eat an early dinner at a picantería or a rustic café, then rest — acclimatisation works best with an unhurried evening and an early night.

    Barrio de San Blas, Cusco, Peru
Day 2

The Sacred Valley: Pisac and Ollantaytambo

  1. Morning

    Boleto Turístico del Cusco roughly S/130 (US$35); colectivo a few soles

    Pisac ruins and market

    Head out early by colectivo, private transfer or tour into the Urubamba valley. Above the town of Pisac, agricultural terraces climb a ridge to temples, storehouses and a dramatic notch in the mountainside; the craft market below is a good place for textiles and alpaca knitwear. Carry water and sun protection — the valley floor is lower than Cusco but the sun is fierce.

    Sitio Arqueológico de Pisac, Peru

  2. Afternoon

    Included in Boleto Turístico; lunch roughly S/25–50 (US$7–14)

    Ollantaytambo's fortress and terraces

    Continue down the valley to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town laid out on the original street plan. Climb the fortress terraces on the hillside for views over the valley and the Storehouses across the river, then wander the old quarter's narrow water channels. This town is your base tonight, minutes from tomorrow's train platform.

    Sitio Arqueológico de Ollantaytambo, Peru

  3. Evening

    Dinner roughly S/35–70 (US$10–19)

    A quiet railway-town night

    Check in near the station, reconfirm tomorrow's train time and have dinner at one of Ollantaytambo's wood-fired or valley-farm restaurants. Pack a small bag for the Aguas Calientes overnight if you're leaving main luggage in Cusco — most hotels and stations hold bags cheaply.

    Ollantaytambo, Urubamba, Peru
Day 3

Train to Aguas Calientes and the hot springs

  1. Morning

    Return train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes roughly US$70–160 each way depending on service

    Ride the river-gorge railway

    Board the morning train from Ollantaytambo for the 90-minute ride along the Urubamba river gorge, the tracks dropping from high puna into cloud forest. Splurge on the panorama-window service if you like; the standard carriages see the same mountains. Arrive at Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Pueblo), the little town under the citadel, and check in.

    Estación de Ollantaytambo, Peru

  2. Afternoon

    Hot springs roughly S/20 (US$5); museum roughly S/22 (US$6)

    Soak in the hot springs

    Keep today deliberately light so your legs are fresh for the citadel. Soak in the town's thermal baths on the hillside, visit the small Manuel Chávez Ballón site museum at the bridge, and pick up water and snacks for tomorrow — prices in town run higher than Cusco. Confirm the bus-up time printed on your citadel entry.

    Aguas Termales de Aguas Calientes, Peru

  3. Evening

    Dinner roughly S/40–80 (US$11–22)

    Early night below the ruins

    Eat early — restaurants fill with tomorrow's 5 a.m. queue — and get everything ready: entry ticket, passport (required at the gate), rain layer, water and sunscreen. Lights in Aguas Calientes dim early; match the town's rhythm and sleep before the alarm.

    Machupicchu Pueblo, Peru
Day 4

Machu Picchu at sunrise and back to Cusco

  1. Morning

    Entry roughly S/152 (US$40) by circuit; shuttle US$12 each way; guide roughly US$20–40 if sharing

    First light over the citadel

    Take one of the first shuttle buses up the switchback road to the entrance and be inside when the gates open. Walk your booked circuit through the temples, the Intihuatana stone and the main plaza as mist lifts off Huayna Picchu and the surrounding peaks. A licensed guide at the entrance (hirable on the spot or prebooked) brings the astronomy and engineering to life; entry is timed and circuits are one-way.

    Santuario Histórico de Machupicchu, Peru

  2. Afternoon

    Huayna Picchu permit roughly S/200 (US$55); return train as day 3

    Sun Gate or Huayna Picchu

    If your legs and permit allow, add the climb: the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) walk is gentler and included in some circuits, while Huayna Picchu's steep ridge needs a separate, limited permit booked months ahead. Both give the classic aerial views over the ruins. Descend by shuttle, collect your bags and board an afternoon or early-evening train back up the valley.

    Inti Punku (Sun Gate), Machupicchu, Peru

  3. Evening

    Transfer to Cusco roughly S/20–40 (US$5–11); dinner roughly S/40–80 (US$11–22)

    Back to Cusco

    From Ollantaytambo station, take a prebooked transfer or colectivo back over the hills to Cusco — typically 1.5–2 hours. Check into your hotel, have a late dinner of lomo saltado or trout near the plaza and let tomorrow start late.

    Estación de Ollantaytambo, Peru
Day 5

Ruins above Cusco and departure

  1. Morning

    Included in Boleto Turístico; taxi roughly S/10–15 each way

    Sacsayhuamán and the hilltop ruins

    Spend your last morning at the ruins on the ridge above town: Sacsayhuamán's colossal zigzag walls, then Q'enqo and Puka Pukara if time allows. Reachable on foot in an hour from the plaza or by a short taxi ride, they show how completely Cusco was built as an Inca capital — the stones of these walls were quarried for the colonial city below.

    Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru

  2. Afternoon

    Market snacks and lunch roughly S/20–40 (US$5–11)

    San Pedro market and the 12-Angled Stone

    Back at street level, browse San Pedro market — juice stalls, bread ovens and mountains of potatoes and maize — then find the famously fitted 12-Angled Stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street on the walk down. Pick up any last coffee, chocolate or textiles, and time your airport transfer for the 90-minute pre-departure window.

    Mercado Central de San Pedro, Cusco, Peru

  3. Evening

    Airport transfer roughly S/25–40 (US$7–11)

    Farewell pisco sour

    If your flight leaves in the evening, end the trip with a last stroll around the floodlit plaza and a pisco sour at a balcony bar above it. Otherwise, this is your departure window — Cusco's high-altitude airport is small, so arrive with margin rather than precision.

    Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete, Cusco, Peru

What 5 days in Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru costs

Approximate mid-range cost when sharing a room: roughly US$650–US$1,400 per person for five days, excluding international flights to Peru. The train to Aguas Calientes and the citadel entry are the big fixed costs and vary sharply by service class and season; prices and exchange rates change frequently, so check current operator rates before booking.

Estimated daily total

US$130–US$280 per person, per day

Accommodation (shared room)
US$45–US$100
Food & drink
US$30–US$70
Machu Picchu entry, train & guides
US$40–US$85
Local transport & transfers
US$15–US$25

Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru weather by season

SeasonTypical range
Dry season (May–Sep)3–20°C / 37–68°F
Shoulder (Apr & Oct)6–22°C / 43–72°F
Early wet (Nov–Dec)7–21°C / 45–70°F
Peak wet (Jan–Mar)7–20°C / 45–68°F

SmartVoyage shows the live forecast, or seasonal averages for far-off dates, next to every day of a generated itinerary.

Practical tips for Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru

  • Give yourself a full gentle day in Cusco before any serious exertion — 3,400 metres is high enough to flatten fit travellers who plan a hike on day one.
  • Book Machu Picchu entry with a specific circuit, train seats and any Huayna Picchu permit weeks or months ahead for May–September; same-day availability is never guaranteed.
  • Your passport is checked at the citadel gate against the name on the ticket — carry the original, and stamp it at the exit booth if you collect passport stamps.
  • Buy the Boleto Turístico del Cusco if you'll visit more than two of the covered sites (Sacred Valley, Sacsayhuamán, museums); it works out cheaper than individual tickets.
  • Carry cash in soles for markets, colectivos and small restaurants; cards work in towns but not always at market stalls, and ATMs in Aguas Calientes run out in high season.
  • Pack layers you can strip fast: strong high-altitude sun, cold shade and sudden cloud at the ruins within the same hour. Rain gear is essential November–March.
  • Agree taxi fares before getting in or use a ride app; there are no meters in Cusco, and short rides should cost only a few soles.
  • Drink bottled or filtered water, go easy on alcohol for the first two days, and mention any altitude symptoms to your hotel — oxygen and advice are usually available at the front desk.

Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru itinerary questions

Is 5 days enough for Cusco and Machu Picchu?
Yes — five days covers acclimatisation in Cusco, a Sacred Valley day, an overnight in Aguas Calientes and a full visit to the citadel without rushing. It's the shortest trip most travellers find comfortable at altitude; add days if you want the Inca Trail, Rainbow Mountain or more valley towns.
How do I get to Machu Picchu from Cusco?
Take a train from Ollantaytambo (or Cusco's Poroy/San Pedro stations on some services) to Aguas Calientes, then a 25-minute shuttle bus up to the entrance — or hike in on the Inca Trail or via Hidroeléctrica if you have extra days. Most visitors do the train and bus; book both in advance.
What is the best month to visit Machu Picchu?
May to September for dry, sunny weather and clear views, with June to August the busiest. April and October are excellent compromises with fewer crowds. November to March is greener and quieter but expect heavy afternoon rain and occasional fog over the ruins.
How much does a 5-day Cusco and Machu Picchu trip cost?
Roughly US$650–US$1,400 per person excluding flights to Peru, depending on train class, hotels and whether you take a guide. The return train (US$70–160 each way) and citadel entry (about US$40) are the biggest fixed costs.
Will I get altitude sickness in Cusco?
At 3,400 metres most people feel some effect — breathlessness, headache or poor sleep — for a day or two. Acclimatise gently, hydrate, avoid alcohol on arrival and consider speaking to your doctor about preventive medication before travelling. Sleeping in the lower Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, 2,800 m) helps some travellers.
Is Huayna Picchu worth the extra permit?
If you're comfortable with steep, narrow stone steps and book several months ahead, the climb rewards you with the best aerial views over the citadel. If permits are gone or you prefer an easier walk, the Sun Gate trail gives wonderful views without the exposure — and costs nothing extra.

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