6 Days in Cusco: First-Timer Plan
Six days gives you room to do Cusco properly: a full acclimatization stretch, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, a high-altitude day trip, and the quieter South Valley sites that most short trips skip. Sequencing matters here - Cusco sits at roughly 3,400 meters, so this plan builds altitude tolerance before pushing higher or descending toward Machu Picchu.
Day 1
Arrive and keep it slow. Altitude sickness (soroche) is common in the first day or two, so rest, drink water, and skip alcohol; coca tea is a legal local remedy many travelers use, though time and pacing matter more. A short walk to the Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral (around S/40, about $12) is enough for today.
Day 2
Visit Qorikancha, the former Inca Temple of the Sun, where the Santo Domingo convent sits on the original Inca stonework (around S/15, about $4), then spend the afternoon in San Blas for its artisan shops and viewpoints. Head up to Sacsayhuamán in the late afternoon - the fortress is BTC-only, so pick up the Boleto Turístico from COSITUC beforehand (cash-in-soles, not sold online); the Integral version runs around S/130 (about $35) for 10 days across roughly 16 sites, including nearby Q’enqo and Tambomachay. Finish with an early dinner at San Pedro Market.
Day 3
Head into the Sacred Valley: Pisac for its ruins and market, Ollantaytambo for its fortress and living Inca-era town, and depending on your route, Chinchero, Moray’s circular terraces, or the Maras salt pans (Maras isn’t on the BTC). This lower-altitude day also helps prepare you for Machu Picchu. Guided day trips run around $25-40, though prices vary, so verify current rates when you book.
Day 4
Machu Picchu day. Book well ahead - since June 2024, entry has run on timed slots across numbered circuits, tickets are non-refundable, and popular dates sell out weeks to months in advance. Take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (about 1 hour 45 minutes), then the licensed shuttle bus up to the site; foreign adult entry runs around S/152-163 (roughly $40-52), though this has changed recently, so verify before you go. Return to Cusco by train.
Day 5
With four days of acclimatizing behind you, this is a solid day for a high-altitude trip: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca, around 5,036 meters) is the famous, crowded option, while Palccoyo (around 4,900 meters) is quieter and generally easier. Either makes for a long day out and back, so plan for an early start and a late return to Cusco.
Day 6
Spend a calmer day in the South Valley (Valle Sur): Tipón for its Inca water-engineering terraces, Pikillacta, a pre-Inca site built by the Wari (not the Inca), and Andahuaylillas, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas” for its gilded colonial church. It’s a quieter loop than the Sacred Valley and a good way to close out the trip before departure.
Before you go: build a buffer day into your travel plans if possible. Strikes and road blockades (“paros”) have disrupted rail access and site entry here repeatedly in recent years, and a paid ticket doesn’t guarantee the trip runs as planned.
Read more: our 4-day Cusco itinerary covers the core trip without the extra days, and our 7-day Cusco itinerary adds one more day for a slower pace. Our Cusco travel guide covers the Boleto Turístico, altitude, and Machu Picchu booking in full.