Cusco and Machu Picchu in 7 Days: A Review

Thinking about a Cusco and Machu Picchu trip? That ancient Inca citadel in the Andes is so, so worth the hype, and Cusco is quite an amazing place to start your adventure. A full week gives you, you know, enough time to take in the main sights, adjust to the elevation, and really experience what Peru has to provide. Here’s my review of a 7-day, 6-night excursion, hopefully, it will give you, like, a solid idea of what to anticipate.

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco and Acclimatization

Landing in Cusco is very, very interesting because, that airport is high! You actually feel the thin air the second you exit the plane. Most tours actually include airport pickup, which is pretty convenient. As I was saying, my suggestion? Just take it super easy on day one. Head straight to your hotel, perhaps sip on some coca tea (it helps a bit with altitude sickness), and just rest. Seriously, don’t even think about running a marathon. Cusco is quite beautiful, I mean, and the hotels are more than lovely but it’s almost wiser to see its lovely spots after you are somewhat acclimated.

Light walking around the Plaza de Armas is fine too, but mostly, it is just about taking it easy. Have a good, healthy dinner, you know, but don’t go too crazy with it. Also, hydration is a plus. The drier climate coupled with the altitude could leave one dehydrated quickly. I felt super tired early that night, which is typical at that altitude. It’s the body trying to adapt, that is why I slept for like, a million hours that first night.

Day 2: Exploring Cusco

Day two is all about getting to explore Cusco’s historical sites, which, honestly, are pretty stunning. After a slow breakfast (another suggestion, by the way: don’t rush), I headed to Qorikancha, basically the Temple of the Sun. So, it’s once the richest temple in the Inca empire, before the Spaniards did their thing. Is that, like, where you actually get a sense of the history. From there, it is almost always up to Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks Cusco.

The sheer scale of these Inca ruins is amazing. I took like, a tour guide because it helps to understand the history and purpose of those walls and structures, if that makes sense. You can see Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. I thought they were nice, too. In the afternoon, I ended up walking around the San Blas neighborhood, it’s packed with artisan shops and cute cafes. That evening, there was pretty delicious Peruvian food, you know, like alpaca steak which, is pretty common there but it was totally something else.

Day 3: Sacred Valley – Pisac and Ollantaytambo

The Sacred Valley is a complete change of scene. Most tours just have you go early to Pisac, which has, such a famous market. That’s where, I got some souvenirs and I actually tried some local street food (definitely worth it, even if the tummy kind of didn’t approve.) Afterward, it’s off to the Pisac ruins way up above the market.

The views are seriously, incredibly beautiful but be prepared to climb. I found it to be slightly challenging at altitude, and I mean it when I say “slightly”, so, yeah. In the afternoon, it is just off to Ollantaytambo. Its fortress is incredibly interesting. I climbed to the top for yet another breathtaking look over the valley. We slept at Ollantaytambo that night to be closer to the train station for Machu Picchu.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

Today’s basically THE DAY. An early train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is definitely necessary (Machu Picchu Pueblo). That little town basically sits at the base of Machu Picchu. Most tours include a bus ticket up the mountain, yet the lines can get quite long early on.

Anyway, walking in Machu Picchu is so…surreal. The mountains, structures, and the history all sort of come together in this amazing way. If I were you, I would definitely suggest you get a guide (I keep repeating it but really) if you really want to find out about Machu Picchu, rather than just see rocks. I think most tours include that as a “pro”. After, oh, maybe three or four hours, my group and I headed back down to Aguas Calientes. My advice? Enjoy a late lunch there before you, perhaps, take the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a drive back to Cusco.

Day 5: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Fair warning: this day can be seriously, physically intense. The Rainbow Mountain trek begins very, very early (like, 3 a.m.) and the drive to the beginning is lengthy. So, the elevation at Vinicunca is quite a lot higher than Cusco. Even I felt a bit of a struggle, and I’m basically a fit dude.

That is, the views are worth it. Those colorful stripes on the mountain are like, one of those super “instagrammable” views (we all live for that, I am telling you), so make the most of that. I recommend bringing coca leaves and plenty of water, and dressing super warmly—it gets very, very cold up there. Getting back to Cusco, oh, sometime in the late afternoon basically involves eating as much as possible, if that makes sense, and going to bed almost right away.

Day 6: Free Day in Cusco

Having a free day in Cusco is fairly brilliant. Some folks basically use it to relax after Rainbow Mountain. It also affords a chance to experience things you missed during the guided tours.

Anyway, I personally headed to the San Pedro Market for some local life, but, you know, shopping and food experiences can also be a nice plus. Later in the afternoon, I, well, found a little cooking class and learned to whip up a few Peruvian dishes. A fun day to slow down, yet feel alive with the city’s lifestyle.

Day 7: Departure

Time to go. Most flights depart in the morning. Depending on your itinerary, your agency can have you taken to the airport to catch your flight home or elsewhere, too it’s just fairly simple and that’s the time to say goodbye to, like, the Andes. It’s kind of bitter-sweet.

Here are the Highlights:

Acclimatize: Take it really easy your first day in Cusco.
Hire Guides: Especially for Machu Picchu; it seriously enhances the whole experience.
Rainbow Mountain is quite strenuous, yet rewarding.
Try coca tea to help fight altitude sickness