Cusco · TOURS

The 15 Best Guided Day Trips from Cusco

321 tours  ·  from $2 a head

With a guide, a minibus and a lunch stop, most of the region fits in a day from town. The 15 below are the ones worth the early alarm, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath.

Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch - The steep climb to Humantay Lake
Buffet Experiences, Cusco Tours, Humantay Lake Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch

1.Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,976 reviews · 1 day · from $22Our pick

Leave Cusco before dawn for a high-altitude trek to Humantay Lake, with breakfast in Mollepata, a bilingual guide, and a buffet lunch on the return. The steep climb reaches about 4,200 meters, so pace yourself and bring layers. Guides have included Jonathan, Eduardo, Kevin, and Jefferson, though your guide will depend on the departure.

“Rafael was a great guide - so friendly and made sure to stay back with my partner who was struggling - he spoke both Spanish and English. The hike was a bit difficult with the altitude - we got breathless quickly but the views were so so worth it, truly took my breath away!!”

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From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch - Moray: Inca farming in steep country
Cusco Tours, Lunch Experiences, Maras and Moray Tours, Sacred Valley Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch

2.Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,227 reviews · 1 day · from $28

From Cusco, visit Chinchero’s weaving traditions, Moray’s Inca terraces, Maras’s salt ponds, Ollantaytambo’s fortress and Pisac’s ruins. A bilingual guide leads the full-day route, with a buffet lunch in Urubamba. Guides have included Liliana, Jorge and Kevin. Entrance fees are extra, and the Ollantaytambo stop involves more than 200 steps.

“Fantastic day full of amazing archaeological wonders and cultural experiences. Jorge was a wonderfully knowledgeable guide with a great attitude. Our only wish is that this tour was offered as a two-day tour so that we could have spent more time at each spot!”

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From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour - Moray: Inca terraces built into a bowl
Chinchero Tours, Cusco Tours, Maras and Moray Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour

3.Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,925 reviews · 6h 30m · from $15

This roughly six-and-a-half-hour trip links Chinchero’s Quechua weaving traditions, Moray’s circular Inca terraces and Maras’s working salt pools. Expect a bilingual guide, transport and hotel pickup outside Cusco’s historic center. Guides vary, with Felipe, Julio and Edi among those who lead the route. Site entry fees are extra, so bring cash.

“was great and John the guide was very knowledgeable recomed!”

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From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu - From Cusco to Ollantaytambo
Cusco Tours, Full-Day, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

4.Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,767 reviews · 12 hours · from $321

Travel from central Cusco by road and train to Aguas Calientes, then ride a bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of about two hours. Admission and transport are bundled, with a guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese. You choose lunch and have free time in town before the return journey. The day can start as early as 4:00 am.

“Fantastic tour and so good that everything was planned for us so we just needed to turn up! Our tour guide Christian was amazing and very knowledgeable, we had an awesome time and would recommend 1000%! The tickets were given to us the day before the tour at our hotels with clear instructions which were easy to follow and very prompt. Considering how busy it can be it was an easy system to follow and staff were so nice, easy to talk to and friendly.”

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Cusco: Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q'enco - Sacsayhuamán: big stonework and wide city views
Cusco City Tours, Cusco Tours, Half-Day, Sacsayhuaman Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cusco: Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q’enco

5.Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q’enco

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,129 reviews · 5 hours · from $13

Visit Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay on a five-hour Cusco tour with a guide and minivan transport. Guides such as Luis, Wilson and Victor have led tours in English and Spanish. Expect striking Inca stonework, water channels and broad city views, plus separate entrance fees and a brisk schedule.

“The tour was informative and our tour guide was knowledgeable and very nice. Worth it!”

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Machu Picchu: Full-Day Tour from Cusco with Optional Lunch - The bus climb to the Inca citadel
Cusco Tours, Full-Day, Lunch Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Machu Picchu: Full-Day Tour from Cusco with Optional Lunch

6.Full-Day Tour from Cusco with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 927 reviews · 15 hours - 2 days · from $283

Travel from Cusco through the Sacred Valley by van and train, then ride a bus to Machu Picchu for a 2.5-hour guided visit. Guides have included Williams, Santos, and Milton, though assignments vary. Choose an option with entry included, and add a traditional Peruvian lunch at Cafe Inkaterra if you like.

“Santos was an exceptional guide: very caring and informative.”

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City Tour Cusco Qoricancha Sacsayhuaman y Tambomachay - Sacsayhuamán’s massive stonework
Cusco City Tours, Cusco Tours, Sacsayhuaman Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

City Tour Cusco Qoricancha Sacsayhuaman y Tambomachay

7.City Tour Cusco Qoricancha Sacsayhuaman y Tambomachay

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 617 reviews · 5 hours · from $13

Meet at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas for a five-hour guided outing to Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Local guides such as Nilo, Erick and Manuel bring Inca history to life, often with stories, photos and time for questions. Shared transport connects the outlying ruins; site tickets cost extra.

“Our guide Nilo was really knowledgeable and friendly. He took us to the most famous places around the historic center of Cusco and always had an interesting fact to share. The tour also includes a psico sour! Highly recommended”

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From Cusco: Excursion to Humantay lake from Cusco - The uphill walk to Humantay Lake
Cusco Tours, Humantay Lake Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cusco: Excursion to Humantay lake from Cusco

8.Excursion to Humantay lake from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 514 reviews · 1 day · from $20

Leave Cusco around 4 to 5 a.m. for breakfast in Mollepata, then hike about two hours from Challacancha to turquoise Humantay Lake beneath Nevado Salkantay. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide leads the group, with names such as Jonathan, Alex, Wally, and Heber among the guides who have worked this route. Breakfast and buffet lunch are included; admission and horse rides cost extra.

“The trip was great thanks to our guide Alex and his support during the wet cold hike! We were able to rent horses and take lots of pictures. My highlight was being able to have some shots taken by Alex in front of the lake.”

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Cusco: Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour - A chef-led class, not a cooking exam
Cusco Cooking Classes, Cusco Tours, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Workshops

Cusco: Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour

9.Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 512 reviews · 4 hours · from $67

Start at Door 1 of Cusco’s San Pedro Market, then walk to a historic-center cooking studio. An English-speaking chef guides a small group of up to 10 through two cocktails, cebiche, causa limeña, quinoa tamal, and picarones. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and non-alcoholic options are available.

“Highlight of Cusco, great way to spend any adjusting days before you head on the Inca Trail. Eric was informative, and probably one of the most knowledgeable guides we had our whole trip. The cooking section was great fun”

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Cusco: Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus - Sacsayhuamán from the road
Cusco Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cusco: Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus

10.Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 481 reviews · 2h 30m · from $12Best value

A bilingual guide leads this 150-minute open-top bus tour through Cusco and up to views of Sacsayhuamán and the city. You’ll stop for a traditional offering to Pachamama, see alpacas, and visit a wool center. Guides have included Joshua, Paulo, AJ and Roxanna, though the guide on your departure may differ.

“Excellent information. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.”

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From Cusco: Quad bike tour Moray and Salt Mines - Moray’s circular terraces and Inca farming
Cusco ATV Tours, Cusco Tours, Cycling Tours, Maras and Moray Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cusco: Quad bike tour Moray and Salt Mines

11.Quad bike tour Moray and Salt Mines

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 314 reviews · 6 hours · from $27

From Cusco, ride a Honda ATV through Andean countryside to Moray, the Inca agricultural terraces, then visit the Maras salt ponds by van. You get a safety lesson, practice time, a bilingual guide, helmets, gloves, and water. Guides such as Wilson and Joel have led recent departures, but names vary. Budget extra cash for both site entrances.

“My husband and I were scheduled to do this tour but unfortunately got stuck in Aguas during the fatal train accident so we didn't make it. Fortunately a sweet angel named Carla messaged me to reschedule our tour, as well as check in on us to see if we made back to Cusco. Once on the tour on Fri, my husband and I had SO much fun. We spent way too much money at the first stop (oops my fault 🤭). chocolate and bath salts for me, cooking salt for him. Then to the salt mines, which was cool to see from an aerial view. And then off to the…”

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Open Bus Cusco City Tour - The view from Cristo Blanco
Cusco City Tours, Cusco Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Open Bus Cusco City Tour

12.Open Bus Cusco City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 219 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $14

Ride an open-top double-decker through Cusco with a bilingual guide, passing Inca and colonial landmarks and stopping at Cristo Blanco for city views. The roughly three-hour tour costs $14.09, includes transport, and ends near the main square. Some departures have featured guides such as Paulo or Victor, but your guide may vary.

“The entire bus spoke Spanish, and even though I do a little bit, Victor took care of translating things for me in English, as well! He did a great tour, with a lot of history, and stops for photos. I especially loved the alpaca and llama petting! I did buy a scarf there, as to support the local economy. It started raining so on the way back, so all the participants were downstairs as opposed to the top of the bus, but we made it work! Thanks Victor and crew!”

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Cusco: City Tour | Half-Day Tour to 4 Archaeological Sites - Qoricancha reveals the city’s layered past
Cusco City Tours, Cusco Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cusco: City Tour | Half-Day Tour to 4 Archaeological Sites

13.City Tour | Half-Day Tour to 4 Archaeological Sites

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 206 reviews · 4 hours · from $29

See Qoricancha and four archaeological sites beyond Cusco on a four-hour guided outing, with hotel pickup in the historic center and transport included. Guides such as Luis and Maribel have led tours in English and Spanish. Admission tickets cost extra, and the bilingual format can affect the pace.

“Luis was an amazing guide, friendly, helpful, approachable and very knowledgeable. Entry into sites is not included and is cash only. Overall a great experience, would definitely recommend”

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Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour - From Cusco to KM 104 by train
2-Day Experiences, Cusco Multi-Day Tours, Cusco Tours, Guided, Inca Trail Treks, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour

14.Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 203 reviews · 2 days · from $585

This two-day trip pairs a guided hike from KM 104 with a night in a three-star Aguas Calientes hotel and an early visit to Machu Picchu. You pass Wiñay Wayna, reach the Sun Gate, and return for a two-hour tour on circuit 3. Guides such as Walter, Victor, Isao, and Alex have led departures, but names vary.

“The Inca trail hike was one of the highlights of our Peru trip - such a peaceful foresty hike with a great view on Machu Picchu at the end, and interesting facts shared by our guide Victor. The second day was spent only within Machu Picchu and offered plenty of time for more interesting stories about Incas as well as photos. The communication by Alcapa Expedition was amazing too, and they were always available if you needed something. Only thing I can think of to improve is that on the second day we got 4hrs in Aguas Caliente which is a bit long, would have been great to cut this…”

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Cooking class and market tour with a local chef - Starter, main course and cocktail choices
Cusco Cooking Classes, Cusco Tours, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Workshops

Cooking class and market tour with a local chef

15.Cooking class and market tour with a local chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · 4 hours · from $57Top rated

Chef Ronal, a Cusco native, leads a four-hour visit to San Pedro Market and a hands-on cooking class. Taste local fruit and cheese, prepare a shared starter and your choice of lomo saltado or ceviche, then make a pisco cocktail or nonalcoholic drink. Dietary needs can be accommodated.

“Awesome activity, as a solo traveller I found it very fun and easy to become friends with other group members. Ron and his team were awesome. 10/10!”

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