10 Cusco Hiking Tours Worth Lacing Up For

1.Rainbow Mountain Tour and Red Valley Hike (Optional)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 149 reviews · from $29Our pick

You’ll leave Cusco around 4:00 am for Vinicunca, hiking to 5,020 meters with a bilingual guide such as David, Fredy, Joel, or Gorky. Breakfast, buffet lunch, transport, oxygen, and optional trekking poles are included. Red Valley access may be limited because of current route concerns.

“Everything was very good. I enjoyed the trip, I got the chance to do nice pictures and the food was good as well! Thank you 🙏”

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2.Private Palccoyo Rainbow Hike Without the Crowds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $199Top rated

Leave Cusco before dawn for Palccoyo, a quieter alternative to Vinicunca. You will hike among three rainbow mountains, the Red Valley, and a stone forest with a local guide such as Jesús Carrion. Breakfast, lunch, hotel transport, hiking poles, and oxygen are included.

“We had a fantastic time exploring Palcoyo, thanks to our experienced guide, Jesús Carrion. The tour started promptly, and Jesús took great care of us throughout the day. Although the walk to Palcoyo, also known as the alternative Rainbow Mountain, was relatively easy and moderate, the high altitude of 4900m caused my husband to feel short of breath. Jesús made a concerted effort to ensure his well-being while also keeping an eye on the rest of the group. Compared to Vinicunca, Palcoyo was noticeably less crowded, and it offered breathtaking views of three rainbow mountains, the red valley, and the stone forest. Unfortunately, we had to skip the stone forest…”

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3.Humantay Lake Full Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $89

Leave Cusco before dawn for Mollepata, breakfast, and a guided climb from Soraypampa to turquoise Humantay Lake. Luz is one guide praised for patient support. The $89 trip includes transport, entrance, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a small group of up to 15.

“Tour was awesome. Pick up perfectly on time. Our tour guide Luz was above and beyond , she was perfect. She answered all questions we were asking and most important she helped us to get all the way to the top because at the beginning of the climb I was struggling. Thank you Luz and I hope we meet again on some other tour.”

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4.2 Day Hiking Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $761

Walk the final Inca Trail route from Km 104 to Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate with a professional guide, visiting Wiñay Wayna and waterfalls before spending a night in Aguas Calientes. Return to Machu Picchu the next morning for a guided visit, free time, and the train back to Cusco.

“We did the 2 day trek to Machu Picchu and had a great time!”

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5.Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $175

Travel from Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Humantay Lake with a guide and a maximum of eight people. Expect a 3 a.m. pickup, breakfast in Mollepata, a steep high-altitude hike, Peruvian meals, snacks, transport, and a full day in the mountains.

“My mother and I did this trek with our guide and it was just the three of us! It was so nice to have a small group and our tour guide made sure we were very comfortable and took breaks whenever we needed (15,000 ft is hard when you live at sea level!). We would highly recommend this to anyone going to the Cusco area and especially recommend FlashPacker Connect.”

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6.2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $624

Start at Km 104, follow the Inca Trail through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, and reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. You’ll travel in a small group with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, and return by Vistadome train.

“Très belle marche à partir du km 104, accompagnée des interessantes explications de notre guide Noemie. Le lendemain, lever à l'aube pour admirer le Machu Picchu encore enveloppé dans la brume matinale. Après la visite, pas grand chose d'intéressant à faire à Aguas Calientes”

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7.Seven Lagoons of Ausangate Hiking Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 7 reviews · 10 hours · from $30

Leave Cusco at 4:00 AM for Pacchanta, hike a three-hour loop past Ausangate’s seven lagoons, then relax in thermo-medicinal waters. A guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, oxygen balloon, and hotel pickup are included. Bring cash for the separate entry fee.

“The day started off bad the driver never picked me up, but Ya’ll sent a taxi to take me to meet up with the bus. Your bus conductor is a thief he took a few of us moneys to pay Ausangate entrance I gave him $100 Soles the guy sitting next to me also did give him $100 he never returned our change. We saw him at the hot springs he pretended he didn’t remember, our tour guide had to get our money back I’ve posted a photo of him. You can’t be promoting tourism when your staff members are dishonest. Your companies reputation is at stake”

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8.Hike to Humantay Lake one day With Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Leave Cusco before dawn for Humantay Lake with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast in Mollepata, and a buffet lunch after the hike. The 3-kilometer climb from Soraypampa takes about two hours, with handmade trekking poles included. Hotel pickup is available near Plaza de Armas.

“My husband and I booked this the night before and they were very quick in response. We got picked up and our guide, Israel was very informative of what the trip would entail. We had a 2 hour drive to a place where we had a delicious buffet breakfast and then were taken to the place where we would commence our hike. I highly suggest buying the coca candy from the little shop where we had breakfast as they definitely helped with the altitude sickness. Also bring a big bottle of water with electrolytes. Trust me, you'll need it. Since there were multiple tour groups doing the same trek with…”

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9.Machu Picchu Tour with Hiking Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 14 hours · from $339

Start before dawn in Cusco, ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, then take the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. A guide leads you to Machu Picchu, points you toward the timed mountain entrance, and later explains the Inca citadel. The 2-kilometer climb needs good fitness.

“Très belle activité ,nous avons eu le meilleur guide au monde et le plus passionné de l’ histoire du Pérou 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻”

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10.Waqrapukara Hike Full-Day Tour With Meals

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3 reviews · 13 - 14 hours · from $119

Travel from Cusco to four Acomayo lagoons, eat breakfast beside Qenterococha, then hike to Waqrapukara with a guide. You will explore the horn-shaped Inca site, eat lunch above the Apurimac River, and return by a different route. English, Spanish, and Quechua guiding is available.

“Waqra Pukara is brilliant. Jaw dropping location and scenery.There are different approach routes, ours was relatively short. Admin wise not so good - I booked through Get Your Guide and emailed a question to my provider two days in advance, no reply ever received. My impression is that folk booked through different agencies but as it’s not yet a popular site and numbers are low we were all lumped together. Be aware there could be some minor issues, but still go!”

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