3-day itinerary · Cusco
3 Days in Cusco: First-Timer Highlights
This plan suits first-time visitors looking for sightseeing, hands-on culture and outdoor experiences in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Three days pair city tours and archaeological excursions with textiles, chocolate and cooking, rather than longer treks or full-day excursions.
Customize this with AIDay 1: City sights and Inca heritage
Get your bearings with city sightseeing, explore Inca archaeology and finish with a hands-on chocolate workshop.
Morning
Cusco Open Top Bus Tour: City Highlights & Inca Archaeological
Take an open-top sightseeing tour for an introduction to Cusco's city highlights and Inca heritage.
Afternoon
Cusco: Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo
Explore Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo on a guided city tour that adds archaeological context to your first impressions.
Evening
Bean to Bar Chocolate Workshop in ChocoMuseo Cusco
Make your own chocolate at ChocoMuseo, adding a hands-on cultural experience to a sightseeing-focused day.
Day 2: Valley landscapes and living traditions
Combine Sacred Valley sightseeing with textile-making and an introduction to Peruvian cooking.
Morning
From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Half-Day
Explore Moray, Maras Salt Mines and Chinchero weaving traditions for a varied introduction to the Sacred Valley.
Afternoon
Sacred Valley Textile Workshop – Dyeing & Weaving in Cusco
Dye yarn and try weaving to engage directly with textile traditions rather than simply observing them.
Evening
Group Cooking Class in Cusco with Pisco Tasting
Cook with Peruvian ingredients and join a pisco tasting, rounding out the day with local culinary culture.
Day 3: Outdoor adventures and local flavors
Experience the landscape on horseback and by quad bike before finishing with another hands-on exploration of Peruvian cuisine.
Morning
Horseback Riding Mystic Tour Temple of the Moon & Chacan Mountain
Ride toward the Temple of the Moon and Chacan Mountain for an outdoor perspective on the area's cultural landscape.
Afternoon
Quad Bike Tour Moray and Maras Salt Mines from Cusco
Drive a quad bike through Sacred Valley landscapes, revisiting the Moray and Maras area with an adventure-focused approach.
Evening
Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones
Practice preparing lomo saltado, papa a la huancaina and picarones, building your introduction to Peruvian flavors.
Experiences are supplied by our partner Viator and booked on their site. Check times, prices and availability before you go.