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Cusco Day Trips
Single-Day Tours From Cusco

There are so many iconic must-sees and hidden gems around Cusco that are well worth a trip. If you don’t have multiple days to take in the history and culture of the Incas, we offer full-day and half-day tours from Cusco that cover important cultural sites, historic buildings, and stunning views near Cusco. See the over 3,000 salt pools on the Maras Moray tour, the vivid and sparkling blue hues of the Blue Lagoon on our full-day Humantay Lake Hike, or several historical sights and ruins right in the city on our Cusco City Tour.
There are so many ways to fill your day in and around Cusco – let us take you to the most memorable spots.

Why Choose a Peru Day Tour with Alpaca Expeditions

Lucrepata and Emerging Neighborhoods

Learn About the History and Culture of Cusco, Peru

There is much to learn and experience in Cusco and the surrounding areas. You can better understand the industries that power our economy, the stories of the Incas, and the natural beauty at your fingertips in this stunning area of Peru.

Group visiting Sacsayhuaman in Cusco

It’s a Great Way To Acclimate to the Altitude

If you plan a trek to Machu Picchu or other high-altitude hikes, we highly recommend spending a few days in Cusco to acclimate to the altitude. Spending 2-3 days exploring Cusco before your trip can prepare your body for your trek and save you from exhaustion, migraines, flu symptoms, and fatigue of altitude sickness. A day tour is the perfect way to fill your days as you prepare for your trek!

Ethical Peru Ecotourism

We are a local, indigenous, and sustainable company – 100% Peruvian and the leader in supporting our local communities through social projects and porter welfare.

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City Tour Cusco: Capital of the Inca Empire

The City Tour Cusco is the perfect introduction to the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. This tour takes you to the city’s most iconic landmarks, blending history, art, and architecture.

You’ll begin at the Plaza de Armas, the heart of Cusco, surrounded by stunning colonial buildings such as the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus.

Next, you’ll explore the remarkable Inca structures that still stand today, including the Qorikancha Temple (Temple of the Sun), one of the most important temples of the Inca Empire.

The tour continues with visits to the famous ruins near the city, such as Sacsayhuaman, where you’ll marvel at the massive stonework. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to visit Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, each with its own unique mystery and charm.

This tour is an unforgettable journey through the history and culture of Cusco, showcasing the incredible legacy of the Inca Empire.

Ollantaytambo-Archaeological-Complex

Sacred Valley of the Incas:

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the most beautiful and historically rich areas in all of Peru. This tour will take you through a myriad of archaeological sites, traditional markets, and breathtaking landscapes.

The journey begins with a visit to Pisac, where you’ll explore Inca ruins perched high on the mountain. Next, we head to Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortified Inca town that still preserves its original layout of narrow streets and stone houses. Here, you can stroll through its cobblestone alleys and marvel at the stunning agricultural terraces that surround the site.

This tour offers a perfect combination of history, culture, and natural beauty, immersing you in the heart of the Inca legacy.

Rainbow-Mountain-Hike-Red-Valley-Tour-1Day

Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca, has become one of the most popular destinations in recent years due to its stunning natural colors. This tour takes you to explore one of nature’s most breathtaking wonders: a multicolored mountain that looks as if it were hand-painted by Mother Earth herself.

Located about three hours from Cusco, Rainbow Mountain is a physical challenge that is well worth the effort. The journey begins with a vehicle ride to the starting point of the hike, which takes approximately three hours (depending on your pace) to reach the summit. Along the way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

The effort pays off when you reach the top, unveiling a surreal landscape of red, purple, green, and yellow hues that create a one-of-a-kind natural spectacle. Additionally, you’ll encounter Andean flora and fauna along the way, such as alpacas, llamas, and native birds of the region.

This experience combines physical adventure with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Andes, making it an unforgettable journey for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Group at Humantay Lagoon Salkantay Trek

Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake is a true hidden gem, renowned for its mesmerizing turquoise waters that perfectly contrast with the snow-capped peaks surrounding it. This magical destination is set amidst stunning landscapes that showcase the grandeur of the Peruvian Andes.

The journey begins with a bus ride to the starting point of the Humantay Lake tour, which takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of moderate ascent (depending on your pace). As you climb, you’ll be treated to spectacular views that hint at the ultimate reward: a vividly colored lake that seems like a dream, encircled by towering mountains and untouched nature.

Although the hike is relatively short, it requires effort due to the Humantay Lake elevation of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet) above sea level. However, every step is rewarded with the serenity of the surroundings, the crisp mountain air, and the breathtaking beauty of the turquoise lake.

Before embarking on your adventure, it’s important to consider the Humantay Lake weather, which can vary from sunny and clear to chilly and unpredictable. Dressing in layers and being prepared for changing conditions will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

This unforgettable journey combines stunning natural beauty, physical challenge, and a connection to the majestic Andes. A visit to Humantay Lake is truly an experience that will be etched in your memory forever!

Would you like to join one of our tours?

Simply select your preferred tour, visit our reservation form, and fill out the necessary information.

Choose Your Best Cusco Day Trips

Group at Humantay Lagoon Salkantay Trek
Humantay-Lake-Blue-Lagoon-Full-Day-Hike
Tour Quick View
Humantay Blue Lagoon Day Hike
Moderate
Full Day
1

Start your Humantay Lake Day with a Scenic Drive

2

Hike the Hidden Gem Salkantay Trail

3

Spend time Exploring Humantay Lake

4

Enjoy Lunch at the Base of the Trail

Humantay Blue Lagoon Day Hike

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
Humantay Lake: The Salkantay Trek to Humantay Lake tour in Peru (or the Blue Lagoon) is a one-day hike to visit the beautiful turquoise lake at the base of the glacial mountain of Humantay, located in the Vilcabamba mountain…
Duration:
Full Day
Activity Level:
Moderate
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
Rainbow-Mountain-Hike-Red-Valley-Tour-1-Day-Hike
rainbow mountain full day
Tour Quick View
Rainbow Mountain Hike & Red Valley Tour – in 1 Day!
Moderate
4 Days / 3 Nights
1

CUSCO – TRAILHEAD - RAINBOW MOUNTAIN HIKE- CUSCO

Rainbow Mountain Hike & Red Valley Tour – in 1 Day!

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
See Rainbow Mountain on a 1-day trip from Cusco! The rich colors of this unique mountain make the Rainbow Mountain hike truly one-of-a-kind. Quickly growing in popularity, you should visit this Peru must-see before the…
Duration:
4 Days / 3 Nights
Activity Level:
Moderate
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
7-Lakes-trek-Ausangate-Peru-1day-hike (1)
Tour Quick View
7 Lakes Trek in Ausangate Full-Day Trip
Moderate
1 Day
1

Day 1: Cusco – Pacchanta – Lakes – Cusco

7 Lakes Trek in Ausangate Full-Day Trip

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
Experience the 7 Lakes of Ausangate Peru, including Pariacaca, Otorongo, and the Pucacocha in The Cordillera Negra! This is an excellent option for a shorter trip when traveling to Cusco. If you are a trekker…
Duration:
1 Day
Activity Level:
Moderate
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
Guided tour of the Pisac archaeological site
Tour Quick View
Sacred Valley – Full Day
Moderate
1 Day
1

Start the Sacred Valley Tour with a Morning Pickup from Your Hotel

2

Stop at Scenic Vistas and Drive Through Ancient Agricultural Plains

3

Visit the Pisaq Market and Stop for Lunch at a Local Andean Restaurant

4

Explore Ancient Ruins of Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley – Full Day

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
The Sacred Valley Full-Day Tour has beautiful history and culture at every stop. This tour is an excellent overview of the importance of Sacred Valley, both present-day and dating back thousands of years. You’ll see scenic…
Duration:
1 Day
Activity Level:
Moderate
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
What to do in Cusco? - The Ultimate Guide
Cusco City Tour
Tour Quick View
Cusco City Tour – Half Day
Moderate
1 Day
1

Start Your Cusco City Tour at the Plaza De Armas and Temple of the Sun

2

Enjoy a Comfortable Bus Ride to Ancient Ruins

3

Visit Ancient Altars and a Water Temple Before Returning to Cusco

Cusco City Tour – Half Day

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
Cusco was considered the Capital of the Incan Empire and is filled with important historical and cultural sites that tell an intriguing story. On our half-day Cusco city tour, you will gain critical insight into the Incan…
Duration:
1 Day
Activity Level:
Moderate
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
Maras Moray Tour
Tour Quick View
Maras Moray – Half Day
Relaxing
1 Day
1

2

The Maras Moray Tour Starts With a Scenic Drive Through Mountains, Wheat Fields, and Villages

3

Visit the Impressive Terrace Designs in Moray

4

Head To Maras for Stunning Salt Mine Views

5

Explore a Village Market at “The Birthplace of the Rainbow”

Maras Moray – Half Day

5.0 (31,362+) on Tripadvisor
The Maras Moray half-day tour takes you through a very unique aspect of Sacred Valley and shows you a peek into the knowledge and expertise of the ancient Incas. This area in the upper section…
Duration:
1 Day
Activity Level:
Relaxing
Group Size:
Minimum 2 people
Destinations:
Cusco, Peru
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WHY TRAVEL WITH ALPACA EXPEDITIONS?

At Alpaca Expeditions, we take pride in being a local company based in Cusco, the tourism capital of Peru. Here, tourism is more than an industry—it’s the lifeblood of the community. Every journey we organize not only connects travelers to the rich history and culture of the Andes but also directly supports local families and fosters sustainable development.
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NEW and UNIQUE , 2022 add on will be the cooking class in all our camping treks , learn to cook under the stars and next to the mountains.

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ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

In the pursuit to stand out from the rest, Alpaca Expeditions has obtained four ISOs plus our carbon footprint certificate to date. These achievements result from our efforts to implement the internationally-recognized integrated management system. They also represent our commitment to all of our clients and staff of operating sustainability and responsibility in every way possible.

Meet the AE Trekking Team!

Everyone on the Alpaca Team is from Cusco region, living the traditions and history they share with you while on one of our tours. Our guides are all graduates of university studying tourism, history and english. Our chefs are trained every February by a professional cooking team learning new meals, adding varieties of entrees for all types of eating. And all our porters are from HUARQUI, HUACAHUASI, PATACANCHA, QUISWARANI, CANCHACANCHA, QUEYUPAY, UMACHURCO and CCACCACCOLLO villages, very often working this job on top of maining their farms back at home. Most of our team has been with us for years, as we have the most loyal, hard working, happy employees in Cusco. We know how lucky we are to have the best team trekking and you will immediately fall in love with all the men and women who call Alpaca Expeditions their home.

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Equality Matters

In these days of women’s empowerment around the world, Peru has fallen very short when it came to empowering Peru women. Especially in our villages and poorer areas, Peru women have been traditionally expected to be quiet and obedient. Peru Women are generally less educated, expected to marry young and raise their children. Very sadly […]
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Our Guides

Our Guides

Travelling and trekking along the mountains is one of the best activities in the World. Connecting with nature and conquering your own limits to get to the highest points of the creation can’t be beat by anything.But this activity needs to be supported by professionals and for that same reason we have our professional trekking […]
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Our Chefs

Our Chefs

Trekking along the mountain on your way to conquer Machu Picchu is a once in a lifetime experience. Which won’t be possible to be done without our staff. Our guides and porters make the trek possible and provide all the needed help but the real secret behind our motto ‘’the journey is the destination’’ is […]
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TRIPADVISOR RECOGNITIONS

Our goal at Alpaca Expeditions is to create the best experience for all of our clients. We create journeys that are to be remembered for a lifetime. Journeys you can be proud of and can share with everybody around you.

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5-Star Reviews

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
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Reviews
5 of 5 bubbles
Alpaca Expeditions
5.0 Out of
5 stars
5 of 5 bubbles
July 16, 2026
5 of 5 bubbles

What a trip!!

First time booking with Alpaca Expeditions (Machu Picchu) and honestly can't recommend them enough. During the booking process they were very helpful and made recommendations that worked very well. They were exceptionally well organised, both before and during the tour, making sure everything went smoothly and informing at all stages which was really reassuring to me as a solo traveller.
The tour itself of Machu Picchu was amazing, the highlight of my trip to Peru so far, my guide Javier was incredibly knowledgeable about the site and the history of the incas. Plus he knew where all the best spots for photos were!! I didnt feel rushed at all, Javier was very easy going, and it was an excellent tour. Looking forward to doing the rainbow mountain with Alpaca later this week and hope to be back one day to do the inca trail. Would use again without hesitation.

July 16, 2026
5 of 5 bubbles

Spectacular vistas, adventure with extraordinary guide and porter support.

This was a father-son trip of a lifetime. I couldn’t be happier with the route (which is challenging) for scenery and history, or the guide and support staff. There were 7 hikers in our trip, including my son and I, who were supported by an superbly dedicated and knowledgeable guide, 14 truly amazing porters (who just to watch in action was priceless), and and excellent camp chef.

July 16, 2026
5 of 5 bubbles

Trip of a lifetime

This really was the experience of a lifetime and David made sure that we got the most out of it. He knew where to take the best pictures and took pictures for everyone in the group. David was obviously very knowledgeable and passionate about his culture and country. I can’t recommend this tour enough, and would tell people to request David as their guide if possible. Thanks for making this trip so memorable, David.

July 16, 2026
5 of 5 bubbles

Best experience and tour

We had an incredible experience with alpaca expeditions. Guides were professional, food was the best food we have had our whole trip and the walk was full of different environments with the guys giving beautiful cultural experiences as well. Sergio and Yeferi our guides truly made our experience. With so much knowledge and energy and laughter brought to every day. This trip is challenging but you can go at your own pace and the guides are very supportive in ensuring everyone is able to achieve the hike.

July 16, 2026
5 of 5 bubbles

Best Trek of Our Lives!

It was my partner’s dream for a long time to hike the Inca trail. We started talking about doing it last winter and bought our flight tickets once we were able to confirm with Alpaca Expeditions for our dates in July. We had a phenomenal team of guides (Jimmy and Hans), wonderful team of porters led by Samuel. The chef, Mijael definitely wowed us the entire meals. We wouldn’t trade this experience for anything else. Hans exceeded our expectations as we were a Deaf couple, and Hans used whiteboard to communicate with us. It was overall an inclusive experience! 10/10 would do it again with them!

Reviews
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Alpaca Expeditions
5.0 Out of
5 stars
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March 18, 2026

We had a wonderful time with Juan visiting the Inca sites in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Juan is very knowledgeable about the history and prehistory of the Inca civilization. He also knew all the best spots for pictures! We really appreciated his expertise.

March 17, 2026

In general: What an experience! Great guides, chefs, and porters. Alpaca Expeditions is a green company that pays close attention to their carbon footprint, sources their food locally, and has various programs that give back to their community. Bonus: they have a portable toilet that is well maintained and stocked with TP at all times. My personal experience: This is long, but hopefully helpful if you have any reservations about whether you can accomplish this trek! I arrived in Cuzco to acclimate 3 days early…however, I unfortunately succumbed to the altitude on day one of the actual hike and got worse on day 2 and 3. It is not lost on me that I was ONLY able to complete the trek because of the Alpaca team. The chef team, led by Cecilio, were very accommodating to my needs and prepared different teas to try to help me. Our groups guides, Alvin and Yojhan, were beyond encouraging and made sure I was safe the whole time. One of them was always with me even though I took twice as long as the rest of the group. >_< I can’t stress enough how important it is to have the right team supporting you in any situation. Their company’s back bone is stellar, but their actions during the hike showed me their heart is unbeatable.

March 17, 2026

I recently completed the 4-day Inca Trail with Alpaca Expeditions alongside my teenage daughters, and it exceeded every expectation. The weather was perfect all four days, which made the stunning views even better. Our guides, Yojhan and Alvin, were true experts, sharing deep insights into Incan history, the wildlife, and the flora and fauna of the area. They were incredibly patient and answered every question we had about Peru and more. From the start, they encouraged us to keep smiles on our faces and told us we’d become a "super family" by the end—and that is exactly what happened. The "super porters" worked tirelessly, and our chef Cecilio and his assistant cooked incredible meals for us along the way. Everything went perfectly to plan, and we finished the expedition with celebratory toasts and a shared album for photos with our new friends. I cannot recommend this team highly enough!

March 17, 2026

Muy buena experiencia con Alvin y Yojhan haciendo el camino Inka clásico. La comida que nos hizo Cecilio y Angelito estaba impresionante. Repetiría seguro!

 
March 17, 2026

The 4 day Inca trip was the best trip i have had in my lifetime. Beyond the scenic scenery everything has been well planned through. Alvin and Yohan were there for any possible inquries and shared a lot of nice insights along the inca trail. The food was better than any regular meal you can grab in town and was served three times a day by the amazing chef Cecilo and his crew. If you don’t do this trip you miss out.

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