Top Activities on the Ground in Cusco

Maximize your adventure during your trip to Machu Picchu as you enjoy this 4-day, 3-night trip packed with fun activities like biking, ziplining and rafting. Choose an alternative to the typical Inca Trail hiking paths, enjoying a jungle bike ride, rafting trip on Classs III and IV rapids and Peru’s first canopy-level zipline. Cap it all off with a chance to explore the famous Inca citadel at Machu Picchu in the first light of day and with a guided tour of the site. This adventure-lover’s experience also features hotel pickup, three nights of guesthouse accommodations, guide, bus and train transfers, three days of meals and snacks, entrance fees and all necessary biking, ziplining and rafting equipment.

Trek through the Andes to the azure waters of Humantay Lake on this full-day trek from Cusco. Learn about the importance of the lagoon to the Inca people who originally inhabited the area through a guide's commentary. See local flora and fauna on a hike through the valleys around the lake and enjoy lunch before returning to Cusco.

Set out on a hiking and biking adventure to Machu Picchu with this four-day, three-night tour along the Inca Trail. Explore archeological ruins, bike downhill for 60 kilometers, and admire mountain landscapes during the tour. On the final morning, see Machu Picchu at sunrise and set out on a guided tour of the site. Hotels and meals are included. 

Experience the natural wonder of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain on this full-day tour from Cusco. Set out on a scenic hike through the multi-colored mountains valleys, enjoy spectacular views of Ausangate Mountain and Rainbow Mountain, and pass through traditional Quechan villages. Breakfast and lunch is included.

Enjoy the excitement over the Sacred Valley plateau. While flying through the zip line, you will be surrounded by the natural beauty of the Andes.

Rainbow Mountain is one of the most unique destinations in Peru. This full-day tour from Cusco gets you there along with a hot breakfast before hiking, lunch, and oxygen for anyone suffering from the altitude to help ensure that hikers are prepared. See the mountain's distinct color bands and geology. Enjoy a challenging hike in the Andes. Spend time taking photos and enjoying the unusual scenery.

The mythic Salkantay trek brings you in the Peruvian mountains, passing by the Salkantay and Humantay peaks to finally arrive in the Inca's Wonder, Machu Picchu.

You will use e bikes which will make this experience less hard for you and you will be able to see the best view points that Cusco has to offer.

The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu (Inca Jungle Trail) is the best option for those who prefer a more adventurous and adrenaline pumping way to hike to Machu Picchu. The trail belongs to the Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu and it combines trekking with mountain biking, an opportunity to enjoy rafting and ZIP line too. In addition a part of the trail leads through the latest discovered Inca path called Qapaq Ñan. You can admire beautiful mountains on the way as well as subtropical areas of a cloud forest. One of the highlights of the trek is a visit of the amazin, lovely and hot thermal baths where you can refresh yourself in its healing water that benefits your body.

Trace the path of the original Inca Trail during an unforgettable 4-day, 3-night trip along this classic road to Machu Picchu. Follow the footsteps of this ancient people as you cross mountain terrain and lush jungles and explore fascinating Inca ruins like Wiñay Wayna, hiking toward the ‘Lost City of the Incas.’ On your final day, wake up early to reach Machu Picchu's iconic Sun Gate at sunrise, watching the first rays of light creep across the landscape. Then spend the morning exploring this incredible mountaintop archaeological site with your guide. This classic Inca Trail trek also features hotel pickup, camping accommodations, bus and train transfers, entrance fees, three days of meals and snacks and porters to carry shared equipment.

This is an extreme sport in which we will experience unique moments and what better than in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Definitely if one is a lover of adventure sports you can not miss this activity.

This tour was designed so that our visitors can know much more of the city and reach unique places that are only visited by local people, they can also be part of the history and culture of the past as well as the present as we will pass through many places who greet secrets of our great Inca culture. Riding the bike is the best way to explore the city and at the same time is the best way to keep the body in good shape.

See the iconic sights and hidden streets of Cusco from behind the handlebars of a bike during this 3-hour cycling excursion. Admire some of the most famous sites in the city around its iconic Plaza de Armas main square, then pedal along the lesser-known roads away from the main tourist walkways. As you cycle, your guide will share insights into the history of Cusco’s street names, point out the sophisticated architecture of the Incas and highlight the favorite local hangouts and watering holes of Cusco residents in the modern day.

Visit Rainbow Mountain, one of the most distinct formations in the Peruvian Andes, on this full-day tour and hike from Cusco. A challenging high altitude hike takes you to the base of this small mountain which features bands of color created by natural mineral deposits in the earth. Take in the view of Rainbow Mountain as well as surrounding Andean peaks. Look for grazing alpacas and llamas and try to spot Andean condors.

This is a great alternative Inka Trail to Machu Picchu. with this trip you’ll cross beautiful Andean places and we have the opportunity to observe Condors and Alpacas in their natural habitat. On this trip you will reach the beautiful and great Salkantay Mountain (6271 m), you can take a bath in natural hot springs from the depths of the earth, to see the Condor, various fruit trees and a variety of orchids, even better you can try the Peru tastiest coffee, enjoying the beautiful view of Machu Picchu from our campsite. Salkantay trek is one of the greatest attractions of Cusco. The Cordillera Vilcabamba, where the massif of Salkantay is located, it’s a beautiful and secluded area, dominated by the Apu Salkantay it has many high snowy peaks, such as Tucarhuay (5,910 m.s.n.m.), the Veronica (5,682 m.s.n.m.) and Huacayhuilca (5,361 m.s.n.m.), among others, where you will meet new friends and Visiting the most important place of the route the Santuary of Machu Picchu

Explore Peru beyond Cusco with a full-day trek to Humantay Lake. Get picked up at your hotel in the early morning and travel to Soraypampa, where the hike to Humantay begins. See glaciers and snow-capped mountains as you climb towards the Humantay lagoon, known for its beautiful colors.

Rainbow Mountain may not be close to Cusco, but it's still possible to visit in just one day on this guided tour. This budget-friendly day trip option takes you to the spectacular summit of Rainbow Mountain on a full-day tour—a challenging trek enchanted by commentary from your guide.

The Ancascocha Trail in the Peruvian Andes is a remarkable trail that, unlike other more popular trails, remains off the beaten track and away from crowds. Yet don’t be put off by its lesser known status. Named by National Geographic as one of 20 dream hikes on their World Best Hikes list, this stunning trek takes you past ancient Inca ruins and through traditional Andean villages such as Chillipahua and the trail’s namesake Ancascocha (3,700 m/12,136 ft). Here you may briefly share the trail with farmers, shepherds and their livestock tending to their daily lives, so far removed from the tourist crowds of Cusco.

Trek & Climb: Nevado Qampa: The snowy Qampa is one of the mountains of the Vilcanota mountain range; it’s located to the Southeast of the City of Cusco, in the province of Quisipicanchis. A great introduction climb for those without experience of glacial climbs. Leaving from Cusco; in private transportation early in the morning, we’ll drive 3 hours south to the Ausangate region. On arrival we’ll take our time to check all of our equipment for the climb. We’ll meet up with our arrieros and their mules; the arrieros loading all of our equipment onto them before setting off on this epic Peru adventure. Nevado Qampa (Jampa, also spelled Campa), is the easiest; and one of the most popular mountains in Cusco and may be climbed without experience in mountaineering. It requires a glacier hike and sometimes a small rock climbing pass depending on the season. Once at the summit it offers an incredible panoramic view; that reaches to Salkantay over 200km in a north western direction.

This is an extreme sport in which we will experience unique moments and what better than in the sacred valley of the Incas. Definitely if one is an adventure sport lover, one cannot miss this activity.

Despite receiving less attention than its more popular northern counterpart, Cusco’s southern valley contains its very own array of wondrous and impressive attractions. This end of the valley is irrigated by the Willkamayu River, which means sacred river in Quechua. Today, the river is better known as the Vilcanota or Urubamba, a powerful waterway that eventually turns into the Ucayali River, before travelling down into the jungle and giving way to the great Amazon River. The waters of this sacred river come from the Vilcanota Mountain range, some of the mountains in Peru that receive the most snow, and reach a maximum height of 6,372 meters above sea level with the revered Ausangate Mountain.

With rugged routes winding through the Cusco countryside, Humantay Lake offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure—but exploring without a guide leaves you open to getting lost. On this trekking and biking tour, hit the Humantay Lake trails on foot and by mountain bike with your guide to lead the way. With breakfast, lunch, and safety kit included on your tour, experience adrenaline-pumping thrills in the Peruvian wilderness.

Maximize your time in Peru by booking a 4-day tour that includes a multitude of outdoor adventures and is topped off with a visit to Machu Picchu. This action-packed tour crams in biking, hiking, rafting, ziplining, and more, making it ideal for adventurous travelers who want to see and do as much as possible—all without the hassle of planning and organizing each individual outing.

Travel for a few hours from Cusco through the rugged mountain countryside of Peru to reach the aptly named Rainbow Mountain, striped with colorful mineral deposits and located far off the beaten path. Hike with a guide to the summit for a once-in-a-lifetime wilderness adventure, or rent a horse (own expense) for easier access to the same incredible views.