Cusco · Peru
Vinicunca is 5,000 metres, a 3am pickup, and crowds. Palcoyo is milder. Classic Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead. If you did not book, you are taking the train.
Last checked August 24, 2026
These are treks and punishment days, not city tours.
Rainbow Mountain after you land is the classic way to get sick. Do city ruins and Sacred Valley first.
Inca Trail: porters, ethics, fitness, months of lead time. Otherwise Machu Picchu by train.
The shortlist for this search — not every listing on the partner sites.
5,000-metre viewpoints, 3am pick-ups, horses for the last stretch, crowds. Do it only if you are well acclimatised and the photos matter more than comfort. Palcoyo is a milder coloured-hill alternative.
Free cancellation up to 24h before
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Classic Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead and require a licensed operator. Salkantay is the common alternative. These are treks, not day tours. If you did not book, you are taking the train.
Booked on GetYourGuide. We may earn a commission — the price is the same for you.
This is one slice of things to do in Cusco. The hub has the full ranked list.
Only if you are well acclimatised and the photo matters more than comfort. Weather hides the colours. It is not a Machu Picchu substitute. Palcoyo is the gentler coloured-hill option.
Classic 4-day permits sell out and require a licensed operator. Salkantay is the common alternative. No permit means the train, not a loophole.