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Home/Destinations/Cusco/Cusco adventure
Adventure · Cusco itinerary

Cusco Adventure Itinerary: Peaks, Lakes & Treks

Beyond Machu Picchu, Cusco is a high-Andes adventure base. Here is how to spend an active trip hiking Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake and trekking to Machu Picchu — with the best-rated adventure tours to book.

At a glance

  1. 1Rainbow Mountain
  2. 2Humantay Lake
  3. 3Maras & Moray by ATV
  4. 4Salkantay or Inca Trail

Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake

Tackle the striped slopes of Vinicunca and the turquoise Humantay Lake on early-start day hikes, both above 4,000 m — acclimatise first.

ATV at Maras and Moray

Add an adrenaline day quad-biking past the salt pans of Maras and the terraces of Moray in the Sacred Valley.

Trek to Machu Picchu

Finish with the classic Inca Trail or the permit-free Salkantay Trek, arriving at Machu Picchu on foot.

Book the experiences in this itinerary

Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Cusco — prices per person.

2-Day Trek to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco with Exclusive Mountain Camps
Cusco
2-Day Trek to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco with Exclusive Mountain Camps
5.0(93)·2 days
from$475/ person
via Viator
Humantay Lake Full Day Hike
Cusco
Humantay Lake Full Day Hike
5.0(92)·12 hours
from$99/ person
via Viator
Salkantay Premium Private Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights
Cusco
Salkantay Premium Private Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights
5.0(60)·5 days
from$1,920/ person
via Viator
Sacred Valley Maras Moray & Salt Mines Private Tour
Cusco
Sacred Valley Maras Moray & Salt Mines Private Tour
5.0(45)·10 hours
from$115/ person
via Viator
Full-Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco
Cusco
Full-Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco
5.0(24)·8–12 hours
from$42/ person
via Viator
Humantay Lake Full Day Tour from Cusco
Cusco
Humantay Lake Full Day Tour from Cusco
5.0(55)·12 hours
from$40/ person
via Viator
Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights
Cusco
Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights
5.0(53)·5 days
from$690/ person
via Viator
Salt Mines(Maras),Moray and Chincheros
Cusco
Salt Mines(Maras),Moray and Chincheros
5.0(43)·6–7 hours
from$80/ person
via Viator

Cusco adventure — FAQ

What are the best adventures in Cusco?
Top adventures are hiking Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake, ATV tours at Maras and Moray, and trekking to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail or Salkantay route.
How fit do you need to be for Cusco hikes?
The hikes are short but tough due to the altitude (4,000–5,000 m). Good general fitness and a few days’ acclimatisation in Cusco are essential; horses help on some trails.
Which is harder, Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake?
Both are demanding at altitude; Rainbow Mountain is higher (about 5,000 m) while Humantay is a steeper climb to about 4,200 m. Acclimatise before either.

Explore more in Cusco

Machu PicchuSacred ValleyRainbow MountainHumantay LakeCity ToursInca TrailDay Trips