Day 1: Cusco

We took a “tour for tips” starting at 10am every day from the main square, in front of KFC (look for the red T-shirt). The guide (talking english) lead you to Pizarro house, San Francisco place, calle Loreto with the Lama and Alpaca market, Coricancha, calle Hatunrumiyoc (with it huge rocks) and San Blas mirador.

After this 2h tour we went to San Pedro market where you can eat for 7 soles and buy whatever you need. We also visited Coricancha (10 soles) and enjoyed San Cristobal mirador for the sunset.

Where to eat in Cusco?
– San Pedro Market
– Calle Loreto (small restaurant with local food)
– San Blas in the Aura, or Chakruna terrasse

Transports from Cusco:
– Colectivo to Tambu Machay (2 soles, 20min) and to Pisaq (5 soles, 45min): Calle Puputi or avenida Qollasuyu (above the Mercado de Rosaspata)
– Colectivo to Ollantaytanbo (10 soles, 1h): Calle Pavitos
– Colectivo to Chinchero (4 soles, 30min): Calle Jiron 21 de Mayo
– Bus to Piquillacta (3 soles, 45min): Avenida Huayruropata, terminal Cusco-Sicuani

Boleto Turistico:

You will need it if you want to visit the region. You can buy it at the entrance of each site (except el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo y Monumento de Pachacutec) or at Municipalidad del Cusco located Avenida del Sol. You must present it every time (better have a copy of your ID also).

You have 2 kind of tickets:
– Full: 130 soles including all the 16 sites and museums (available 10 days)
– Partial: 70 soles (available 1 or 2 days) with 3 packs available: Visit the sites around Cusco OR Visit the museums, Pikillacta and Tipon OR Visit the Sacred Valley
Not included: Coricancha (15 soles), Museo Inka (10 soles), Salineras de Maras (10 soles)
> More info on their website

Note: The Museo de Qorikancha and museo de Arte popular were closed.

Tours: If you don’t have time you can take a group tour to visit in one day Chinchero, Moray, Salineras de Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisaq (around 70 soles with a guide and lunch).

Where to take colectivo from Cusco to Tambomachay:
Calle Puputi or avenida Qollasuyu (above the Mercado de Rosaspata) – 5 soles

Note: Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q’enqo and Sacsayhuaman are included in the full boleto turistico but also in a partial one. The rest of sites were free!

Tambomachay

Puka Pukara

Chuspiyoq

Chukimarka

Templo de la Luna

Inkill Tanbo

To go to Pisaq you need to take a colectivo avenida Qollasuyu (above the Mercado de Rosaspata). It costs 5 soles and leaves you in 40min at the entrance of Pisaq. From there you have taxis which take you up to the ruins (we paid 25 soles).

Careful with the time as the road is closing during some slots:

Where to take the colectivo from Cusco to Ollantaytambo:
Calle Pavitos (10 soles)
Where to sleep in Ollantaytambo: El Legado (30 soles for a double room with private bathroom)
Where to eat: 2nd floor of the market (especially for breakfast!)

Day 6: Maras, Moray, Urubamba

From Ollantaytambo we took a colectivo to Urubamba (2,5 soles – 30min from Calle Hilloc). At the same terminal we took a colectivo to Maras (usually 3 soles) and the driver offered to bring us to Moray laboratory, wait for us and leave us at the walking path from Maras to the salineras. We paid 45 soles for this plan. Moray is not so big, we passed around 40min there.

From Maras you have a nice (and easy) walk to do starting north of Calle Jesus. It leads you after 4km to the salineras where you no longer can walk into this labyrinth of baths but only appreciate them on Miradors. Entrance fee is 10 soles.

We walked again 3km until Tarabamba where we took a colectivo to go back to Urubamba to enjoy a nice fruit juice on the 2nd floor of the famous market.

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Back from the Machu Picchu we slept at Ollantaytambo and took a colectivo in the morning to Urubamba (2,5 soles). At the terminal we took a bus to Cusco (4 soles) and stopped at Chinchero.

We arrived during the mass on Sunday. The church built on top of an Inca temple is really amazing. The terrasses outside and the « wakas » stood there.

After 40min walking around the site we’ve been to the market where we tasted a chicha made with fermented corn. We took a colectivo to go back to Cusco (4 soles).

Day 9: Museums in Cusco

With the Boleto Turistico you have included the entrance of the Museo historico regional about the region of Cusco, the Museo de Arte contemporaneo and the monument of Pachacutec. We only visited the regional museum and preferred to visit the Inka Museum (entrance not included in the Boleto Turistico: 10 soles).

Where to stay in Cusco?
Posada Azul where Vanessa and Peter will receive you in their beautiful place with nice terrasse! (we paid 40 soles for a double room with private bathroom)