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Plan your trip like a local
Honest, up-to-date guides written by our team in Cusco — altitude, timing, routes, packing and everything in between. No fluff, just what actually helps.
Featured The best time to visit Machu Picchu, month by month
Machu Picchu is open year-round, and every season has its own character. The short version: May and September are the sweet spot. Here is what to expect.
Before you go
Before you go What to pack for the Andes: a Cusco packing list
Packing right makes every Cusco trip easier — from a rainy-season day tour to a five-day high-altitude trek. Here's what we…
Altitude How to acclimatize in Cusco (and avoid soroche)
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m / 11,150 ft — higher than most travelers have ever slept. Altitude sickness (soroche) is common but…
Planning How hard is each Cusco trek? Difficulty, explained
“Moderate” or “challenging” can mean very different things at 4,000 metres. Here's what our difficulty levels really mean, how…
Machu Picchu
At the citadel Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or Huchuy Picchu: which to climb?
Your Machu Picchu ticket lets you add one extra summit for a bird's-eye view over the citadel — but the three options differ a…
Tickets How Machu Picchu tickets and trains actually work
Visiting Machu Picchu takes three separate things: an entrance ticket, a train and a bus. They sell out in high season and each…
Treks & permits
Treks Inca Trail vs Salkantay: which trek is right for you?
The two classic multi-day routes to Machu Picchu are very different experiences. Here is how to choose.
Inca Trail Inca Trail permits: how they work and when they sell out
The classic Inca Trail is the one trek to Machu Picchu that needs a government permit — and they're strictly limited,…
Regions & culture
Rainbow Mountain Rainbow Mountain guide: Vinicunca vs Palcoyo
The striped, technicolour peaks near Cusco are a bucket-list day trip — but they sit above 4,900 m, so they need respect.…
Amazon The Amazon from Cusco: Manu vs Tambopata
After the Andes, the rainforest is the perfect contrast — warm, green and teeming with life. From Cusco there are two great…
Culture Llama vs alpaca: how to tell them apart in Peru
You'll meet both on almost every Cusco trip. They're cousins, but easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.
Still have questions?
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