If you have been dreaming of going to Peru, especially in the Cusco area but are limited on time, please read below to see what are the MUST SEE places you cannot miss and you can do on short time. The sites below are all accessible within reasonable distance from Cusco.
1. Machu Picchu
Obviously, Machu Picchu is one Peruvian site you cannot miss if you come to the country, especially in the Cusco area. You can read here my article on how to visit Machu Picchu in one day.
2. Salt Mines - Salineras de Maras
The Salt Mines were on my Peruvian highlight after Machu Picchu. The salt water comes naturally from the springs and are held into square shaped ponds. The salt is then collected from evaporation and as of today, there are still 3,000 ponds being harvested. It is an impressive scenery that you may not see anywhere else and is not yet (hopefully never) industrialised. You can buy salt bags from the Maras to bring home. This site can easily be visited in half a day.
3. Rainbow Mountain - Montaña de 7 Colores (Vinicunca)
Rainbow Mountain is accessible for a day-trip from Cusco. Starting at 4,326m and reaching the end of your hike at 5,200m above sea level, it is a very challenging hike. If you are not used to the altitude, you will get sick very easily and out of breath in a matter of minutes. I recommend that you bring coca tea (or leaves) with you and some altitude pills that you can buy in your home country or in Cusco. I personally saw a young child losing consciousness so make sure you are in your best physical condition before hiking. Guides will have oxygen bottles with them but please take your time and let them know if you are feeling dizzy. You be wearing active wear as you will sweat along the hike, but remember that at this altitude, it will be freezing cold to start with so layer up. The view at the top of Rainbow Mountain is simply stunning, although the whole hike is beautiful. Sit there and take your time.
Note: There are horses available for those who wish to speed up their hike or cannot physically walk it. I honestly do not recommend supporting this business for ethical reasons - the horses do this journey back and forth hundreds of time per day and are just exhausted. A lot of them did not look healthy and bare in mind that for the last 15-20mn hike, the horses do not take you to the top.
4. The Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is the only Inca town where there are still inhabitants living there in the old ruins. It is a beautiful ancient town and you can go up to the Temple of Sun. Once at the top, you have a panoramic view on the whole valley. Still today, the old built canals bring water to the city. Even if you are not interested in the ruins or the architecture, the site is worth visiting just for the view you get from the top. Ollantaytambo is part of the Inca Trail, and you can also hop on the train for Machu Picchu from here.
5. Moray Ruins
The terraces you can see from the picture were used by the Incas for agricultural purposes so that seeds could develop despite the harsh climate and high altitude. The Moray Ruins are often visited in combination with the Maras (see 2) as the two sites are close to each other. Both sites can be visited for a day-trip from Cusco.
Pro tips:
- get a 'Boleto Turistico del Cusco' (Cusco tourist ticket), which gives you access to 16 attractions/sites for 10 consecutive days; you will need a ticket to enter most of the archaeological site so this is handy to have and costs 130 soles or 70 soles with a valid student ID
- if you can avoid rushed tours, take your time (e.g. self-drive); however, it is recommended that you have a guide, an audio-guide or paper guide to get a better understanding of the sites you are visiting
- we booked a 5 days / 4 nights tour with Incari Travel, which included all the above sites (and more), transportation, entrance tickets, hotel and some meals
This was the most convenient as we basically just had to show up and had everything ready for us. The guide in Ollantaytambo was not so knowledgeable but our Machu Picchu guide was amazing and spoke slowly for us to follow.
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