Top Cusco Outdoor Activities

Peru’s Sacred Valley lies in the Andean Highlands—a landscape of rugged mountains, open plains, and soaring cliffs—and reaching the remote sites is a challenge. Choose a morning or afternoon half-day safari, and tackle the rough ground by powerful all-terrain quad bike. With your guide to lean the way, reach historic sites including Moray and Maras with ease, enjoy sweeping views across the Peruvian countryside, and learn of life here under Incan rule.

Embark on a thrilling outdoor adventure that combines white-water rafting with zip-lining and satisfies your need for speed. Depart Cusco for Oropesa, where you can ease your butterflies with a bite of the town's iconic bread before hitting the Vilcanota River. Tackle Class III and IV rapids and battle intense waves as you make your way downstream, enjoying the remarkable scenery of the surrounding Andes as you go. Afterward, soar through the sky on an exhilarating zip ride.

Travel for a few hours from Cusco through the rugged mountain countryside of Peru to reach the aptly named Rainbow Mountain, striped with colorful mineral deposits and located far off the beaten path. Hike with a guide to the summit for a once-in-a-lifetime wilderness adventure, or rent a horse (own expense) for easier access to the same incredible views.

The tour is one of our exclusive and innovative products to the mountain of colors. Instead of walking for two hours uphill we change it for the adventure of driving the ATVs until we reach near the mountain of colors, this tour is a complete adventure for a completely different experience in the visit to Vinincunca.

Get a taste for Peru’s high-alpine scenery and ancient Inca customs during this full-day hike to Lake Humantay from Cusco. Ascend to this scenic body of water located at 13,779 feet (4,200 meters), learning about its sacred place in Inca mythology during your climb. An included buffet lunch back at base camp is an added bonus.

Maximize your adventure during your trip to Machu Picchu as you enjoy this 4-day, 3-night trip packed with fun activities like biking, ziplining and rafting. Choose an alternative to the typical Inca Trail hiking paths, enjoying a jungle bike ride, rafting trip on Classs III and IV rapids and Peru’s first canopy-level zipline. Cap it all off with a chance to explore the famous Inca citadel at Machu Picchu in the first light of day and with a guided tour of the site. This adventure-lover’s experience also features hotel pickup, three nights of guesthouse accommodations, guide, bus and train transfers, three days of meals and snacks, entrance fees and all necessary biking, ziplining and rafting equipment.

Moray archaeological park and the Maras salt mines rank among the top attractions outside Cusco, with a history dating back to the days of the Incas. On this tour, hit the gas and zoom through the Peruvian countryside, and explore both sites in one day—with safety kit plus pickup and drop-off at your Cusco accommodation included. With your guide to lead the way, enjoy outdoor adventure in Peru and learn how the Incas worked the land.

Explore local Andean communities and ancient Inca ruins in the countryside outside Cusco during this horseback riding adventure. Learn about the daily rhythms of local life, observing farming techniques along with alpaca and sheep herding as you pass these tiny districts. You also discover Inca temples, soaking up the ancient energy of these spiritual sites, and visit the ‘Devil’s Balcony,’ a natural cave once used as an Inca shrine. Your horseback ride near Cusco also includes a guide, horseback riding gear, snacks and water, and round-trip transport from your hotel to the ranch.

Trace the path of the original Inca Trail during an unforgettable 4-day, 3-night trip along this classic road to Machu Picchu. Follow the footsteps of this ancient people as you cross mountain terrain and lush jungles and explore fascinating Inca ruins like Wiñay Wayna, hiking toward the ‘Lost City of the Incas.’ On your final day, wake up early to reach Machu Picchu's iconic Sun Gate at sunrise, watching the first rays of light creep across the landscape. Then spend the morning exploring this incredible mountaintop archaeological site with your guide. This classic Inca Trail trek also features hotel pickup, camping accommodations, bus and train transfers, entrance fees, three days of meals and snacks and porters to carry shared equipment.

Set out on a hiking and biking adventure to Machu Picchu with this four-day, three-night tour along the Inca Trail. Explore archeological ruins, bike downhill for 60 kilometers, and admire mountain landscapes during the tour. On the final morning, see Machu Picchu at sunrise and set out on a guided tour of the site. Hotels and meals are included. 

Avoid the crowded tour buses on this day trip to one of the most popular natural attractions in the Cusco area. Ride in the comfort of private transportation out to Rainbow Mountain, stopping for an included breakfast and lunch, and learn about the history and culture of the region from your informative guide as you go.

Trek through the Andes to the azure waters of Humantay Lake on this full-day trek from Cusco. Learn about the importance of the lagoon to the Inca people who originally inhabited the area through a guide's commentary. See local flora and fauna on a hike through the valleys around the lake and enjoy lunch before returning to Cusco.

If you are looking for an adventure on your way to Machu Picchu at an unbeatable price, on a train with all the onboard comfort, the PeruRail Expedition train has just what you need. The train cars of the PeruRail Expedition train are steeped in the designs of Incan culture, the perfect way to start your trip to the Machu Picchu citadel. The PeruRail Expedition gives you the chance to take in the unbelievable scenery and take incredible panoramic pictures of a journey unlike any other. You will be waited on by a highly-trained staff member for the duration of your trip. Additionally, you will be able to enjoy a Food and Beverage service for sale, where you will find a wide variety of top quality products. You can find the catalogue here. Departures are scheduled everyday, with a variety of schedules and frequencies.

Unique adventure tour in the place, the tour can be done with a little experience in ATVs or similar, you can enjoy unique landscapes and animals of the place that are llamas and alpacas and in the end you get a great view of the popular Mountain of colors, we are one of the first groups to reach a mountain of colors, the ATV tour is aimed at all people who want to feel more in touch with nature and reach a mountain of colors without much effort, the walk takes us alone 45 minutes to reach mountain of colors.

Nestled high in the Peruvian Andes, Rainbow Mountain—or Mt. Vinicunca—attracts visitors keen to admire its vibrant mineral-rich colorations, but reaching the remote peak by public transport is a challenge. On this full-day tour, spin through Quessiuno to Rainbow Mountain with round-trip travel from central Cusco included, and tackle the mountainous sandstone terrain with your guide. Enjoy panoramic views over the Andean landscapes, with breakfast and lunch included.

Rainbow Mountain is the second most visited place in Peru After Machu Picchu, so its too Crowded because everyone goes in the morning, some groups are leaving Cusco by 3 am trying to be the first ones at the top before big groups arrives. you don`t need to wake up at 3 am on your vacation, that is why we are the only ones going in the afternoon, once everyone at the view point is gone, we arrive there and will have all the mountains only for us, without queuing to take pictures. We really warrant you a unique experience.

Only recently discovered, Rainbow Mountain has become one of the main attractions to visit in Peru for all travellers and locals.

Explore ancient Inca archaeological sites in the countryside outside Cusco during this 2.5-hour horseback riding adventure. Visit the Inca sites of Chuspiyoc, the Temple of the Moon and X Zone (Lanlacuyoc) during your ride, learning about the history of this once-thriving civilization and soaking up the ancient energy of these mystical structures. Your horseback ride near Cusco also includes a guide, horseback riding gear, muleteer to watch the horses, snacks and water and round-trip transport from your hotel to the ranch where you’ll start your ride.

This 1-day tour allows you to enjoy majestic landscapes, snowy peaks, and up to 7 colorful lagoons, including at the end a visit to the Pacchanta hot springs. During this circuit you can explore some native communities, ornaments and colorful textiles, the natural habitat of llamas and alpacas, and share the experience of living around one of the highest and most beautiful mountains of the American continent. This tour is perfect for those who wish to get away from busy roads and experience an authentic place in this beautiful country.

Discover Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas aboard a 4WD ATV. Set out from Cusco to Cruz Pata, where you'll hop onto your off-road vehicle and head into the countryside, navigating muddy paths and mountain trails to reach Moray—an Inca archaeology site featuring enormous circular ruins once used for agriculture. Spend some time exploring before continuing your adventure to the Salineras, an impressive series of salt mines at the bottom of a towering canyon. It's a whole new way to experience the Andean highlands.

Skip crowded tour buses and less-than-exciting driving tours in lieu of a fun and invigorating horseback ride to the four biggest archaeological sites on the outskirts of Cusco. Saddle up for a ride to the ruin complexes at Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, Qenqo, and Sacsayhuaman, taking in views of the beautiful surrounding landscape between destinations.

Most hikers come to Cusco to trek to Machu Picchu, but for a thrilling day hike, there is nowhere quite like the Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca. Set out on a challenging full-day hike through mountain valleys, Quechan villages, and herds of alpaca; tuck into a delicious breakfast and lunch along the way; and enjoy spectacular views of the multi-colored topography.

Hike to Rainbow Mountain on a 2-day, small-group trip from Cusco that includes a night of camping high in the Andes. Following part of the dramatic Ausangate Circuit trail on your way to Rainbow Mountain, this 2-day hike is a great way to experience the gorgeous Andean landscape at its most pristine, with time to star gaze and relax after crowds of day-hikers have returned to Cusco.

This  tour is the best way to explore the hiden places in Sacsayhuaman archeological park, this impresive place is located 15 min  away from Cusco city.  All the regular tours takes just a few minutes to visit only the big walls, but you need almost 3 to 4 hours to visit this archeologycal park on a good way, there are lots of hiden places that the tourists don't go on a regular way, for example the "Devil's Balcony" (Caves made by the incas), the "Temple of The Moon" an ancient inca temple used for rituals for fertility, the "Inca Face" a natural shape on the nature that was considered sacred by the incas.  If you love to explore and learn on a curious way about the incas, this is the best option for you! .