5-Day Christmas in Cusco and Machu Picchu 2026

A guided visit to the Cathedral of Cusco and the Coricancha temple

At 09:30, enjoy the guided visit to the Cathedral of Cusco and the beautiful Inca temple of Coricancha. Today’s excursion is light to acclimatize to the Andes of Cusco.

EXPLORE: 

1. The Cathedral of Cusco, the Sagrada Familia the Capilla del Triunfo church, and the beautiful Andean canvases
2. The Coricancha Temple, the main temple of the Inca empire, contains rooms dedicated to the rainbow, lightning, sun, moon, etc.

Tour to Machu Picchu by train from the Ollantaytambo train station. Return to Cusco at night to continue celebrating Christmas.

At 05:00, we travel by private vehicle to the Ollantaytambo train station for about 1 hour and 40 minutes to board the train service that goes to Machu Picchu Pueblo (“1 hour and a half train trip”).

Once we arrive at Machu Picchu Pueblo, we board the bus service to the Machu Picchu ruins. “25-minute ride”: Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, visiting various Inca temples and offering fascinating panoramic views.

In the afternoon, we board the train back to the Ollantaytambo train station, then to Cusco. We return to Cusco at approximately 18:30 hrs.

NOTE: In the center of Cusco, in the main square, the Christmas Eve party takes place, where Cusqueños run through the square at midnight carrying a suitcase of “customs and traditions of Cusco.” Visitors can organize their Christmas Eve at any restaurant to celebrate the Inca Christmas.

Train schedule: Outbound Journey

• Train Company: PERURAIL
  • Travel route: Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo
  • Class: VISTADOME train Peru N° 301
  • Departure from Ollantaytambo: 7:05
    • At the station: 6:35
  • Arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo: 8:27

Train schedules: Inbound Journey

• Train Company: PERU-RAIL
  • Service: From Aguas Calientes, Peru, train station to Ollantaytambo
  • Class: EXPEDITION train Peru N° 74
  • Departure: 14:55
    • At the station: 14:25
  • Arrival at Ollantaytambo Train Station: 16:31
  • Arrival to Cusco by KONDOR PATH TOURS transport: 18:30

Indeed, they will have celebrated Christmas Eve until midnight in Cusco one day before, so today is free time in the morning! In the afternoon, enjoy the City Tour Cusco (4 ruins)

Just 10 minutes from the center of Cusco to the northwest and on the city’s outskirts, visit the beautiful megalithic construction of Sacsayhuaman! Continue exploring the sacred Inca plazas of Qenqo with their underground passages and views of the landscape towards Cusco.

The penultimate Inca ruin is Puca Pucara, or the Red Fortress, where the Incas controlled the people and agricultural products from the Sacred Valley in Inca times. Finally, enjoy a 10-minute walk to the Tambomachay Inca Water Temple to make a wish to Mother Nature, represented in Tambomachay.

Explore: The tour starts at 1:30 p.m.

• Sacsayhuaman Inca ruins
• Qenqo ruins
• Puca Pucara
• Tambomachay

Explore the enchanting Sacred Valley of Cusco and visit incredible Inca ruins.

It is a fascinating tourist circuit through the Sacred Valley of the Incas by vehicle, with some minimal short walks. All the photographic angles of the Sacred Valley stand out for the presence of the Andes of Cusco and their eternal glaciers.

Visit the Inca complex of Pisac, which has its exuberant Inca terrace systems built on different parts of the great Pisac mountain. In the colonial town of Pisac, we have some free time to search for Andean souvenirs made locally by the families of Pisac.

The two ruins of Ollantaytambo and Chinchero highlight the Inca walls, which contain magnificent temples preserved today, such as the temple of the sun, the terrace system, and the colonial churches. We return to Cusco by the Chinchero road.

Visit: The tour starts at 8:00 a.m.

1. Pisac Inca ruins
2. The Colonial Pisac Indian Market
3. Ollantaytambo
4. Chinchero

Lunch: Buffet lunch

Return to Cusco via Cachimayo.

Galloping to the Rainbow Mountain of Cusco

In recent years, the Rainbow Mountain Circuit has become an essential destination after Machu Picchu; if you are in Cusco, you must visit Vinicunca. We left the colorful tourist circuit for the last day because of the elevation of the Andes. After several excursions to Cusco and Machu Picchu, your body gradually adapts to the Andes, so we left the adventure for Rainbow Mountain on the last day. Enjoy the incredible panoramic views from the top of Rainbow Mountain in splendor.

• Beginning of the vehicular trip: 05:00 “3 hours of travel”
• Start of the Rainbow Adventure: At Llactoc, 4,900 meters (16,076 feet)
• Distance: 7 km/ 4.3 miles
  • By horse: 50 minutes (One-way service for ascending on horseback)
  • By Foot to the summit after the horse tour: 19 minutes
  • Hike downhill to the private car for an easy 35 minutes with a nice view.
• Summit: 5,100 meters (16,732 feet).
• Lunch: Box lunch.
• Return to Cusco: Between 15:00 and 16:30