Private Helicopter Tours: Cusco & Sacred Valley
Private helicopter charters over Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Rainbow Mountain.
A private helicopter charter covers in minutes what would otherwise take hours by road — the Sacred Valley’s terraced hillsides, the geometric salt pools of Maras, the mineral ridges of Rainbow Mountain, all viewed from an altitude no bus route can reach. This isn’t a scheduled group tour: it’s a chartered Airbus AS350 B3, departing from Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, flying whichever of five routes you choose, with no fixed departure groups and no shared cabin.
Each route is priced as a private charter rather than per person, and capacity is capped at 4 passengers per flight (400 kg combined weight limit) — genuinely exclusive by design, not by marketing language. Flights run seasonally, April through December, when Andean weather conditions are most consistently favorable for safe operation.
| 💰 From | $5,800 USD per charter (Humantay & Salkantay route, up to 4 passengers) |
| ⏱️ Duration | 15-60 minutes flight time, depending on route |
| ⛰️ Cruising altitude | Varies by route — roughly 3,400 m over Cusco up to 5,000+ m near Rainbow Mountain |
| 🚶 Physical level | None — a seated, panoramic flight |
| 📅 Season | April–December |
| 👥 Group size | 1-4 passengers per helicopter (400 kg combined weight limit) |
| 🎂 Minimum age | All ages — minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian |
| ✈️ Aircraft | Airbus H125 / AS350 B3 |
Five private helicopter routes, each covering ground that would take hours by road. – Fly the Cusco circuit, over the city and Sacsayhuaman, in just 15 minutes. – See the Maras Salt Mines and Moray’s terraces from directly above. – Cover the full Sacred Valley — Pisac to Sacsayhuaman — in a single hour-long flight. – Approach Rainbow Mountain’s mineral ridges from an angle no trail offers. – Take in Humantay, Soraypampa, and Salkantay’s glacier peaks together. This is the Private Helicopter Tours experience, start to finish.
Most ways to see the Sacred Valley involve a full day on winding mountain roads. A helicopter charter compresses that into a single flight — sweeping views of terraced hillsides, salt pools, and Inca ruins from an altitude and angle no ground tour can match, with a professional pilot providing live commentary throughout.
Every route departs from Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport and operates as a genuinely private charter: no shared cabin, no fixed group size beyond the aircraft’s own capacity, and a flight path built around the route you choose rather than a scheduled circuit shared with other passengers. It’s designed for travelers who value both the scenery and the exclusivity — a corporate retreat, a special-occasion flight, or simply a different way to see terrain most visitors only experience from a bus window.
One clarification worth making upfront: Machu Picchu itself is not among the available routes. Flights are prohibited within the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary and its buffer zone, so no helicopter route — from any operator — can fly directly over the citadel.
Before your flight:
During your flight:
After your flight:
What you’ll see: Cusco’s historic center from above, and Sacsayhuaman’s megalithic terraces, all within a short, comfortable flight — a good introduction to aerial sightseeing or a quick add-on for travelers with limited time.
What you’ll see: Cusco City, the Piuray Lagoon, the geometric salt pools of the Maras Salt Mines, Moray’s concentric agricultural terraces, the Huaypo Lagoon, and Sacsayhuaman — a compact but genuinely comprehensive Sacred Valley overview.
What you’ll see: The most complete route on offer — Cusco City, Pisac, the Piuray Lagoon, the Maras Salt Mines, Moray, the Huaypo Lagoon, and Sacsayhuaman, covering the Sacred Valley’s core landmarks in a single continuous flight.
What you’ll see: Tipón, Pikillacta, Cusco’s South Valley, and the mineral-striped ridges of Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) — an approach angle that reveals the full scale of the mountain’s color bands in a way no ground-level trail can.
What you’ll see: North Cusco, the Limatambo Valley, Mollepata, Soraypampa, Humantay Lake’s turquoise waters, and the glaciated peak of Salkantay — the catalog’s most mountain-focused route, taking in terrain that would otherwise require a multi-day trek to reach.
Easy
A helicopter covers in under an hour what a ground tour takes a full day to reach, from an altitude and angle no road route offers — genuinely private, with no shared cabin or fixed group.
No — flights are prohibited within the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary and its buffer zone, for every operator, not just ours.
Up to 4, with a combined passenger weight limit of 400 kg (~880 lbs) for the Airbus AS350 B3.
Per charter — the listed rate covers the full flight for up to 4 passengers, not per individual traveler.
The Sacred Valley Scenic Flight covers the most ground in a single hour, touching Pisac, Maras, Moray, and Sacsayhuaman — the best overview if you can only book one route.
The limit applies to combined group weight (400 kg total), so please let us know passenger weights in advance to confirm your group fits within that threshold.
Rather than cancelling outright, we reschedule to the nearest day with safe flying conditions — Andean weather can shift quickly, and safety takes priority over the original schedule.
Yes, all ages are welcome, but any minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Cancellations 72+ hours before departure incur a 50% penalty; within 72 hours, the penalty is 100% of the agreed rate.
Yes — all routes can be customized on request; contact our team in advance to arrange specific modifications.
It’s not included, but given the nature of helicopter travel, we recommend arranging personal travel insurance separately.
Comfortable clothing without loose accessories that could interfere with boarding, plus a light jacket and sunglasses for the flight itself.
Each route is priced as a full private charter for up to 4 passengers — not per traveler. Combined passenger weight is capped at 400 kg (~880 lbs).
| Route | Duration | Price per Charter (up to 4 passengers) |
|---|---|---|
| Humantay & Salkantay Flight Route | ~60 min | $5,800 USD |
| Maras & Moray Aerial Circuit | ~30 min | $8,350 USD |
| Sacred Valley Scenic Flight | ~60 min | $8,450 USD |
| Rainbow Mountain Helicopter Experience | Varies | $8,550 USD |
The 15-minute Cusco City Circuit is available on request — contact us for current pricing. All routes can be customized upon request. Rates are subject to change, communicated 30 days in advance.
Private Helicopter Tours Cusco
Helicopter Tours Sacred Valley Cusco
Helicopter Tours Sacred Valley Cusco
