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Best experiences:

Hiram Bingham Train

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

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Bucket List Experience
A train winding through green mountains

One of the world’s most spectacular train rides, the journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu via the Sacred Valley combines dramatic landscapes and absolute luxury.

Adult price: £550

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 3 hours

Qorikancha

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

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Bucket List Experience
Exterior of Qorikancha in golden hour

The Inca empire’s most elaborate sun temple, covered in gold and silver, is now a colonial church housing stunning Inca stonework.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 18+

Sacsayhuaman

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

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Bucket List Experience
View of the Sacsayhuamán ruins, with mountains in the background

A vast, fortified Inca sun temple that perches over Cusco, housing boulders and masonry astonishingly jigsaw-pieced together, without cement or metal tools.

Adult price: £24

Best for ages 18+

Cusco Cathedral

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

Cusco Cathedral exterior on a clear day

Located on top of an old Inca palace, this towering 16th-century baroque cathedral took a century to build and is stuffed with countless treasures, including key works from the Cuzco School of art.

Adult price: £5

Festival of the Sun

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

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Bucket List Experience
Performers wearing traditional dress play instruments together on stage

Colourful parades and ancient Inca ceremonies are re-enacted at this world-famous winter solstice festival.

Best for ages 8+

Duration: 5 hours

When: 24th June

Frequency: annually

Hike from Cusco to Huchuy

Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru

A small village on a mountain covered in yellow grasses, with mountains in the background

This, the shortest and easiest of alternative Inca trails, takes three days from Cusco and offers wonderful mountain views, little-visited Inca sites and a final day at Machu Picchu itself.

Adult price: £4

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 3 days

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