Best of Cusco Region in 5 Days

✔ Discover Cusco beyond the postcards with hidden corners and vibrant markets
✔ Visit remote Andean communities and capture authentic moments of rural life
✔ Explore the incredible Maras Salt Mines and textile-rich Chinchero
✔ Witness sunrise at Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World
✔ Be welcomed by a Quechua family and photograph daily life and traditions
✔ Hike the lesser-known Rainbow Mountain of Palcoyo, away from the crowds
✔ Learn and practice portrait, landscape, and documentary photography with professional guidance
✔ Travel comfortably with all logistics covered—private transport, local guides, and curated experiences

💡 What Makes This Tour Unique?

This 5-day journey is designed for travelers who want to go deeper—photographers, creatives, and curious explorers looking to experience the authentic side of Peru, not just the iconic stops.

With a blend of culture, nature, and real connection, you’ll gain insight into the lives, stories, and beauty of the Sacred Valley, all while building a rich portfolio of images guided by a local expert photographer.

🧭 Tour Flow (Summary)

Day 1: Explore Cusco like a local with a flexible photo tour (you choose the light: sunrise, mid-morning, or golden hour).
Day 2: Visit Chinchero, Laguna Huaypo, and Maras Salt Mines, then take the scenic train to Aguas Calientes.
Day 3: Sunrise at Machu Picchu, then transfer to a charming hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Day 4: Full day in a Quechua community: market visit, school visit, lunch, portraits, landscapes, and Alpaca Blessing Ceremony.
Day 5: Early departure to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain for a peaceful hike and panoramic photography, returning to Cusco by the afternoon.

Note: Nights in Cusco before and after the tour are not included, as most guests are already staying in the city.

🌱 Giving Back

Each booking helps support the Quechua family and local school visited during the Faces of Peru day. A portion of profits goes directly to help with education, food, and supplies—making your trip meaningful for everyone involved.

✅ Included

✔ Private transport throughout (except shared train & bus to/from Machu Picchu)
✔ Entry tickets to all locations, including Machu Picchu
✔ Scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes
✔ 3 nights accommodation (double occupancy): Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley
✔ Breakfasts in hotels, plus lunches on Day 2,Day 4 and Day 5
✔ Local guide at Machu Picchu
✔ Photography guide on Days 1, 3, 4, and 5
✔ All cultural experiences and ceremonies

➕ Optional Add-Ons

➕ Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike
➕ Photographer guide to accompany you at Machu Picchu
➕ Single room supplement
➕ Hotel bookings in Cusco before/after the tour

🎒 What to Bring

✔ Clothing for all conditions – the Andes can be sunny, windy, and cold in one day
✔ Comfortable walking shoes (essential for markets, ruins, and mountain trails)
✔ Your photography gear: mid-range zoom, wide-angle, portrait lens, tripod, ND/CPL filters
✔ Headlamp for early starts
✔ An open mind and love for real travel

💰 Tour Prices

💲 Private Expedition (1 person) – $2690 USD
💲 2 people – $1630 USD per person (shared room)
💲 3+ people – $1490 USD per person (shared room)
📩 Traveling in a group or need custom arrangements? Reach out for special pricing.

📅 Ready to Capture the True Soul of Peru?

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.andeanphotoexpeditions.com

5 Reviews

Departure/Return Location

Cusco
Dress Code

Comfortable seasonal clothing & shoes
Included

Accommodation

Entrance Fees

Guide

Lunch

Photo Assistance

Transport
Not Included

Extras

Insurance

Local Flights

Meals

From our gallery

What you will see..

Tour Plan

1

DAY 1 - Cusco Photo Day Tour

The Cusco photo day tour is the only one that will take you to the touristic and non-touristic places of the Incan Capital. Visit unknown Incan streets, traditional markets, catacombs, and typical local places unexplored by the tourist masses. Get some photography tips from your guide, no matter if you use a phone or camera, and enjoy the real Cusco from a different perspective, through the eyes of a local photographer. The Guide can pick you up at your hotel: At 6 am, 9:30 am, or 1:30 PM depending on your light preference.

2

DAY 2 - Maras Mines and Andean Secrets

8h00 - Pick up from the hotel in Cusco and begin our drive into the Andes.

9h00 - Stop in Chinchero to pick up some local empanadas to eat later for lunch.

9h45 - Stop at our secret landscape location. Here we get an incredible view over the sacred valley and also if we are lucky, a chance to meet and photograph some of the local farmers and shepherds who work on these lands.

10h45 - Stop at a local textile market in Chinchero, where we get to learn about the textile process of dyeing and weaving and also can have full portrait sessions with the ladies there wearing local traditional clothes.

12h00 - Lunch at Laguna Huaypo, after lunch we can spend time shooting at this beautiful lake framed with huge mountains

13h00 - The Salineras de Maras, here you can find many opportunities for awesome photography, from small details to big landscapes and the locals seen working in this otherworldly place.

14h00 - Leave the Salineras and begin the drive to Ollantaytambo.

15h00 - Arrival in Ollantaytambo, from here we drop you off to take the scenic train to Aguas Calientes solo. Have no fear we will make all arrangements for your hotel and tour of the lost city of the Incas.

If however, you would like your photographer guide to attend with you to complement your visit to Machu Picchu let us know and we can provide this as an optional add-on as your local guide at the site will not be a photographer.

17h00 - Arrival in Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel, and have free time to relax and explore the town.

19h00 - Your local guide for the following morning will meet with you to brief you on an upcoming day (at the lobby of your hotel). Afterward, we recommend getting a good night’s sleep and getting ready for the following day.

3

DAY 3 - Sunrise at Machu Picchu

5h00 - An early start this morning to begin queuing for the bus up to the site of Machu Picchu.

6h00 - Gates open to the site, your guide will give you a 2h30 guided tour of the location. Once the tour is over you will be free to continue exploring some more if you like.

10h00 - Return from the site down to Aguas Calientes for some lunch and to relax a while.

- Hop on the train back to Ollantaytambo.

- Arrival in Ollantaytambo where we will be waiting to pick you up in our private transport and transfer you to a hotel right in the heart of the Sacred Valley, here we will be able to eat some dinner and relax for the evening.

4

DAY 4 - The Faces Of Peru Tour

7h00 - Time to get up and grab some breakfast at the hotel.

8h00 - Leave the hotel and make a quick stop in Calca to visit the central market, where we can buy a few things to take with us to the community.

10h00- Arrive in the community and meet with our hosts for the day.

11h00 - Visit the local school, meet, and spend time with the children there. Plenty of opportunities for great photos around the school.

12h00 - Return to our host’s home for lunch of homemade delicious local food and portrait sessions with the family, all wearing full traditional clothes.

13h30 - Visit lakes above town for landscape shots with some of the Quechua family members.

15h00 - Enjoy the beautiful Alpaca Blessing Ceremony.

16h30 - Begin drive back to your hotel

17h30 - Drop off at hotel.

5

DAY 5 - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

Your adventure to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain begins with an early 3:00 AM pick-up. We’re heading out at this time to ensure we’re among the first to arrive and experience the mountain in its full tranquility. Along the way, we’ll stop for a quick, light breakfast to fuel up. We plan to arrive at the site around 7:30 AM, where we’ll start a scenic 2-hour round-trip hike. You can take your time, and we’ll depart whenever you’re ready. Afterward, we’ll begin our drive back to Cusco, and if you’re feeling hungry, we can stop for brunch along the way

Tour Location

Discover Machu Picchu

More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450AD, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

10 Interesting Facts about Machu Picchu

10. In the Quechua Indian language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”

9. Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.

8. The compound contains more than 100 separate flights of stairs. Most of the individual staircases were carved from one slab of stone.

7. Although many of the stones that were used to build the city were more than 50 pounds, it is believed that no wheels were used to transport these rocks up the mountain. Rather, it is thought that hundreds of men pushed the heavy rocks up the steep mountain side.

6. Many different theories exist about Machu Picchu’s purpose—a royal estate and a secret ceremonial center among them.

5. The Incas were some of the best masons in the world. The structures were so well built with a technique called ashlar (stones that are cut to fit together without mortar) that not even a knife blade can fit in between stones.

4. Machu Picchu was only known locally until Yale Professor Hiram Bingham re-discovered the site in 1911. His book, The Lost City of the Incas, was based on his findings.

3. A long-standing dispute between Peru and Yale University has existed over the artifacts collected by Bingham during his exploration of the site. Yale maintains that they own the items while Peru insists they were given on loan.

2. Machu Picchu was an astronomical observatory, and its sacred Intihuatana stone accurately indicates the two equinoxes. Twice a year, the sun sits directly over the stone creating no shadow.

1. Unfortunately, most cities built by the Inca civilization were destroyed by the Spanish conquest. Machu Picchu was in a hidden location—invisible from below—and not found, making it one of the most well-preserved Inca cities and an archeological gem.

Tour Reviews

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Comments

spv2

18/02/2022

Andean Photo Expeditions definitely knows the trade secrets inside out. We had an amazing time shooting around Cusco. Highly recommend them!!

Overall Tour organization Destination Value for Money
Lene S

18/02/2022

Trustworthy travel provider
Dan is a warm and welcoming person who will do everything in his power to give you a great experience. Both Dan and the trip you will always remember as the best time in your life

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Jessa (California)

18/02/2022

Best part of my Peru trip!
I had an amazing day with Pedro on the Landscape/Portrait Workshop. The one on one workshop not only helps you to get the pictures you want, but to teach you how to get them. I am a pretty experienced photographer on my own back in the states, but going out with Pedro helped me to be better with landscapes and really capturing the portraits I wanted from Peru.
The tour takes you through a market in Cusco for breakfast and all the way through the Sacred Valley to capture the highlights.
Pedro was amazing, kind and fun!
I would highly recommend Andean Photo Expeditions if you are looking for an off the beaten path type of travel and a great way to experience your travel through the lens!

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DLC

05/01/2023

5 Days with this Company Wasn’t Enough
Nov 2019
If you’re not traveling with these guys, you’re doing Peru wrong. Not only are they incredible photographers, and not only do they know Peru inside and out, but they are genuinely a joy to be around. Informed, educational, helpful, and gracious. I can’t say enough good things about this company, and I certainly wouldn’t go back to Peru without their help.

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Marco

05/01/2023

Great trip
May 2022 • Solo
Traveling with Dan was pleasant, eventful and rich of personal experiences: this is twice as much remarkable for me, because I always travel alone, and like to plan my trip by myself. Dan has rare ‘people-skill’, both with the ‘locals’ (he can struck a pleasant conversation with anybody, get precious local information, and get accepted in everybody’s home when necessary) and with clients (he always there when you need him, and he discretely disappears when it is the time for you to have the space of a ‘personal’ experience, either with people in the street or with the beauty of the environment). These are the most important qualities for a guide. The trip organisation was seamless, and his personal attention to my satisfaction and enjoyment was heartwarming. His network – drivers, hotels, restaurants.. – is excellent, and everybody loves him. He has special connections with Peruvian people living in remote villages, he introduced me to some of them, and shared with the locals moments of their life. Priceless, for me. The destinations were all well selected, a special experience for each of them. I came back with lots of beautiful photos, and desire to be back soon.

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Best of Cusco Region in 5 Days