Cusco · 3-DAY EXPERIENCES
18 reviewed
This is the shortlist we would hand a friend landing in Cusco. 15 3-day experiences worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict, and the one thing to know before you commit.
Three days in Peru’s Tambopata rainforest with a 35-meter canopy zipline, river caimans, Lake Sandoval wildlife, and clay licks.
“The guided tour, the guide and the flexibility it offered. The overall experience!”
3-day Salkantay trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu with camp and hotel nights, guided pass crossing, meals, train, and entry.
“Absolutely memorable experience across the Andes, admiring stunning nature, pushing physical limits, and just having so much fun. The three days are very intense and not appropriate for those who conduct a very sedentary life but it's something you'll remember forever. The trekking part was exceptional, maybe the cultural and informational one could be slightly improved. Also you will not sleep much!”
Eco Jungle 3D/2N from Puerto Maldonado: small-group Tambopata, Monkey Island, Sandoval Lake boat ride, canopy views. $240 pp.
“Had really great time during this tour, the arrangements of the tour is good, not too tired also did a lot of things, our tour guide he is really knowledgeable with a lot of experience which is so fascinating, the food was surprisingly nice, ppl who wanna hotel level stay might find the lodge very basic, but it’s very nice for me as we stay in the real natural and it got mosquito net.”
Cusco to Machu Picchu in 3 days via Sacred Valley and the Short Inca Trail, with train, guided visits, and sunrise at the citadel.
“I hesitated about the score for this activity between 3 and 4 stars. You'll read and understand why.”
3 days in Tambopata from Puerto Maldonado, with Sandoval Lake giant otters, a night caiman safari, canopy hikes, and great lodge food.
“Great food and clean accommodations. Very easy pick up and drop off from the airport and all the transportation went very smoothly. We had wonderful weather and did everything on the itinerary. We saw plenty of birds monkeys Caymans. All in all was a very great experience. Would recommend to anyone who wants to get a taste of the Amazon without anything to extreme. Beware though the treetop hike is quite high if you have a fear of heights!”
3-day private eco tour from Cusco to Manu: river boats, cloud forest birds, parrot clay licks, rafts, night walks, and solar charging.
“We had the best time with Alex! He’s not only super fun and easy to be around, but also incredibly knowledgeable and caring. He has a real gift for finding animals — we saw so much more than we ever expected thanks to him. You can tell hRead more”
Sandoval Lake wildlife, Tambopata’s colorful parrot clay lick, canopy views, and night walks, staying at MonteAmazonico Lodge for 3 days.
“All ran really smoothly. Samuel was a great guide, obviously the jungle is his passion and you could feel this throughout. He was knowledgeable and informative. Really lovely guy. The lodge was nice, small pool to cool off in and clean. Food was good, lots of it. Activities were well planned.”
Trek Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain from Cusco in 3 days, 2 nights, with passes, camping gear, and early Vinicunca views.
“Wow, wow, wow. This was one of the best, if not THE best, treks of my life. First off, the service from Nestor (my guide), Avelino (the muleteer/horseman), and Heber (the mountain chef) were phenomenal. They worked so hard every single day to provide an amazing experience - planning each day's route, setting up and tearing down campsites, cooking - all while doing the trek themselves.”
Sandoval Lake 3 days, 2 nights near Puerto Maldonado: jungle walks, boat time, monkey island, night caimans, bilingual guide.
“It‘s good value for money, the lodge is nice and the food authentic. I also enjoyed the organization, since there were many groups no place felt overcrowded since different groups were on different activities. However, we were very unlucky with our guide. His English was not really good, leading to questions that remained unanswered as they were not understood. The knowledge was also basic since animals were described like „this is a black caiman because it is not white, it is black“. Communication could also be improved in general, like a detailed description of the activities here and a clear timetable in order to book flights accordingly. Pick up and…”
3-day Manu National Park tour from Cusco with Basical Hostel, boat rides on the Alto Madre de Dios, and wildlife walks.
“Tour ben organizzato! Abbiamo visto il parco del Manu ….guida molto disponibile. Il nostro gruppo era formato da 4 persone 2 italiani e 2 francesi: una guida, un autista, un cuoco. Abbiamo fatto passeggiate mattutine notturne con canoe zattere e abbiamo visto tantissimi uccelli, scimmie fiori piante ….inoltre una ragazza e un ragazzo ci hanno fatto fare lo zip Line. Grazie Silver e staff Consigliatissimo”
3-day all-inclusive Manu Jungle tour from Cusco: cloud forest, Amazon lodge stays, Paucartambo culture, parrot clay lick, night walk.
“Our Guide Zero was absolutely fantastic! He found animals and birds the other guides didn't. He was amazing, with so much knowledge. The first lodge was not so pretty on the outside, but functional, the second lodge was in the middle of nowwhere, accessible only with a boat with butterflies and birds. The road there is fairly scary, but the drivers good. Food was good too. It was alot of driving, but really well worth it! Thoroughly recommend it.”
3 days from Cusco into Peru’s Manu jungle: cloud forest walks, oxbow lakes, boat trips, wildlife spotting, and 2 nights lodging.
“The tour was a lot of fun! It was challenging but not overwhelming and the guide was very nice and knew a lot. In the evenings we also enjoyed sitting together and talking about all sorts of things. The lodge is beautifully situated and the rooms and beds were equipped with Miskito protection. The food was typical of the country and very tasty. This tour was one of our highlights here on our trip to Peru.”
3 days from Cusco into Manu National Park for cloud-forest wildlife, coca and rescue visits, kayaking, and the parrot clay lick.
“Taking the three-day tour to Manu National Park was one of the best decisions of my trip to Peru. From the very beginning, the organization was impeccable: the punctual pickup in Cusco, the comfortable and safe transportation, and the warmth with which our guide greeted us made all the difference. During these three days, we were able to explore the Manu cultural zone, a perfect gateway to the Amazon. The landscape is simply breathtaking: rushing rivers, endless forests, and a biodiversity that never ceases to amaze. We walked along trails surrounded by lush vegetation, listening to birdsong and the murmur of the jungle, and we were fortunate enough to observe…”
Cusco in 3 days with a small-group city tour, a 4:00 am Rainbow Mountain trek to Vinincunca, and a train to Machu Picchu.
Private 3-day Tambopata jungle tour from Puerto Maldonado. Lake Sandoval boat row, parrot clay lick sunrise, caiman safari, zipline.
“Our experience was great. The activities were very interesting and we were amazed by all the stuff we were able to see. Our guide Jersey was very knowledgeable and was able to spot animals around us which we could not. The only small downfall was that his english was sometimes a bit hard to understand. The accommodation was very comfortable, with a canopy walk we could use anytime, hammocks on the terrace, free water, tea and coffee, all surrounded by jungle with lots of animals around. The beds were comfy and equipped with mosquito nets. The food was very good. The stuff went above and beyond to take care of…”
