Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
Get out of Cusco as quickly as you can! OK, that needs to be explained. Cusco is one of the highest altitudes you'll spend time at, and if you start there, you'll miss out on any chance to get used to the thin air. It could hit you like a brick. That's not going to be the case for everyone, but why take chances?
My daughter and I took the 11am flight to Cusco (after overnighting in Lima), and had a driver pick us up directly from the airport and take us to Ollantaytambo, stopping off along the way at Chinchero along the way. Next day we did the local stuff, including the salt ponds and later got dropped off at the train station for the trip to Machu Picchu. Spent the night at Machu Picchu, the next day exploring the place, then caught the 5pm train back to Ollantaytambo. Next day saw the local ruins. By the time we made it back to Cusco, the altitude wasn't an issue at all.
So whatever time you wish to spend at Cusco, do so at the end.