5-Day Cusco and Machu Picchu Tour with Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Enjoy the Sacred Valley of the Incas
• 02 Witness Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
• 03 Explore Machu Picchu's Main Plaza, Sun Temple, Sacred Sundial, and Royal Quarters
• 04 Check out the Temple of the Three Windows and cemeteries in Machu Picchu

Explore the magical Machu Picchu on this 5-day adventurous tour through Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. Discover ancient temples and important Inca sites, including the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, and other highlights of Machu Picchu. Wander through the Sacred Valley, visiting Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo along the way. Wrap up the journey with a scenic hike to the top of Rainbow Mountain for breathtaking views of the Peruvian Andes.

Explore the magical Machu Picchu on this 5-day adventurous tour through Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Urubamba, Písac, Ollantaytambo

Languages English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Cusco and City Tour

• Meet the guide upon arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Once at the hotel, you will have the chance to try aromatic coca-leaf tea to help with the city's altitude, and then you can relax and have lunch before the city tour.
• At 1:30 PM, meet your guide in your hotel lobby to begin the tour.
• Visit the Temple of the Sun, or Koricancha, the Plaza de Armas, the main streets, and the San Pedro Market.
• See the two ruins near the city, the Fortress of Sacsayhuamán and finally Kenko.
• Transfer back to the hotel at 6:00 PM.

2

Day 02

Sacred Valley Tour and Train to Aguas Calientes

• Start in Cusco at 7:30 AM. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby in Cusco. Travel by private car to the Sacred Valley of the Incas for around 45 minutes.
• Stop at strategic viewpoints from where you will be able to see the Sacred Valley.
• Arrive in Pisaq and visit the famous craft market.
• Drive towards the ruins of Pisac, where you will see impressive agricultural terraces on the mountain and beautiful Inca temples. Then head to the town of Urubamba, about a one-hour drive away. Stop for lunch at a local Andean restaurant. This meal is not included in the tour; they usually offer a buffet lunch that costs $20 USD per person.
• Proceed along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo. Once you reach Ollantaytambo, visit the Inca city and this important area of Incan construction, built during the Inca heyday, where descendants of the Incas are still living.
• Go to the train station to board the train, which leaves at 3:37 PM for Aguas Calientes town. Enjoy breathtaking views of the valley, snow-capped mountains, and gorgeous Inca farming terraces and ruins.
• Reach Aguas Calientes, which is located at 2000 m / 6000 ft above sea level. Meet the staff just outside the train station and transfer to your hotel.

3

Day 03

Guided Visit to Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco

• Meet your guide in the hotel lobby after breakfast.
• Go to the bus stop to board the bus. Drive for about 30 minutes to reach the citadel of Machu Picchu. Pass the control office, where you will show your ticket and passport.
• Enjoy a private guided tour of the most important places in Machu Picchu, such as the Main Plaza, the Sun Temple, the Sacred Sundial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the cemeteries. The tour lasts more than two hours.
• After the visit, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. Optionally, you may climb Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for an additional cost of $35 USD per person. You can also hike to the Sun Gate or the Inka Bridge; there are no additional payments for these two places.
• At the appropriate time, take the bus and descend from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. The usual train departure to Ollantaytambo is in the afternoon, followed by a two-hour car drive to your hotel in Cusco.

4

Day 04

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Hike

• Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 AM. Board private transport and travel to the town of Cusipata-Paucarpata. During the journey, pass through different towns and enjoy the incredible views of the Peruvian Andes. The trip takes about 2 hours.
• Upon arrival, stop to enjoy a delicious breakfast and stock up on some things necessary to start the tour.
• Continue the trip for approximately 40 minutes, observing the landscapes, the mysterious mountains, and the deep valleys.
• Arrive at the town of Llaqto at 3700 m.a.s.l. From here, start the uphill hike for 2 hours until you reach Rainbow Mountain. Along the way, see glacial peaks, red mountains, rocky hills, and traditional llamas and alpacas grazing along the valley. When you reach the top of the mountain at 5038 m.a.s.l., you will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Andes and the Andean fauna. All the mountains that surround this area are red, and there are stunning views of the valleys and the mysterious Rainbow Mountain, where you will have enough time to take pictures and videos.
• After this great experience, undertake the 2-hour return walk. Enjoy a delicious lunch.
• Return to Cusco. Arrive in the city at approximately 3:00 PM and then transfer to your hotel.

5

Day 05

Departure to Lima

• Breakfast at the hotel. At the appropriate time, the guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Lima.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Airport-hotel-airport transfers

• City tour excursion (transport and tour guide)

• Sacred Valley excursion (transport and tour guide)

• Tourist ticket (entry for the city tour, Sacred Valley, and all attractions indicated in the itinerary)

• Machu Picchu excursion

• Round-trip tourist train Ollanta - Aguas Calientes - Ollanta

• Round-trip bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu

• English-speaking Peruvian tour guide

• Tickets to Machu Picchu

• Return transport Ollanta - Cusco

• 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes

• 3 nights hotel in Cusco

• Rainbow Mountain excursion (transport, tour guide, entrances, meals, emergency horse, and trekking poles)

What's Not Included

• Food (lunches and dinners)

• Optional buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley: $20.00 USD (at the request of the client)

• Optional buffet lunch in the town of Aguas Calientes: $27.00 USD (at the request of the client)

• Flights Lima - Cusco - Lima (optional, extra cost of $230.00 USD)

• Entrance to Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ($35 USD, optional)

• Entrance to the thermal baths (optional): S/.10 soles

What to bring

• Bring your original passport, with an expiration date of no less than 7 months.
• Wear light walking shoes or tennis shoes.
• Bring a canteen or water bottle.
• Drink plenty of fluids during your excursions.
• Wear a raincoat or long poncho in the rainy season.
• Wear long-sleeve shirts.
• Wear long pants.
• Carry insect repellent.
• Carry sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat for sunny days.
• Carry binoculars.
• Carry sunglasses and plastic bags.
• Carry medicine and/or personal-use items, such as liquid for contact lenses.
• Carry a light backpack or briefcase.
• Carry a camera or camcorder.
• Have checks and coins on hand in small denominations of soles or dollars.
• Carry a swimsuit for the thermal baths (optional).

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Cusco, Peru

Tour start

Lima, Peru

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.