Cusco Aventurero: 5 Days with Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain
from US$ 590 per person
Five days to see Cusco piece by piece and finish up high: city tour, a day trip to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain. You spend all four nights at the same hotel in Cusco, so you only unpack once.
The order also looks after your body. Day one is an afternoon around the city; Machu Picchu comes on day two, with a pre-dawn train and a return at night; on day three you visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. The hike to Rainbow Mountain, at about 5,000 m, is saved for day four, after three days at altitude.
Highlights
- Four tours: city tour, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain
- Machu Picchu day trip with round-trip train, bus and citadel entry ticket
- Rainbow Mountain with breakfast, lunch and entrance fee included
- Four nights at the same Cusco hotel, with breakfast
- Airport transfers and hotel pickup for every tour
Gallery
- Duration
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Schedule
- Airport pickup on day 1
- Capacity
- Minimum 2 people (double room)
- Service
- Shared
- Languages
- Spanish and English
Itinerary
Five days based in Cusco: the city, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain.
- Day 1
City tour and four archaeological sites
We meet you at the airport, take you to your hotel and welcome you with a cup of coca tea. Between 12:45 and 13:20 you are picked up for the city tour: Qoricancha, the Cathedral, then Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. You are back in Cusco around 18:00 and spend the night at your hotel.
- Day 2
Machu Picchu
Between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. you are picked up at your hotel and driven to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station for the Expedition or Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes. The guide meets you there, you ride the bus up to Machu Picchu and join the group for the guided tour. Back in Aguas Calientes you have lunch and free time, for instance at the hot springs; between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. you take the train back and we drive you to your hotel in Cusco.
- Day 3
Sacred Valley and Chinchero
After breakfast, between 7:50 and 8:30, you are picked up to visit Pisac and its craft market, the villages of Coya, Lamay, Calca and Yucay, and Urubamba, where you have a buffet lunch. Then you visit Ollantaytambo and finish in Chinchero, a village of mestizo and colonial style. You are back in Cusco around 18:00.
- Day 4
Rainbow Mountain
Between 4:40 and 5:10 you are picked up for a drive of about three hours south of Cusco, with a breakfast stop in Japura. From Quesiyuno, at about 4,400 m, you hike around three hours to Rainbow Mountain, at about 5,000 m, and return the same way. You have lunch nearby and are back in Cusco between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
- Day 5
Transfer to the airport
You have breakfast at the hotel, check out and are driven to the airport for your departing flight.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfers between the airport or bus terminal and your hotel
- Welcome coca tea
- Hotel pickup for every tour
- Round-trip transfers to the train station
- Guide in Spanish and English
- City tour and four archaeological sites
- Sacred Valley tour with buffet lunch
- Rainbow Mountain tour with breakfast, lunch and entrance fee
- Round-trip Expedition or Inca Rail train, with a complimentary snack and drink on board
- Bus up to and down from Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu citadel entry ticket
- Buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes
- 4 nights' accommodation in a hotel of the chosen category in Cusco
- Breakfast at the hotel every morning
- Ongoing assistance throughout the trip
Not included
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Aguas Calientes hot springs entrance
- Horse rental at Rainbow Mountain
- Qoricancha entrance (S/ 25)
- Cathedral entrance (S/ 45)
- Full Cusco Tourist Ticket (foreigners: S/ 130 adults, S/ 70 students and children; Peruvians: S/ 70 adults, S/ 40 students and children)
Safety
- Rainbow Mountain reaches about 5,000 m and is scheduled for day four, after three days of acclimatization in and around Cusco.
- Walk at your own pace, drink water and bring warm clothes, a hat and sunscreen. If you feel unwell on the way up, tell the guide; you can rent a horse along the trail.
- Day one is a half-day tour mixing vehicle transfers with short walks, so you can adjust to Cusco's altitude (about 3,400 m).
- A guide in Spanish and English on every tour, and ongoing assistance throughout the trip.
Important
- Rates are per person for foreign travelers and apply to a minimum booking of 2 people in a double or twin room. For 1 traveler or groups of more than 2, the price changes.
- The price depends on the hotel category you choose, from 2★/3★ economy up to 5★.
- If you live in Peru or are a citizen of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador), ask us for your rate. There are also rates for students aged 12 to 17 and children aged 4 to 11 with valid ID.
- Children up to 3 years old travel free and share their parents' bed.
- Rates do not apply on public holidays, Holy Week, Peru's national holidays (Fiestas Patrias), New Year, Inti Raymi, some festive days or long weekends. Ask us about those dates.
- Tours are run as a shared service. At Machu Picchu there may be a wait before the guided tour, as the group is completed with passengers arriving on other trains.
- Tours end at Plaza Regocijo, two blocks from the Main Square. Only if your hotel is on the way back will the vehicle drop you at the door.
- The Sacred Valley buffet lunch is at a tourist restaurant for 2★ and 3★ hotels, and at a VIP restaurant for 4★ and 5★ hotels.
- To enter Machu Picchu you need your original, valid passport or ID, the same one used for the booking.
- You can add entry to Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or the museum, the Vistadome train or an earlier train back, at extra cost and subject to availability. Extra entries are booked together with the package.
- The booking is secured with full payment. Check availability before paying.
- No-shows, cancellations and postponements are charged at 100% of the package.
Frequently asked questions
How demanding is Rainbow Mountain?
The hike starts at Quesiyuno, at about 4,400 m, and takes around three hours on a non-technical trail to nearly 5,000 m. The altitude is what tires you; you can rent a horse along the way (not included).
What time do we leave on the Machu Picchu day?
Hotel pickup is between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. to reach Ollantaytambo or Poroy station. The return train leaves between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., so you get back to Cusco at night.
Which entrance fees are not included?
The Full Cusco Tourist Ticket (covering the city tour and Sacred Valley sites), the Qoricancha entrance (S/ 25), the Cathedral entrance (S/ 45) and the Aguas Calientes hot springs. The Rainbow Mountain entrance is included.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or the Vistadome train?
Yes, at extra cost and subject to availability. Entries to Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or the museum must be booked at the same time as the package.
Are the tours private?
No, they are a shared service with a guide in Spanish and English. At Machu Picchu there may be a wait while passengers from other trains arrive.
