Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1: Arrival to Cusco – City Tour – Qoricancha – Sacsayhuaman – Qenqo – Pucapucara – Tambomachay.

Upon your arrival to Cusco, we will take you to the hotel and then join your guide for a tour briefing about the wonderful tour that awaits you. Today, begin the tour with a trip around Cusco to enjoy the sights of the Inca Capital. We’ll see both Cusco’s indigenous and colonial heritage then you’re free to spend the evening at leisure by exploring Cusco’s nightlife or sampling some of its many typical restaurants.

At 12:30 PM, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel to begin exploring the city of Cusco, the capital of the great Inca Empire.

Highlights of the tour include Plaza de Armas, where the most important buildings are located, such as the Cathedral of Cusco, notable streets and neighborhoods, Loreto Street, and the Qoricancha. From there, we’ll drive to visit iconic sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and Cristo Blanco. The tour is expected to conclude around 6:00 PM, when we’ll return to the city.

• Accommodations: Hotel in Cusco.
• Meals Included: None
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 2: Sacred Valley – – Mirador de Taray – Pisac – Ollantaytambo- Aguas Calientes.

Begin your journey through the Inca heartland with a full day a beautiful Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley of the Incas, just outside of Cusco, is a gorgeous sprawling span of green farms, lofty terraced mountains along with numerous quaint towns unmoved by time. The Sacred Valley is the center of lively festivals and the best handicrafts in Peru. 

Our first stop is the artisanal capital of Peru, the small village of Pisac; it’s famous for its craft market in the main plaza, busiest on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, where local natives come to sell their colorful woven cloth, alpaca wool ponchos and fashions, reproductions of ancient jewelry, engraved gourds and much, much more. Pisac is the best stop in Peru for mementos of your trip to bring home to family and friends.

After a delicious lunch in Pisac, we’ll travel Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that remains inhabited.  This traditional town is a wonderful example of pre-Colombian architecture. Here we will explore the expansive ruins overlooking the town and discuss their history and traditional beliefs of the people of the Sacred Valley. Later in the afternoon in Ollantaytambo we’ll catch the train to Aguas Calientes to get ready to explore Machu Picchu early the next morning.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
• Meal Include: Breakfast, Buffet Lunch.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

Day 3: Aguas calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Today is the highlight of any trip to South America – Machu Picchu! This world-famous site is easily the most remarkable pre-Colombian city in the world, partially because of its mysterious beauty and its lofty place among the Andean cloud forest.

A guided tour will help you discover and understand what Machu Picchu shares about the life and customs of the Incas. Surrounded by dramatic terraces cut into the mountain sides, famed for innovatively feeding the empire, this complex city will have you fascinated all day. Narrow roads and steps connect ancient houses, temples, warehouses, and a large central square. Our guide will give you a through history of the ruins and the Incas as well as share with you the possible explanations for Machu Picchu’s function and importance.

You’ll have free time for an optional and very challenging, unguided hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, where you will have the best view of Peru’s World Wonder. This hike is only recommended for people who are in good physical condition and with no fear of heights, but the unparalleled views of Machu Picchu are especially rewarding.

After a long day of exploring this lost city, we’ll hop the bus down the mountain back to Aguas Calientes and catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco we’ll drop you off at your hotel for a good night’s rest.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals Include: Breakfast.
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 4: LLactoc – Rainbow Mountain – Llactoc – Cusco.

Our staff will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30am, and then continue in our private van for 2 hours towards the town of Cusipata (3,310 masl), where it will be the first stop for breakfast (rustic restaurant).

After tasting our breakfast we return to the transport, which will take you along a path, passing through several small towns in the heart of the Andes mountain range, the transport will take 1 hour to reach Llactoc (3,887 masl), this is the starting place After the walk, you will be accompanied by our tour guide, who will give you a prior talk about the walk and we will give you a walking stick.

We will begin to walk along a flat path (Andean plain), with few non-steep climbs, the height will make each step a little difficult, however it will be comforting to be surrounded by nature crossing the Andes. This first phase of the walk is 1 hour. On the way you will see the Apachetas, which are small towers built stone upon stone.

After a total hike of 1 hours, we finally reached our destination: Rainbow Mountain! (5,020 m /16,466 ft) After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just enjoy the view. We will be at the top for approximately 30 minutes.

After appreciating the rainbow mountain we descend again along the same path for 1 hour. Then, we will take our transportation to Cusipata where we will enjoy our lunch. Afterwards we have a 2-hour trip back to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

****There is the option to rent a horse from local people right at the starting point of the hike!

• Accommodation: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals Include: Breakfast and Lunch.
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 5 : Transfer From your Hotel to the Airport.

After visiting Cusco, it is time to say goodbye to your private guide. At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your domestic flight to Lima, and then home.

There is still time to find the perfect trip in Cusco Tours. Contact Info Machu Picchu and we will help you to personalized your Peru travel experience.

• Accommodation: None.
• Meals Include: Breakfast.

Included:

• Round trip transfers between airport and hotel (Cusco).
• Round trip transfers between hotel and train station.
• Round trip train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.
• Round trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
• Ground transportation for scheduled tours.
• Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu & all scheduled attractions (except Cusco Cathedral).
• English speaking guide for all scheduled tours.
• Accommodations 1 night in Aguas Calientes (breakfast included).
• Accommodations 3 nights in Cusco (breakfast included).
• Lunch at Sacred Valley.
• First aid kit and oxygen.
• Permanent assistance.

Not Included:

• Huayna Picchu o Machu Picchu Mountain Tickets (U$ 65).
• Domestic or international flights.
• Meals not mentioned in the program.
• Medications and personal items, especially pills for altitude sickness.
• Travel insurance.
• Hot springs in Aguas Calientes fee(optional: 10 soles).
• Excess baggage.
• Alcoholic drinks, soda or bottled mineral water.
• Snacks.
• Laundry.
• National or international calls.
• Personal expenses.
• Optional tips for guides and drivers.

Recommended things to take:

We recommend bringing as little as possible but do bring what you need. Don’t worry, if you forget something, you can probably buy it in Lima or Cusco once you arrive. Tourist shops abound and sell a whole range of items from water bottles and first aid kits to hiking gear. You can also rent hiking equipment in Cusco, which can be a good option if you don’t want to travel to Peru with a whole lot of heavy hiking and camping gear.

Cusco Tours 4 Days 3 Nights Packing List:

After spending a lot of time travelling around Cusco and Machu Picchu we have come up with our definitive list of what to pack for a trip to Cusco Tours 5 Days 4 Nights.

• Original passport.
• Original International Student Identity Card (if applicable, for student discount).
• Travel insurance.
• Rain poncho (plastic).
• Warm jacket or coat.
• Sunscreen.
• Cap or hat.
• Sunglasses.
• Extra clothing (including layers for changing weather conditions).
• Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers.
• Suitable shoes for walking in Machu Picchu.
• Water bottle.
• Insect repellent.
• Camera or smartphone for photos.
• Toiletries.
• Day pack.
• Ear plugs for sleeping comfort.
• Water and snacks.
• Slippers or sandals (for showers and Hot Springs).
• Bathing suit (for the Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes).
• Extra money.

Price per person:

Important note about Info Machu Picchu service categories:

1. Standard: All tours ie. City Tours, Sacred Valley, Maras/Moray, Machu Picchu etc. are group tours with transportation to Machu Picchu aboard the Expedition class train.
2. Superior: All tours ie. City Tours, Sacred Valley, Maras/Moray, Machu Picchu etc. are group tours with transportation to Machu Picchu aboard the Expedition class train.
3. First Class: All tours ie. City Tours, Sacred Valley, Maras/Moray, Machu Picchu etc. are private tours with transportation to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome (panoramic view) train.
4. Luxury: All tours ie. City Tours, Sacred Valley, Maras/Moray, Machu Picchu etc. are private tours with transportation to Machu Picchu aboard the Hiram Bingham luxury service train.

Discounts:

• 18 to 25 years old: $25 USD. Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card is required at booking for government approval for discount.
• Under 18 years old: $25 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
• Under 11 years old: $30 USD.  Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):

• Machu Picchu Mountain climbing:  USD 65.00 (Need to book in advance).
• Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 65.00 (Need to book in advance).
• Vistadome Train Aguas Calientes-Cusco: USD65.00 – One way (Need to book in advance, that is only for Standard and Superior Packages).

• Flight Tickets:  Lima – Cusco – Lima to be quoted on the day of enquiry (prices vary from US$185 to US$289) per person depending on the season. can be booked by Info Machu Picchu is you wish.