Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain tour
Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain tour

Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain Tour

Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain Tour: 4 Days from Cusco

This 4-day Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain tour brings Peru’s three biggest highlights into one carefully paced trip from Cusco. Instead of starting high, you begin at low altitude: you travel straight to Aguas Calientes, one of the lowest points of the route, so your body can adjust before the demanding days ahead. You then explore Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a full guided tour, discover the Sacred Valley’s Inca terraces and salt mines, and finish with an early-morning hike to Vinicunca, the famous Rainbow Mountain. This Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu tour is designed for first-time visitors who want to see it all without rushing or struggling with the altitude. Your day-by-day schedule follows the natural rhythm of the Andes: the gentlest elevations come first, and the highest point, 5,036 m, comes last. We are a licensed, 100% local tour operator based in Cusco, and we keep our groups small so your guide can set a comfortable pace and give you real attention. Your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and train seats are reserved in advance through the official Machu Picchu ticketing site and the PeruRail and Inca Rail services, so book early, especially between May and September. Prefer to walk to Machu Picchu instead of taking the train? Explore our Sacred Valley Tour and Short Inca Trail, or the full Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. New to high altitude? Read the Mayo Clinic guide to altitude sickness before you travel, and see all our Machu Picchu tours for other options.

Tour Overview

Detail Information
Duration 4 Days / 3 Nights
Starts and ends Cusco
Route Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain
Highest altitude 5,036 m (Rainbow Mountain)
Difficulty Moderate (Day 4 is the most demanding)
Group size Small groups
Best time to go May to September (dry season)

Itinerary at a Glance

Day Highlights Overnight Altitude
Day 1 Cusco to Ollantaytambo by road, then train to Aguas Calientes Aguas Calientes 2,040 m
Day 2 Machu Picchu full guided tour, train back to Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo 2,430 m (Machu Picchu)
Day 3 Ollantaytambo, Salineras de Maras, Moray, Chinchero, arrival in Cusco Cusco 3,400 m
Day 4 Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) hike, return to Cusco End of services 5,036 m

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) We pick you up in Cusco (hotel or airport) and drive to Ollantaytambo, descending through the Sacred Valley. From there you take the scenic train to Aguas Calientes, at about 2,040 m one of the lowest points of the trip, which helps your body adapt to the altitude gently. Check in to your hotel, explore the town at your own pace, and rest before Machu Picchu. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

Day 2: Machu Picchu Full Guided Tour – Return to Ollantaytambo After an early breakfast, take the bus up to Machu Picchu. Your expert local guide leads you through the citadel: the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, the Sacred Plaza, and the main terraces (about 2 to 2.5 hours), followed by free time for photos and to explore on your own. Descend to Aguas Calientes, then take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.

Day 3: Sacred Valley Tour – Ollantaytambo to Cusco Start the day in Ollantaytambo, where the massive Inca terraces rise over the town. Continue to the Salineras de Maras, thousands of salt pans still worked by local families, and to Moray, the circular agricultural terraces used as an Inca experimental laboratory. Finish in Chinchero, a traditional Andean weaving village, for a demonstration of natural dyeing and hand-weaving. Arrive in Cusco in the afternoon and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 4: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) – Return to Cusco Very early in the morning we leave Cusco for the Vilcanota mountain range. After breakfast on the way, you hike to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, at 5,036 m, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and colorful mineral-striped slopes. Take your time: your guide sets the pace, and we carry oxygen and coca tea for the altitude. After the views and photos, return to the trailhead, have lunch, and drive back to Cusco in the afternoon. End of services.

Quick facts (para la ficha del tour)

  • Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
  • Starts and ends: Cusco
  • Maximum altitude: 5,036 m (Rainbow Mountain)
  • Difficulty: Moderate (the last day is the most demanding)
  • Group size: small groups

Included

Included

  • Pick-up from your hotel or the airport in Cusco
  • Private or shared transportation Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • Train tickets Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return (tell me if it’s Expedition or Vistadome)
  • 3 nights of accommodation (1 in Aguas Calientes, 1 in Ollantaytambo, 1 in Cusco)
  • Breakfast on all hotel days
  • Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit and time slot, according to availability)
  • Round-trip bus ticket Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
  • Professional bilingual guide for Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain
  • Sacred Valley tour entrance fees (Ollantaytambo, Moray, Salineras de Maras)
  • Rainbow Mountain entrance fee
  • Breakfast and lunch on the Rainbow Mountain day
  • Oxygen bottle and first-aid kit on Rainbow Mountain, plus coca tea
  • Small groups and all transfers listed in the itinerary

 

Not Include

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Meals not mentioned (lunches and dinners on days 1 to 3)
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Travel insurance
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (extra, limited)
  • Horse rental on Rainbow Mountain (optional)
  • Personal expenses, drinks and snacks

Gallery

Price

Price: From $950 USD per person

All-inclusive 4-day package: 3 nights of hotels, train tickets, Machu Picchu entrance, all tours and transfers. No hidden costs for the services listed below.

What’s Included in Your Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain Tour

  • ✔ Pick-up from your hotel or the airport in Cusco
  • ✔ 3 nights of hotel accommodation: Aguas Calientes, Ollantaytambo and Cusco
  • ✔ Round-trip train tickets Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
  • ✔ Machu Picchu entrance ticket
  • ✔ Round-trip bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
  • ✔ Full guided tour of Machu Picchu with a professional local guide
  • ✔ Full-day Sacred Valley tour: Ollantaytambo, Salineras de Maras, Moray and Chinchero
  • ✔ Full-day Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) tour from Cusco
  • ✔ All private or shared transportation listed in the itinerary
  • ✔ All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary
  • ✔ Breakfast at the hotels
  • ✔ Breakfast and lunch on the Rainbow Mountain day
  • ✔ Oxygen bottle and first-aid kit during the Rainbow Mountain trip
  • ✔ Bilingual (English/Spanish) professional guides on every tour
  • ✔ Small groups for a more personal experience

Not Included

  • ✘ International and domestic flights
  • ✘ Lunches and dinners not mentioned (days 1 to 3)
  • ✘ Travel insurance
  • ✘ Tips for guides and drivers
  • ✘ Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (optional extra, limited availability)
  • ✘ Horse rental on Rainbow Mountain (optional)
  • ✘ Personal expenses, snacks and drinks

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Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountain Tour

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