Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days / 4 Nights

This Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days 4 Nights takes you through the most incredible sights of Cusco, including a guided city tour, the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas, the vibrant agricultural market in Pisac, the impressive Ollantaytambo fortress, and the stunning Rainbow Mountain. The final highlight of this unforgettable experience is a visit to the world-famous Machu Picchu.

• Explore the historic city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire.
• Visit the Sacred Valley, where you’ll discover the famous Pisac market and the ancient Ollantaytambo fortress.
• Experience the breathtaking beauty of Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca or the Mountain of Seven Colors.
• Journey to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most remarkable archaeological wonders in the world.
• Travel in a small group of 2-8 people for a more intimate and immersive experience with expert local guides.
• Enjoy a tour designed for those who want both rich Inca history and outdoor adventure.

By booking the Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days 4 Nights with Cusco Journeys, you’re ensuring an unforgettable travel experience. Don’t just take our word for it—check out our reviews on TripAdvisor and see why travelers choose us!

Day 1: Arrival in Cusco – Qoricancha – Sacsayhuaman – Puca Pucara – 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 Cusco Tours 4 Days 3 Nights 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 p.m., we will meet you at your hotel lobby to begin your tour. From here, you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous cathedral. Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to the Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen.

From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, you will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own.

From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends in the main square, unless you are taking a private tour, in which case, we will return you to your hotel.

*Optional Buffet Dinner with Folkloric Show: Adding $39 per person.

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

Day 2: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes.

Begin your journey through the Inca heartland with a full day Sacred Valley tour. 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 and then drive to Urubamba for lunch.

After a delicious lunch in Urubamba, 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.

• Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
• Meal Include: Breakfast and Buffet Lunch.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

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

After an early breakfast at your hotel, take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour of about two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel.  You will also learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs. 

The train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:30pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. See the site of Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up the steep canyon wall! After 2 hours we will arrive at Ollantaytambo. From here we will take a bus to the city of Cusco and we will leave you at your hotel.

Note: Machu Picchu Inca site is different from Machu Picchu Mountain. When most people refer to Machu Picchu, they are referring to the archeological site. Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate permit to climb. Please notify us if you are interested and we can book this for you. It must be done in advance and is a part of your entry into the site.

• Overnight 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 (3310 meters above sea level), 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 meters above sea level), 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 1.5 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 : Flight Cusco – Lima – Return Home.

According to your flight departure, we will pick you up from the hotel 02 hours before to avoid any delays. Once we get to the airport our service will be finished.

Included:

• Round trip transfers between airport and hotel (Cusco).
• Round trip transfers between hotel and train station.
• Tourist transport for all the mentioned tours.
• Tourist ticket for the Sacred Valley.
• 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).
• Buffet Lunch at Urubamba Town.
• Permanent telephone assistance.

Not Included:

• Entrance to the Cusco Cathedral (40 Peruvian Soles).
• Entrance to Salt mines (15 Peruvian Soles).
• International and domestic flights.
• Airport taxes.
• Additional nights for bad weather o flight cancellation.
• Meals not detailed in itinerary.
• Alcoholic drinks, soda or bottled mineral water.
• Hotel and train upgrades are available upon request.
• National or international calls.
• Travel insurance.
• Optional tips for guides and drivers.

Packing List:

After spending a lot of time travelling around Cusco we have come up with our definitive list of what to pack for a trip to Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 days 4 nights.

• Worn in hiking boots or walking shoes.
• Light weight rain poncho.
• Down or thermal jacket and fleece.
• Sun protection; sunscreen and providing hat.
• Layerable clothing: t- shirts, heavy shirts and jackets, thermals, hiking pants, shorts.
• Toiletries pack with toilet paper, tissues and a lightweight towell.
• Day pack.
• Reusable water bottle to help reduce plastic waste.
• Personal first aid kit with prescriptions, pain relievers, antihistamine & stomach aids.
• Spare prescription glasses, contacts & lens solution plus a copy of prescription.
• Small flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries.
• Ear plugs for sleeping comfort.
• Warm hat, scarf & gloves (these are abundant in Cusco if you’d prefer to purchase here.
• Extra zip lock bags of various sizes always come in handy.
• Insect repellent.
• Camera with extra batteries and SD cards.
• Combination locks to protect luggage, useful while traveling & in hotel rooms.

Required & Useful Documents for Peru.

• Valid passport with at least six months remaining
• Photocopies of important documents like passport, tickets and prescriptions
• Travel insurance, we recommend World Nomads or Travel Guard
• Blood donor/type card

Price per person:

Cusco Journeys offers carefully designed tours to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and Cusco, with options to suit different travel styles and budgets.

• Standard – Group tours with transportation to Cusco, Machu Picchu on the Expedition Class train.
• Superior – Small-group tours with the same itinerary as Standard, also using the Expedition Class train.
• First Class – Private tours with transportation on the Vistadome train, featuring panoramic windows.
• Luxury – Private, high-end tours with travel aboard the Hiram Bingham luxury train, offering premium service.

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 75.00 (Need to book in advance).
• Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (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 Cusco Journeys is you wish.

5 Star Hotels4 Star Hotels3 Star Hotels

By booking or participating in a Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days 4 Nights and any related products or services (a “Tour”) with Cusco Journeys, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

Booking for Cusco Tours 5 Days 4 Nights:

1. Your booking is confirmed and a contract exists when the Tour Operator or your travel agent issues a written confirmation after receipt of the applicable deposit amount. Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to the Tour Operator or authorized agent immediately. Please ensure that names are exactly as stated in the relevant passport.
2. You will pay a deposit which is completely non-refundable in any situation. There are no exceptions.
3. You will be required to show the original passport (not a copy) that you booked with, at the checkpoint to enter the Inca Trail. If you originally booked with an old passport and then renewed your passport, you must also bring your expired passport along with your new, valid passport to permit entry or they will refuse your entrance to the trail.
4. The only acceptable ID to receive a Student Discount is your University Card with a clear expiration date that must be the same year as trek. IDs with expiry dates the following year, even though clearly valid, will not be accepted by the Peruvian government. You must submit a copy of this card at time of booking. (Cusco Tours 5 Days 4 Nights).

Cancellations:

1. Cancellations for Cusco Tours and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days 4 Nights: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 40% is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing (we do not accept medical notes of any kind) as our out of pocket expenses are non-refundable to us.. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:

ONCE BOOKED, DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. CHART BELOW OUTLINES WHAT FURTHER FEES WILL BE DUE.

Inca Trail Tours:

1. Permits: Permits for the Inca Trail are in your name and can not be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances. Change of dates is also not possible once a permit has been purchased. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit will be forfeited. Please note that this is a regulation of the Peruvian government and not Cusco Journeys (or any agency).
2. In extreme cases when the “Inca Trail to Machu Picchu” is declared closed for safety reasons, Cusco Journeys will replace your trek with an alternative trek.
3. Those who booked PERMITS with a Student ID must bring that ID with them on the trek. If they fail to show this card to the Park Rangers, they will not be allowed entry onto the trail.

Medical Information:

1. You must advise Cusco Journeys of any medical problems or allergies you may have. You need to be in good physical health, and if your health is questionable, then you should consult a doctor. If you are over the age of 70 years old, then you will need to present us with a current good health medical certificate.
2. You are responsible for assessing whether a Tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. The Tour Operator does not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your own unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.
3. Cusco Journeys reserves the right to deny you permission to travel or participate in any aspect of a Tour at any time and at your own risk and expense where the Tour Operator determines that your physical or mental condition renders you unfit for travel or you represent a danger to yourself or others.
4. Pregnancy is considered a medical condition and must be disclosed to the Tour Operator at the time of booking. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry pregnant women over 24 weeks. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry anyone with certain medical conditions if reasonable accommodation or alternatives cannot be arranged.
5. It is strongly encouraged to purchase Travel Insurance to protect you in case of medical emergency or any tour cancellations.

Tours and Treks:

1. All balances need to be paid in either cash, Western Union, Transfer Bank or PayPal (in full) prior to the briefing which will be held the night before your tour. Visa incurs a 5% service fee and if you need to use another card, it must be through PayPal which incurs a 5.5% service fee.
   You must advise your guide if you wish to leave the group or the camping area for independent walks or sightseeing. If you are experiencing any problems with the services of the guide or tour, please advise the guide in that moment, so that he can resolve any problems.
2. All Adventure Treks include transportation to Cusco. The return train route depends on train availability.
3. If you become ill or injured on the trail and are unable to continue, a porter will be provided to accompany you back to an area with emergency assistance capabilities. Helicopter air lifts and medical assistance are at the expense of the trekker. If you are unable to complete the tour due to illness, we will assist you in meeting your group at Machu Picchu to recommence your tour at that point. There will be no refund of the original payment. However, we will prepare a document to certify illness which can be presented for your travel insurance.
4. Cusco Journeys will take all reasonable care in providing to our clients avoidance of accident, illness, and loss of personal property, and will only employ suitably qualified staff. We accept responsibility for the actions of our own employees. Cusco Journeys cannot, however, be responsible for any action of third parties. You are totally responsible for your own personal property and rented equipment.
5. Cusco Journeys does not take responsibility for unfavorable weather conditions, natural catastrophe, strikes, accidents, illness, injury, loss of personal ítems, etc. It is the client’s responsibility to carry insurance to cover these types of events. We reserve the right to modify or cancel the program due to any of the unforeseen conditions listed above.
6. Cusco Journeys may modify your itinerary where reasonably required in its sole discretion.
7. Group tours might be as large as 16 participants. Groups are open to everyone no matter skill or age. By accepting a Group Tour you acknowledge that others might change the speed and timing of the tour.
8. All tours are done in English.

Delays for Cusco Tours 5 Days 4 Nights:

1. Any costs, whether direct or incidental, incurred by the Customer as the result of delays caused by bad weather, trail conditions, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, sickness, government intervention or other contingencies which are beyond the control of southern explorations will not be reimbursed.

Thank you so much for choosing Cusco Journeys!!!