Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain 5 Days

Your tour begins at Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of the former Inca capital, where you meet your guide and start a relaxed walk through the colonial streets.

The most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the sun god. It showcases the precision of Inca stonework, later incorporated into the Santo Domingo Convent built by the Spanish.

Transfer by tourist vehicle to the hills surrounding Cusco, with your guide sharing history and context about the sites you’ll visit.

Ceremonial fortress with megalithic stones weighing up to 100 tons, fitted together without mortar. It offers panoramic views over the whole city.

Ceremonial center carved into limestone, used for religious rituals and astronomical observations, with underground chambers and altars.

The “red fortress”: a former military checkpoint and rest stop on the route to the Sacred Valley, with views over the surrounding valleys.

Known as the Temple of Water, with aqueducts and ceremonial fountains that still work using the original hydraulic engineering.

Return by tourist transport to the city center, wrapping up the first day before the more demanding excursions begin.

Pickup from your hotel or Airbnb in Cusco, with a scenic drive through the Andean highlands to the traditional town of Chinchero.

Visit to the archaeological site and colonial church of Chinchero, the circular terraces of Moray (an Inca agricultural laboratory), and the Maras Salt Mines, thousands of salt pans worked since Inca times.

Around 1:00 pm, a stop in Urubamba for an included buffet lunch with vegetarian and vegan options.

One of the best-preserved “living Inca towns”: we walk its narrow streets and the temple-fortress before heading to the train station.

Tourist train with views of the Urubamba River. Once in Aguas Calientes, transfer to your hotel and a 7:30 pm briefing with your guide about the next day’s visit to Machu Picchu.

After an early breakfast included at the hotel, a 25-minute bus ride up the mountain, aiming to arrive in time for sunrise over Machu Picchu.

The classic photo from the upper viewpoint and a 2.5-hour guided tour through temples, sacred enclosures, and terraces, with the history of the citadel.

Time to explore the citadel on your own; if booked in advance, the option to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Descent to Aguas Calientes for lunch on your own (not included) and the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo along the Urubamba River.

From Ollantaytambo, tourist transport to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 7:00 pm.

Pickup from your hotel or Airbnb between 4:30 and 5:00 am. The group departs at 5:00 am sharp toward Cusipata, a scenic 2-hour drive through the Southern Valley corridor.

Arrival in Cusipata around 7:00 am for an included buffet breakfast, with time to acclimatize before continuing to the trailhead.

After another hour’s drive we reach the starting point, at 4,700 m. The guided ascent takes approximately 1.5 hours, passing alpacas and llamas on alpine terrain.

Arrival at the summit around 10:30 am, above 5,200 m, with 1 free hour for photos. Those who wish can also walk to the Red Valley.

1-hour descent back to the vehicle, followed by an included buffet lunch in Cusipata between 2:15 and 3:15 pm.

2-hour drive back. Optional drop-off at the airport or bus terminal (approx. 4:30 pm) for those with a flight that day; the rest of the group arrives at Plaza Regocijo between 5:00 and 5:15 pm.

Free time for one last stroll through the historic center before check-out, depending on your flight schedule.

Punctual tourist transport, timed with enough margin for flight check-in.