Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain

Start with a friendly welcome at the airport by a representative of Salkantay Trekking. We’ll take you directly to your accommodation, so you’ll have enough time to rest this morning as you acclimate to the high altitude of enchanting Cusco.

After lunch, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to explore Cusco on an afternoon City Tour. The tour begins in the fascinating Coricancha, or Temple of the Sun, probably the most important Inca site. While you marvel at the exquisite architecture of the place, our guide will share a bit of Inca history to help you better understand the Inca culture.

We’ll continue to the Plaza de Armas (Main Square) to visit the Cathedral, which holds approximately 300 paintings from the famous “Escuela cusqueña.” The Plaza de Armas is also a wonderful place to sit, immerse yourself in the local atmosphere, and watch the world go by.

Next, you’ll visit the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman in northern Cusco, known for having been built with giant heavy rocks. Ancient Inca architects cut and polished these giant rocks to build zig-zag walls spanning hundreds of meters. Despite only a small portion of the original remains, the colossal dimensions of Sacsayhuaman continue to inspire and surprise visitors.

We’ll then head to Qenqo. This temple has man-made tunnels, one of which forms an amphitheater. The original purpose of the amphitheater has been lost over time, but most experts agree that the area was used to worship the sun, moon, and stars.

To round off the trip, you’ll visit Puca Pucara, a site the Incas used as a military fort, and the beautiful Tambomachay, an Inca archaeological site boasting aqueducts and channels with two water fountains.

At the end of the day, we’ll take you to the door of your hotel to enjoy a relaxing night. You’ll have time to get a spot for dinner before heading to bed for another exciting day tomorrow.

Today, you’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast at your hotel before we take you to the beautiful town of Chinchero on your way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You’ll stop for a first visit to a local craft center, famous for its weaving techniques, and at the church that holds an incredible religious history.

Next is the impressive archaeological site of Moray, consisting of a series of giant circular terraces and a complex irrigation system. Moray is known as the world’s largest agricultural laboratory, used to experiment and cultivate food and grains that only grow in tropical climates. It’s also a great place to feel the unique energy of the Andes.

After that, we’ll continue to the salt mines in Maras, a set of more than 3,000 small white pools from which salt is extracted. These small pools are filled with water, which then evaporates, producing the salt that locals collect and package to sell in different regional markets. This salt has a pink hue and is well known for its healing properties and delicious flavor. It’s also a great gift and perfect for cooking.

Then, we’ll continue to Urubamba to enjoy a Peruvian buffet lunch of different traditional dishes, many of which are cultivated in these valley fields. It’ll then be time to drive our transport to Ollantaytambo and board the train that’ll take us to Aguas Calientes, the town before Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Aguas Calientes, you’ll check into a nice hotel to cool off before dinner. You can also take some of your free time to just wander and explore a bit. You’ll need to go to bed early as tomorrow you’ll visit the magical Inca city of Machu Picchu.

After a well-deserved night’s rest, you’ll be up early for the most wanted day: Today, you’ll explore the streets of the iconic and renowned Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Our day begins at dawn to ensure we beat the large crowds so you can enjoy the site in peace. We’ll board a bus that’ll take around 25 minutes to get to the entrance of the Inca city, and we’ll enter just before the sun begins to paint this impressive place with a golden hue.

Take some time to soak up the vibes and impressive view of one of the 7 Wonders of the World and feel how its powerful energy vibrates. You’ll spend approximately two hours with our guide exploring the most crucial nooks, houses, and alleys. The observatories will allow you to imagine how this Inca city was hundreds of years ago and when it was discovered after being hidden for centuries.

Depending on your time and if you have an extra entry ticket, you can hike up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountains to get spectacular panoramic views of the entire complex.

Then, you’ll take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and have the afternoon free to have lunch at a restaurant of your choice and walk around the rest of this pretty town. Your train will leave for Ollantaytambo at sunset, but don't forget to be at the station 30 minutes earlier than the departure time! From Ollantaytambo, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

Your final adventure begins at 4:00 a.m. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and travel for 3 hours towards the Southern Valley. The starting point of our walk is at 4,630 m / 15,190 ft, but you should be used to the altitude by now. Along the way, we’ll observe picturesque Andean towns, agricultural platforms from the Inca period, fertile valleys, and beautiful rolling mountains. Even at this early hour in the morning, the herds of llamas and alpacas will entertain you while you enjoy breakfast to give you the boost you need to get started.

We’ll continue our journey until we reach the hike's starting point. From there, we’ll head down a meandering path in the Andean mountains, following a pretty stream. As you ascend, you’ll be rewarded with an impressive view of the Ausangate glacier (6,372 m / 20.905 ft), the tallest in the Cusco region.

Take a few minutes to understand why this mountain is important to the Andean people. This whole region is home to many people and small communities, and you’ll have the opportunity to see them. You’ll be amazed to see the traditional clothing they use that they make themselves, thanks to the practice of textile art inherited from their ancestors.

By keeping these traditions alive, ancient culture is preserved. Your guide will teach you about the meaning of some clothes and, if you want, you can ask him to teach you some words in Quechua—the language of the Incas and local communities. After an hour and a half of walking, we’ll reach Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16.732 ft).

While you’re at the top, take some time to admire the unique beauty of this impressive natural formation and feel the thrill of witnessing a unique natural spectacle that can only be seen in Peru and China. There, we’ll take a break between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and your knowledgeable guide will explain the theories regarding the origin of this mountain that appears as though it’s been taken from a colorful dream.

Take memorable photographs or simply immerse yourself in the landscape that boasts the splendor of the great mountain Ausangate in the distance. If you want to stay longer, inform your guide. You’ll have time to enjoy the surroundings and recover your energy for the hike back down.

It’ll take 45 minutes and an hour to get back where we started. Then, we’ll go to by car to enjoy our well-deserved lunch. Then our transport will take you back to the city of Cusco. We’ll drop you off at the door of your hotel in the late afternoon, where you can enjoy a relaxing evening as you please.

Today, you’ll wake up, have breakfast, and pack your bags, as it’s time to say goodbye to the imperial city of Cusco for now. We’ll organize a time to collect you and take you to the airport or bus station to continue your vacation or return home.

This isn’t a forever farewell, and we’re sure you’ll be longing to come back to relive all the special moments, learn more about the ancient city and cultures, and try out more of the excellent restaurants and their delicious cuisine. So, it’s not goodbye, but rather see you soon!