8 Day Cusco Peru Vacation Package with the Short Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain

Your trip begins at Cusco Airport, where our representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free, with no scheduled sightseeing or hiking. Cusco sits at approximately 3,400 m / 11,150 ft, so keep your first day light. Rest at the hotel or take a short walk near the main square if you feel comfortable. There will be time for guided visits over the next two days.

We’ll pick you up from your hotel for a half-day introduction to Cusco’s Inca and colonial heritage. Begin at Cusco Cathedral, then visit Qorikancha, where surviving Inca walls stand alongside the Santo Domingo complex. Continue by vehicle to the archaeological sites outside the city. 

At Sacsayhuamán, take a closer look at the large, precisely fitted stone walls. The route also includes Q’enqo, the water channels at Tambomachay, and the stone structures of Puca Pucara. Your guide provides context for each site as you walk through it. The tour ends at Plaza Regocijo, a short walk from the main square. The remainder of the day is yours for lunch, a relaxed afternoon, or time back at your hotel.

Leave Cusco after your hotel pickup and travel into the Sacred Valley. Your first stop is Pisac’s traditional market, where you can browse textiles, crafts, and locally made souvenirs. Continue to Urubamba for a buffet lunch before traveling to Ollantaytambo. 

Walk through the town and visit its archaeological complex, with terraces and stone buildings overlooking the valley. Some sections involve climbing stairs, so take your time during the visit. You’ll stay in Ollantaytambo tonight in a hotel room with a private bathroom. Staying here puts you close to the train station for the next morning’s departure to the Inca Trail.

Your morning transfer to Ollantaytambo station is planned for around 7:30 a.m., depending on the confirmed train departure. Board the tourist train and follow the Urubamba River toward Km 104, where you’ll get off to begin the hike. Have the original passport used for your reservation ready for the checkpoint. 

The route begins at Chachabamba, then climbs into the cloud forest toward Wiñay Wayna. Expect uphill sections, uneven stone paths, and stairs along the way. At Wiñay Wayna, your guide explains the archaeological complex before you pause for a boxed lunch. 

Continue toward Intipunku, the Sun Gate. In clear weather, this is where Machu Picchu first comes into view below you. After a stop, follow the designated descent toward the site exit and take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes. Your main guided visit inside Machu Picchu takes place the following morning. The walking route covers approximately 11.5 km / 7.1 miles. Allow roughly 6–7 hours on the trail, depending on your pace and stops. You’ll spend the night in a hotel room with a private bathroom.

Take the morning shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, with departure arranged around your ticket’s entry time. At the entrance, present your ticket and the original passport linked to your booking. Your guided visit lasts approximately two hours, depending on the assigned circuit. 

As you follow the permitted route, your guide explains the site’s history, stone construction, and relationship with the surrounding landscape. The specific buildings and viewpoints you visit depend on your ticket; photo stops take place along that route. After leaving Machu Picchu, return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch before your train departure. 

Take the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo, where our representative meets you for the road transfer to Cusco. Arrival is expected around 7:00 p.m., subject to the confirmed train schedule and traffic.

Today has no scheduled guided excursions. Use it to rest after the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu visits, or spend time in the city at your own pace.

You might browse San Pedro Market, walk through San Blas, or sit down for a leisurely meal near the main square. These are suggestions for your free time; any additional activities and purchases are separate from the scheduled program.

Keep the evening relaxed ahead of the early departure for Rainbow Mountain.

We’ll pick you up from your Cusco hotel at approximately 5:00 a.m. and drive south through the Andean countryside. Stop for breakfast along the way, then continue to the trailhead for the Rainbow Mountain hike.

The ascent generally takes around two hours, although altitude and walking pace can make it longer. The route passes open highland scenery before reaching the viewpoint facing Vinicunca’s mineral-colored slopes. At approximately 5,200 m / 17,060 ft, this is the highest point of the package. The elevation makes the walk demanding even for travelers who hike regularly.

At the viewpoint, take in the colored ridges and, when visibility allows, views toward Ausangate. Your guide will consider the weather and the group’s condition when deciding how long to stay before descending.

After the hike, stop for lunch and begin the drive back to Cusco. The expected return is between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., though road and weather conditions can change the timing.

Your package ends with a transfer from your Cusco hotel to the airport. Pickup is coordinated with your flight departure time.

If your flight leaves later in the day, you may have time for breakfast or a final walk before the transfer. Hotel checkout and luggage arrangements should be confirmed with the property.