4 Days Classic Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain Hike

The second day of your Inca Trail adventure begins with a wake-up call and a hot cup of coca tea to help with the altitude. After packing your daypack and enjoying breakfast, you’ll set off on a gradual uphill ascent through a beautiful valley. Along the way, you’ll pass ancient Queñas and Uncas trees, entering a highland forest filled with unique flora and fauna.

After around 3 hours of hiking, you’ll reach the Llulluchapampa campsite, where a delicious lunch will be served.

In the afternoon, the trail steepens as you make your way to Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the day at 4,200 meters (13,780 feet). The breathtaking views from the summit are well worth the effort. After resting and enjoying the scenery, you’ll begin your descent to the Pacaymayu Alto campsite at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), where your tent will be waiting.

To unwind, you’ll enjoy a happy hour with hot drinks before a hearty dinner. After a physically challenging day, most trekkers rest early, preparing for the next day’s adventure in the tranquil surroundings of the Andes.

As you prepare to rest for the night, take in the beauty of the natural surroundings and the tranquility of the high Andes.

Accomodation: Camping
Tickets: Include
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – dinner

The third day of your Inca Trail adventure promises to be unique and captivating as you immerse yourself in diverse ecosystems and encounter the natural beauty of the Andes. This day stands out due to the opportunity to observe an array of stunning flowers, particularly orchids. Machu Picchu and its surroundings are home to around 135 different types of orchids, and you’ll have the chance to see many of them during your hike.

Your day will begin with an early breakfast to fuel your energy for the journey ahead. The trail will lead you uphill once more, with the first section of the hike lasting approximately 2 hours. Along this path, you’ll come across the Runcuracay, a small Inca site. Your guide will provide you with insights and information about this historical site, allowing you to explore its significance.

Following this exploration, you’ll continue the ascent for about 1 hour to reach the summit, which is the second-highest point of the entire hike. From this vantage point, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

After enjoying the views, you’ll begin the descent, which will last for approximately 1.5 hours. This part of the trail will lead you to the Sayacmarka Inca site, renowned for its exceptional beauty. Your guide will provide you with a guided tour of this site, giving you the opportunity to learn more about its historical significance. As you continue your journey, you’ll venture into the cloud forest, where the scenery changes, the weather becomes warmer, and the presence of mosquitoes becomes noticeable. Here, you’ll encounter a different set of flora and fauna, further enriching your hiking experience.

Around midday, you’ll pause for a well-deserved lunch, providing you with the energy needed for the remainder of the day’s hike. The next section of the trail, lasting approximately 2 hours, will take you to Phuyupatamarka. From this vantage point, you’ll have stunning views of Machu Picchu Mountain and the town of Aguas Calientes. This indicates that you are now in close proximity to the lost city of the Incas.

From this point onward, the trail is primarily downhill, with many stairs to navigate. Using trekking poles can be quite helpful during this section, which takes approximately 3.5 hours. Your destination is the final campsite, Wiñayhuana, situated at an elevation of 2,650 meters (8,694 feet) above sea level. This will be your last night camping on the trail, and it will be a memorable one as you prepare to reach Machu Picchu the following day.

Accomodation: Camping
Tickets: Include
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – dinner

The most important day of your Inca Trail adventure has arrived, as you’ll finally get to explore the magnificent Machu Picchu! The day begins with an early wake-up call at 3:30 am, followed by breakfast at 4 am. By 5:30 am, you’ll be at the checkpoint, your group will begin the walk to the famous Sun Gate, also known as Inti Punku. This iconic spot is exclusive to Inca Trail hikers and offers a stunning view of Machu Picchu. Arriving around 6:30 am will give you the opportunity to witness the sunrise over Machu Picchu, a truly unique and magical experience.

After taking in the breathtaking sunrise and capturing memorable photos, you’ll continue your hike for about 40 minutes, gradually descending until you reach the Machu Picchu citadel. As you arrive at the citadel, you’ll have ample time to explore and take postcard-worthy pictures. Your experienced guide will lead you on a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which typically lasts about 3 hours. During this time, you’ll visit the most important sites within the citadel and gain a deeper understanding of its history and significance.

Once you’ve completed your guided tour of Machu Picchu, you’ll have the option to bid farewell to the citadel and return to Aguas Calientes or, if you’ve booked tickets in advance, you can embark on a hike to Huayna Picchu, the iconic mountain that overlooks Machu Picchu. This hike takes about 2 hours to complete, and only a limited number of daily tickets are available (50 spots), so it’s essential to book these tickets in advance. There is an additional cost of $75 per ticket.

After you’ve finished your visit to Machu Picchu and, if applicable, your hike to Huayna Picchu, you’ll take a bus back to Aguas Calientes town. There, you’ll enjoy your last lunch as a group (please note that lunch is not included in the tour price). In the afternoon, you’ll board the train, typically around 3 pm, for the journey back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo, our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco, with an estimated arrival time of 7:30 pm. It’s a fitting end to an incredible journey along the Inca Trail.

Accomodation: Hotel in Cusco book on your own
Tickets: Include
Meals: only breakfast

Your Rainbow Mountain adventure begins early with a 4:00 AM pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. From there, you’ll embark on a scenic drive to Cusipata, where you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast to fuel up for the hike ahead.

After breakfast, the journey continues for approximately 1 more hour until you reach the trailhead at 4,300 meters (14,107 feet). Once there, you’ll prepare for the hike, and your guide will provide safety information and weather updates. If you have any extra belongings, you can leave them in the van, ensuring that you only carry the essentials for the trek.

The hike begins with a gradual ascent, taking around 2 hours at a slow and comfortable pace. As you approach the summit, the stunning views of Rainbow Mountain and its surrounding landscapes unfold. This is the perfect spot to take in the beauty, capture photos, and record videos of this iconic natural wonder.

After exploring Rainbow Mountain, the adventure continues as you hike toward the Red Valley. The trail here is similarly gradual, taking about 45 minutes to reach the upper part of the valley. At the top, you’ll be treated to some of the best views of the Red Valley, a breathtaking landscape that most groups don’t visit, so you’ll enjoy a quieter, more intimate experience with nature.

After soaking in the awe-inspiring views of the Red Valley, you’ll make your way back to the trailhead, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to Cusipata for a well-deserved lunch. After lunch, you’ll embark on the return journey to Cusco, which takes around 2 hours. You’ll arrive back in Cusco 5 to 6pm, where your guide will drop you off at your hotel, marking the end of a memorable and fulfilling day.

Accomodation: book on your own
Tickets: Include
Meals: breakfast and lunch