Sacred Valley + Short Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain Tour – 4 Days

DAY 1: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (Pisac + Moray + Maras + Salt mines + Ollantaytambo) 

We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:30 am with our private van and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, taking the route to Pisac. Our first stop is the Mirador of Taray to enjoy a beautiful overhead view of the Sacred Valley. Next, we head to the archaeological site of Pisac, where you can see the biggest Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs. There, we can admire the hand-carved farming terraces built into the side of the Mountain, explore the Inca tunnel, and the religious site of this famous Inca ruin. After approximately 2 hours, we will visit the colorful Pisac Market, the largest in the area. Then we will see unique handicrafts before heading to Urubamba for lunch.

After lunch, we visit Moray, which was an experimental farming site built in the form of an amphitheater with different temperatures at each level, which grows different types of crops. These levels of terraces were carved before the Incas took control of the Sacred Valley and then used by them to discover optimal growing conditions for their crops.

We continue our journey to the colonial town of Maras, walking downhill to the pre-Inca salt mines. Over three thousand salt ponds have been used to extract salt since before Inca times and still supplies Peru with over 90% of its salt. A hot spring at the top of the valley runs a stream of salt water into salt ponds and produces salt. Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo to explore this traditional Inca village and the Inca Ruins with your English-speaking guide. Here we have dinner spend the night at our hotel in Ollantaytambo, so we are ready to catch the early morning train to the starting point of the Inca Trail.

• Hotel in Ollantaytambo: Veronica View Hotel or Tunupa Lodge

DAY 2: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104  – WIÑAY HUAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am to take you to the Ollantaytambo train station, which is very close, to take the 6:10 am Expedition Train. We take the train to KM 104, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you need to show your passport at the checkpoint. There we visit the first Inca site nearby.  At this point, we begin our 3-hour trek to Wiñay Wayna archaeological site (2,650/8,747ft) also known as Forever Young in Quechua.  The first hour and a half is a gentle hike upward. Along the way, we stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River and pass through several microclimates, including a cloud forest. We are then challenged by a slightly steeper uphill trek and rewarded at the end with a beautiful waterfall to enjoy.

Upon reaching Wiñay Wayna, we will rest, eat your gourmet box lunch and enjoy the dazzling views of this amazing site. Here at Wiñay Wayna we finally intersect with the Classic Inca Trail. These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle.  Be sure to ask your guide to share about its history. 

After having our well-deserved rest, just one last one hour trek before reaching the Sun Gate (2,730m/9,00ft). We know we are close to the Sun Gate when we experience our last challenge with a final set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca Trail.  Upon passing through the Sun Gate and taking a turn, we get the first glimpse of the mysterious Machu Picchu Citadel.  It is just an hour hike down the flat rock stairs to Machu Picchu. Be sure to have your camera ready to take all of the incredible views of Machu Picchu Citadel along the way.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to take in this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals: Box Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Wiracocha Inn or Intipunku Tambo
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 3: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

After an early breakfast at your hotel, we are ready to get an early bus at 5:30am up to Machu Picchu just in time to witness the sunrise. It is a truly mystical site out of history and not something you’ll want to miss! After enjoying the sunrise your guide will provide a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes around two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel during your tour. 

After the tour, those people that have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu will have time to hike it on their own. When they have had their fill of the incredible views of Machu Picchu, a bus back down to Aguas Calientes will be waiting. Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes lunch is waiting with numerous restaurants to choose from (lunch not included). Depending on your train departure time, there may be some time for shopping, or sightseeing.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm 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. Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van. You can expect to arrive at your hotel about 7:00pm.

• 3* Accommodations: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• Meals: breakfast

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 2-day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $57 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.

DAY 4: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – CUSCO

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4 am to begin our incredible Rainbow Mountain Trek! We set out on our 3-hour scenic drive through the South Valley, where you have views of farming Inca terraces, valleys, and rocky mountains. 

Once you reach the beginning of the trail, you will have a hot breakfast before beginning our hike alongside a stream. You will see herds of alpacas and llamas all around you and have views of Ausangate Mountain as we hike through different villages and interact with the indigenous people who still live traditionally.

We reach our destination – the Rainbow Mountains (5,020m /16,466ft) after a 1.5-hour hike, where you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures and savor the environment as we spend approximately 30 minutes at the top.

At this point, we hike for another hour back down the way we came. While you have been hiking, your chef has been preparing your hearty and delicious lunch. Our meal and private van will be waiting for us when we return.

We will begin our scenic 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, depending on how fast you hike and how long you wish to stay at the Rainbow Mountain site.

• Meals: hot breakfast & lunch