Hike to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain  - 8 Days

On arrival at Cusco International Airport in Peru, we will be greeted by a representative of Himalayan Glacier who will drop us off at our designated hotel in Cusco. Since Cusco is located at a high altitude, we recommend that you take plenty of rest and rehydrate in your hotel room to take upon the challenges in the upcoming days. In the afternoon at 5:0 pm, we will briefly discuss our trip itinerary with our trip leader. We would probably want to go to bed early after dinner today. Overnight in Cusco.

Today, following an early breakfast at our hotel, we will commence our exploration of the Sacred Valley with visits to Pisac (2,972m/9,750ft.) and Ollantaytambo (2,792m/9,160ft.). Pisac, situated along the Vilcanota River, is renowned for its Incan ruins and bustling market, which attracts many tourists. While at Pisac, we’ll tour the Archaeological Park, which includes the largest Incan burial site, a temple complex featuring a sun temple, ceremonial altars, and intricate water channels. After concluding our visit here, we’ll have some free time to wander through the Pisac local market.

Ollantaytambo showcases magnificent architecture with remarkable stonework and advanced agricultural techniques. The key attractions in this town include the Temple of the Sun, perched atop a pyramid of seventeen terraces, and the Terraces, a distinctive feature of the Sacred Valley. Following a full day of exploration, we will return to our hotel in Cusco. This day tour will help our bodies acclimatize to the lower oxygen levels while offering an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture of the Sacred Valley. We will spend the night in Cusco.

To begin the classic Inca Trail trek adventure, we’ll pick you up from your place in Cusco between 4 and 5 AM. We’ll then take a 1.5-hour journey in our private transport to reach the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our starting point is Kilometer 82 (2,700m/8,858ft.), the first checkpoint of the Inca Trail. Here, you’ll meet our team, and we’ll cross the Urubamba River to officially start our 4-day hike. The first day is relatively easy as we visit a city like  Patallacta (2602m / 8537 ft), an essential center with administrative, economic, and religious significance. We’ll also explore Willkarakay, a military post above Patallacta. Afterward, we’ll enter the lush Wayllabamba valley, following the Cusichaca River(“happy bridge”). We’ll walk through the Andean forest and reach our first campsite in Wayllabamba(3,100m/10,170ft.).

After an early rise and breakfast, we will continue the day’s hike up the highest point on the Inca Trail, called Warmihuañusca or “dead woman’s pass” (4,215m/13,828ft). This morning hike is physically challenging, especially for those not used to high altitudes, but it’s also incredibly scenic. In the first part of the hike, we’ll walk for about 1.5 hours through thick vegetation until we reach a campsite called Three Stones, where we’ll take a short break. As we continue our ascent, the landscape will change as we enter the inter-Andean forests full of Unca trees.  After that  2 hours of uphill hike, we will reach another campsite called Llulluchapampa (3,850m/12,631ft.), which is our lunch spot.

After lunch, we will continue our hike for about 2 hours to the highest point on the Inca Trail, Abra Warmihuañusca (the Dead Woman’s Pass) at (4,215m/13,828ft.). We will take plenty of photographs before descending to Pacaymayo Valley (3,500m/11,483ft.). The views from the Dead Woman’s Pass are marvelous where we get to see glaciers, valleys, and unending mountains. After descending for a few hours, we will reach our campsite for the day. Overnight Camping in Pacaymayu.

We will begin a 45-minute hike early in the morning after breakfast to climb yet another archaeological site, the Abra Runkurakay (3,970m/13,025ft.),  which used to be a resting lodge for ancient travelers. From the top of the second pass, we begin descending towards Yanacocha, the Black Lagoon entering the cloud forest and passing through various bio-zones. Then we arrive at Sayacmarca, a beautiful complex at (3,624m/11,889ft.) and explore the area. After exploring the beautiful complex, we continue our hike to Chaquicocha (3,600m/11,811ft.) where we have lunch.

After lunch, we continued hiking on a particularly beautiful trail for about one and a half hours to reach the third pass, the Abra Phuyupatamarca (3,700m/12,139ft.). Here, we will enjoy the views and also explore the Sacred Valley and beautiful archaeological sites. From there, we’ll descend to our last campsite, passing an important archaeological site and a temple used for offerings to the mountain spirits. A bit further, we’ll reach our campsite for the night, Wiñayhuayna.

Today is our last hiking day and the wakeup call is very early at around 4:00, leading us to the “Inti Punku” or Sun Gate (2,730m/8,956ft.), which is the main entrance to the breathtaking Machu Picchu. This part of the trail is relatively easy, and it offers a fantastic spot to view Machu Picchu, especially if the weather is clear.  From the Sun Gate, we will descend for almost an hour to arrive at the Guardian’s House from where we get to gaze at Machu Picchu (2,430m/7,972ft.) in all its grandeur. We will have a complete guided tour of Machu Picchu City that will take about 2 hours. During this tour, we will visit amazing places like the Inca Bridge, temples, and palaces.

If you choose, there’s an optional hike to Huayna Picchu (at an additional cost and must be booked in advance). In the afternoon, we’ll take a bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have lunch and receive your train tickets for the journey back to Cusco. The train will take you to Ollantaytambo, where our guide will be waiting to drive you the rest of the way back to your Cusco hotel.

You’ll begin your journey to the breathtaking Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain by getting picked up from your hotel between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. After a scenic 2-hour drive through picturesque valleys and farming communities, we will reach Cusipata town (3,329 m / 12,772 ft). From there, the 2-hour hike starts in Phuluwasipata, leading you to the majestic rainbow mountain at 5,020 m (16,470 ft). A 30-minute break at this high point allows for rest and refreshments before a 1.5-hour descent back to Phuluwasipata, where your transportation awaits.

Following the trek, we will head to a restaurant in Cusipata for lunch before returning to Cusco in a private van. After we will be back at our hotel between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. On this day, we will bid a final goodbye to our journey with a farewell dinner with the guide.

Your adventure in Peru ends today. A representative of Himalayan Glacier will pick you up from our hotel and drop you at the International Airport for your onward journey or back home. However, you have options to extend your stay and join other tours that Peru has to offer. Himalayan Glacier is more than happy to assist with arranging other remarkable tours and extra nights in the hotel.