5 Day Cusco Tour: Inca Trail 2 Day, Rainbow Mountain & Humantay Lake

Your 5 Day Cusco Tour begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 am. You will enjoy the scenic ride through the Sacred Valley of the Incas while gazing at the stunning mountains and verdant landscapes. Your Qoricancha Expeditions guide will make a few stops along the way so you can enjoy the stunning Andes scenery and take pictures, a perfect introduction to your Classic Inca Trail Trek Peru experience.

One of the highlights of the day is a visit to an Alpaca farm, where you will get to see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos up close. Your tour guide will explain the difference with the Andean animals, explain the significance of those animals in Incan culture and provide insights into the traditional weaving from skilled local artisans – the opportunity to experience and witness living history in Peru.

As your Inca Trail Peru Tour continues, you will visit the Pisac Inca archaeological site, which is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with a primary focus on agriculture and ceremonial purpose. Pisac is comprised of unique sectors such as urban, religious and farming grounds.

After discovering Pisac, you'll head to the town's famous local market, a colorful melting pot filled with Andean villagers exchanging goods and artisans exhibiting handmade textiles and crafts. This is your chance to pick up some honest souvenirs and experience traditional Andean life up close.

You will then enjoy lunch in Urubamba at a fantastic restaurant nestled in the mountains before continuing to the Ollantaytambo Inca site, often referred to as “the last living Inca city.” Ollantaytambo is famous for its prestigious terraces, as well as the sacred rock formations symbolizing the god Wiracocha. Your knowledgeable guide will be able to explain how the city was constructed and what it meant in the scope of Inca history.

To close out your day, you'll check into your hotel in the quaint town of Ollantaytambo and have time to off and explore on your own. This satisfying first day of the 5 Day Trek to Machu Picchu highlights history, culture, and nature just as its meant to be - the perfect way to begin your 5 Days 4 Nights Inca Trail journey with Qoricancha Expeditions!

• Accommodation: Sol Natura or similar.
• Tickets: Included
• Meals: Only Lunch.

The adventure starts at 5:45 AM when we pick you up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo. After a short walk to the train station we board the train to km 104, which is the start point for your Short Inca Trail. Here at the checkpoint you are required to show your original passport and request it to be stamped for you, which marks the start of your Inca Trail Peru tour.

Once ready, you will start the hike by going to Chacabamba Inca site located at the very start of the trail. Here your guide will give you a captivating tour with a history of the site. You will then make your way up an uphill climb which is gradual for about 3.5 hours, where you will stop at points of interest to see the spectacular views, savour some snacks, and enjoy your natural surroundings.  You will walk amongst a cloud forest while you may have the chance to see different exotic flora, particularly orchids; and you may see the humming birds flutter in front of you in the air.

After you arrive at the next stop on your Inca Trail Peru tour Wiñay Wayna, which is an impressive Inca ruin that everyone describes as a “mini Machu Picchu”.  Here you will tour the site with a guide which will allow you to learn it's significance, here you can also have free time to explore this amazing archaeological site.

Later, you will enjoy a tasty lunch before continuing your hike. With about an hour hiking you will arrive at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), this is a special viewpoint the only hikers on the Inca Trail can access to get a stunning view of Machu Picchu. You should arrive around 2:00 PM to get some great views of the citadel in the afternoon light with potential views of the sunset over the ancient ruins.

After the Sun Gate, the trail descends for one hour until you arrive at the citadel of Machu Picchu. Your path will take you to upper part of the citadel to get a variety of panoramic views of the iconic Machu Picchu ruins. You will have ample amount of time to take pictures, walk around the site, and take in the wonderful scenery.

Finally, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check in to your hotel. After a shower, you will sit down for a much needed dinner at a local restaurant and cap off your memorable day on the Short Inca Trail Peru.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Machu Picchu  or similar
• Tickets: Included
• Meals: breakfast – lunch and dinner

Today marks the day you've been hoping for all along, the day of your Inca Trail Peru tour! After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. When you arrive, your guide will take you to the highest point of the site where things are determined to be worth it, to see the sunrise (depending on the season) and snap some beautiful photos of Machu Picchu in the morning light.

Take your time to drink in every minute of the magnificent view of the New Wonder of the World. After taking in the incredible beauty, your guide will commence a full walking tour around Machu Picchu, seeing the key sectors and palaces in this incredible Inca Citadel. The guide will take your group on approximately a 2.5-hour walking tour, engaging with history and providing lengthier explanations about the incredible details of the site and its storied past. 

When you finish the tour, if you have a Huayna Picchu ticket, you will have the opportunity to hike this renowned mountain. The Huayna Picchu trek is a challenging yet rewarding climb that lasts roughly two hours. The views from the top and the perspectives over Machu Picchu will be unmatched. Huayna Picchu tickets must be booked in advance, and each ticket costs $75.

If you do not have a Huayna Picchu ticket, you will say goodbye to the Lost City of the Incas and take a bus down to Aguas Calientes. In Aguas Calientes, you will enjoy one last lunch with the group (lunch not included).

After lunch, you will take a train back to Ollantaytambo, where a driver will be waiting for you to take you back to Cusco and the hotel. The anticipated arrival time in Cusco is around 8:00 pm and your adventure on the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu will come to an end.

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or similar
• Tickets: Include
• Meals: Only breakfast at hotel.

Embark on the Humantay Lake Day Hike from Cusco, one of the most beautiful experiences in Peru! An all-day excursion through the Andes awaits, featuring jaw-dropping scenery and turquoise glacial waters.

Your local tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 AM to kick-off your unforgettable Humantay Lake tour. After a scenic drive of roughly 2 hours, you will arrive in Mollepata, a charming Andean village, where breakfast is served, and the adventure continues. After breakfast, it’s time to get back on the road for about 1 hour, along a scenic mountain road, until you reach Soraypampa (3,850 m / 12,631 ft) - the jump-off point of your Salkantay trek to Humantay Lake!

At that altitude, the air can be chilly, so make sure to pack warm layers, gloves, and a hat. While the weather is typically sunny between May and October, it is wise to wear sunscreen and a proper hat to shield you from the sun at that altitude.

The journey to the Humantay Lake begins with a 2-hour vertical ascent through the stunning Andean landscapes. Although the last part is steep, the views of the Salkantay glacier, the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, are truly amazing. Once we arrive at Humantay Lagoon, the turquoise color of its glacial waters reflecting the snow-capped peaks surrounding the lagoon will amaze you, truly one of the best hikes in Peru.

Please take some time to get comfortable, moment and enjoy some incredible photos of this wonderful site. Once we feel satisfied with our time at Humantay Lagoon we will descend approximately 1.5 hours back down to Soraypampa where our transportation will meet us.

We will stop again in Mollepata for a local lunch before heading back to Cusco. We will arrive back in Cusco by approximately 6:00 PM, the end of a busy day of adventure on this unforgettable Humantay Lake and Salkantay trek tour beautiful experience for any nature & hiking lovers visiting Peru.

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or similar
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: breakfast and lunch

Prepare for a memorable journey to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley. Your local guide will collect you from your accommodation in Cusco at 4:00 AM, and we will continue our 3-hour ride to the start of the trek. On the way, you will have breakfast to eat before you hike.

When we get to the trailhead, at 4,350 meters (14,271 ft) above sea level, we will be ready for the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley 1-day hike. Because of the high altitude, it will be cold and dry, so please bring warm layers, gloves, and a hat.

The hike to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) will be about 4 kilometers (2.5 hours) of steady incline, while the group enjoys sweeping views of the entire Andes mountain range. At the top of Rainbow Mountain, we will be at 5,150 meters (16,896 ft), and you will have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views and take amazing photos of the brightly colored Rainbow Mountain, which is undoubtedly a major highlight of any day trip from Cusco.

The journey proceeds to the Red Valley which can found just beyond Rainbow Mountain. From a higher vantage point, experience breathtaking views of this stunning red landscape which is one of the strangest geological formations in the Peruvian Andes. The contrasting colors and tranquility of the valley create a memorable time as a part of this hike.

After discovering Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley, we will head back down the same trail to meet our driver for a short 50-minute car ride to a local restaurant to enjoy a wonderful, traditional lunch before making the return trip to Cusco by 5:30 PM.

This Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley full day tour is a great hiking experience and a must-do for all nature lovers, photographers and adventurers wanting to see two of the most colorful landscapes in the Andes. 

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or similar
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: B – L.