4-Day Cusco, Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain Tour

Four days tracing the Inca heartland from Cusco's stone temples to the cloud-wrapped ruins of Machu Picchu.

A 4-day private guided tour from Cusco visiting Qorikancha temple, Rainbow Mountain, and Machu Picchu with professional guide, all transport between sites, train tickets, meals, and airport pickup. Machu Picchu entry depends on Ministry of Culture ticket availability. If sold out, you receive a full refund. The itinerary requires moderate fitness and is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Qorikancha5h · entry included
2. Machu Picchu12h

Day 1: Arrival and Cusco city tour

• Arrival airport transfer to hotel
• Free morning to rest and acclimatize
• Meet at main square at 2:00pm
• Visit Koricancha temple
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Qenqo ritual center
• Visit PucaPucara fortress
• Visit Tambomachay Inca Bath
• Return to Cusco by mobility

Day 2: Machu Picchu guided tour

• Early departure from Cusco at 4:00am
• Travel to Ollantaytambo
• Board train to Machu Picchu
• Take bus to Machu Picchu citadel
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu (2.5 hours)
• Free time at Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Train back to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Day 3: Rainbow Mountain trek

• Pick up from hotel at 4:00am
• Travel to Cusipata district
• Breakfast buffet at Cusipata
• Travel to Wasipata area
• Start trek to Rainbow Mountain (Winicunca)
• Visit Rainbow Mountain (40 minutes)
• Return trek to mobility
• Return to Cusipata district
• Buffet lunch at Cusipata
• Return to Cusco city

Day 4: Free morning and optional tour

• Free morning to relax
• Optional Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour class

The experience

Day one starts with airport pickup and a free morning to adjust to Cusco's altitude. At 2 p.m. the guide meets you at the main square to begin the city tour: Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) with a 45-minute guided walk through the Inca stonework, then a series of four hilltop sites (Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay) each a different layer of Inca construction and ritual use. The day ends around 7 p.m. back in the city.

Day two departs Cusco at 4 a.m. for Ollantaytambo, where you board the train to Aguas Calientes. A guide meets you at Machu Picchu and leads a 2.5-hour tour of the citadel before free time to explore on your own. Lunch follows in Aguas Calientes, then the train returns you to Ollantaytambo and a drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

Day three is the Rainbow Mountain trek. Pickup at 4 a.m., breakfast at Cusipata, then a 1.5-hour trek uphill to Winicunca (Mountain of Colors) at high altitude, with 40 minutes to walk the ridges and take photos. The return trek takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Lunch is back at the restaurant in Cusipata, and you're back in Cusco by 4:30 p.m. Walking sticks and oxygen are provided.

Day four is free until your flight. An optional additional tour exploring Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour preparation is available if you want to stay active.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and hotel transfers on days one, two, three and four.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• entry tickets for Cusco city tour sites.
• train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return.
• bus transport between Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
• breakfast on day three and day four (if optional tour chosen).
• lunch in Aguas Calientes on day two, lunch at Cusipata on day three, and breakfast and lunch at Tintinco on day four.
• walking sticks and oxygen for the Rainbow Mountain trek.
• bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 12:30

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, so choose the language that fits your comfort level. The itinerary moves early each morning (4 a.m. pickups on days two and three), which suits travelers who adapt well to altitude and early starts. If you prefer a slower pace or have cardiovascular concerns, this tour's back-to-back high-altitude days may not be the right fit.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

What is Qorikancha and why is it the first stop in Cusco?

Qorikancha is the Temple of the Sun, the most important Inca religious site in Cusco. The guided tour of this temple is 45 minutes and opens the city tour because it represents the heart of Inca spiritual life in the region.

How long does it take to trek to Rainbow Mountain and what is the altitude?

The trek to Winicunca (Rainbow Mountain) takes 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the summit and 1 hour 15 minutes to return. The mountain sits at high altitude, which is why the tour includes oxygen and departs early in the morning from Cusco to allow time for acclimatization.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets are sold out when I book?

Machu Picchu entry tickets are controlled by Peru's Ministry of Culture and availability varies by day and circuit. If no tickets are available for your dates, you receive a full refund of the entire tour package. The guide will confirm availability before your trip.

Does the price include the train to Machu Picchu?

Yes, the tour includes both train tickets: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes on the way up, and Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo on the return. Transport by bus between Cusco and Ollantaytambo is also included.

How many meals are included across the four days?

The tour includes breakfast on day three (at Cusipata before the Rainbow Mountain trek), lunch on days two and three (in Aguas Calientes after Machu Picchu and at Cusipata after Rainbow Mountain), and breakfast and lunch on day four in Tintinco if you choose the optional gastronomy tour.

What should I know about the physical demands of this tour?

The tour requires at least moderate fitness. Day two involves walking the Machu Picchu citadel over 2.5 hours on stone terrain. Day three is a 1.5-hour uphill trek to Rainbow Mountain at high altitude. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.