7-Day Cusco, Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain Tour

You cross an ancient bridge made of woven grass, rebuilt each year by hand.

A 7-day guided tour from Cusco covering the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and the Inca Bridge of Q'eswachaka, with professional guides in English or Spanish, hotel pickups, train travel to Aguas Calientes, and most meals. Machu Picchu entry is subject to availability through Peru's Ministry of Culture. If tickets are unavailable, you receive a full refund.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup and city tour

• Airport pickup and transfer to hotel
• Rest and acclimatize in the morning
• Meet at main square at 2:00pm
• Visit Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
• Travel to Sacsayhuaman
• Visit Sacsayhuaman ruins
• Visit Qenqo ritual center
• Visit PucaPucara fortress
• Visit Tambomachay (Inca Bath)
• Return to Cusco

Day 2: Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00am
• Travel to Pisaq archaeological site
• Guided tour of Pisaq site
• Travel to Urubamba for buffet lunch
• Travel to Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• Guided tour of Ollantaytambo
• Travel to train station
• Train to Aguas Calientes
• Overnight in Aguas Calientes
• Evening briefing for Machu Picchu visit

Day 3: Machu Picchu visit and return

• Early bus to Machu Picchu ruins
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Free time in Aguas Calientes
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Bus to Cusco

Day 4: Rainbow Mountain trek

• Pick up from hotel at 4:00am
• Travel to Cusipata district
• Buffet breakfast in Cusipata
• Travel to Wasipata area
• Trek to Rainbow Mountain (Winicunca)
• Visit Rainbow Mountain
• Return trek to mobility
• Return to Cusipata for buffet lunch
• Return to Cusco city

Day 5: Humantay Lake hike

• Pick up from hotel at 4:00am
• Travel to Mollepata for breakfast
• Travel to Soraypampa
• Hike to Humantay Lagoon
• Enjoy fauna and flora
• Return hike to Soraypampa
• Travel to Mollepata for lunch
• Return to Cusco

Day 6: Q'eswachaka Inca Bridge visit

• Pick up from hotel at 7:00am
• Travel south of Cusco to four lagoons
• Visit four lagoons
• Visit Pabellones volcano near Yanaoca
• Visit Q'eswachaka Inca hanging bridge
• Cross Inca bridge both sides
• Visit Inca colonial bridge of Checacupe
• Return to Cusco

Day 7: Departure and optional tour

• Free morning to relax
• Optional Peruvian gastronomy and pisco sour class
• Transfer to airport or bus station

The experience

The tour starts with airport pickup and a city tour of Cusco on day one: Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay, the Inca Bath. Day two moves into the Sacred Valley with guided stops at Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, lunch in Urubamba, then a train to Aguas Calientes for the night. Day three is Machu Picchu itself: an early bus to the ruins, a guided tour, and the return by train and bus to Cusco. The itinerary then splits into two high-altitude treks: Rainbow Mountain on day four (a 1.5-hour hike each way to 5,200 meters, with breakfast and lunch at the base) and Humantay Lake on day five (a 1.5-hour walk to 4,250 meters, also with meals). Day six takes you south to the Inca Bridge of Q'eswachaka, a hanging bridge of woven grass fiber that spans the Apurímac River. You walk both directions across it and see the colonial bridge at Checacupe on the return. Day seven is a free morning before your airport or bus station transfer.

Professional guides lead every major site in either English or Spanish. Transport includes hotel pickups each morning, buses between towns, and the train journey to Aguas Calientes (Voyager or Expedition class). Breakfast and lunch are provided on the high-altitude days (Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake), plus lunch in Urubamba on day two and in Aguas Calientes on day three. Walking sticks are supplied for both lake and mountain treks. The Sacred Valley entrance fee and Machu Picchu admission are included, though Machu Picchu tickets depend on availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture: circuits 1 and 2 are standard, and if none are available, the operator refunds your full tour cost.

What’s included

• Airport or bus station pickup and hotel transfers throughout.
• professional guide in English or Spanish for city tour, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and Inca Bridge.
• train travel from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return (Voyager or Expedition class).
• bus to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes.
• breakfast and lunch on Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake days.
• lunch in Urubamba and Aguas Calientes.
• Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu entrance fees.
• walking sticks for both high-altitude treks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 05:30, 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?Book this 7-day tour if you're traveling without a car or staying in different towns: all transport between sites, hotels and the airport is arranged, and the fixed itinerary means you don't coordinate trains, buses or guide meetings yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the physical demand like on the high-altitude days?

Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake both involve 1.5-hour hikes at altitudes above 4,200 meters. Travelers should have moderate fitness. The tour is not recommended for those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

Do I need to book my own hotel in Aguas Calientes?

Hotel accommodation varies by option: some packages include lodging and others do not. Confirm which option you're selecting at checkout, as this changes your total cost.

What happens if Machu Picchu tickets sell out?

Machu Picchu entry is subject to availability from Peru's Ministry of Culture. If no tickets are available in circuits 1 or 2, you receive a full refund of your entire tour package.

Are meals included every day?

Breakfast and lunch are provided on Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake days, plus lunch in Urubamba (day two) and Aguas Calientes (day three). Other meals are not included.

How do I get to the starting point if I'm not flying into Cusco?

If you arrive by bus at Cusco's station, the operator includes a pickup transfer to your hotel. Airport pickups are also included. Confirm your arrival method when booking.