Cusco & Machu Picchu: 5-Day Sacred Valley & Rainbow Mountain

Five days to walk where the Incas built their world

You're picked up at Cusco airport and taken through the city's Inca temples and fortress sites on day one. Day two moves through the Sacred Valley—Pisac, Ollantaytambo, then a train to Aguas Calientes. Day three is Machu Picchu with a 2.5-hour guided tour and free exploration time. Day four is Rainbow Mountain, a 2-kilometer hike in the high Andes starting before dawn. All tickets, trains, three-star hotels, and meals are included; the final day is your airport transfer.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Cusco and City Tour

• Pick-up at airport and hotel transfer
• Visit Cathedral at 13:00
• Visit Koricancha temple
• Explore Sacsayhuaman fortress
• Visit Tambomachay Inca baths
• See Qenko stone block and carvings
• Visit Pucapucara military center

Day 2 — Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Travel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Pick-up at hotel at 8:00 a.m.
• Visit Pisac archaeological site and market
• Lunch buffet at Restaurant Tunupa
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• Board train to Aguas Calientes at 16:36
• Arrive in Aguas Calientes at 18:10
• Meet guide for next day Machu Picchu tour

Day 3 — Machu Picchu Guided Tour

• Breakfast at hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Bus to Machu Picchu sanctuary
• Present entrance tickets and start tour
• 2.5 hours guided Machu Picchu tour
• Free time to explore Machu Picchu
• Return to Aguas Calientes village
• Lunch buffet at local restaurant
• Visit handicraft market
• Train to Ollantaytambo at 14:36 or 19:00
• Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
• Arrival and hotel transfer in Cusco

Day 4 — Rainbow Mountain Excursion

• Pick-up from hotel at 4:30-5:00 a.m.
• Drive 2 hours to Cusipata restaurant
• Breakfast at Cusipata
• Drive 1 hour to walk starting point
• Walk 2 km through Andean mountains
• 1.5 hour hike to Rainbow Mountain
• Enjoy 40 minutes at Rainbow Mountain
• Return hike downhill
• Shuttle to Cusipata for buffet lunch
• Return to Cusco by 17:00

Day 5 — Airport Transfer

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to airport for flight

The Experience

What if you could see Machu Picchu, hike Rainbow Mountain, and sleep in the Sacred Valley—all without arranging a single ticket or transfer yourself? This 5-day Cusco tour starts the moment you land. Airport pickup takes you straight to your hotel, and by afternoon you're walking through the Cathedral and Qorikancha, the principal Inca temple, with its 500 colonial paintings and stone work that still holds the shape of what the empire was. Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Pucapucara—the fortress sites ring the city on three platforms, and you see them all in one day, which means you're not jet-lagged and wandering; you're moving through the story of Cusco while it's still fresh.

Day two is the Sacred Valley push. You leave at 8 a.m., stop at Pisac to walk the archaeological site and browse the market, eat a buffet lunch at Restaurant Tunupa with typical Andean plates, then roll into Ollantaytambo—a village where the Inca layout is still visible in the streets and buildings. At 4:36 p.m. you board the train to Aguas Calientes, arriving at 6:10 p.m., and your guide meets you there. No scrambling for tickets or figuring out which train company to use; it's all arranged. The next morning you take a 30-minute bus up to Machu Picchu, get a 2.5-hour guided tour of the sanctuary, then have free time to walk the terraces and temples on your own. Lunch is back in Aguas Calientes, and you catch the evening train home—either the standard service or an upgrade to Vistadome or First Class if you want to pay the difference.

Rainbow Mountain is the fourth day, and it starts early: pickup between 4:30 and 5 a.m., a two-hour drive to Cusipata for breakfast, then another hour to the trailhead. The walk itself is about 2 kilometers uphill through high Andean landscape with snowcapped peaks around you, taking roughly an hour. When you reach the mountain—the one with the striated colors that look painted—you get 40 minutes to stand there and take it in. The descent is easier, and by noon you're back at Cusipata eating a buffet lunch before the shuttle returns you to Cusco around 5 p.m. The whole day is physical; the itinerary notes you need at least moderate fitness, and it's not recommended if you have spinal issues or cardiovascular concerns. But if you're able, the colors are real—mineral deposits, altitude, and light make them shift depending on the hour and the clouds.

On the fifth day, after breakfast, the driver takes you to the airport. Everything is included: all entry tickets to the sites, the train rides, three-star hotel stays, meals at the restaurants listed in the itinerary, and the air-conditioned vehicles between stops. You're not paying separately for Machu Picchu entry or the train fare or figuring out how to get from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The only variables are if you want to upgrade the train class or if you're traveling with an infant (specialized seats are available). Book this if you want the main Cusco and Machu Picchu circuit without arranging transport, tickets, and timing yourself—the fixed schedule is what keeps all four sites inside five days without leaving you stranded or rushed.

What’s included

Your five days include airport pickup and return transfer, all entry tickets to Cusco sites (Cathedral, Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Pucapucara), the Sacred Valley tour with Pisac and Ollantaytambo, train travel to and from Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu entry and a 2.5-hour guided tour, the Rainbow Mountain hike with breakfast and lunch, three-star hotel accommodation in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, meals at the restaurants specified in the itinerary, and all ground transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Train class upgrades are available for an additional fee.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rap Travel Peru

Is this one for you?This tour is built for travelers who want the main Cusco and Machu Picchu highlights in five days without arranging transport, tickets, or timing themselves—the fixed itinerary and included logistics are what make the whole circuit possible without a second booking or negotiation.

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Top questions

How many hours is the Machu Picchu tour?

The guided portion is 2.5 hours, followed by free time to explore on your own. The full day in Aguas Calientes includes the bus ride up (30 minutes), the tour, lunch, and time at the handicraft market before the evening train back.

What time does the Rainbow Mountain hike start?

Pickup is between 4:30 and 5 a.m. from your hotel. The walk itself is about 2 kilometers and takes roughly one hour uphill, with 40 minutes at the summit before you descend.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is at your hotel each morning. Lunch is included on the Sacred Valley day (buffet at Restaurant Tunupa) and on the Rainbow Mountain day (buffet at Cusipata). Other meals are not included.

Can I upgrade the train to Machu Picchu?

Yes. The tour includes standard Inka Rail service. You can upgrade to Perurail Vistadome or Inca Rail First Class by paying the difference at booking.

Is this tour suitable for people with physical limitations?

The itinerary requires at least moderate physical fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. The Rainbow Mountain hike involves altitude and a 2-kilometer uphill walk.

What hotel class is included?

Three-star hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Vista). Specific properties may vary by availability.

Is airport transfer included?

Yes. Pickup at Cusco airport on arrival and transfer to the airport on your final day are both included.

What is the best time to book this tour?

Train schedules vary by season, so availability and departure times may change. Book as early as possible to secure your preferred dates and train times.