Short on time, but would love to see Peru’s best-ofs? You know, Machu Picchu, the Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley? And all of that in just, say…5 days? These are some of the most extraordinary places on Earth and we’ll get to experience all of them! First we’ll head to the Sacred Valley, an ancient Incan and archeological paradise. Once we soak it all in, we’ll be ready to climb the world-famous Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. As if that’s not enough, we’ll end our trip with a hike up to the absurdly beautiful slopes of Rainbow Mountain. Not bad for the trip of a lifetime, right?
Trains and buses will help us move along and maximize our time in the Peruvian Andes
Stroll through the famous Pisaq Market, try out Peruvian cuisine, and explore Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire
After years of looking at it through the screen, finally witness the Lost City of the Incas
Machu Picchu may be the thing that draws you in, but the Sacred Valley and the Rainbow Mountain are just as incredible. We’ll be able to explore all these marvels with a 5-day tour that’s combining train rides and some hiking. We will observe the scenery from a comfy seat as the train snakes its way through the cloud forest and high mountain passes, passing by multi-level terraces above the clouds. Our guides have covered all the logistical stuff—they’ll drop us off and pick us up wherever we need to be, they’ve arranged good quality hotels, and we’ll have a terrific guide by our side.
Your guides will pick you up from Cusco Airport and take you to the hotel. Later on in the day, you will explore downtown Cusco as a way to acclimatize to higher altitudes.
Accommodation: Mamasara, a three-star hotel in Cusco
After a hearty breakfast, your guides will pick you up at around 7:30 am. First stop of the day—the Sacred Valley lookout point! You can count on terrific views and pics. After that you’ll visit the famous Pisaq Market, where people come down from the Andean villages to sell their textiles and vegetables. Continue the journey up to the Pisaq Inca Archeological site, located on top of Pisaq Mountain in the Sacred Valley.
Drive to Urubamba and stop for lunch, then continue onto Ollantaytambo. This living Inca town features narrow walkways lines with water canals. Later in the afternoon, head to the train station and catch your train to Aguas Calientes. Once there, settle into your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Min/max elevation: 2,040 m (6,693 ft) / 2,430 m (7,972 ft)
Accommodation: Coya Palace, a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
Today’s the day! The absolute highlight of any trip to South America—the majestic Machu Picchu. You’ll have a guided tour that will help you discover and understand what Machu Picchu tells us about the life and customs of the Inca people. There’s also an option to take the challenging, unguided hike to the top of Huayna Picchu (extra cost as you need a ticket), where you’ll get the best view of the site. The hike is recommended for people who are fit enough to reach the viewpoint.
After a long day of exploring the lost city, take the bus to Aguas Calientes and then the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to a hotel for a good night’s rest.
Meals: Breakfast
Min/max elevation: 2,040 m (6,693 ft) / 2,430 m (7,972 ft)
Accommodation: Mamasara, a three-star hotel in Cusco
Walking time: 2 hours
You’ll have an early start today—your guides will pick you up at around 3 am! The drive to the trailhead takes three hours, and your guides will make sure you have breakfast along the way.
Once you’re at an altitude of 4,326 m (14,189 ft), it’s time to start the hike with constant views of the Ausangate Mountain. In about 2.5 hours, you’ll have reached your destination and you’ll enjoy the views of the Rainbow Mountains at 5,020 m (14,466 ft). After taking in the beauty of it all, hike downhill the way you came. Your guides will take you for lunch and then back to Cusco—expect to be there around 5 pm.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Min/max elevation: 4,795 m (15,371 ft) / 5,100 m (16,732 ft)
Accommodation: Mamasara, a three-star hotel in Cusco
Walking time: 4-4.5 hours
After breakfast, your guides will drop you off at the Cusco Airport. If you’d like to stay longer and explore this wonder of a country, just ask your guides for some recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about this train & hike tour to Machu Picchu is that it’s suitable for everyone with a normal level of fitness. No prior experience is necessary. This tour is special because you’ll use trains to reach some places, making it significantly easier to reach Machu Picchu—not everyone is keen on hiking several days, and that’s okay! This tour is perfect for you then.
Still, keep in mind that you’ll have to do some uphill hiking, up to 2.5 hours per day for three days in a row, gaining up to 500 m (1,640 ft) of elevation gain. Day 4 is perhaps the most difficult, while other days are easier.
The city of Cusco is located at 3,400 m (11,150 ft) above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness. Your guides created this tour in a way that you have time to acclimatize to the Cusco altitude before going further up.
A few tips on dos and don’ts for adapting to the altitude:
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring for hiking to Machu Picchu:
Clothing and gear list:
Group sizes and pricing
Machu Picchu hikes can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Cusco, most people fly into Cusco International Airport (CUZ). From there, you can take a shuttle service to your accommodation in Cusco.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at your accommodation in Cusco, and take you to the trailhead. At the end of your adventure, you will return to Cusco via train.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
Generally, Peru is safe to visit. Like all countries, it has some bad neighborhoods, crime and political instability. However, there is no need to be concerned about political unrest.
We had a chance to catch up with our local guide Roland Llave, co-founder of CrossoverPeru Tours, who shared a few thoughts on the current political climate in Peru: “At the core, these protests are a way for the people in South America to express themselves and fight for what they believe in. We recognize this might be unnerving for travelers, but this is part of our culture.”
Roland let us know that the protests have stopped for now. Roads, airports, and lives are back to normal. As always, there is potential for more unrest because, as he mentioned, protesting is part of their culture and how they honor their beliefs and rights. If you have any concerns about traveling to Peru or South America, please reach out and we will help you navigate the best option for your travels.
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
