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From the towering heights of Machu Picchu to the rich flavors of a Peruvian kitchen, this hiking tour blends the best of Peru’s landscapes and culinary traditions. After exploring the Sacred Valley’s most iconic views, we’ll roll up our sleeves for a hands-on cooking experience—think sizzling lomo saltado, refreshing Pisco sour, and layered causa limeña. Along the way, we’ll wander the colorful Pisaq market, witness the surreal salt terraces of Maras, and marvel at the vibrant slopes of Rainbow Mountain. This adventure is all about big moments: awe-inspiring sights, fresh flavors, and experiences that reveal Peru’s soul one step at a time.

Adventure highlights

  • Machu Picchu wonders

    Visit the iconic Machu Picchu and uncover the mysteries of the Inca civilization

  • Rainbow Mountain views

    Hike up to Rainbow Mountain, one of Peru’s most stunning natural wonders

  • Culinary delights

    Master the art of making traditional Peruvian dishes and cocktails such as lomo saltado and Pisco sour in a hands-on cooking class

Itinerary

This Peruvian hiking adventure will take us through the legendary Sacred Valley, with stops at Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and the ancient salt mines of Maras. We’ll start our journey with a scenic Cusco city tour, then venture to the famous Pisaq Market and the agricultural terraces of Moray. A highlight of this tour is a Peruvian cooking class where we’ll learn the secrets of lomo saltado, causa limeña, and the iconic Pisco sour. Every day brings a new way to explore Peru’s culture and landscapes, making this the ultimate combination of adventure, flavors, and history.

  • Your guides will pick you up from Cusco airport and take you to the hotel. Later on, we’ll explore Cusco’s downtown area, mostly around the main square and its cobbled streets as a way to acclimatize to the high altitude.

    Max Elevation: 3,399 m / 11,151 ft
    Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco, Mamasara

    Welcome to Cusco, Peru
  • Your guides will pick you up from your Cusco Hotel around 7:30am. Our first stop is the Sacred Valley Lookout Point, where we’ll enjoy stunning views and great photo-ops. After that, we will visit the famous Pisaq market, where people come down from the Andean villages to sell their textiles and vegetables. We will continue the journey up to the Pisaq Inca archeological site, located on top of Pisaq Mountain in the Sacred Valley.

    Then, we will drive, until we reach Urubamba, where we will stop for lunch (not included in the price). After lunch, we will drive to the Incan town of Ollantaytambo. Later in the afternoon you will head to the train station and catch the train to Aguas Calientes. Once there, your guides will lead you to your hotel. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Min Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
    Max Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
    Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, Coya Palace

    Pisaq market in Peru
  • On Day 3, we’re going on a guided trip to Machu Picchu. You have the optional opportunity to take the challenging unguided hike (for an additional fee) to the top of Huayna Picchu, where you will have the best view of the site. After a long day of exploring this lost city, we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes, and then we’ll take the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transported to your hotel for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Cusco.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Hiking: 2 hours
    Min Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
    Max Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
    Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco, Mamasara

    Machu Picchu view
  • Your guides will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 8am. The first stop is Maras, from where we can reach the famous salt mines. After visiting the salt mines near Maras, we’ll continue to the ruins of Moray. The ruins are made up of three coliseums, which are believed to have been used by the Incas as a kind of an open-air crop laboratory.

    Around 1pm we will return to Cusco and your guides will transfer you to the airport for the departure from Cusco. You’ll enjoy an authentic Peruvian cooking class where you will learn how to make a dish called lomo saltado, and then wash it down with a traditional Peruvian cocktail, Pisco sour.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Hiking: 3 hours
    Max Elevation: 3,399 m / 11,151 ft
    Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco, Mamasara

    Maras salt mines
  • Your guides will pick you up early from your Cusco hotel, around 4am. The drive to the trail head is 3 hours long. We will have consistent views of the Ausangate Mountain, and after a total hike of approximately 2.5 hours, we’ll finally reach our destination, the Rainbow Mountain. We will have some time to explore the area, and later on, we’ll head back down. The hike will take 2 hours. Our private transport will be waiting for us when we return. We will stop for lunch before we head to Cusco.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch
    Hiking: 6 km / 3.7 mi
    Min Elevation: 4,795 m / 15,732 ft
    Max Elevation: 5,100 m / 16,732 ft
    Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Cusco, Mamasara

    Blue sky over Rainbow Mountain
  • After breakfast, your guides will drop you off at the Cusco airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Runway in Cusco Airport
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Meet your guides

Roland Llave
5.00
Roland Llave
CEO & Co-Founder of CrossoverPeru
CEO & Co-Founder of CrossoverPeru
Roland is the co-founder of CrossoverPeru as well as a trek guide & a tour leader in Peru for over 15 years now. Before CrossoverPeru, he gained plenty of experience leading trips and expeditions throughout South America, and his favorite hike remains the Waqrapukara Hike! He has also founded the travel magazine Revista Viajes. Roland is the perfect guide for your South American adventures—apart from getting an authentic experience, Roland also focuses on helping local communities.
CrossoverPeru
5.00
CrossoverPeru
CrossoverPeru offers small group adventure tours all around Peru and South America. They are the perfect choice for anyone looking for a unique adventure in Peru. Experience historical Incan trails, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and many more without needing to hire a car or do any of the planning!

Food and accommodation

5.00 (4 reviews)
Emma Fenning (source: Google Reviews)

When I was in Peru, Rolend was the lead tour guide and he was the absolute best! Along with him, Juan Carlos led us on some tours with our driver Jimmy, and both were also fantastic. Very knowledgeable, and energetic about the tours and activities. These three made my trip amazing. The absolute best!

Barbara Platero (source: Google Reviews)

Amazing experience!!! Thank you CrossoverPeru for making this trip incredible. Our guide Juan Carlos was a super guide. Thank you for your patience and knowledge. We learned so much and made it easy for us to enjoy Peru. I highly recommend to everyone!!!!

Patrick Vaillant (source: Google Reviews)

A very professional agency and my guide Carlos was great for his professionalism, he explained Machu Picchu to me in every detail, had a magical day.

Evelyn Pacheco Ticona (source: Google Reviews)

The best Agency to visit Cusco and MachuPicchu, 100% recommended!

Things to know

  • Included:

      • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 6-day culinary tour in Peru
      • Accommodation for 4 nights (1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, 3 nights in a 3-star hotel in Cusco)
      • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
      • Walking tour in Cusco
      • Entrance and guided tours of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, and Machu Picchu
      • Inca rail Voyager train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
      • Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (round trip)
      • Peruvian cooking class
      • Meals indicated in the itinerary

    Add-ons

      •  Entrance ticket and guide to Huayna Picchu mountain

    Not included:

      • Flights
      • Airport transfers
      • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
      • Entry ticket and guide to Huayna Picchu mountain (available for an additional fee, if tickets are available)
      • Guide gratuities — optional
      • Travel and medical insurance — optional
  • This Machu Picchu culinary hiking tour is rated moderate to challenging. The challenging part, however, is only there on Day 5, while all other days are rated moderate. Good level of fitness is required, while experience with multi-day hikes is always welcome.

    Check out the itinerary to learn more about changes in elevations. Prior to your trip, you can prepare by exercising on steep inclines or even stairs.

    For more hiking adventures in Machu Picchu, click here!

  • It is advisable and important that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the trek, in order to acclimatize to the altitude. The city of Cusco is located at 3,400 meters (11,150 ft) above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness, known as “soroche”.

    A few tips on dos and don’ts for acclimatizing in Peru:

      • Do not eat heavy food the day before traveling to Cusco.
      • Make sure you drink between 6-8 glasses of water the days before your trip and during your stay in Cusco.
      • Once you arrive at your hotel, lie down a few minutes before going out to explore the city.
      • Once you are ready to go out and explore the city, try not to become agitated climbing stairs or walking fast. The best thing is to enjoy every corner of
      • Cusco with calm and respect.
  • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

      • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
      • Hiking poles — optional
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
      • Comfortable hiking clothes
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
      • Sunhat
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
      • Headlamp or flashlight
      • Sunglasses
      • Passport
      • Camera — optional (but recommended)

    Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

  • Group sizes and pricing

      • For this Machu Picchu culinary hiking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 16:1.
      • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 16 participants.

    Hiking in Peru can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.


    Min. age requirements

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
      • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Machu Picchu culinary hiking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

    If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • The starting point of your Machu Picchu culinary hiking tour is Cusco. To get there, most people fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, also known as Cusco Airport.

    Once you’re there, your guides will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

  • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

    Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

    Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

  • Guide’s cancellation policy

    For regular dates, a $250 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The rest of the amount must be paid 3 months (90 days) prior to the start of the tour. Once you pay the deposit, the following cancellation policy applies:

      • The deposit is non-refundable, since the Inca Trail tickets are not refundable nor transferable. Once you have reserved the trek, your guides will not be able to make any changes to the trip as everything is controlled by the Ministry of Culture.
      • If you cancel your trip 60 days or more before the start of your trip, you are entitled to an 80% refund
      • If you cancel your trip 30 days or more before the start of your trip, you are entitled to a 50% refund
      • If the cancellation has been made 15 days before the start of your trip, you are not entitled to any refund.

    CrossoverPeru will need to be notified of any change or cancellation of your trip as soon as possible. Once your guides confirm the trip and acquire passes for the trail, they will not be able to make any kind of refunds as the passes cannot be transferred to another person.

    Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.

  • 57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.
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