Machu Picchu, Ausangate & Rainbow Mountain

We'll be waiting for you at the airport upon your arrival in the ancient capital of Tawantinsuyu and we'll take you in our comfortable mobility to your hotel. You'll have time to refresh yourself and rest a bit. In the afternoon we'll visit the main spots of this ancient city. Among the most important sites that you'll visit are the Temple of the Sun or Qorikancha, the Cathedral, and the Inca fortress of Saqsayhuamán. At the end of the tour, we'll drop you back at the door of your hotel.

We'll pick you up from your hotel in the city of Cusco at 07:30 am. We'll go to our first stop in Chinchero, a beautiful place known not only for its impressive landscapes but also for the quality of its textile art. We'll visit the home of a local family where we'll learn some of the main textile techniques inherited from generation to generation. The low prices and the very high quality of Chinchero fabrics make this an ideal opportunity to do the best shopping.

As we continue our journey we'll observe endless fields of cultivation, small traditional communities, and huge snow-capped peaks. After a short while we'll arrive at Moray and will visit its spectacular concentric terraces. Scholars have verified that Moray functioned as a true agricultural laboratory where food from other altitude and climatic regions could be produced. Next we'll go to the Maras salt mines that have been in operation since pre-Inca times. Be amazed by the more than 5000 salt pools that are flooded, day after day, by water that comes from inside the earth.

At noon, we'll be heading to Urubamba to recharge our energies with a well-deserved lunch. We'll continue our tour of the Sacred Valley and arrive at Ollantaytambo, considered by many to be the only living Inca city to this day. Its streets preserve the original layout made by the ancient Peruvians and the water still runs through the canals that are found next to the main roads. In addition, you'll visit its impressive archaeological site in the company of our guide who'll show you the most extraordinary details.

When we've finished touring this dazzling place, we'll go to the Ollantaytambo train station and enter the Amazon jungle. It'll be an unforgettable 3 hours of travel on the rails next to the furious Vilcanota River. We'll arrive at Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town), an intense miniature metropolis where you'll spend the night in a hotel.

The dream day starts very early. At 05:30 am, after enjoying breakfast at your hotel, we'll board a bus that'll take us to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. This journey takes about 25 minutes.

As soon as you enter Machu Picchu you'll be invaded by an intense energy. This pre-Hispanic marvel of architecture and engineering is built on the top of a mountain in complete harmony with nature. We'll be one of the first groups to enter, so you'll be able to contemplate - without the distraction of a multitude of tourists - how the orange light of the dawn sun is covering these ancient corners.

Learn about the true history of Machu Picchu on a 2-hour guided tour. You'll discover the main sectors of this citadel and then have free time to rediscover this enigmatic archaeological site on your own.

If you have managed to obtain an entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain, our guide will accompany you to the starting point of the trek. It will take approximately 2 hours to ascend and descend.

At the end of this unforgettable tour you can choose one of the countless restaurants in Aguas Calientes for lunch (price not included in the tour). Then, according to the departure time of your train, you'll return to the Ollantaytambo station where our mobility will be waiting for you to transport you to the door of your hotel in the city of Cusco.

We'll start our adventure very early. We'll pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 am and we'll go in a private vehicle to the city of Urcos, capital of the province of Quispicanchi. On the way we'll be able to observe picturesque towns and beautiful lagoons along the Vilcanota Valley. We'll continue to the town of Ocongate and then towards Tinque where you can make your last minute purchases before we reach the community of Upis (3,799 masl / 12,464 fasl), the starting point of our walk. After breakfast, our first day begins on a plain that looks directly at the immense Ausangate glacier (6,300 masl / 20,900 fasl). You can concentrate and feel the emotion that this great mass of snow provokes in your heart. As we move forward, we'll meet local people wearing their beautiful and colorful traditional clothes. Herds of llamas and alpacas will also accompany our steps. We'll arrive at the thermal baths of Upis (4,198 masl / 13,776 fasl) to enjoy our lunch.

After a delicious Lunch in the middle of the cold of the high mountains and then begin our walk in a beautiful high Andean valley towards the Arapa pass, always accompanied by the spectacular Ausangate mountain. From the top of the pass (4,798 masl / 15,744 fasl) the beauty of the landscape multiplies. You'll be able to observe the size of the mountain range and, if you're lucky, the solemn flight of the condor. Our guide will explain a little more about the impressive local flora and fauna. Then we'll begin to descend and will run into the beauty of the crystalline multi-colored lagoons of Yanacocha (black lagoon) and Pukacocha (red lagoon), as well as several waterfalls. Later, we'll arrive at our camp where you'll have time to take a reenergizing nap. In the afternoon, we can explore the vicinity of the lakes and drink a delicious tea. Obviously, before you go to sleep, a nutritious dinner awaits you.

There’s nothing better for your body than waking up to a hot herbal tea of coca leaves. Get up early to start one of the most beautiful days of the entire excursion. Be amazed by the stunning views of the snow-capped mountains and deep green valleys. After a hearty breakfast, we will go up to Abra Puca. Feel the impressive presence of the Apu Ausangate and take photos of its beautiful turquoise lagoons. Once you reach the top, you’ll feel that you have the giant face of the Apu Ausangate right in front of you. In addition, you’ll be able to observe the extended beauty of the Chilca Valley where llamas and alpacas will be passing quietly. From this open you can already see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with its striking stripes of colors.

After taking some photos we continue with a gradual descent for 2 hours to our lunch point located in Anantapata (4,400 masl / 14,435 fasl). Once we have filled our stomachs, we’ll take the opportunity to rest and relax before continuing with an ascent to the Warmisaya or Pitumarca pass (5,050 masl / 16,568 fasl). From there you’ll feel like you are a bird and you’ll observe the vastness of the horizon. We only have to descend for 20 minutes to the Yanacocha lagoon where the camp will be waiting for you. Before stopping, we’ll continue our 1 hour walk to the Rainbow Mountain pass to see the majestic sunset show over the Rainbow Valley. Once we have rejoiced in the sunset, we’ll return to the camp in 45 minutes to enjoy happy hour (drinks and snacks) and then a dinner that will surprise you.

After a tasty breakfast at 5:00 am, we will return to the Rainbow Mountain to contemplate this colorful valley lit by dawn. You'll have time to enjoy this paradise for 1 hour before the tourist crowd begins to arrive. Our expert guide will take you directly to the key places to get the best pictures.

Your guide will explain in detail why this mountain has such unique colors. It's one of the most amazing places in South America and one of Peru's main natural attractions. The only other colored mountains can be found in China.

Once we get to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint, you'll have enough time to take pictures of this prestigious geological phenomenon.

We'll begin the return descent for 1.5 hours to the base camp of Phulawasipata, where the transport will be waiting for us to take us back to Cusipata. There we'll satisfy our appetite with a delicious lunch.

You can enjoy the beautiful Andean landscape at sunset from the car while we return to the city. We'll arrive in Cusco at approximately 6:00 pm to drop you at the door of your hotel.