Full Itinerary of the Inca Trail 8 days with Rainbow Mountain

Day 1: Airport Pick up - Cusco City Tour

Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, we will pick you up and transfer you to your centrally-located hotel in Cusco City. In the late afternoon, at 1:00 p.m., you will walk in the heart of Cusco, visiting the city's most notable sites. These include the Plaza de Armas, the street with the 12-angled stone, Loreto Street, Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and Cristo Blanco. The tour will conclude back at your hotel around 6:00 p.m.

• Duration: a half-day
• Meals included: none
• Tickets included: yes
• Hotel: San Agustin or Similar
• Transportation + Tour guide

Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour - Ollantaytambo

After breakfast at your hotel, your tour guide will pick you up at 7:00 a.m. and drive you for 30 minutes to Alpaca Center and to Mirador Taray, where you will be greeted with a stunning view of the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba River, the cornfields, and the Andes Mountains. You will then visit the best of the Pisac Inca Site, explore the Pisac Market, and enjoy lunch at a quaint restaurant in Urubamba known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

After lunch, your journey continues with the circular terraces of Moray and the Salineras of Maras before concluding the day in the village of Ollantaytambo. Your accommodation will be a hotel conveniently located near Ollantaytambo and the entrance to the Inca Trail.

• Duration: Full day
• Meals: Breakfast at the hotel & buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Included tickets
• Hotel: Tunupa Lodge or Similar

Day 3: Inca Trail

Breakfast will be served at our hotel in Ollantaytambo, and you will join the Inca Trail group around 7:00 a.m. to drive for approximately 30 minutes to the village of Piskacucho, also known as KM 82, which marks the start of the Inca Trail. You will present your passport at the checkpoint and begin the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. The first day features a relatively easy 6-hour hike alongside flowing streams, through small villages, and past impressive ancient sites. The first campsite, situated at 3,300 meters (10,826 feet), is known as Ayapata.

• Distance: 13.5 kilometers / 8 miles
• Duration: 8 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Lodging: Camping
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Inca Trail

After a restful night, our trekking team will gently wake you with a hot cup of coffee or tea served in your tent. You'll have time to pack and brace yourself for the Inca Trail's most demanding day en route to Machu Picchu. The day's trek involves crossing two mountains over a total of 10 hours. The ascent to the highest point of the Inca Trail, Dead Woman's Pass, takes about 4 hours, reaching an altitude of 4,215 meters (13,828 feet), followed by a 2-hour descent to Pacaymayu for a well-deserved lunch. Post-lunch, you'll tackle a 2-hour climb to Runkuracay Pass (4,000 m / 13,123 ft), then a 2-hour descent to Chaquicocha, your second campsite. En route, you will explore ancient Inca sites such as Runkuracay, Sayacmarca, and Conchamarca.

• Campsite Altitude: 3600m – 11811ft
• Highest Altitude: 421700m – 13835ft
• Distance: 16km / 9 miles
• Duration: 10 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Day 5: Inca Trail

After completing the most difficult and demanding section of the Inca Trail, you will begin on a 5-hour hike to the Inca Trail's last campsite. You'll travel through several ecosystems, enjoy amazing panoramic views of the Vilcabamba Mountain range, and explore majestic Inca monuments like Phuyupatamarca, known as the 'City in the Clouds,' and Intipata, known as the 'Terraces of the Sun,' before arriving at the campsite for lunch. Enjoy the afternoon by taking a shower, interacting with llamas, exploring the beautiful Inca site of Wiñawayna, and participating in an early farewell dinner replete with a special surprise!

• Campsite elevation: 2600 m – 8530 ft
• Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
• Duration: 6 hours
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, supper
• Lodging: camping
• Challengingness: Moderate

Day 6: Machu Picchu

On the final and most awaited day, you will wake up at 3:30 a.m., have breakfast at 4:00 a.m., and begin the final two hours of hiking to Machu Picchu at 5:30 a.m. It's a one-hour hike from the checkpoint to the Sun Gate, where you will arrive around 6:30 a.m. to have the first and most outstanding view of Machu Picchu and if the weather permits, a breathtaking sunrise over the Lost City of the Incas awaits you here.

After a brief stop at the Sun Gate, you will descend to Machu Picchu for another hour, stopping at different vantage points to get the iconic photo of the citadel. Then, your expert tour guide will take you through the main sights of Machu Picchu, explaining the secrets of the citadel and the Inca Civilization. Later that afternoon, you'll board the Vistadome Panoramic train and a private shuttle to travel to Cusco, arriving at approximately 7:30 p.m. at your accommodation.

• Highest altitude: 2700m -8858ft
• Distance: 6km / 3 miles
• Duration: 2 hours
• Meals: Breakfast
• Hotel: San Agustin or Similar
• Easy difficulty

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley

At 4:30 a.m., you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco City and drive for 3 hours to the trailhead. On the way, you will enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast, you'll prepare for the hike with a cup of coca tea to help acclimate to the altitude and then begin the ascent to the mountain, peaking at 5,200 meters.

The trek to the top of Rainbow Mountain takes approximately 2 hours, with an elevation gain of 300 meters from the trailhead. Upon reaching the summit, you'll be greeted with a stunning 360° panorama of Rainbow Mountain. Afterward, a 30-minute hike will take you to explore the unique landscapes of the Red Valley. Finally, you'll head back to the trailhead and enjoy a well-earned lunch at a local restaurant. You'll return to Cusco by van, with an estimated arrival time of around 6:00 p.m.

• Transport, guide, breakfast, and lunch
• Fees for entry to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
• Hotel: San Agustin or Similar

Day 8: Fly out

We will transport you back to the airport after breakfast at your hotel.

Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8 days Packing List

The Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8-day tour includes day tours in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, and the Rainbow Mountain Tour. For each tour, you need to pack differently.

You will travel to Peru with big luggage, and depending on the tour and day, you will travel with all your belongings or leave your bags at the hotel. Below is detailed information on packing and luggage storage.

Packing list for the City Tour In Cusco

Upon arrival at Cusco airport, we will transfer you to your hotel in the Cusco center. You will have time to unpack, have lunch, and rest before we begin to explore Cusco City in the afternoon.

For the city, you will go in a small backpack where you put all the essentials for the day. Your luggage will stay in Cusco.

• A small backpack or day bag
• Sunscreen and a hat or visor
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A light jacket or sweater - even though it's sunny
• Your camera, of course! Cusco is full of spots for pictures.
• Snacks and water
• Rain gear
• Extra money

You must always travel with rain gear, sun protection, and warm clothes.

Packing list for the Sacred Valley Tour

After breakfast on day 2, your tour guide will collect you from the hotel; you must check out, and you can travel with all your luggage (recommended). During the Sacred Valley tour, you will travel by van, and if the places we visit, your luggage remains in the hotel, and you are with your backpack during the guided tours.

During the guided tours, you will be out in open areas; most of them include hiking, and you need to be prepared. You will spend the night in a hotel in Ollantaytambo and prepare for the Inca Trail.

• A comfortable backpack
• Sun Protection, rain gear
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Comfortable clothes for hiking
• Light warm jackets
• Camera
• Water
• Extra money for souvenirs

Packing list for the Inca Trail

The tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in the Sacred Valley after breakfast around 7.00 am. You will travel to the Inca Trail with your backpack and a small duffle bag with 7 kilos; the rest of your luggage, you will give to the driver, who will transfer back to Cusco and deliver to the new hotel after the Inca Trail. The duffle bags will be given during day 2 with the Sacred Valley tour guide and a short briefing for the Trek.

During the Inca Trail, you will have a backpack with all the essentials for the day, which you are responsible for carrying all the time. You will also have duffle bags where you will put all hiking gear for the 4-day trek; porters carry this bag.

After the Inca Trail, your luggage will be waiting in Cusco.

• A good daypack is essential for carrying your belongings during the hike. Ensure it is comfortable and has enough space to fit everything you need.
• Layers of clothing: The weather can be unpredictable on the trail, so it is important to pack layers that you can take on and off as needed.
• Hiking boots: A good pair of hiking boots is necessary for this trek. Ensure they are well broken in before you go to avoid blisters.
• A hat and sunscreen: Protect yourself from the sun with a hat and sunscreen.
• Water bottle: You must stay hydrated during the hike, so bring a water bottle or CamelBak.
• Snacks: Pack some snacks to keep your energy up during the hike. Energy bars, trail mix, and dried fruit are all good options.
• First Aid kit: It is always a good idea to bring a kit for minor injuries or illnesses.

Packing lits for Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour

The pack-up for Rainbow Mountain is early; you will leave your luggage in the hotel, and you don't need to check out as we will return to the same hotel.

One important thing to consider is that Rainbow Mountain is a high-altitude day hike, and the weather can be cold and extreme. Prepare for sunny, cold, windy, and rainy days.

• Sturdy, comfortable shoes: You will be doing a lot of walking on this tour, so make sure to bring shoes that will support your feet and keep you comfortable.
• Sunscreen and hats: The sun can be intense at high altitudes, so pack sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• Layers of clothing: The temperature can vary greatly depending on the time of day and whether you are in the sun or shade, so it is important to pack layers of clothing that you can adjust according to the conditions.
• Water bottle: It is important to stay hydrated at high altitudes, so bring a water bottle with you and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Snacks: We recommend packing some snacks for the tour, as there will not be any opportunities to buy food along the way.
• Trekking poles, the trail can be slippery.

Price for the Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8 days tour

Price per person:

• From US$ 998 - Adults
• From US$ 958 - Students

To book this tour, you need to make an initial payment of US$ 400 per person; the remaining balance can be paid online or at our office in Cusco with any card and without booking fees.

Student Discount:

• 40$ off per person

All travelers under 17 have a $40 discount. If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get the discount with your Student ID. Please send us an email to receive a code for the discount.

Valid Student ID for discount:

To get the student discount, travelers should have a Valid ID with the following:

• 25 years or less at the time of entering Machu Picchu. Older than 25 can not enter as a student
• The ID must have the Name of the university, name, and photo of the student
• The ID must have a valid expiration date

Invalid Student IDs:

Student IDs are not eligible for a discount when:

• Traveler is older than 25
• Expired ID
• Student ID without expiration date
• ISIC cards are not valid

Similar tours you might be interested in:

• Classic Inca Trail 4 days
• Cusco + Sacred Valley + Inca Trail 7 days
• Cusco + Sacred Valley + Salkantay trek 8 days

Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8 days FAQs

The Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain combination is one of the most breathtaking experiences in South America, combining stunning scenery and ancient culture.