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 go on a walking tour in the heart of Cusco, visiting the most notable sites, such as Plaza de Armas, 12 angled stone street, Loreto street, Coricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the statue of Christ. The tour will finish back at your hotel around 6.00 pm.

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

Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour - Ollantaytambo

After breakfast at your hotel, your tour guide will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. and drive for 40 minutes to the Mirador Taray, where you will have the most amazing view of the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba River, the corn fields, and the Andes Mountains. Next, you will continue to visit the best of Pisac ruins, Pisac Market, and lunch at a small restaurant in Urubamba that features fresh local ingredients.

After lunch, you will explore the round terraces of Moray, the Salineras of Maras, and then the Ollantaytambo village. You will stay in a hotel close to Ollantaytambo and the Inca Trail.

• Duration: Full day
• Meals: Breakfast at the hotel and a 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 meet the Inca Trail group around 7.00 am to drive for about 30 minutes to the village of Piskacucho - KM 82, the beginning of the Inca Trail. You will show your passport at the checkpoint and begging the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. The first day is a relatively easy 6 hours hike along flowing streams, visiting small villages and admiring magnificent ancient sites. The first campsite is at 3300m – 10826ft and is called 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 good night's sleep, our trekking team will wake you up with a hot cup of coffee or tea in your tent, and you will have time to pack and prepare for the Inca Trail's most challenging day leading to Machu Picchu. On this day, you will traverse 2 mountains in a total of 10 hours hike. The first peak requires 4 hours to ascend to the highest point on the Inca Trail, Dead Woman's Pass (421700m -13835ft), and then 2 hours to descend to Pacaymayu for a well-deserved lunch. After lunch, climb for two hours to Runkuracay Pass (4000 m / 13123 ft), then descend for two hours to Chaquicocha, the second campsite. Throughout the day, you will visit Runkuracay, Sayacmarca, and Conchamarca Inca sites. 

• 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 challenging and strenuous portion of the Inca Trail, you will enjoy a very pleasant 5-hour hike to the trail's last campsite. During the day, you will experience different habitats, stunning panoramic views of the Vilcabamba Mountain range, and majestic Inca monuments such as Phuyupatamarka (City in the Clouds), Intipata (Terraces of the Sun) before lunch. Lunch will be served at the campsite, and you will have the afternoon free to shower, chase llamas, explore the spectacular Inca site of Wiñawayna, and have an early farewell dinner 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 last and most significant day, you will wake up early at 3.30 am, have breakfast at 4:00 am, and begging hiking the final 2 hours to Machu Picchu at 5.30 am. From the checkpoint, you will hike for 1 hour to the Sun Gate, arriving around 6.30 am, where you will enjoy the first and most amazing view of Machu Picchu; if the weather cooperates, you will see a breathtaking sunrise above the Lost City of the Incas. 

After a short break at Sun Gate, you will continue down to Machu Picchu for 1 more hour, arriving at the viewpoints to get that picture of the citadel. Your expert tour guide will lead you through the highlights of Machu Picchu, revealing the citadel's secrets and the last days of the glorious Inca Civilization. Later in the afternoon, return board the Vistadome Panoramic train and private van back to Cusco. Arrive at your hotel at around 7:30 p.m.

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

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley

At 4.30 a.m, you will be picked up from your hotels in Cusco city and drive for 3 hours to the trailhead, where our chefs will prepare a hearty breakfast. After Breakfast, you will get ready for the amazing hike, drink a coca tea to help with the altitude, and begin the ascent to the 5200 meters mountain. 

The hike takes around 2 hours to reach the top of Rainbow Mountain, with an elevation gain of 300 meters from the trailhead. Once you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with a 360° view of rainbow Mountain. Next, you will hike for 30 minutes to visit the unique landscapes of Red Valley. Last, you will return to the trailhead, where our chef waits for a delicious picnic lunch. Return to Cusco by van, and arrival time is approximately 6.00 pm.

• Transport, guide, breakfast and lunch
• Fees for entry to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
• Hotel: Marqueses 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 days 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 belonging 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 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 while 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 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. Make sure 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 a must 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 need to 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 first aid kit in case of 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: 

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• 1290.USD  for adults
• 1250.USD  for students

To book this tour, you must make an initial payment of 400.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or Cusco with any credit card or PayPal with no booking fees at all.

Student Discount:

• 40$ off per person

All travelers under 17 will have a $40 discount.

If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get a 40$ discount with your student ID. Please advise by email to give you 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

• 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

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

What is the Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8 days?

This complete tour includes city tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley Tour, the Classic Inca trail tour, the Rainbow Mountain hike, exclusive hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, and all the transportation required. 

How difficult is this tour?

The Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain are considered difficult treks. It is recommended for travelers in regular/good physical condition. The trail is steep and often slippery, with many stairs to climb. The altitude can also be challenging, especially on the Rainbow Mountain day hike.

How long is the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail is a 4-day, 3-night trek that covers 26 miles (42 kilometers) and reaches an altitude of 13,829 feet (4,215 meters) at its highest point.

How long is the Rainbow Mountain hike?

To get to Rainbow Mountain, you must drive from Cusco for about 3 hours to get to the trailhead. The Hiking is about 6 km long to the Top of Rainbow Mountain and enters the Red valley and similar to come back to the trailhead. The total hiking hours is about 3.5 hours round trip. 

What is the weather like on the Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain?

The Cusco region is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, so the weather can be quite variable.

The best time to hike the trail is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. During this time, you can expect average temperatures of around 15-20 degrees Celsius during the day and 5-10 degrees at night. However, it is important to be prepared for sudden weather changes, as mountain weather can be unpredictable. The rainy season on the Inca Trail runs from October to April, and while there are still some great days, you are more likely to experience bad weather. It can rain heavily in the mountains, and temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

The Rainbow mountain is high in the Andes of Ausangate, and its peak reaches an impressive elevation of 5,200 meters (17,060 feet). The mountain is covered in various colors, so it is called Rainbow Mountain. The weather on Rainbow Mountain can be unpredictable. The temperature can vary depending on the time of year and the elevation. In general, the temperature is cool at higher elevations and warm at lower elevations. The best time to visit Rainbow Mountain is during the dry season, which runs from April to October. During this time, there is less chance of rain and snow.

How much does the Inca Trail + Rainbow Mountain 8 days cost?

The average cost of an almost all-inclusive Package of 8a days is from 1300 to 1400.USD per person, this is based is a double occupancy in a 3-star hotel

Are there any discounts for travelers?

• Travelers under 3 years old will not be charged
• Travelers from 3 to 7 years old can get a 50% discount
• Travelers from 7 to 17 years old will get a 40.USD discount
• Students under 25 with valid student IDs will get a 40.USD discount

Can I hike the Inca Trail if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, you can hike the Inca Trail if you have a pre-existing medical condition, but you will need to get a doctor’s note confirming that you are fit to hike.