Best Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain 2 Days

Explore Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain in 2 Days Trip

DAY 1, Cusco – Pitumarca – Quesiuno – Rainbow Mountain – Ollantaytambo

Our team will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00am, then, we will drive to Pitumarca where we’ll stop for our breakfast, you will be able to buy some snacks for your trek. Afterwards, we continue our drive to the trail head for another hour, there we’ll have enough time to packing.

We will start our hike with an incredible view of the Ausangate, this is one of the highest mountain around the Vilcanota range and considerate as a deity for the local people. After an hour of hike, we reach The Rainbow Mountain where you will appreciate the incredible colors created naturally in hundred years. Here your guide will explain you why the colors and you will have a plenty time to explore and capture the best photos before the crowds arrive.

Once we have done exploring this fantastic mountain, you also have chance to hike to the view point of the Red Valley, it takes 1 hours to reach it only one way.

Finally, we descend to the bust station for a few hours and board our bus towards the restaurant to enjoy our lunch. You will have a kind of buffet lunch prepared by the local chef, this included a varied of food, mostly local food. Then we board our bus to reach Ollantaytambo our next destination located about three hours drive in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We have our dinner and spend the night here.

Hiking distance: 12 km / 7.45 miles
Minimum altitude: 2,792 masl / 9,160 fasl
Maximum altitude: 5,120 masl / 16,797fasl
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours

DAY 2, Ollantayatambo – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today after the breakfast we will enjoy our train ride to Aguas Calientes town, this adventure offers incredible views following the Urubamba river, see how the mountains create unique sceneries, once you arrive to Machu Picchu town, you will board the bus towards the lost city of the Incas,  your guide will take you to the best spot to enjoy this magical ancient citadel, you will have the time to see each angle that your eyes could enjoy.

Your tour guide will explain you the history of Machu Picchu, after you’ll explore each of the most outstanding places of Machu Picchu, finally you will have you own time to explore part of this citadel, if you have the ticket for Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (Need to book separate ticket in advance) you can climb it on your time and be amazed by the fantastic views.

Once you have done with exploring Machu Picchu, you should take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town and enjoy your lunch, there are different restaurants with varied of food. About 2:55pm or 3:20pm you need to board the train towards Ollantaytambo, finally our bus will translate you to Cusco and drop off at your hotel.

Hiking distance: 2 km / 1.2 miles
Minimum altitude: 2,040 masl / 6,692fasl
Maximum altitude: 2,410 masl / 7,906 fasl
Hiking time: 1 – 2 hours

We are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our tours. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your trek.

WE INCLUDE

• Pre-Departure briefing : Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your trekking guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Rainbow mountain and Machu Picchu departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details of the trek. After this time, you will receive your duffel bag for your extra luggage, which will be in the bus while you are hiking.
• Professional Adventure Guide : All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service, our tour guide have graduated with tourism career from National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco, they have also studied English in a private language institute. Through to their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for trekking and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore the amazing Rainbow mountain.
• Entrance Fees to Th Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu :  Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we purchase all the necessary tickets for your trek it will be for a specific date and will be in your name.
• Accommodations:  We include accommodations 1 night in lodge in Ollantaytambo, this is a single room for a person or couple with private bath room. Also we have option to camp with a suitable camping equipment to make sure your trek is an experience of the life time. Our tents are Mountain gear or Doite pro Aconcagua for 4 people, which will be shared only for 2 people to ensure you comfort and enough place for your luggage. The same way we include Inflatable mattress. There will also be a spacious dining tent for you to enjoy each meal along this tour.
• Private Transport: We included all the transportation during your tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the beginning of the trail, the bus returning from Ollantaytambo to Cusco will drop off you at your hotel. Train round trip to Machu Picchu town, also you have option to upgrade to Vistadome service, ask for more details.
• Medical First Aid Kit : All tour guides are very well trained in First aid. They received training courses every 6 months how to assist to someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
• Meals : We know food is such an important part of any vacation and getting the right fuel on an active holiday is crucial… We include 1 breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 dinner. And of course, we cater to all dietary restrictions Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free and others just let us know. Our chefs are well-trained to prepare the best food ever you’ve had with local and organic ingredients.

WE NOT INCLUDED

• Walking Sticks :  Hiking with trekking poles has its benefits, protect your knees while you are hiking downhill, especially on the remote area which are many up and downhill, trekking poles help you during the ascent, increased stability, if you don’t have a pair of trekking poles you can rent them from our office.
• First breakfast & Last lunch:  We do not provide breakfast on the day of your departure. However, most hotel offers breakfast during your stay there. In case your hotel does not provide breakfast, we will stop at a restaurant near to Pitumarca where you will be available to purchase a breakfast.
• Travel Insurance : We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen along your visit to Peru.
• Tips for our team : Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion to the Rainbow mountain, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.

your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3 kg.

• 1-2 wicking t-shirts
• 1-2 hiking pants
• 2 sets of undergarments.
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Bathers / swimsuit for the hot spring
• Small towel
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves
• Comfortable shoes for camp or flip flops
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho

Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!

Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.

Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least

INSIDE YOUR DAY BACKPACK:

Daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger try to bring it as lighter as possible.

Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.

• Sun hat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (iPhone)
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Earplugs
• Snacks (chocolate, energy bars, fruits, etc.)

TOILETRIES:

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN AND MACHU PICCHU

On the Ausangate trek tour, don’t forget water! Drinking lots of water will help with the elevation. We advise bringing at least 2 liters per person on the hike with you. Also, you will have chance to buy water at the beginning of the trek.

We skip the crowds! Everybody else goes Ausangate trek tour at the same time. That means they’re all want to take the best camping spots on this route.  Since we leave from Cusco at 05:00 am.  You will get to the view point and the camp site before the crowd, and enjoy this fantastic landscape.

Our guide always brings oxygen tank which are important as you get over 4620 meters/15,255feet above sea level! Not all travel agencies offer this, so this is definitely something to look out for when choosing the best Ausangate tour operator.

The best time to visit the Rainbow Mountain is from April to October before the rainy season begins

This tour is very demanding. And the constantly changing weather conditions, combined with high altitude, can be a challenge for experienced hikers. But if done right it’s manageable even for those who don’t hike much.

We Recommend For Rainbow Mountain Machu Picchu Trip

Make sure that you have been a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the elevation before you set off on your hike to Ausangate Tour. This is by far the best insurance for a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Go to sleep early and try to avoid drinking or partying the night before, because We will pick you up at 05:00 am and the physically challenging trek will be much more bearable without a hangover.

If you have altitude sickness symptoms, descend as quickly as you can. It’s nothing to mess around with.

Try to go all the way to the viewpoint. You get a 360° view not just the Ausangate trek but of the nearby glacier and a gorgeous valley in the other direction. We think most people didn’t realize what they were missing by not going all the way up.

Higher elevation also means colder, nearly freezing temperatures, so be prepared. Whether you decide to take a one-day tour, make sure to wear very warm clothes. Also bring coca leaves to fight off altitude sickness and carry the minimum gear possible to ease the hike.

• From $355.00USD per person
• Upgrade your returning train  to Vistadome serivice $60.00USD
• Upgrade your hotel in Ollantaytambo 3 stars $80.00USD

Online Payment

To book any tour/trek through with Ausangate Tours, we do require a 50% deposit per person. PayPal does charge us a fee of 8% which we ask the client to cover. This taxes is just for deposits, the remaining, you will pay in cash(briefing day) without taxes.