Rainbow Mountain Trek and Machu Picchu Package 6 Days 5 Nights

Rainbow Mountain Trek and Machu Picchu Package 6 Days 5 Nights

The RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK & MACHU PICCHU PACKAGE is the best of both worlds: a stunning trek past snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, glacial peaks, colorful striated mountains, all ending with a tour of one of the 7 man-made wonders of the world, Machu Picchu!
The Rainbow Mountain Trek is a new route located in the high Andes and traverses the incredibly colorful Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountains. This beautiful multi-day hike is tucked away in a well hidden section of the Vilcanota Mountain range. Surrounded by glacial mountains, this route treks in the shadow of the highest mountain in the Cusco Region, Ausangate (6300m/21,000ft). The route is 52km/32.3 miles long and goes from 3300m/10,827ft to 5050m/16,568ft. This is a true off the beaten path wilderness trek – above the tree line with views of the Andes and glacial peaks.

Prices per person USD: 6-10 trekkers: $1200, 3-5 trekkers: $1250, 2 trekkers: $1600

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO – TINKI VILLAGE – UPIS (CAMPING AT HOT SPRINGS)

Pass By: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
Early transfer from your hotel in Cusco with 6:00 am departure. We drive for 4 hours on a new highway to Tinqui, passing Urcos Pass (4,000 m/13,123 ft) along the way. Tinqui is a village on the high plains “altiplano” east from Cusco and is where we will start our trek. We follow a wide, gently ascending path toward the northwest face of the impressive Ausangate mountain. Along the way we will have magnificent views of Ausangate (6300m/21,000ft). On this trail we pass a few traditional houses and may meet some local people dressed in their colorful, traditional clothing while accompanying their grazing animals which are indigenous to this area – llamas and alpacas. We will eat our lunch surrounded by stunning mountains and an excellent view of Ausangate Glacier. We then continue walking through fields and by scattered stone farm houses, for another 2 hours. We ascend gently to the Upis pass (4,435 m/14,107 ft) and camp at Upis Hot Springs (4,250 m/13,779 ft) where we will be surrounded by snow capped mountains (Ausangate and Maria Huamantilla).There are thermal hot springs at Upis where we can enjoy a soak at the end of the day. Happy hour at 4:00pm and dinner at 6:00pm. Walking distance approximately 16 km/9.9 miles (6 hour acclimatizing hike). Campsite elevation: 4100m/13,450ft

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Light box breakfast prior to hiking

• Lunch: Hot, buffet lunch with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Dinner: Hot, buffet dinner with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3 person, 4 season Mountain Hardwear Tent (2 people per tent but can upgrade to a private tent with fee)


Day 2: UPIS – ARAPA PASS – PUCACCOCHA

Pass By: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
After an early breakfast we begin our second day of the hike. You will hike very close to the Ausangate glacier peak and will have incredible views of this mountain as well as beautiful lakes and waterfalls. We may see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) and perhaps a rare condor soaring above. We will have a 3-hour uphill hike to reach the first pass (4800m/15,748ft) where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. After taking a few amazing pictures we continue hiking gradually downhill for another 1½ hours to our beautiful lunch spot. After lunch we hike for another 2½ hours to arrive at our campsite at Puca Ccocha (Red Lake). This spot is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and at the bank of the lake. Approximate walking distance: 12km/7.5 miles (7-8 hours). Campsite elevation: 4300m/14,100ft

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Hot buffet breakfast with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Lunch: Hot buffet lunch with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Dinner: Hot buffet dinner with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3 person, 4 season Mountain Hardwear Tent (2 people per tent but can upgrade to a private tent with fee)


Day 3: PUCACCOCHA – PUCA PASS – CHILLCA VALLEY – ANANTAPATA

Pass By: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
Wake up early with a hot cup of coca tea to start one of the most beautiful days of the trek, enjoying majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and depths of the beautiful valleys. This morning we will summit the Puca Pass. After an early breakfast we begin our 2-hour steep climb to the Puca Pass at (5050m/16,568ft). Along the way we have gorgeous views of turquoise lakes and the Ausangate glacier. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of the Ausangate Mountain and you can enjoy the views of Chillca Valley, with alpaca grazing along these hills. Also from this pass you will see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with their strikingly striated colors. After taking some great pictures we continue gradually downhill for another 2 hours until we reach our lunch spot located in Chillca Valley with amazing views of green hills and snow-capped peaks. After enjoying your lunch and a little rest and relaxation, you will continue on to the Anantapata campsite at 4400m/14,435ft. To reach camp we will hike along a gentle trail for 2-hours with a short climb at the end. Along the way we may see some condors and vicuñas if we are lucky.

Approximate walking distance/time: 15 km/9.3 miles (about 6 hours). Campsite elevation: 4400m/14,435ft

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Hot buffet breakfast with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Lunch: Hot buffet lunch with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Dinner: Hot buffet dinner with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3 person, 4 season Mountain Hardwear Tent (2 people per tent but can upgrade to a private tent with fee)


Day 4: ANANTAPATA – YANACOCHA – RAINBOW MOUNTAINS – CHILLCA VILLAGE – CUSCO

Pass By: Rainbow Mountain, Cusco 08225, Peru
After an early breakfast, we hike gradually uphill for 1½ hours until we reach the highest pass of the trek, the Warmisaya (previously known as Pitumarca) pass 4985m/16,3544ft. After enjoying the views at the top we descend for 20 minutes to Yanacocha lake. Then we continue for 1 hour to the famous RAINBOW MOUNTAINS (Vinicunca Mountains or Montañas de Colores) and the Red Mountain Valley located at 5050m/16,568ft elevation. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding peaks. Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique: they are composed of various minerals, which make different colors of stone striations. This is definitely one of the most stunning places in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There are Rainbow Mountains in only a few other locations in the world. After taking photos and enjoying the view, you will continue on your expedition downhill along the Chillca Valley for about 3 hours where we will enjoy an early lunch and meet our private transport. We will then drive back to Cusco – about a 4-hour drive that provides nice views of the Andes, passing some traditional villages along the way. Once in Cusco we will go to our hotel to freshen up and relax before our celebratory group dinner.

Approximate walking distance: 16 km /9.95 miles (about 6 hours). Overnight in a hotel in Cusco.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Hot buffet breakfast with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Lunch: Hot buffet lunch with hot drinks and boiled/purified water

• Dinner: Celebratory group dinner at a local restaurant in Cusco
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel in Cusco (shared double room). A single room can be requested at a fee.

Day 5: CUSCO – MARAS – MORAY – SALINERAS – AGUAS CALIENTES

Pass By: Salinas de Maras, Carreta a Maras, Maras 08655 Peru
After breakfast at our hotel we take our private transport to Maras Village (3,300m/10,827ft). Maras is a beautiful little colonial town, still boasting some colonial architecture. You can see amazing facades made of thin stone, and lintels with sculptures in bas-relief. After exploring Maras we continue driving to Moray ruins located at (3,450m/11,319ft). Moray Ruins consist of circular agricultural terraces at high altitude with a complex system of irrigation. These terraces served as a natural green house to grow an extraordinary variety of crops that would normally only thrive in tropical climates. It has also been suggested that they had a cosmological meaning. After exploring the terraces we continue to Salineras, which consists of 3,000 small pools, roughly 5 square meters (53.8 ft²). Every three days, during the dry season, workers fill the pools with salt water that comes from local natural springs. When the water evaporates from the pool the salt is left for collection. This process is carried out over a one month period until the pools reach an approximate volume of solid salt that is 10 centimeters (4 inches) in height. The salt is ground up, treated with iodine, and packaged and sent to the various markets in the region. After exploring the salt mines of Salineras we take our private transport to Ollantaytambo where we catch the train to Aguas Calientes. Once in Aguas Calientes we check into our comfortable hotel to freshen up before dinner. You can soak in the local hot springs before or after dinner if you wish. Tomorrow we get up early to see the incredible Machu Picchu!

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at your hotel in Cusco

• Dinner: Group dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes
Accommodation included: Overnight at an Aguas Calientes hotel (shared double room). A single room can be requested at a fee.

Day 6: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Wake up call and breakfast is very early (Approx 4am) in order for us to take one of the first (5:30am, 25 min ride) buses directly to Machu Picchu (2,400 m/7,875 ft). Once we arrive at Machu Picchu you will show your entrance ticket and passport. If you are a student you must bring your ISIC card to the entrance or you will not be permitted entrance. From the entrance, it is a 15-minute walk to the famous views from the South Zone of the farming terraces at the end of the Inca trail. Enjoy watching the sun rise over the ruin site and the fascinating tour of Machu Picchu with your guide who will unfold the mysteries of this magical site, explaining the history and flora/fauna. Your guide will spend about 2.5 hours relating interesting and amazing stories, explaining temples and special sectors. Your tour of Machu Picchu will finish between 9 and 9:30am after which you will have a little free time to take photos and explore. The new rules for 2019 have split the entrance times into three slots per day. Our tour includes the first ticket (6-10am) so at 10am you would need to exit the ruin site unless you choose to purchase an extra time slot (or two). If you wish to do one of the extra hikes within Machu Picchu (Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain) you would need to prepurchase a permit as well as an extra time slot in Machu Picchu (these new rules are dictated by the Peruvian government and we are sorry for the inconvenience). After you are done exploring the ruin site, either at 10am or later if you’ve booked more time, take one of the many, frequent buses down to Aguas Calientes. There are many restaurants to choose from and your guide can also help suggest a nice place to eat. After grabbing a bite to eat you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo where private transport will drive you back to your hotel in Cusco.

HIKES WITHIN MACHU PICCHU
There are hikes within Machu Picchu that you can do on your own if you wish. The hikes that do not require an entrance ticket are The Inka bridge and the Sun Gate (where the Inka Trail ends with a view of Machu Picchu city). Wayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain hikes both require a paid ticket and there are a limited number of spots (200 at 7am and 200 at 10am). If you want to hike one of these please let us know well in advance as these spots fill up very quickly. Please note we cannot guarantee you a spot for the mountains requiring tickets and that the trail is very steep and slippery and not for those afraid of heights or with vertigo).

We recommend the 10am time slot as Machu Picchu tends to be cloudy in the morning. You are only allowed to hike one of these mountains on a given day so if you would like to do both you would need to return the next day to hike the other one.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes

No accommodation included on this day.