One day trip Sacred Valley
The trip is Sacred Valley, the daily trip is wonderful, the guide Grobert and the driver are nice. We enjoyed the full trip.
3 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package
- Duration 3 Days
- Type Group
- Group Size Up to 8
- Languages English, Spanish
From $577.00 / Person
This fantastic 2 Day Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain Trek Package covers the last section of the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
When you hike the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu you will see impressive Inca ruins, expansive mountain scenery, lush subtropical vegetation and extraordinary ecological varieties. The “Ancient Inca Road” goes through the National Park and enters through the Sun Gate with unforgettable views of Machu Picchu.
We will pass through cloud forests and finally into subtropical vegetation. People hiking the short Inca Trail Trek will have the privilege of seeing the famous Machu Picchu Citadel in the afternoon on the first day and also visiting it the next morning! This trek was designed for those with little travel time who would like to experience a part of the Historic Inca Trail
On our last day we will hike Rainbow Mountain which is one of our most popular Add-ons to our various Machu Picchu Treks.
With three full days packed with excitement waiting for us, we begin your hotel pick up bright and early. Be ready for us at 4 am so we can start the drive through the Sacred Valley to the train station in Ollantaytambo. We arrive with plenty of time to spare for your 6:10 am departure, so grab some coffee and have your breakfast. Today is a big day, make sure you’re well energized for it! We’ll be on the train for roughly an hour and ten minutes before arriving to KM104, our starting point for the day (elevation 2,100m/6,927ft). Here, we find our first checkpoint of the day. Take a minute here to repack your bag, stuff and last minute snacks in your cheeks, reapply sunscreen and bug spray and adjust your hiking poles. Our first ruin of the day is Chachabamba, found just a few steps from the entrance of the hike. We’ll take a few minutes here to explore the area and listen to the history from your guide before beginning the main section of the hike. The main section of the hike consists of roughly three hours of gradual uphill climbing. We’ll pass plenty of viewpoints and great photo ops, so keep your cameras ready! At the end of this section of the hike is a beautiful waterfall where we can stop to rest our legs for a while. The next part is shorter but much steeper. Next stop, Wiñay Wayna! From the waterfall it is just a few more minutes until we get our first glance at Wiñay Wayna (2,650m/8747 ft) nestled in the mountain. After climbing the steep stairs we can take a moment to explore these truly remarkable ruins, learning about the history and the discovery which happened long after Machu Picchu was discovered. We stop for lunch at the Wiñay Wayna campsite, this is where our trail joins the 4 day Inca Trail route. We have about 2 hours left until we reach Machu Picchu! The next hour winds up and down, coming to a head at the “Gringo Killer” steps- steps so steep you’ll be using your hands to help you up! Finally, we arrive at the iconic Inti-Punku, the Sun Gate. From here, you will be able to enjoy your first glimpse at Machu Picchu. Soak it in, grab some pictures, and from here we begin our final stretch. This is an hour downhill, through a few more ruins before reaching the iconic Machu Picchu. We will have a little time here to enjoy the view from the famous viewing platform before leaving and taking the bus to Aguas Calientes, the town below. Here, we will get you checked into your hotel and fed before an early night, ready for the tour of the citadel tomorrow. You will leave an overnight bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes. DAY 2: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO Today is the day! We begin exploring the magnificent Machu Picchu, where you can learn all about why they call her the Old Sacred Mountain. Even today she has magical and mysterious presence that is hard to explain. If your group takes the first bus at 5:30AM to the Machu Picchu Citadel, you may be in time to enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Your guide will expertly show you through the ruins, answering all of your questions throughout your morning tour of Machu Picchu. Be sure to take a moment to soak in the vibes of the city and appreciate the journey you took to get here. You will descend to Aguas Calientes when you are ready to eat lunch and later on board the Expedition Train at pm 2:55 PM or 3:20 PM for the return trip to Cusco. You will arrive at the Ollantaytambo Train Station and where our private van will be waiting to take you back to Cusco, arriving in your hotel at around 7 pm. ***IMPORTANT: Another day, another early start. Be ready for your guide to pick you up at 4 am as we begin our trip to the famous Rainbow Mountain. It’s a three hour drive through the South Valley, so keep your eyes peeled for the various ruins, Inca terraces, traditional villages, and if you’re really lucky, the giant guinea pig statues. Before you know it, we will be arriving to the trailhead of Llacto (4,638m / 15,216 ft). We will have breakfast in the company of herds of llamas and alpacas before beginning our hike, following the trail as it winds along a stream. Views of the Ausangate mountain and glaciers will accompany you along the way. Why not stop for a chat with one of the local people and learn a little about the Quechua way of life, what their clothes mean and the significance of their hats. Your guide will help you with translation and even teach you a few words in Quechua. After an hour and a half of hiking, we will finally arrive to our destination: the Rainbow Mountain (5,020m /16,466ft). After taking a moment to admire its unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend roughly 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, there is an optional hike across the Red Valley. This walk takes an additional 45 minutes. At this point, we hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour, then we enjoy our lunch which will be prepared by our chef. We will embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel, arriving around 6:00pm.Itinerary
3 Day Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain Trek Package ITINERARY
DAY 1: CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104 – WIÑAY WAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU
DAY 3: CUSCO – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – CUSCO
**Huayna Picchu Mountain is a optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour. Inclusions
WHAT IS INCLUDED for the 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package?
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED for the 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package?
ADDED VALUES FOR FREE
The 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package is available on any date that its best for you (except February when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance). Join in with our group and get the best deals. Private service is available for $100 USD more per person. All entrance fees are included and we operate our tours in small groups averaging 5 people with a maximum of 8! Huayna Picchu Mountain is a optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour. Price & Availability
PRICES:
DISCOUNTS
EXTRAS
We are a family owned travel agency and direct local tour operator based in Cusco with many years of trekking experience. We are a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders. My dream as the owner was to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by paying them a good wage. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we couldn’t give the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients. To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups. We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology. We have always believed that we should give back to the communities we pass through on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment in responsible tourism, we socially support and employee from these communities. We are proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only in hiring them for work but to bring things back to grassroots, to share in their home and families. This makes us happy to have a holistic approach with our highland employees and their families! A beautiful reflection of our attitude in everything we do, is that we wish to make life richer and more meaningful for all involved.Why SAM
WHY CHOOSE US?
SMALL GROUPS
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES FOR THE SACRED VALLEY & SHORT INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU PACKAGE
OUR SERVICE PROJECTS
Please read the following information carefully; it will answer all of your questions about our services and 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center. Of course! During the Sacred Valley & Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu Package your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more conveninet for you. To book your 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or clicking the link BOOK NOW. Please have the following information ready (for EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase an Inca trail permit, entrance to Machu Picchu or the train without the following information: We also require a deposit of US$211.00 per person in order to purchase a your Inca Trail permit, entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment method of your choice, either VISA or PAYPAL. If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com. According to Peruvian Law, you must be under 18 years of age at the time of your trek or tour to Machu Picchu (students 18 & above need student cards). For example: if you book a trek at the age of 17 but you turn 18 before you do your trek, you must have a valid university ID card to qualify for the student discount. All students must provide a copy of their passport at the time of their booking to get the student discount. Send us a copy at info@samtravelperu.com Unfortunately the answer is no. Once the tickets for the Inca Trail have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the tickets has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable. Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your entrance to Machu Picchu, train ticket, other entrances and reservations. The rangers will check when you enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The train company will also check your passport before allowing you to board the train. In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name send us your old passport information to secure your permit. When your new passport arrives we can change the information for a fee of $25 per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change, so be sure to send us a copy of your old passport before sending off for your new one. If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter into Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter into Machu Picchu or get on the train. They are very strict about this here!! The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend that you bring a warm jacket for early morning and a poncho in case of rain. If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the tour. It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations. Of course you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your tour. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service. Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator for that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and its people. The Sacred Valley & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Package does not include extra porter. Tou will need to carry all your things. Please try to pack as light as possible which is the key to enjoy this amazing trek.Important Info
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THE BRIEFING
CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?
HOW TO BOOK
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE STUDENT DISCOUNT?
MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?
*** If you cancel your 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package, the deposit is not refundable at all!DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT?
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN THE SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU & RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK?
TIPPING
ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?
In your daypack for the Short Inca Trail, you should have: In your duffel that will be sent by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes:Packing List
What you have to take with you for the 2 Day Inca Trail & Rainbow Mountain Trek Package?
What You'll Experience on the Trail
From the terraces of Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, every step brings you closer to the lost city of the Incas.
-
Stop 01 / 03Wiñay Wayna
Its agricultural terraces cover half the mountainside, making it a trail favorite. Its name means "Eternally Young" in Quechua.
-
Stop 02 / 03Inti Punku
The "Gate of the Sun" was the main entrance to Machu Picchu and gives you your first view of the citadel, a view you can only earn on the Inca Trail.
-
Stop 03 / 03Machu Picchu
By far the most well known UNESCO world heritage site in Peru and the pinnacle of many people's visits to South America. This is where you wanted to be.
Lovely Words From Our Travelers
Real reviews from travelers who explored Machu Picchu and Cusco with us, straight from Tripadvisor, Google and Trustpilot.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Read all on Tripadvisor
Amazing experience with Sam travels
I had the best experience with Sam travels, we had an amazing time doing the 4d Salkantay trek, we had the best weather. Specifically want to mention Josep what an amazing cool guy he was. A real leader, great story teller, motivator and made you feel like you were taking on something special. Secondly another special mention for Andres and his catering team. The food was amazing, real nutritious and energising for the long trekking days.
Finally the horse man Donato, he managed to get all of our fresh clothing to the next camp very efficiently. Highly recommend a trip with this company.
Great experience at short Inca trail
We did the 2-day Short Inca Trail and it was a fantastic experience! Our guide, Fredy Zapata, was excellent. He told us so much about the history of the Incas and the region, and was able to answer every question we had. He did a great job and made the whole experience really enjoyable.
The highlight was definitely arriving at the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time. An unforgettable experience that we would highly recommend!
Great experience because of the team!
Amazing trip! What a great experience, so well organized. Our guide Josep was a guiding star who knows so much and shared a lot of information. Very kind and helpful in every way. The cooking team of Andres was amazing and we had wonderful and a great variety of meals every evening. Donato the horseman made sure we got our stuff safe and in time to every stop. I could not ask for a better experience to be honest. Especially Josep, thank you for being so flexible, organized and sharing your knowledge.
Unforgettable Salkantay Experience with Sam Travel
We did the Salkantay Trek with SAM Travel and couldn’t have been happier with our choice! Our guide, Josep, was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and passionate. He answered every single one of our questions about nature, history and Peruvian culture honestly, even better than ChatGPT! ;) We especially loved being in such a small group. It made the whole experience feel much more personal, relaxed and authentic.. The accommodations throughout the trek were excellent, and the food prepared by Andrés was absolutely outstanding. We were honestly surprised by the quality and variety of the meals, especially considering we were in the middle of the mountains. We spent a long time researching different companies before booking the Salkantay Trek, and choosing SAM Travel was definitely the right decision. Everything was extremely well organized, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations. We would 100% recommend SAM Travel, and especially Josep and Andrés, to anyone planning to do the Salkantay Trek!
SAM travel
Great trip. Great people. Loved my time with Joseph, Andres, Donato.and Elvis. Amazing world to explore made extra special with great people. Shout to my fellow travellers
Best trek ever!
It was amazing. We had the best Guide with Josep who is Sperling really good English and explaining so many things to us as well as introducing us perfectly to the altitude and the landscape. The Pick Up, accomodation and especially the food was so well organized and delicious. I highly recommend doing this trek, it was spectacular. 😍
Google Reviews
Read all on Google
We had an amazing experience on the 4 day/3 night Salkantay Trek with Sam Travel Peru. Everything was seamless from beginning to end.…
I joined the 2-day, 1-night tour to Cusco and Machu Picchu with SAM TRAVEL, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish.…
We had an incredible time on the 3D/2N Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour and would highly recommend it. It was fantastic to visit some of the highlights of the Sacred Valley, including Pisac, the Maras Salt Mines and Moray on the first…
We did the 4-day Inca Trail with Sam's Travel, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. It's something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.…
We had a great time on our 3d/2n tour of the sacred valley and short inca trail. The sacred valley prepared us very well for Macchu Picchu and the information provided was great. Our guide Rolando was very knowledgeable about the inca…
We’ve just done the 4-Days Inca trail with SAM travel. Our main guide Josep was very professional, knowledgeable and considerate. He really made sure that we enjoy the journey and our needs are addressed. Jimmy, our assistant guide, helped…
We had a great experience with Sam Travel Peru. Always felt well taken care of and safe. Our guide, Israel, was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The office staff were always quick to reply to emails.…
Trustpilot Reviews
Read all on Trustpilot
Awesome trip with Josef as our guide…
Awesome trip with Josef as our guide Mario the chef with amazing food and porters who were our hero’s.
We booked a day tour for the Rainbow…
We booked a day tour for the Rainbow Mountain and it had been just perfect. Fernando, our guide, was really kind and attentive. All the staff is professional and friendly, totally recommended!
Incredible Salkantay Trek with Exceptional Guide Jhordy
We recently completed the Salkantay Trail trek with Sam Travel, and we couldn't be happier with our experience. Our guide, Jhordy, was exceptional. He was highly professional, providing great insights, facts, and stories that enriched our journey. Jhordy was very patient with us and demonstrated remarkable flexibility, adjusting the itinerary when we weren't feeling our best. We highly recommend Sam Travel, especially Jhordy, for making our trek an incredible time.