Booking

Follow Us

Pallay Punchu Tour 1 Day

Cusco, Peru 5.0 (9,685 reviews)
  • Duration 1 Day
  • Type Group or private
  • Group Size Up to 8 people
  • Languages English, Spanish

From $150.00 / Person

Overview

Join us on an unforgettable journey to discover one of Cusco’s hidden natural wonders: Pallay Punchu Mountain! This full-day adventure takes you on a scenic hike to a spectacular peak decorated with vibrant natural colors. Escape the busy tourist trails by choosing this lesser-known route, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the mountains, admire breathtaking panoramic views, and connect with the untouched beauty of the Andes. Are you ready to experience a different side of Cusco?

Trip Details


Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Cusipata – Pallay Punchu – Cusco

Early Departure & Breakfast in Cusipata

Your adventure begins bright and early with a 4:00 AM pickup from your hotel. A drive of about 2.5 hours takes you south of Cusco to the small town of Cusipata, where you stop for breakfast at a local restaurant to recharge before the hike.

Hike to the Colorful Pallay Punchu

We then drive another 1.5 hours to Marangani, where the walk begins. Get your water and snacks ready, because every step of this route is worth it. The first uphill stretch winds through beautiful mountain scenery toward the colorful peak, with chances to spot native Andean plants and wildlife along the way.

Pallay Punchu owes its name to its shape, which resembles a woven Andean poncho: a steep, pyramid-like mountain striped in magenta, yellow, green, red, and other vivid colors. On a clear day, the waters of Langui Lagoon shine between the surrounding mountains in the background.

Lunch & Return to Cusco

After 1 to 2 hours exploring the area, listening to your guide’s explanations, and taking plenty of photos, you walk back to the vehicle. We return to the same restaurant for lunch before driving back to Cusco, arriving at around 6:00 PM.

  • Distance: 3 km / 1.9 miles
  • Hiking Time: 1 to 2 hours
  • Highest Point: 4,730 m / 15,518 ft
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch


Inclusions

What Is Included in the Pallay Punchu Tour?

  • Hotel Pickup: Collection from your hotel on the morning of the tour.
  • Private Transport: Round-trip transfer between Cusco and the trailhead.
  • Professional Guide: Experienced, English-speaking guide.
  • Meals: Breakfast and lunch as listed in the itinerary (vegetarian options on request).
  • Safety Equipment: First-aid kit with an emergency oxygen bottle.

What Is Not Included?

  • Trekking Poles: $9 USD.
  • Horse Ride: Optional, hired from local families at the trailhead.
  • Tips: Optional gratuities for your guide, driver, and cook.


Price

Pallay Punchu Tour Prices 2026

Enjoy this full-day hike with our expert team, in a small group or as a private tour.

Small Group Prices

Group SizePrice per Person (USD)
2 Travelers$150 USD
3 Travelers$140 USD
4 Travelers$120 USD
5 Travelers$99 USD
6 or More Travelers$89 USD
  • The price per person depends on the final size of the group. Once the group is confirmed, everyone pays the rate that matches the total number of participants.
  • We cannot guarantee how many people will join, but groups never exceed 10 travelers.
  • A minimum of 2 participants is needed to form a group.

Private Tour Prices (Any Date)

Group SizePrice per Person (USD)
1 Traveler$250 USD
2 Travelers$170 USD
3 Travelers$150 USD
4 Travelers$130 USD
5 Travelers$110 USD
6 or More Travelers$90 USD

Private tours are exclusively for your group, with your own guide, driver, and private van. No other travelers will be added.

Optional Extra

  • Horse Ride: Local families rent horses at the trailhead for around 100 soles round trip. Your guide will help you agree on the price.

Packing List

What to Bring on the Pallay Punchu Hike

  • Documents: A copy of your passport, plus your student card if applicable.
  • Daypack: A light, waterproof backpack.
  • Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots.
  • Clothing: Warm clothes and hiking pants (avoid jeans), dressed in layers for changing temperatures.
  • Cold-Weather Gear: Thermal layers, wool socks, gloves, a scarf, and a wool hat.
  • Rain Protection: Waterproof clothing or a rain poncho.
  • Sun Protection: Sunscreen, a sun hat, and sunglasses.
  • Water: Reusable water bottles (please avoid disposable plastic).
  • Snacks: Your favorite energy snacks.
  • Camera: With fully charged batteries.
  • Trekking Poles: Available to rent.
  • Health & Hygiene: Personal first-aid kit, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.
  • Cash: For souvenirs, drinks, tips, and an optional horse ride.


Trip Enquiry

Ask us about this tour

The Journey

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.

  1. Wiñay Wayna
    Stop 01 / 03

    Wiñay Wayna

    Its agricultural terraces cover half the mountainside, making it a trail favorite. Its name means "Eternally Young" in Quechua.

    • 2,650m altitude
    • 2.5km from Machu Picchu
  2. Inti Punku
    Stop 02 / 03

    Inti 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.

    • Sun Gate viewpoint
    • Exclusive to trekkers
  3. Machu Picchu
    Stop 03 / 03

    Machu 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.

    • UNESCO World Heritage
    • #1 Wonder of South America
Clients Feedback

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

Passport47616819993

Germany • 4 contributions

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.

Sep 2026 • Couples

Harry W

2 contributions

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.

Sep 2026 • Solo

Carolin

2 contributions

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!

Sep 2026 • Couples

Robyn

24 contributions

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.

Sep 2026 • Couples

ANDRE m

2 contributions

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!

Sep 2026 • Couples

Hamish G

1 contribution

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

Sep 2026 • Solo

Theresa Z

1 contribution

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. 😍

Sep 2026 • Couples

Google Reviews

Read all on Google

Sarah Small

Local Guide • 19 reviews • 15 photos

We had an amazing experience on the 4 day/3 night Salkantay Trek with Sam Travel Peru. Everything was seamless from beginning to end.…

3 weeks ago

PY LAU

5 reviews • 4 photos

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.…

A month ago

Chris Handley

1 review • 4 photos

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…

2 months ago

Sam Pauwels

Local Guide • 20 reviews • 109 photos

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.…

2 months ago

Philipp Luthardt

Local Guide • 7 reviews • 11 photos

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…

2 months ago

H.Y. Lin

Local Guide • 18 reviews • 12 photos

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…

2 months ago

Jeff Jimerson

Local Guide • 9 reviews • 22 photos

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.…

2 months ago

Trustpilot Reviews

Read all on Trustpilot

Ann McNamara

PE • 1 review

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.

Sep 9, 2026

Carolyn

US • 7 reviews

Rainbow Mt and Lake Titikaka

For the second part of our Classic Inca Trail package, we hiked Rainbow Mountain and then toured the islands of Lake Titikaka. On this portion of our trip package, we were able to spend a day/night/morning with a local family on Isla Amantaní. What an incredible experience to really got to understand the culture! Our guide Christian (Chris) from Sam’s Travel was an incredible resource helping us to not only navigate where to be, but also helped us converse with the local community. In addition to being an excellent guide and very knowledgeable, Christian was an AMAZING photographer for our group so we are all in all of the photos!

Jun 29, 2026

Joann Campos

US • 1 review

The Ultimate Birthday Bucket List Experience – The Dream Team of Liz and Abdul!

I recently checked a major dream off my birthday bucket list with an incredible 3-day tour of the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. This experience was everything I hoped for and more, largely because of the outstanding duo of Liz Montesinos and Abdul. If you are booking with SAM Travel, I cannot recommend this pair enough—they work so perfectly together as a team that it made our entire journey feel seamless and special.

Liz Montesinos is an absolutely wonderful guide who brought so much heart to our experience. What stood out most was her intense passion for her culture and her country; she doesn’t just share facts, she shares her heritage with a deep pride that makes the history of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu truly come alive. She was also incredibly attentive, always making sure we were comfortable and helping us capture the most stunning photos of our milestone trip.

While Liz provided the incredible storytelling and cultural depth, Abdul was the perfect partner behind the wheel. He is a fantastic driver who made us feel completely safe and relaxed, even on the winding mountain roads. Seeing them work in tandem allowed us to just focus on the magic of Peru. They truly operate as a "dream team," and their combined energy and professionalism made this a birthday I will never forget. If you want the best experience possible, be sure to ask for Liz and Abdul together!

Apr 24, 2026

Susan

PE • 2 reviews

The Inca Trail with the best guide.

We did the 3 night, 4 day Inca Trail with Sam Travel Peru and our guide and organiser was Josep Quiñonez Alvarez. It was a fantastic experience and Josep made it extra special. He is extremely experienced so was able to read the group very well and make adjustments to the route when necessary. His knowledge of the Incan civilisation was excellent and he was able to convey it in superb English with passion and enthusiasm. Despite the ardours of the trail we had a great 4 days, which undoubtedly was definitely down to Josef.

Oct 9, 2025

Jen Thomas

GB • 2 reviews

An amazing adventure

Sam Travel Peru were brilliant from start to finish on the 4 day classic Inca Trail. They were well organised which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience. The guides Henry and Jimmy were amazing, so fun and helpful. They were informative about Inca history and really knew how to keep the group energised and having a good time. The chef (Mario) came up with some delicious food, pretty incredible at such remote locations. So thankful for the porters too, who made the experience so much more enjoyable by carrying everything to make camp each night (as well as our duffle bags). An all round spectacular experience, so grateful to a wonderful team.

Oct 3, 2024

Anna Mozumdar

US • 1 review

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!

Jul 12, 2024

Jon Tam

PE • 1 review

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.

Jul 3, 2024
Trusted Andes Network

Our Partnerships

We couldn't make this impact without our partners. Join us in changing lives.

Chat with us!