Cusco Explorer in 6 days: Machu Picchu, Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain
The Cusco Explorer package is built for travellers who want the classics and the high Andes in a single trip. Six days take you from the Inca capital to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, then up to two of the most striking landscapes near Cusco: the turquoise Humantay Lagoon and the coloured slopes of Rainbow Mountain.
The package at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 days, 5 nights |
| Highlights | Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain |
| Highest point | Rainbow Mountain, 5,030 m |
| Accommodation | Fully equipped apartment in central Cusco (twin share) |
| Group | Shared group of 2 to 14 travellers |
| Price | US $690 per person; 5% less for under-18s |
A trip that climbs step by step
The itinerary gains height gradually. Machu Picchu (2,430 m) and the Sacred Valley come first, both lower than Cusco. Then, with three nights at altitude behind you, comes Humantay Lagoon at about 4,200 m, and only after that Rainbow Mountain at 5,030 m. Each hike prepares you for the next.
It suits active travellers in reasonable shape who can walk uphill for two to three hours. Compared with the 5-day Discovery, the extra day adds Humantay for US $95 more; the 7-day Highlights adds an ATV ride on top.
Machu Picchu, Humantay and Rainbow Mountain in 6 days
City tour, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, two guided high-altitude hikes, apartment and transfers — US $690 per person.
Day 1: arrival and Cusco city tour
We meet you at the airport or bus terminal and take you to your apartment in central Cusco (3,400 m), with a welcome coca or muña tea and a full briefing on your trip. Then your guide takes you to Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, whose Inca walls still carry a colonial convent, and up to the hills above the city: the giant zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, the carved rock shrine of Qenqo, the checkpoint of Puca Pucara and the water shrine of Tambomachay.
Included: guide, transport, Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) and Qorikancha entrance. Meals: not included on this day.
Day 2: Machu Picchu
The big day starts at about 4:30 am. You drive through Chinchero and Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, ride the tourist train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes and take the bus up to Machu Picchu (2,430 m) for a guided tour of its temples, plazas and terraces. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, the train and a road transfer bring you back to Cusco in the evening.
Included: train, buses, Machu Picchu entrance, guide, breakfast and lunch. Bring your original passport: it must match your ticket, so we ask for passport details when you book, together with your choice of Machu Picchu circuit.
Day 3: the Sacred Valley of the Incas
A full day in the valley below Cusco. You start in Chinchero, a weaving village with Inca walls and a colonial church, then see the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans, still worked by local families. After a buffet lunch in Urubamba come the temple terraces of Ollantaytambo and, to finish, the hillside ruins and craft market of Pisac. The valley lies lower than Cusco, which makes it a gentle day for your body.
Included: transport, guide, entrances and BTC. Meals: breakfast and buffet lunch.
Day 4: Humantay Lagoon
An early start at about 4:30 am takes you via Mollepata to Soraypampa (3,900 m). From there a steady climb of about an hour and a half leads to Humantay Lagoon (about 4,200 m), a turquoise lake beneath the glacier of the same name, where you can join an optional Andean offering ceremony. A buffet lunch in Mollepata comes before the drive back to Cusco.
Included: transport, guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, trekking poles and oxygen. Difficulty: moderate to challenging. More in our Humantay Lake guide.
Day 5: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
You leave at about 4:00 am for Cusipata and the trailhead (about 4,400 m). A gradual climb of around three hours brings you to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint at 5,030 m, with its bands of coloured minerals and the Red Valley beyond. After the descent you have a buffet lunch in Cusipata and are back in Cusco in the late afternoon.
Included: transport, guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, trekking poles and oxygen. It is the highest point of the trip, which is why it comes after several days of acclimatisation. More in our Rainbow Mountain guide.
Day 6: departure
A final transfer takes you to the airport or bus terminal for your onward journey.
What is included
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Arrival and departure transfers, welcome tea and trip briefing | Dinners |
| Accommodation in a shared, fully equipped apartment in central Cusco | Private apartment (optional upgrade) |
| Professional guide on every excursion | Travel insurance |
| Ground transport, tourist train and Machu Picchu buses | Tips |
| Machu Picchu entrance, Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) and site entrances | Personal expenses and optional activities |
| Breakfasts and the lunches listed day by day | — |
Tips for two high-altitude hikes
- Back-to-back early starts. Days 4 and 5 both begin at 4:00–4:30 am, so plan early nights and pack your day bag the evening before.
- Warm layers and rain gear. Both hikes start cold, and the weather changes quickly above 4,000 m. Check our Cusco packing list.
- Good footwear. Broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes with grip; the Humantay path is steep and stony in places.
- Listen to your body. A mild headache and shortness of breath are normal at first; tell your guide if they get worse. Our altitude guide explains the warning signs.
- Pick your season. April to October brings clearer skies and drier trails; see Cusco weather by month.
Which Cusco package is right for you?
Where the Explorer sits among our Cusco packages:
| Package | Days | What it adds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cusco Express | 3 days | City tour and Machu Picchu | US $490 |
| Cusco Essential | 4 days | + Sacred Valley | US $530 |
| Cusco Discovery | 5 days | + Rainbow Mountain | US $595 |
| Cusco Explorer | 6 days | + Humantay Lagoon | US $690 |
| Cusco Highlights | 7 days | + ATV ride to Moray and Maras | US $860 |
| Cusco Complete | 8 days | + South Valley | US $890 |
| Cusco & Lake Titicaca | 8 days | Cusco highlights + Puno and Lake Titicaca | US $950 |
| Cusco & Lake Titicaca | 9 days | The same + ATV ride | US $990 |
Frequently asked questions
Reasonably fit. Humantay is a climb of about an hour and a half and Rainbow Mountain about three hours, both above 3,900 m, but the pace is slow and steady.
Rainbow Mountain goes higher (5,030 m), while the Humantay path is steeper in places. For most people, the altitude is what makes both demanding.
US $690 per person in a shared group, with 5% off for under-18s and an automatic discount for groups of 8 or more.
It is lower than Cusco, so it is comfortable early in the trip, and it leaves the high hikes for the end, once you are acclimatised.
Teenagers who enjoy walking usually manage well. With young children, the 4-day Cusco Essential is more relaxed.
