06 Day Andean Jewels of Cusco – Private Service

Machu Picchu may be the famous finish, but this six-day private trip gives you a wider look at the Cusco region: Inca terraces at Moray, salt pools at Maras, high-altitude hikes and time to settle in before the big days. The variety is the point.

I especially like the first-day rest for acclimatization and the mix of archaeology with mountain scenery. A guide helps bring context to places such as Moray and Chinchero, while the private format means only your group takes part. Guides named on past trips include Jonathan, Justin, Johan and Eddy, though assignments can change.

The main catch is altitude and an early alarm. Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain both involve strenuous climbs at elevations above 13,000 feet, and both days begin around 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. If you want a gentle holiday, this is not it.

At a glance

• Moray’s circular terraces show how the Incas worked with different growing conditions.
• Maras has more than 3,000 salt pools cut into a mountainside and fed by a small stream.
• Machu Picchu includes a two-hour guided visit, round-trip bus service and a tourist train.
• Humantay Lake sits at about 13,800 feet, reached by a roughly 2.5-hour uphill hike.
• Rainbow Mountain rises to 16,470 feet, with a two-hour ascent from the trailhead.
• The $1,024.62 price includes five hotel nights, admission fees and selected meals, but not flights or all meals.

Six days from Cusco to the high Andes

This is a full itinerary, not a Machu Picchu add-on. Over six days, you move from Cusco’s city streets to Inca sites in the Sacred Valley, then to Machu Picchu and two demanding mountain excursions. The range is appealing, but it asks for energy, flexibility and a little respect for altitude.

The tour begins and ends in Cusco. A team member meets you at the airport or bus terminal on arrival and takes you to your hotel. On the final day, you have a free morning before a transfer to the airport, depending on your flight time. That makes the trip easiest to plan when your arrival and departure times leave room for those bookend days.

It is a private activity, so only your own group participates. That can make the pace and conversation feel more personal than a large shared tour. It does not mean you should expect every detail to be flexible: Machu Picchu transport, train travel and early departures still shape the days.

Day 1: Take Cusco slowly

The first day is deliberately light. After pickup and hotel drop-off, you have time to rest and explore downtown on your own. At roughly 11,000 feet above sea level, Cusco can make even a short walk feel more demanding than expected, so resist the urge to pack the arrival day with plans.

I like that the itinerary treats acclimatization as part of the trip rather than wasted time. You will need that breathing space before the hikes later in the week. Keep the day simple, drink water and save your longest stroll for when you know how your body is adjusting.

The tour describes the hotel as a three-star property, with five nights included on a double-occupancy basis. The exact hotel is not specified, so check the booking details if the location or room arrangement matters to you.

Day 2: Moray, Maras and Chinchero

Pickup is around 8:00 a.m. for a scenic drive to Moray, about an hour and 20 minutes away. The site’s amphitheater-like terraces descend into the ground in broad rings. Their shape and varying levels have long drawn attention as evidence of Inca experimentation with growing conditions, and your guide can help you look beyond the striking geometry.

Next comes Maras, an old salt-producing site with more than 3,000 pools carved into the mountainside. A small stream feeds the pools, and the pale salt against the earth makes for a memorable contrast. It is also a working place, not just a scenic stop, so look closely at how the pools form a network across the slope.

The final named stop is Chinchero, at about 12,342 feet. Here you visit Inca walls and altars, along with a colonial church noted for its decorated interior. The elevation is already high, and the day includes several stops, so bring layers and pace yourself even if the sightseeing feels less strenuous than the hikes.

The Sacred Valley excursion lasts about eight hours. Admission is listed as included, though the tour information does not spell out every meal or stop along the route. Ask ahead if you need to know where lunch fits into the day.

Day 3: Machu Picchu by bus and train

Machu Picchu is the centerpiece, and this plan gives you a two-hour guided visit inside the citadel. You start early, take a bus from Aguas Calientes up to the site, then return to town for lunch before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, the tour takes you to Cusco and your hotel.

A guide matters here. The ruins are impressive on their own, but a clear explanation helps connect the stonework and setting to the people who built and used the site. The company’s guide names include Jonathan, Justin, Johan, Eddy, Franklin, Isaac and Myriam. These are names associated with its tours, not a guarantee of who will lead your departure.

The package includes the round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, plus a tourist train in either Inca Rail Voyager or Peru Rail Expedition service. The two-hour guided visit is a substantial introduction, but it is not a leisurely all-day stay. If you want more time inside the citadel, confirm whether this itinerary can be adjusted before booking.

Day 4: The climb to Humantay Lake

The Humantay Lake day starts early, with hotel pickup between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. After about two and a half hours on the road, you stop in Mollepata, at roughly 9,200 feet, for breakfast. The van continues to Soraypampa, the trailhead at about 12,700 feet.

From there, expect an uphill hike of roughly two and a half hours to the lake, which sits at about 13,800 feet. The route passes Andean scenery, native plants and birds. At the top, you have time for snacks, photos and a rest beside the turquoise water beneath the surrounding peaks.

The return hike takes you back to Soraypampa, followed by the drive to Cusco. The whole excursion is listed as about 11 hours, so plan for a long day rather than a quick outing. The altitude can be as hard as the walking itself. A moderate fitness level is required, but even fit hikers should not assume that high elevation will feel like a normal trail.

Breakfast is included on four days across the tour, and lunch on two. The information does not identify which breakfasts and lunches are served on which days, so check the exact meal plan if that affects your budget or dietary needs.

Day 5: Rainbow Mountain before dawn

The next early start comes at around 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. You travel south to Cusipata, at approximately 12,772 feet, where breakfast is served. A van then takes you to Phuluwasipata, the starting point for the hike.

The ascent to Rainbow Mountain takes about two hours. Along the way, the route passes open Andean country where alpacas and llamas graze. At the summit, about 16,470 feet above sea level, mineral layers give the mountain its bands of red, gold and turquoise. The colors are the main attraction, but the altitude is the practical fact to plan around.

There is time to take in the view and photographs before returning to the trailhead and heading back. The description places the excursion among the tour’s long days, but gives an inconsistent duration for this stop, so confirm the current schedule before you book. Bring warm clothing and do not treat the climb as a casual photo walk.

Some people choose to rent a horse on high-altitude routes, but no such option is specified here. Do not count on it unless the operator confirms it directly.

Day 6: A quiet morning and airport transfer

The final morning is free for a last look around Cusco or a rest before travel. An airport transfer is arranged according to your flight schedule, with Lima or another destination named as possible onward routes.

That free time is useful, but it is not a full extra sightseeing day if your flight leaves early. Build your departure plans around the transfer and confirm the pickup time once your flight is set.

What the price covers, and what it does not

At $1,024.62 per person, the price includes five nights in three-star hotels based on double occupancy, a professional guide, entrance fees, round-trip bus service to Machu Picchu, and the tourist train between the Machu Picchu area and Ollantaytambo. Four breakfasts and two lunches are included.

That is a meaningful bundle for a six-day trip with several distant sites and transport connections. You are not paying only for a guide at Machu Picchu; the price also covers the Sacred Valley visits, two mountain excursions, hotel nights and key admission and transport costs. The private format adds value if you want the trip limited to your own group.

Still, the price is not all-in. International and local flights are excluded, as are meals not specified and tips. You should also budget for meals beyond the included four breakfasts and two lunches. The hotel rating is given, but the properties are not named in the information provided, so ask about them if comfort, location or room setup is important to you.

Guides and pace: where the trip earns its keep

The strongest human element is the guiding. Names connected with the operator’s tours include Jonathan, Justin, Johan, Eddy, Franklin, Isaac and Myriam. The praise attached to these guides centers on patience, warmth, historical explanation and keeping the group included. Drivers such as Guido and Ronnie are also named for being attentive and helping people feel safe on long journeys.

Your specific guide and driver may differ, so treat those names as examples rather than promises. Still, the qualities to look for are clear: a guide who explains the places in context, gives practical help and keeps an eye on the group matters on a schedule that moves between long drives, a major archaeological site and high-altitude hikes.

The tour has a 5.0 rating from 75 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation rate. That is an unusually strong record, and the recurring praise for guide service is especially relevant here. Good guiding will not make the climbs easier, but it can make a packed itinerary feel more human and less like a string of hurried stops.

Is this the right Cusco trip for you?

I would consider this tour if you want more than Machu Picchu and have enough time to see the wider region. It combines archaeology, salt production, colonial and Inca sites, a major historic sanctuary, and two very different mountain hikes. The free first day is a sensible start, and the private format keeps the group small by design.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, struggle with strenuous uphill walking or want lots of unstructured time. The Humantay and Rainbow Mountain days begin before dawn and reach high elevations. The Machu Picchu visit is guided for about two hours, so this is a broad regional sampler rather than a slow, single-site holiday.

If you book, make acclimatization your first priority, confirm the hotel and meal details, and ask for the current Rainbow Mountain schedule. Choose this trip for range, guiding and a full week of Andean sights. Skip it if your ideal Cusco visit is mostly relaxed city time.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about six days, with five nights of accommodation included.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What is included in the price?

The price includes five nights in three-star hotels based on double occupancy, a professional guide, entrance fees, round-trip bus service to Machu Picchu, a tourist train, four breakfasts and two lunches.

Are flights included?

No. International and local flights are not included.

How long is the guided visit at Machu Picchu?

The guided visit inside the citadel lasts about two hours.

Which train service is included?

The tour uses either Inca Rail Voyager or Peru Rail Expedition service.

How early do the mountain excursions start?

Pickup for Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain is between about 4:00 and 5:00 a.m.

How strenuous are the hikes?

The tour calls for a moderate fitness level. The Humantay Lake hike takes about two and a half hours uphill, while the Rainbow Mountain ascent takes about two hours and reaches roughly 16,470 feet.

Are meals included every day?

No. Four breakfasts and two lunches are included. Other meals are not included unless specified.