Private Tour: 6 days|| Cusco || MachuPicchu ||Rainbow Mountain||

Cusco is more than a gateway to Machu Picchu on this six-day private tour. You visit Inca sites in and around the city, follow the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, then add two demanding mountain outings to the headline visit. It is a full itinerary, with the logistics arranged for you.

I like two things in particular: the private format, which means only your group takes part, and the useful first morning free to rest before the afternoon city tour. Hotels, many meals, transfers, train tickets, and several entrance tickets are included, so you spend less time arranging each leg yourself.

The main caution is the pace. Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake both require early starts and substantial walking at high altitude, and the Machu Picchu entry ticket is subject to availability and is not included in the listed package. This suits you best if you are fit, flexible, and ready for a busy week.

• Day one eases you in: Airport pickup, a free morning to acclimatize, then a five-hour Cusco-area tour.
• The Sacred Valley leads to the train: Visit Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, have lunch in Urubamba, then travel to Aguas Calientes.
• Machu Picchu entry needs checking: Tickets are subject to availability, and other circuits may cost extra.
• The mountain days start at 4 a.m.: Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake each take about 12 hours door to door.
• The private arrangement covers your group only: Hotels, transport, guides, and many meals are part of the package.
• Plan for extra meal costs: Meals not listed as included are your responsibility.

Day One: Cusco’s Inca Sites, After a Restful Start

A representative from Chullos Travel Peru meets you at Cusco Airport and takes you to your hotel. The morning is free, a sensible pause after travel and a chance to begin acclimatizing before the tour gets moving.

At 2 p.m., a guide picks you up for the city tour. First comes Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, where the guided visit lasts about 45 minutes. You then travel by vehicle to Sacsayhuaman, followed by Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay, returning to Cusco at roughly 7 p.m.

These stops offer a broad introduction to Inca architecture and ritual sites without making you arrange separate transport. Sacsayhuaman’s large stonework is a highlight; Qenqo’s rocky outcrop has a ceremonial feel, while Tambomachay is associated with water worship. The visits are fairly brisk, though, so if you prefer a long, unhurried look at every site, the group schedule may feel tight.

The included city-tour tickets and guide take care of much of the day’s organization. I would use the free morning to rest, drink water, and keep exertion light. You will need energy for the afternoon and for the higher-altitude outings later in the week.

Day Two: Pisaq, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo

Pickup is scheduled for 8 a.m. The drive to Pisaq takes about an hour and a half, followed by a guided visit of roughly an hour. Afterward, you travel along the Willkamayu, or Sacred River, toward Urubamba for a buffet lunch featuring Andean food.

The afternoon brings a short drive to Ollantaytambo, where a guide leads you through the archaeological site for about an hour. The Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, Princess Baths, and terraces are among the places highlighted. This is a useful day for seeing how Inca sites fit into the valley, rather than treating Machu Picchu as an isolated stop.

In the evening, you board the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and stay there overnight. The tour runs for about 12 hours, so expect a full day of driving, walking, sightseeing, lunch, and rail travel. A guide is scheduled to visit your hotel that night to explain the next day’s Machu Picchu arrangements.

The train and transfer links are included, which saves you from coordinating separate tickets and connections. Still, it is worth confirming your exact departure and arrival times, since the return journey on Day Three depends on the train schedule available.

Day Three: Machu Picchu, With an Important Ticket Caveat

You get up early for the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. A professional guide leads the visit, with its length depending on the entry type available. Afterward, you return to town for lunch and some free time before taking the train to Ollantaytambo, then a bus back to Cusco.

The tour includes the round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and the ruins, a guide, breakfast and lunch in town, the return train, and onward transport to Cusco. The crucial exception is the Machu Picchu entry ticket. It is subject to availability and is not included in the listed package details. The operator says tickets are obtained through Peru’s Ministry of Culture and that circuits 1 or 2 are the expected options. Other circuits may be offered at an additional charge.

That distinction matters when you compare the $1,054.50 price with other packages. Do not assume the headline price includes the entry ticket. Ask what is available for your dates, whether the entry price is extra, and what happens if no ticket can be secured. The stated policy says the tour package is fully refunded if no Machu Picchu ticket of any type is available.

You should book well ahead and confirm the ticket situation before making firm plans around this day. The tour is booked about 54 days in advance on average, but that figure is not a guarantee of entry availability. If seeing Machu Picchu is the reason for your trip, settle this question early.

Day Four: Rainbow Mountain Before Breakfast Time

Pickup is scheduled for 4 a.m. You travel to Cusipata, where breakfast is served, then continue to the Wasipata area and the trailhead. The walk to Vinicunca, also called Rainbow Mountain, takes about an hour and a half each way, with roughly 40 minutes at the mountain.

The route’s timing is useful to know: you return to the vehicle around midday, then head back to Cusipata for lunch before reaching Cusco at about 5:30 p.m. The day takes approximately 12 hours. Breakfast and lunch, transport, oxygen, and walking sticks are included.

This is not a casual photo stop. The uphill walk and high-altitude setting make the morning physically demanding, even though the stated fitness level is moderate. The schedule gives you limited time at the mountain, so be prepared to walk at a steady pace and follow the guide’s instructions. If altitude affects you strongly, this may be the most challenging day of the trip.

The included oxygen and walking sticks are practical support, not a substitute for being prepared to walk. You might also want to ask the operator in advance about the trail conditions expected for your date, since no seasonal or weather details are specified.

Day Five: Humantay Lake and Another Long Walk

The second early start arrives at 4 a.m. A vehicle takes you to Mollepata for breakfast, then onward to Soraypampa, where the walk to Humantay Lake begins. The climb takes about an hour and a half, and the lake sits at 4,250 metres above sea level.

You return on foot to Soraypampa, then ride back to Mollepata for lunch before heading to Cusco. The tour expects to return around 6 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, transport, oxygen, and walking sticks are included.

I like that this day includes time in the countryside and a clear walking plan, but it comes immediately after the Rainbow Mountain outing. Both days start before dawn and include strenuous walking at altitude. You may want to judge your energy honestly rather than treating both hikes as easy add-ons. The first day in Cusco offers a little time to acclimatize, but it does not remove the physical demands of the later walks.

The itinerary does not specify how long you spend at the lake itself. Ask the operator about the expected visit time and walking conditions if those details will shape your decision.

Day Six: A Quiet Morning and Airport Transfer

The final morning is free, depending on your flight time, and breakfast is included. An airport transfer is also listed. The schedule mentions an optional Peruvian gastronomy activity that includes preparing pisco sour, but it does not give a price, timing, or further details. Ask the operator before counting on it.

This open morning is welcome after two consecutive early starts. It also gives you some flexibility if your flight is later in the day, though you should confirm the airport transfer time against your departure.

What the $1,054.50 Price Covers

For six days, the package price includes three-star hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, airport transfers, hotel pickups, guides, transport between tour stops, and several key tickets. The Sacred Valley train to Aguas Calientes, the return train to Ollantaytambo, the Machu Picchu bus, and the onward bus to Cusco are included. Breakfast is listed for five days and lunch for four.

That can be good value if you want a private trip with the major connections handled. Train and bus coordination, hotel transfers, and guide arrangements can take time to organize separately. A private tour also means your group is not joined by other participants, which gives the trip a more personal feel and keeps the schedule focused on your party.

But the price is not all-inclusive. Machu Picchu entry is the key exception, and meals not specifically listed are excluded. The package description also mentions an additional charge for some circuit options. Compare the total likely cost, not just the advertised price, and ask for a clear breakdown of entry tickets, meals, and any circuit surcharge before booking.

A five-star rating across 42 reviews and a recommendation rate of 100 percent are encouraging, but a rating cannot promise the same guide or conditions for every departure. One guide associated with the tour is Jonathan Flores, described as having studied in London and elsewhere in Europe. If having him lead your trip matters, ask whether he is available rather than assuming guide assignments are fixed.

The tour provider, Chullos Travel Peru, has also shown flexibility with rescheduling in at least one case when a guest’s original dates had to change. That is a helpful sign, but it is not a stated guarantee of free date changes. The cancellation terms are more specific: cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund; cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and changes inside it are not accepted.

Who Will Get the Most from This Route

This tour is a good fit if you want to see Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and two mountain destinations in one organized trip. It is especially useful if you value included transport and hotels, prefer a private group, and are comfortable with a tightly scheduled week.

It is less suitable if you want slow mornings, long stays at each site, or a relaxed hiking schedule. Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake mean two 4 a.m. pickups and two substantial walks in succession. You should also think carefully about the altitude and your fitness, since the tour calls for a moderate physical level and the lake visit reaches 4,250 metres.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a packed, private introduction to Cusco and its surrounding sights, and if the value of having hotels, guides, transport, and many meals arranged outweighs the busy pace. Before paying, confirm Machu Picchu ticket availability and cost, ask which circuit is available, and check whether Jonathan Flores or another named guide will lead your dates.

If you want a gentler trip, consider fewer activities or more time between hikes. If you are ready for early starts and can manage the walking, this route brings together an unusually wide range of Inca sites and Andean scenery in six days.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts six days, approximately.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What is the price?

The stated price is $1,054.50 per person.

Are hotels included?

Yes. Three-star hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes are listed as included.

Is the Machu Picchu entry ticket included?

No. The entry ticket is subject to availability and is listed as not included. Other circuits may be offered for an additional charge.

What happens if no Machu Picchu tickets are available?

The stated policy says you receive a full refund of the tour package if no type of Machu Picchu ticket is available.

How strenuous are the mountain days?

The tour calls for a moderate physical fitness level. Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake both involve substantial walks, and Humantay Lake is at 4,250 metres above sea level.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is listed for five days and lunch for four. Meals not mentioned in the package are not included.

Are airport transfers included?

Yes. Pickup at Cusco Airport on Day One and a transfer to the airport on Day Six are listed.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours beforehand are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.