Our Rainbow Mountain Trek inc Machu Picchu is an experience never to be forgotten. Peru is rich in history; it has many natural and cultural treasures, Hiking Salkantay to Machu Picchu is an amazing route in the Cusco region, you start in the highlands and after reaching the highpoint you will arrive at the beautiful Jungle forest and finally ending at Machu Picchu one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

You then start your journey to Rainbow Mountain or “Vinicunca” at 5,100 m, it is considered a sacred place near to the amazing Ausangate mountain according to Inca mythology. Right now it is also one of the one hundred places you have to visit before you die and it’s perfect for those people who love to enjoy the company of Alpacas and Llamas in the Peruvian Andes.

Rainbow Mountain Trek is still one of Peru’s best kept secrets and although not as popular as the Inca Trail, the Ausangate trek is a stunning trek through the wildest and rarely visited areas in Peru. Traversing the Cordillera Vilcanota, the trek takes hikers over several high passes, down into low alpine valleys and through traditional Peruvian villages. You’ll see snow capped peaks, herds of llamas, glaciers and turquoise lakes, all set within an incredibly beautiful mountain range.

Lying a 100 km south-east of Cusco is the impressive cordillera Vilcanota. The mountain range has several peaks over 6,000 metres, including the sacred Ausangate (6372m) – the highest mountain in the Cusco region.

Unlike the Inca Trail, no permit is needed for the Ausangate trek. The trek is one of the quietest in the region and you may not even see any another trekkers.

The trek offers an array of wildlife including soaring condors, vicunas, bobcats and pumas. Camp sites are often beside beautiful blue lakes. You’ll also have the chance to bathe in several hot springs and view the trek’s signature rainbow mountains! The colourful sandstone mountains in the Vinicunca area is probably the coolest thing you’ll see in Peru!

(CAMPING & HOTELS)

Itinerary: SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES

  • Day 1: Arrival at Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima. You’ll be collected from the airport then transferd to a hotel in Lima and stay overnight.
  • Day 2: After breakfast you’ll private transfer to the airport and fly to Cusco (3400m./11154ft.) where you will be able to walk around the city sightseeing and overnight in a hotel in Cusco.
  • Day 3: After breakfast in the hotel you’ll transfer from Cusco (3,400 m / 11,154 ft.) at roughly 08.00hrs, driving for 3 hours approximately to Soraypampa (3,800 m / 12,467 ft.). You will have lunch at the campsite, then hike up to Umantay Lake at (4,100 m). It will take roughly one and half hours to ascend; it’s situated just below the Umantay Mountain. You will then go back to the campsite, have dinner and stay overnight in tents at 3,800 m / 12,467 ft.) Degree of cold, roughly 4°Celsius in the evening.
  • Day 4: Early breakfast in Soraypampa at (3800m./12467ft.) You will then hike up to Abra Salcantay (4630m./15190ft.) which is the highest point of this particular part of the trek. After this pass, you will enter the jungle part of Peru, while you descend, you will enjoy more green vegetation until the next campsite Challway and stay overnight in a tent at (2850m./9350ft.) It’ll be much milder at this campsite with some mosquitoes so please bring repellent.
  • Day 5: After breakfast in Challway (2,850 m. / 9,350 ft.) you’ll be transferred down along the Salkantay River, surrounded by green vegetation. During this drive you’ll see fruit plants such as; banana, passion fruit, avocado, coffee plant, etc. When you get to Playa Sahuayaco “Coffee place” (short stop) in order to delight in the Peruvian Coffee you will then continue until Santa Teresa Hot spring, lunch place will be served and then you’ll go by vehicle to the Hydroelectrica where you’ll go by train to Aguas Calientes (2,050 m. / 6,725 ft.) and stay overnight in a Hotel.
  • Day 6: After an early breakfast in the hotel (2050m./6725ft.), you’ll go by bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu (2400m. /7874ft.) A one hour guided tour of the archeological site then you’ll have time to explore by yourself. You will then be able to ascend to Sun gate (Inti Punki) then later in the day you’ll go back to Aguas Calientes by bus then by train to Ollantaytambo and finally by bus to Cusco and overnight in a hotel
  • Day 7: Spare day in Cusco and explore a bit more of the city.
  • Day 8: After breakfast in the hotel in Cusco you will be transferred to Kairawiri (4,480 meters) after a short stop in the small village you’ll be able to enjoy views of Alpacas and Llamas, have lunch, dinner in the campsite and overnight in tents.
  • Day 9: After an early breakfast in the campsite you’ll start hiking up to the Rainbow Mountain (5,200 m /17,060 ft.) you’ll be able to enjoy the stunning views of the Rainbow Mountain as well as the Ausangate Mountain, you’ll be able to hike right up to the Red Valley, it has spectacular views, after that you’ll go back to the base camp of Rainbow Mountain have lunch and overnight in tents.
  • Day 10: Breakfast in the Campsite, transfer to Machupitumarca archaeological site in Pitumarca village and have lunch there. You’ll then be able to visit the Colonial and Inca bridges in Checacupe district, afterwards return to Cusco by minibus around 5pm.
  • Day 11: Last breakfast in Cusco, flight to Lima then fly home.

Grade of Trek: Moderate/Hard

Group size: 8

Best Period: May to October

Next Available Date 2021

TBC

(If you have a group wishing to go and these dates don’t suit then please get in touch)

Total Cost Per Person TBC (including flight).

What’s included in the 10 day package trip?

Hotels:

  • Hotel 3* in Lima (one night) included breakfast
  • Hotel 3* in Cusco (four nights) included breakfast
  • Hotel 3* in Aguas Calientes (one night) included breakfast

Domestic flight:

  • Domestic flight (Lima/Cusco/Lima)

 Staff and Logistic camping:

  • Excursions shared group guided by a local guide: City tours in Cusco.
  • Private trekking group to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.
  • All entry fees (tours, communities, archeological areas )
  • All Transfers during your trip: (bus, taxi, train, etc.)
  • Pack animals: To carry camping equipment and food, horses to carry your personal gear up to a maximum of 7kg per person (including sleeping bag) plus one emergency horse.
  • Meals: Mentioned in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food)
  • Support Staff: one tour guide, cook and donkey drivers.
  • First Aid Kit
  • Camping equipment: (bi-personal tent, kitchen and dining tent, chairs, table and all kitchen utensils )
  • Pre-departure briefing, one day before trek departure

Whats not Included:

  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal trekking gear
  • Meals in the City
  • Tips to staff
  • Any extra days
  • Personal expenses

A full and comprehensive kit list will be provided when you book your place.

We will also offer generous discounts on equipment and clothing in our shop whether buying or hiring for this trek

Please note that we only work with a ground handler that is registered and bonded. Licensed and insured in Peru for this particular trek.

A non-refundable deposit of £450.00 will be required when booking.

Please note that we do not sell ‘off the peg’ generic tours, all of our trips are designed to be  ‘something different’ but as our slogan say’s ‘Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained’…

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