From $167 USD Per Person

Cusco to Lake Titicaca


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Rainbow Mountain Trek ending in Puno

Duration: 1 Day

Places to visit

  • Cusco
  • Rainbow  Mountain
  • Puno
Group Size Up to 8 people
Max Altitude: 4400 m.s.n.m
Type Service: Group
Transportation: Van, Bus, Train
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 1 Day

SAM Travel Peru offers a great alternative to the normal Rainbow Mountain tour, firstly travel to the start of the  Rainbow Mountain trek, hike through local communities and see spectacular mountain peaks before arriving at the beautiful Rainbow Mountain and enjoy the amazing view of the natural wonder. Secondly, travel south the ancient ruin of Raqchi before arriving into the city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca where you can explore this magical lake and its interesting islands.

*** Please note: This unique Day Tour is only offered to our clients doing a 2, 3, 4 or more days tours or treks to Machu Picchu.

Trip Details

BEST Schedule for this unique designed tour!

  • Pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 4am in our private van and then we drive for 3 hours to the trailhead.
  • The hike up takes about 1.5 hours along a trail in a desert valley, with full view of glaciers.
  • By 8:30am, We will arrive at Rainbow Mountain, enjoy and take pictures, then we return along the track we climbed up.
  • By 10:30am We drive back to Cusipata and then drive to Racchi and we explore this unique Inca city.
  • Finally we drive to Puno for  4 hours.
  • By 6pm, we should arrive to Puno and then we will drop you at your hotel.

***** We can offer you the Pacoyoc Mountain instead the Rainbow Mt too. 

*****A horse can be hired for the majority of the trek. However, the last 600m are too steep for horses and you will have to walk this last part.

*** Please note: This unique Day Tour is only offered to our clients doing a 2, 3, 4 or more days tours or treks to Machu Picchu.

ITINERARY

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4am and begin with our amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure.  We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley; ending up at the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m / 15,216 ft). See the amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, valleys and high Andean peaks on the drive.

The herds of alpacas and llamas near your breakfast spot will entertain you in the early morning. Once we reach the trailhead, we start on our hike following a lovely stream. As you start your hike, you will have views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. Interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture aliveLearn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!

After a total hike of 1.5 hours, we finally reach our destination: Rainbow Mountain (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty, you  have time to explore the area.  Take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, there is an optional hike across to the top of the Red Valley.  This walk takes about 45 minutes longer to get back to the trailhead.

At this point, we hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour.

We will embark on the 2-hour drive to Raqchi, have some time explore this unique and amazing Inca city.

Finally we drive to Puno for 3 hours, arriving to our hotel by 6pm

**** We can offer your the Pacoyoc Mountain instead the Rainbow Mt!

  • Meals included: Lunch
  • Difficulty: moderate to challenging

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Included

  • Pick up from your hotel to the bus station
  • English speaking guide
  • Lunch
  • Entrance ticket to sites
  • Oxygen tank for emergencies
  • Air conditioning
  • GPS satellite tracking of transit

Not Included

  • Tips
  • Hotel in Puno
  • Breakfast and dinner
  • Transfer out to Juliaca airport

PRICES

This unique and new designed day trip is available on any date that is best for you as long we have a minimum of 2 people.

  • Price for 2 people: $270 USD per person.
  • Price for 3  people: $227 USD per person.
  • Price for 4  people: $207 USD per person
  • Price for 5 or more people: $187 USD per person.

***This price includes the transfer from your hotel to the bus station in Cusco

***Note that this tour can be done from Puno to Cusco also. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR TOUR

Please read carefully the following information; it will help you answer all of your questions about our Bus to Puno from Cusco

THE BRIEFING

The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?

FIRST, to book your Bus to Puno from Cusco, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.

Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group).  We cannot purchase your Bus to Puno from Cusco without the following information:

  • Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
  • Gender
  • Passport number
  • D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
  • Nationality

SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person in order to purchase a your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket.  You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com. 

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Yes, but with some restrictions. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the tickets has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.  If you cancel the bus to Puno from Cusco, the deposit is not refundable at all!

ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.

PACKING LIST

WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE WITH YOU

• Good day pack
• Hat, gloves, scarf
• Sunscreen, sun glasses, hat
• Good camera
• Warm clothes as this place is very cold
• Good boots and sandals
• Flash light, very important
• Rain poncho if it is rainy season

Rainbow Mountain Trek ending in Puno
machu picchu tours

Join SAM Travel Peru for an Unforgettable Travel Experience In Peru

  • 100% Locally Owned and Operated
  • Years of Experience in all Areas of Peru
  • Knowledgeable Staff ready to Help You
  • Individually Curated Tours and Treks
  • Especially Designed Tours and Treks
  • The Highest Quality Personal Service
  • Fantastic Value for Money with Many Added Extras
Your adventure. Our expertise.

Why Travel with SAM travel Peru?

  • Superior Service
  • Inca Trail Specialists
  • 100% value for money
  • Small Groups with a maximum of 8 people
  • Delicious and nutritious meals
  • Sustainable Travel
  • Years of Professional Inca Trail Experience
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Anna R Mar 2026 • Friends

Fantastic 4 Day Salkantay Trek

I did the 4 day Salkantay trek with Joaquin (Guide), Matias (Chef) and Zenobio (Assistant Chef) and had the best time! The crew were so friendly and caring. It was well organised and they let us know what we would be doing each day. I struggled with the altitude and got a headache on day 2 so the crew gave me some oxygen to help. I felt very cared for. Joaquin was so knowledgable and gave us lots of information on the history of Machu Picchu. Matias and Zenobio’s cooking was incredible and much needed after long days of hiking. We had such a great time and I would highly recommend Sam Travels to anyone who is planning a trip to Peru!

Georgia Hayes Mar 2026 • Friends

Great experience with Sam Travel Peru!

I had a fantastic experience with Sam Travel Peru on the Salkantay Trek. Our guide Joaquin was great. He took great care of us throughout the journey, ensuring all our needs were met while also sharing fascinating historical insights that really added the experience. Chef Matias exceeded all expectations with his food. It was really delicious with generous portions. His assistant, Zenobio, was equally fantastic. The whole team had a great sense of humour, which made the experience even more enjoyable. When I started feeling unwell due to the altitude, they were incredibly attentive, making sure I was comfortable and providing any medicine I needed. I felt well looked after from start to finish. Would definitely recommend!

Danielle Nikka ... T Mar 2026

2 day Inca Trail with Sam Travel

Sam Travel has made our trip to Machu Picchu seamless. Joel Apaza was our guide and he has been extremely helpful throughout! I had stomach problems during our hike, not sure if it was food poisoning or altitude sickness, but I was extremely nauseated up to Winay Wayna which was the most strenuous part of the hike. He was very patient with us and even helped carry out daypacks with our heavy water bottles. We were stopping every 5 minutes because of my condition, but he was very gracious and still encouraging me that we can do it! We were able to reach the citadel after almost 9 hours and wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for Joel’s kindness. Definitely recommend!

dave d Mar 2026 • Couples

Two day tour of sacred valley and machu picchu

Carlos estrada was our guide for the 2 day sacred Valley and machu picchu tour .He was very knowledgeable and really courteous. As I am a man in his sixties and was in a group of twenty year old he paced the trip brilliantly .Great guy and guide

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Matt Ward 2026/01/29

We had a wonderful few days with Liz as our guide and Jair as our driver. We did a city tour of Cusco and then the Sacred Valley, culminating with an early start and Machupicchu on our final day. Liz was very patient and had incredible knowledgeable of all sites as well as telling us about all the history and importance of each site. She knew some ways to avoid packed areas and made each day special. Jair was a very skilled driver, courteous and made sure we were comfortable in the very clean car. Liz checked on us to make sure we arrived on time, smoothed the path for transport on the train and hotel stays, as well as entry to each site. Wilfredo was a good driver to take us back to Cusco and more than willing to stop so I could take photos of dairy cows. I’d highly recommend SAM tours as they had everything sorted for each amazing site, removed the stress and hassle of entry and logistics and made you feel like one of the family.

Tess Edwards 2026/01/29

We did the 3-day Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour with Sam Travel, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This was a real bucket-list trip for us, and with somewhere as iconic as Machu Picchu, expectations can sometimes be unrealistically high. In this case, the experience far exceeded them and was the highlight of our four weeks travelling in South America. Sam Travel is locally owned and operated, and our guide Liz Montesinos is also local. Liz has a university degree in tourism and a deep love for her history, culture and people — and that really shows. Her enthusiasm and knowledge made the three days feel meaningful rather than rushed or superficial.

Nina Shen 2025/10/29

We had an amazing experience visiting Machu Picchu with our guide, Liz Montesinos from SAM Travel Peru. She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture. Liz was also incredibly kind and patient, making sure everyone in our group was comfortable and enjoying the day. Plus, she took some of the best photos of our trip. She knows all the best spots and took truly great photos and didn’t try to make us do cheesy poses like some other guides try to. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would absolutely recommend her to anyone visiting Machu Picchu. She really made our 2-day trip to Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu very special!

Marcelle James 2026/02/29

We just completed our 3 day Sacred Valley and Machu tour with Sam Travel Peru (our guide was Jose). Firstly they were very easy to deal with, and able to add in airport transfers etc as needed. Jose was an excellent guide for the whole 3 days from airport pick up to the end of the tour. Jose was able to amend the itinerary as we went to suit the weather conditions and our ability to walk through all of the sites, ensuring we still got to see all of the most picturesque and important parts of each site. Jose is exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about Peru as well as being very adaptable and positive - would absolutely recommend him.

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Cheri Buccino April 21, 2024
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Powerful! This journey tests your humanity and leaves you in awe of yourself and the beauty that Pachamama provides. April 2024 We conquered the Inca trail and it was only made possible with the help and guidance from our expert guides Jean Pierre (JP) and Jimmy. The knowledge these gentlemen shared was admired by all of our group and the envy of other trail hikers who stopped to listen. The hike has many layers of challenges including language barriers, altitude sensitivities and food specifications. The team at Sam travel exceeded the needs and went above to ensure our comforts were met. A special mention must be made to Mario, the Chef who somehow performed magic with nutritious flavourful meals to satisfy even the pickiest consumers and Francesco who was our lead porter who orchestrated the harmony that happened behind the scenes to get everything done. Nothing less than marvellous from this team. Thank you to each of the group who made our trek a remarkable experience.

BL
Bhavana Lalwani April 18, 2024
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Jose and Henry were great guides for our first time exploring machu pichu! They were very attentive and kept everything on a smooth schedule. Highly recommend!

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Ryan April 9, 2024
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The whole experience was amazing. Ray, our guide answered all of our questions and definitely had our best interest in mind the whole time. Timothy the cook made fantastic food and somehow found a way to prepare a birthday cake with no notice! Boni our head porter and his whole crew were kind, accommodating, and had such upbeat attitudes which really made the experience great!

Isabel Batteria April 17, 2024
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I spent two days with Sam Travel’s guide Raymier, who guided us through the one-day 12-km stretch of the Inca trail and then took us to Machu Picchu the next day. In my group, I was always the last one on the trail because I come from the coast and I’m not used to altitudes, and honestly I could also have prepared physically a little better. Raymier respected my pace, never rushed me, and supported me throughout the ardous trail. He had much knowledge to share. I speak Spanish, but ended up in an English tour, and Ray’s English was very good. He was funny, respectful, and versatile. He knew where to take all the best photos and patiently took photos of all of us. I would trust Sam Travel again especially if I was lucky enough to have Ray as a guide again.

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5.0 105+ opinions
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Sam Travel stands out

Sam Travel is a renowned local travel agency based in Cusco -Peru, recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction, expert travel advice and personalized itineraries that meet the needs and preferences of each traveler.

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