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Cusco to Rainbow Mountain

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Rainbow Mountain Tour with ATV included!

Duration: 1 Day

Places to visit

Rainbow Mounatin

Group Size 2 To 8 Persons

Max Altitude: 5200 m.s.n.m

Type Service: Group

Transportation: Bus, Hike

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 1 Day

As you do the Rainbow Mountain hike through some isolated communities, you may interact with the local people who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive! You will see herds of llamas, alpacas and sheep with their shepherds and a selection of wildlife including soaring condors, cara cara, eagles and, if you’re lucky, vicuñass. When you reach the Rainbow Mountain you will be amazed by the natural colors of the colourful sandstone mountains in the Vinicunca area. It is so different from everything else you will see in Peru! Rainbow Mountain truly is unique!

Itinerary
Inclusions
Price
Why SAM
Packing list

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco – Rainbow mt – Cusco

Your amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure begins with pick up from your hotel at 4am! We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley, on our way to the trailhead at Japura (3,951masl / 12962). Along the way, there are amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, valleys and high Andean peaks.
Enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast. Then we’ll set off on the ATVs for approx 20 minutes to Qosqopata, with views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. This is a great place to interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn 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!
Then after a little hike, we get to the Rainbow mountian (5,200m /17,060ft). After admiring the unique beauty of this colorful landscape, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend approximately 20 to 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, we walk back to Qosqopata to ride back on our ATVs heading back to Japura for lunch.
We will embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00pm.

*** This is the easies way to get to Rainbow mountain with less hiking possible!

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Included

Pick up – drop off at your hotel in Cusco
Professional bilingual guides
Private shuttle just for SAM TRAVEL crew.
ATVs.
Standard helmets.
Gloves.
First aid kit
Breakfast – lunch
Entrances.

Not Included.

Souvenirs
Tips
Drinks.

PRICES

2 PERSONS	Please Inquire for Availability
3 PERSONS	Please Inquire for Availability
4 PERSONS	Please Inquire for Availability
5 PERSONS	Please Inquire for Availability
6 + PERSONS	Please Inquire for Availability

WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL?

SAM Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.

Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.

We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.

SAM Travel Peru knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISORfor yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers, Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley.

SMALL GROUPS

To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at SAM Travel Peru we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.

OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES

We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.

OUR SUPER COOL HORSESMEN

Hiking the 2 Day Rainbow Mountain Trek with SAM Travel Peru is a life changing experience with a fully portered trek where your comfort and enjoyment are our first priority. We make sure that you get the best experience for your holiday in Peru while you interact with the locals, explore fantastic sites and re-discover remote ancient Inca towns and buildings. Having the opportunity to learn some words in Quechua and about the fascinating Inca history. Immerse yourself in the stunning landscape and simply feel the magic of Mother Nature (Pachamama) and the Andes. We carry your gear, prepare your meals, set up your tents avoid crowded campsites and take care of you while you sit back and relax.

We provide the following items to our horsemen and cooks for free: Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffle bags, canteen, a girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattresses and insurance.

OUR CHEF

You will love our fabulous chef! The food on the Rainbow Mountain 2 Day Hike has been highlighted by all our clients they say “that it was better than in the restaurants.” Delicious and abundant gourmet style meals, Peruvian and international cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you are vegetarian or have food allergies of any kind, we can cater our meal to adjust to your needs.

SAM Travel Peru can cater to any food restrictions and special diets such as gluten free, vegetarian or vegan!

OUR EQUIPMENT

Our team (Guides, cooks, horsemen) and our equipment are what really makes SAM Travel Peru stand out from all the competitors…. For all our adventures we hike we include the following items:

OUR TENTS: Enjoy a good night’s sleep in our 4 season EUREKA Timberline tents. All our tents are 4 person tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
OUR MATS: They are used to separate and insulate you from the ground. They all are comfortable.
AIR MATTRESSES: They can be rented for US$15.
OUR KITCHEN & DINING TENTS: The dining tent is used as our meeting room at meal time. It’s a place to enjoy our meals and the company of fellow trekkers.
OUR TABLES & CHAIRS: The interior of the dining room includes tables and chairs with two doors on each side, which are adaptable to weather conditions.
DUFFEL BAGS: Will be provided at briefing time the night before the trek.
MORE: Pillows, backpack rain covers, survivor t-shirts and the biochemical camping toilet are provided on the trek.

OUR SERVICE PROJECTS

SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should give back to the communities we pass through when on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.

Have a look our recent social work: “We, (the students from Patachancha Community) got to go to Machu Picchu for the first time”

SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only employing them work but also to keep things at grassroots, to share in their homes and with their families. This makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!

Please bring

Sweaters or jackets
Non-slip shoes
Raincoats
Caps or hats
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
A bottle of water
Extra money (Peruvian Soles)

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

About Sam Travel

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

9.6

K+

Happy Traveler

5.5

K+

Tours Success

.5%

Positives Review

Travel Guide

Excellent!

5.0 Rating out of 5.0 based on 5.107 reviews

Trusted by travelers

Join the Thousands of Satisfied Customers who Rate us
#1 on TripAdvisor

Independent reviews from guests who explored Peru with our local team.

slamice

Aug 2026, 2026 · Solo

Excellent experience on 2 day tour

A friend recommended me to Sam’s. It was a great experience. After making it to Cusco they walked me through everything at the office. We were a small group which was great for faster pacing the tour guide Israel was a very nice and knowledgeable guy. He is also very patient and relaxed, which helped a lot. I think he knows every tour guide in Machu Pichu. Everything Sam’s provided, including the food and accommodations was much appreciated. I took the two day Machu Pichu tour. The weather was bad for the 4 -5 day Inca trail but Sam’s made our tour work. 100% would recommend.

Posted on Tripadvisor

DianaFran72

Apr 2026 · Couples

Great 3-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour

Henry shared a wealth of historical and cultural information during our first day in the Sacred Valley. Cristian then guided us patiently and cheerfully on the hike to the Sun Gate and around Machu Picchu. His love for his heritage made two long days especially memorable.

Posted on Tripadvisor

Elisa Yaeger

Aug 2026 · Solo

Salkantay Trek 4 days

SAME Travel is an incredible tour group. Saul responded to me immediately & took a phone call to answer any questions I had. Jose was my guide & wow was he amazing. The best smile, the most positive attitude, & the most encouraging (especially during the 9 hours of hiking in the snow & rain). I could not have asked for a better guide! The chefs were great & accommodated my vegan needs. & the horseman made sure our luggage arrived safely & dry! & another great aspect of this tour group is that the groups themselves are small, making it feel more personalized. I would definitely book another tour with SAM!

Posted on Tripadvisor

19_traveler15

Aug 2026· Couples

Short Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

I contacted SAM Travel directly approx 8 months in advance to book the short Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu for my 50th birthday. The typical tour is a return from Cusco, but we were staying in Ollantaytambo so I requested to join the tour from Ollayantambo and finish in Cusco. Booking went very smoothly and over the coming months both Nicole and Edison were very responsive to any questions I had such as how my main luggage would be collected from Ollantaytambo and be ready for our return to cusco. The night before our tour, our guide Juan contacted me to discuss the logistics for the following day. Upon arrival at the train station Juan recognised us immediately (I sent him a picture of us) and ensured that we were comfortable with the itinerary. We were booked onto a group trip but to it turned out to be just my husband and I. Juan was absolutely amazing, He made our trip an unforgettable experience and we could not have asked for a better guide. During the trek, Juan allowed us to walk at our own pace so that we could enjoy the scenery and manage the altitude. He explained the history of the Incan ruins and Machu Picchu in great detail and was very attentive to our needs. He made sure that our overnight bags were waiting at the hotel in Aguas Calientes for our arrival after the trek and he also ensured that our main luggage was collected from Ollantaytambo and was on the bus with us back to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, Juan even made sure that we got checked into our hotel ok before eventually we had to say our sad goodbyes. We cannot thank Juan enough for giving us the best experience and we would highly recommend him as a guide. “Tupananchiskama, Juan! Sulpayki por todo” .

Posted on Tripadvisor

Eleonora T

Aug 2026 • Couples

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

We did the 3-day and 2-night tour, the first day tour of the Sacred Valley (truly incredible places) with explanations of the various sites of interest, day 2 short Inca Trail, the guide (Israel) was excellent with us, he set a good pace and breaks to explain some little curiosities. Lunch is included and is very good. Finally, the last day visit to Machu Picchu, exhaustive and interesting. The transportation is excellently organized, and the luggage delivery system was also very convenient for us! We highly recommend Sam Travel :)

Posted on Tripadvisor

Daniel A

Aug 2026 • Friends

Classic Inca Trail

We booked the 4 day Inca Trail during which we unfortunately encountered freak weather with torrential rain meaning parts of the trail were closed by the government due to mud slides after our first day forcing us to turn back the next day. Despite this our guides Ray and Jimmy immediately contacted the office and organised alternative routes, trains, busses, and accommodation allowing us to then complete the alternative trek starting from km 104 on day 3, enter Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate and return on Day 4 for a brilliant guide through Machu Picchu itself by which point the weather was brilliant again.

Posted on Tripadvisor

Daniel Austin

Aug 2026

What an experience of a lifetime. Our travel guide, Joseph, and our chef, Andres, both went above and beyond to make our trek incredible. Joseph is a true master of the mountain trails. He is articulate, friendly, and encouraging to hikers on his care. He always makes sure you know the plan. A truly fun guy to hang out with, too. When a couple hikers in our group got sick, one of them on Sankaltay Pass trail, he put many extra steps in going back and forth to make sure the fellow hiker got to safety by horse, and he was in total confidence the whole time. You're in good hands with Joseph. Now, regarding food, I am 20+ years vegan, and I fully expected to have a hard time when it came to the catering on the trail. Chef Andres not only fully understood what vegan means, he made every meal a culinary work of art, and the fellow hikers in my group were in awe of the dishes Andres made just for me. And he never made a mistake on vegan ingredients, always confident in what he made. Keep in mind, Andres and his crew made the hike with us every day, which usually kicked our asses, but Andres and his team made incredible dishes 3 times a day after hiking. It was just unbelievable how hard this crew works and how passionate they are about their work. It was a great fortune to have booked through Sam Travel and to have gotten Joseph and Andres taking care of us out there.

Posted on Google

Yasamin Vafai

Aug, 2026

Elias Usca was an amazing guide for our 4 day hike for our honeymoon. Originally we were going to do the Inca Trail, but then we had to reschedule into this trek because there was a landslide on the Inca Trail. Elias make sure that this experience was unforgettable, even if it wasn’t what we had originally planned for, we were happy that we ended up doing the Salkantay with him! When I was struggling with the altitude, he helped me, and even helped carry my bag and arrange a horse for me. He was great at thinking on his feet and even helped our group with having different schedules for the third day based off of everybody’s preferences and abilities. Every night the accommodations were so comfortable and even had hot showers! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the food, with multiple delicious dishes for every meal prepared by our chef Evereth. Elias was very knowledgeable and shared great facts about the nature and the history of the Inca people during our time with him. He and our group were also super fun, and I was so sad when the trip was over! The vibes were the best. This was definitely worth the money, with everything smoothly planned from the first hotel pickup to the final meal! I can’t recommend it enough!.

Posted on Google

Omid Boozarpour

Aug 24, 2026

We had an amazing time on our salkantay trek with Elias Usca as our guide! We actually were supposed to be doing an inca trail trek with SAM travels, but a landslide caused the trail to be closed! They contacted us promptly and helped us find an alternate trek immediately that would still get us to machu picchu. We were worried about the difficulty, and although it was certainly tough, our guide went above and beyond to help us all the way. Got us horses for the harder bits, even offered to carry our packs when things got tough. The whole while he was encouraging and so friendly. Cracking jokes and keeping our spirits up. He knew so much about the sites and was always offering information and pointing out interesting things. Cant say enough good things about him. We wouldnt have made it without him as well as Eberth and our cook/porter team who kept us well fed and happy! Another thing was sam travels as a whole was always looking for ways to tailor the trek to us and they helped find alternate paths when some in our group were unable to continue as planned. Definitely will be recommending to others!.

Posted on Google

Alice

Aug 21, 2026

amazing hike, amazing guides, amazing group, amazing everything !! despite the rain and the closing of the trail, our great guides Jimmy and Ray still found a way to let us safely experience this hike while enjoying the food Edison cooked for us. we’ll never forget this experience and the stunning inka trail :) (and also a special thanks to the team of porters who hiked and set up camp in the rain, you’ve been amazing)

Posted on Google

Elisa Yaeger

Aug 20, 2026

Posted on Google

Cecilia Castelli

Aug 19, 2026

We had an absolutely amazing time with Chris and Daniel during our three-day Sacred Valley experience, including the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, followed by a trip to Pallay Punchu. Every single place we visited was absolutely stunning, and the service throughout the entire trip was exceptional. Everything was perfectly organized, which allowed us to simply enjoy the experience and take in the incredible scenery. Chris was absolutely the best! He is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does. He had an answer to every question we asked and shared so much interesting information along the way. Beyond his knowledge, he is simply a wonderful person who made the experience even more special. Daniel, our driver, was also fantastic. He was so kind, warm, and professional, and always made us feel comfortable and well taken care of. Honestly, it felt less like touring with guides and more like traveling with close friends or family. Both Chris and Daniel were incredibly sweet, welcoming, and genuinely cared about making our trip memorable. I cannot recommend this company highly enough, and I would especially recommend Chris and Daniel to anyone visiting Peru. They made an already incredible trip truly unforgettable!

Posted on Google

Carolyn

Jun 29, 2026

Rainbow Mt and Lake Titikaka

For the second part of our Classic Inca Trail package, we hiked Rainbow Mountain and then toured the islands of Lake Titikaka. On this portion of our trip package, we were able to spend a day/night/morning with a local family on Isla Amantaní. What an incredible experience to really got to understand the culture! Our guide Christian (Chris) from Sam’s Travel was an incredible resource helping us to not only navigate where to be, but also helped us converse with the local community. In addition to being an excellent guide and very knowledgeable, Christian was an AMAZING photographer for our group so we are all in all of the photos!.

Posted on Trustpilot

Joann Campos

Apr 24, 2026

The Ultimate Birthday Bucket List Experience – The Dream Team of Liz and Abdul!

I recently checked a major dream off my birthday bucket list with an incredible 3-day tour of the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. This experience was everything I hoped for and more, largely because of the outstanding duo of Liz Montesinos and Abdul. If you are booking with SAM Travel, I cannot recommend this pair enough—they work so perfectly together as a team that it made our entire journey feel seamless and special. Liz Montesinos is an absolutely wonderful guide who brought so much heart to our experience. What stood out most was her intense passion for her culture and her country; she doesn’t just share facts, she shares her heritage with a deep pride that makes the history of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu truly come alive. She was also incredibly attentive, always making sure we were comfortable and helping us capture the most stunning photos of our milestone trip. While Liz provided the incredible storytelling and cultural depth, Abdul was the perfect partner behind the wheel. He is a fantastic driver who made us feel completely safe and relaxed, even on the winding mountain roads. Seeing them work in tandem allowed us to just focus on the magic of Peru. They truly operate as a "dream team," and their combined energy and professionalism made this a birthday I will never forget. If you want the best experience possible, be sure to ask for Liz and Abdul together!.

Posted on Trustpilot

Susan

Oct 9, 2025

The Inca Trail with the best guide.

We did the 3 night, 4 day Inca Trail with Sam Travel Peru and our guide and organiser was Josep Quiñonez Alvarez. It was a fantastic experience and Josep made it extra special. He is extremely experienced so was able to read the group very well and make adjustments to the route when necessary. His knowledge of the Incan civilisation was excellent and he was able to convey it in superb English with passion and enthusiasm. Despite the ardours of the trail we had a great 4 days, which undoubtedly was definitely down to Josef.

Posted on Trustpilot

Jen Thomas

Oct 3, 2024

An amazing adventure

Sam Travel Peru were brilliant from start to finish on the 4 day classic Inca Trail. They were well organised which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience. The guides Henry and Jimmy were amazing, so fun and helpful. They were informative about Inca history and really knew how to keep the group energised and having a good time. The chef (Mario) came up with some delicious food, pretty incredible at such remote locations. So thankful for the porters too, who made the experience so much more enjoyable by carrying everything to make camp each night (as well as our duffle bags). An all round spectacular experience, so grateful to a wonderful team.

Posted on Trustpilot

Isabel Batteria

Apr 17, 2024

Patient and supportive guide

Raymier respected my pace on the Short Inca Trail, never rushed me and supported me throughout. He was knowledgeable, funny and knew the best places for photos.

Posted on Trustpilot

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.