A Genuine Review: The 2025 ‘6 Days All-Included’ Peru Private Tour

So, you’re looking at one of those big six-day Peru packages, the ones that promise pretty much everything. It’s almost a little overwhelming to see Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake, and Rainbow Mountain all in one go. We actually just did a version of this private trip, and honestly, it was kind of a whirlwind in the best way possible. The idea of an “all-included” trip can, you know, sometimes mean hidden costs or rushed schedules, but that wasn’t the feeling we got here. What you’re really paying for is, frankly, peace of mind and the ability to just soak it all in. This is basically just our experience, breaking down what those six days felt like on the ground, so you can figure out if it’s the right fit for your own adventure.

At the end of the day, a private setup means you’re on your own clock, more or less. You aren’t waiting for a big group or getting herded from spot to spot. That, for us, was a pretty huge deal. Like, if you wanted an extra ten minutes to stare at a particularly interesting llama, that was usually okay. The personal guide is obviously a central part of this. We had someone who was from a local village, and the stories he told, well, they just weren’t something you’d get from a book. It’s almost like having a friend show you around their amazing backyard, a very, very big backyard with some seriously old rocks and stuff.

First Impressions and Getting Acclimatized in Cusco

Alright, so arriving in Cusco is… something else. The second you step off the plane, you can just feel the air is different—it’s super thin. Our guide met us right at the airport, which was, to be honest, a massive relief after a long flight. He was holding a little sign with our names, and we were just whisked away to our hotel. There was no messing around with taxis or anything like that. That first day, the advice was just to take it incredibly easy. Seriously, don’t try to be a hero and go exploring right away. The altitude sickness, or soroche, is actually a real thing and it can totally sideline you if you’re not careful. We basically just drank a lot of coca tea, which the hotel provided, and sort of wandered slowly around the blocks near our hotel.

The hotel itself was really nice, you know, comfortable and very clean. It had this traditional courtyard that was just a quiet spot to sit and get used to everything. The package sorted out all these small details, which honestly adds up. It’s like, the fact that we didn’t have to think about where to stay or how to get there let our brains relax a bit. Cusco itself is absolutely stunning. You have these old Incan walls that are just casually part of a building that now sells coffee. The mix of Spanish colonial architecture on top of those ancient foundations is, well, pretty unique. That first afternoon was more or less about deep breaths, lots of water, and just letting our bodies catch up to where we were. The private guide gave us a quick call in the evening just to check in, which was a very nice personal touch.

The Hike to Humantay Lake: A Seriously Breathtaking Challenge

The day we hiked to Humantay Lake was, for sure, a big physical test. The wake-up call was incredibly early, like, still dark outside. We got picked up in a comfortable private van, and our guide had some snacks and water ready for us. The drive itself is pretty scenic, as you leave the city and go deeper into the mountains. As a matter of fact, you see little villages and farms, which is a side of Peru we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The hike starts at a place that’s already quite high up, so you’re starting the trek a bit out of breath anyway. Our guide was really good about setting a slow, steady pace— “paso de tortuga,” he called it, the turtle’s pace. It’s not a race, and frankly, you couldn’t race if you wanted to.

“When you finally, you know, crest that last little hill and see the water… it literally stops you in your tracks. The color is so unreal, a kind of milky turquoise that you just don’t see anywhere else. It’s absolutely worth every single tough step you took to get there.”

So, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The path is pretty clear, but it is just steadily uphill. For people who are worried about the climb, there are locals with horses you can hire for part of the way up. We decided to walk the whole thing, and, well, it was hard work. But the payoff is just huge. That moment you see the lake, with the massive Salkantay mountain behind it, is genuinely stunning. Pictures don’t quite capture how the color seems to glow. We just spent a good hour up there, eating the packed lunch our guide brought, and just taking it all in. Because we were on a private schedule, there was no one rushing us to leave, you know? We could just sit there until we felt ready to head back down, which was a lot easier, by the way.

The Main Event: A Private Exploration of Machu Picchu

Naturally, Machu Picchu is the reason most people come to Peru in the first place. This tour handles it really, really well. You actually take a train to Aguas Calientes, the little town at the base of the mountain. That train ride is an experience in itself, with massive windows in the ceiling and on the sides. You just watch the landscape change from high Andean peaks to a more lush, green jungle kind of feel. It’s a very comfortable and frankly, a pretty classy way to travel. We spent the night in Aguas Calientes, which is a neat little place, and the plan was to get up super early the next morning for the main event.

Waking up before dawn to catch one of the first buses up the mountain is totally the way to do it. When we arrived, the city was still partly covered in mist, and there weren’t many people around yet. It felt so peaceful. Our guide was amazing. Instead of just listing facts and dates, he told stories. Like, he’d point to a specific stone and tell us a story about the person who might have carved it, or how the sun would hit it just right during the solstice. You just don’t get that from a guidebook. He led us through the whole site, to the classic photo spots and also to some quieter corners we would have totally missed on our own. It’s a pretty big place, and having someone who knows it inside and out is a big, big help.

Rainbow Mountain: Like, Is It Really That Colorful?

Okay, so, Rainbow Mountain. You’ve definitely seen the pictures online, and you kind of wonder if they’re real or just heavily edited. To be honest, we were a little skeptical too. This day is another very early start, probably the earliest of the whole trip. It’s also at an even higher altitude than the Humantay Lake hike, so it’s a bit of a challenge. You drive for a few hours into a really remote area, which is beautiful in a very stark, high-plains sort of way. You see herds of llamas and alpacas just chilling on the side of the road. The hike itself is a steady, slow incline, and you just have to pace yourself again.

When you get to that final viewpoint, well, it’s pretty wild. The colors are actually there. The reds, yellows, and teals are all laid out in stripes on the mountain face. Now, it’s not quite as screamingly bright as some doctored photos, of course, but it is genuinely, naturally colorful. The view depends a lot on the weather, actually. We were lucky and had a clear, sunny day, which really made the mineral deposits pop. Our guide explained that the colors come from different minerals in the rock. Having a private tour here was great because the main viewpoint gets crowded. Our guide knew a slightly different spot, just a little off to the side, where we could take pictures and enjoy the view with, like, almost no one else around. That little bit of local knowledge made a huge difference to the whole experience.

What ‘All-Included’ Really Means for You

So, what does this “all-included” thing actually get you? Basically, from the moment you land to the moment you leave, you don’t really have to worry about logistics. All the hotels were pre-booked and were really comfortable, typically in the 3-star range, clean, and in good locations. All the entrance tickets for the big sites—Machu Picchu, Humantay, Rainbow Mountain—were taken care of. You just showed up, and the guide had the tickets ready. This saves a lot of hassle, as sometimes getting those tickets on your own can be a bit of a process, especially for Machu Picchu.

Private transport was honestly one of the best parts. We had a comfortable van and a driver for all the day trips. No waiting on a tour bus, no extra stops to pick people up. We left when we were ready and came back when we were done. Most meals were also part of the deal. Breakfasts were always at the hotel. For the day hikes, a really tasty packed lunch was provided. For other meals, the guide would usually take us to great local restaurants where we had an allowance or a set menu. This gave us a chance to try authentic Peruvian food, like lomo saltado and aji de gallina, which was amazing. You still need some of your own money for some dinners, souvenirs, and, of course, for tipping your guide and driver, but the major costs were all covered up front.

Read our full review: 2025 ‘6 Days – |ALL INCLUDED| Machupicchu – Humantay Lake-Rainbow Mountain – Private’ Full Review and Details]
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