A Real Look at the 2025 ‘4-Day All Included Cusco, Rainbow Mountain & Machu Picchu Tour’
So, you’ve probably seen the pictures and, like, wondered what it would be like to actually be there. That was me, honestly, before I decided to book this four-day group tour that covers, well, pretty much all the big names in Peru. It’s the kind of trip that appears almost too good to be true, you know, packing Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, and Machu Picchu into one neat package. I was, frankly, a bit skeptical about how they could fit so much in without it feeling like a mad dash. But I wanted to see everything and, at the end of the day, having someone else handle the logistics seemed like a good idea. This is, you know, just my personal take on what the experience was actually like on the ground for the 2025 season.
The First Impression: Cusco and a Spin Around the City
So, landing in Cusco is, well, something else entirely. You step off the plane and the air is just different—thin and crisp in a way that’s hard to put into words, right? The first day of the tour is, basically, about getting used to the altitude, which is a seriously smart move. The tour operator has a person waiting at the airport, which, to be honest, takes a huge weight off your shoulders. They get you to your hotel, and you have some time to just breathe and drink some coca tea, which everyone says helps. In the afternoon, the city tour starts, and it’s almost like a proper introduction to the world you just stepped into. We went to the main square, the Plaza de Armas, which is just absolutely ringed by stunning old buildings and churches.
Our guide for the city portion, by the way, was this amazing local person who clearly had a deep love for his home. He wasn’t just pointing at buildings; he was, like, telling the stories behind them, which made it all feel so much more alive. We then headed up above the city to see Sacsayhuamán, and honestly, the sheer size of those stones is just mind-boggling. You literally cannot figure out how they moved them into place. You get a bit of a history lesson up there, and the view looking down over Cusco’s orange rooftops is, well, just fantastic. It’s a pretty packed afternoon, you know, but it feels more exciting than tiring. It’s almost the perfect way to begin, getting a feel for the ancient Incan capital before you go out to see the other famous places.
A Burst of Color: The Hike to Rainbow Mountain
Alright, so Day Two is the one that really tests your lungs, but for a really good reason. The wake-up call is, seriously, painfully early—like, still dark outside early. You pile into a small bus for the drive to Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain as it’s better known. The drive itself is, frankly, part of the adventure, twisting and turning up through tiny mountain villages where life seems so different. After a simple breakfast at a local spot, you get to the trailhead, and as a matter of fact, the crisp, cold air hits you straight away. The hike itself is a steady uphill climb, and you can definitely feel the altitude with every step, you know?
You can rent a horse for a part of the way, which lots of people in our group did, and it’s honestly a very good option if you’re worried about the physical side of it. I decided to walk the whole way, taking it super slow, and anyway, it was worth it. As you get higher, the landscape just opens up, and you can see the massive Ausangate glacier in the distance, which is incredibly beautiful. And then, well, you finally get there. You come over a ridge, and there it is—those stripes of red, yellow, turquoise, and lavender. It is a little bit less bright than some doctored-up photos you see online, but it’s still absolutely amazing to see with your own eyes. It feels like you’re on another planet, you know, just for a little while.
You’re standing there, looking at these impossibly massive stones, and it really makes you think, you know? It’s not just about what you’re seeing, but about the people who made it happen centuries ago. It’s just a feeling of awe, I mean, that stays with you.
Through the Sacred Valley to the Foot of the Mountain
Okay, so after the intensity of Rainbow Mountain, the third day is kind of a change of pace, which is really well planned out. This day is all about making your way towards Machu Picchu, but you do it by going through the beautiful Sacred Valley. We had a stop in Ollantaytambo, which is this really cool living Inca town with another impressive set of ruins climbing up the mountainside. To be honest, this stop was one of my favorite parts because the town itself is so charming, with water channels still running alongside the old cobblestone streets. It feels, like, frozen in time in the best possible way.
From Ollantaytambo, you get on the train to Aguas Calientes, which is the town right at the base of Machu Picchu. The train ride itself is, you know, a highlight. The cars have these big panoramic windows, some even have them on the ceiling, so you just get these unbelievable views as you chug along next to the roaring Urubamba River. You can see the landscape slowly changing from the drier, high-altitude valley to a more lush, green, and jungly environment. It sort of builds the anticipation, right? Arriving in Aguas Calientes is a bit of a sensory overload—it’s a quirky town full of restaurants and markets, all crammed into a narrow gorge. It’s basically a base camp for one of the wonders of the world, and it has that kind of excited energy about it.
The Crown Jewel: Finally Seeing Machu Picchu
So, the last big day is the one everyone is waiting for, and it really starts before sunrise. You take a short, winding bus ride up the mountain, and I mean, the suspense is real. You get off the bus, walk through the entrance, and then you take a few more steps to the classic viewpoint. Honestly, that first look at Machu Picchu spread out below you is a moment that just stops you in your tracks. It’s one of those things that’s even better in person than in pictures, you know? It’s just so much bigger and more spectacular than you can possibly imagine. The morning mist was still clinging to the peaks around it, which just, like, added to the whole mystical vibe.
Our tour group had a guide for about two hours, which was pretty much the perfect amount of time. He walked us through the main parts of the citadel, explaining the purpose of the Sun Temple, the Intihuatana stone, and the residential areas in a way that really made sense. After the guided part was over, we had a good amount of free time to just wander around on our own. I spent that time just sitting in one spot, looking out over the whole complex, and, you know, watching the llamas that wander around like they own the place. At the end of the day, having that free time was very important, because you could explore at your own speed and just absorb the atmosphere of the place.
What Does “All-Included” Really Mean for This Tour?
Alright, so let’s talk about what “all-included” actually covers, because that’s a big question for a tour like this, right? In my experience, it covered a lot of the big-ticket items. All the transportation was included—the airport pickup, the buses for the tours, the nice train to Aguas Calientes, and the bus up to Machu Picchu. Basically, you never had to figure out how to get from point A to point B. The hotels were included, too, and were, frankly, pretty decent three-star places—clean, safe, and centrally located, which is all you really need when you’re out exploring all day. All of the main entrance tickets for Sacsayhuamán, Rainbow Mountain, and, of course, Machu Picchu were handled for you, which is a huge convenience since getting Machu Picchu tickets can be a headache.
Most of the meals were also part of the deal. You usually got breakfast at the hotel, and then lunch was provided on the full-day tour days, like Rainbow Mountain. Dinners were generally on your own, which I actually liked because it gave you a chance to go out and try different local restaurants, you know? The main things that weren’t included were some of those dinners, drinks, souvenirs, and tips for the guides and drivers. To be honest, this was all explained clearly from the start, so there were no real surprises. As a matter of fact, you still need to bring some spending money, but the bulk of the cost is definitely covered up front. It’s almost the perfect balance for someone who wants structure but also a little freedom.
Read our full review: [4-Day All Included City Tour of Cusco, Rainbow Mountain & MachuPicchu Full Review and Details]
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