Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

You will be welcomed at the Cusco airport by our friendly representative and transferred to the hotel. Remember, landing at 3,300 meters can be hard on the body. Do not feel concerned if you have shortness of breath or a small headache. This is common and should go away quickly. You can reduce the symptoms by staying hydrated with water and tea. You will have a free day to acclimatize and visit the impressive main square of Cusco.

You will have a briefing at the team office at 6:30 pm where the tour guide will overview the tour and give you the duffle bags.

Our tour guide will pick you up at 8:00 am from the hotel. Today you will visit the Sacred Valley, gaining some insight into Inca history. Setting the scene for the days ahead, the Sacred Valley was one of the main Inca settlements with many remains left behind.

Continue to the ruins of Pisac, learning about Inca culture, and exploring the local handcraft market along the way. It's a great place to get your souvenirs! Then, it is about one hour driving to Ollantaytambo where our chef will be waiting for you with a delicious lunch.

Finally, you will visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, built during the Inca’s heydays. After that it will around 3 hours driving to Soraypampa, where the accommodation is in glass-roofed cabins so that you can stargaze from the luxury of a proper bed.

After a good night’s rest, wake up early to enjoy your breakfast before your trek. This morning there will be a short team introduction between all trekkers and the staff to ensure a positive, family-like experience.

After the introduction, you will give your duffle bags to the muleteers for carrying. The day's hike will begin by visiting Humantay Lagoon. This will be a hike of approximately 1.5 hours along a steady uphill. Once at the lagoon, enjoy the serene views of the crystalline-blue water of Humantay Lagoon; often described by many as an ¨other-worldly´´ paradise perched on the skirts of Humantay Glacier. If the skies are clear, you will witness to the first sun rays peaking through the snow-covered peaks, and if you are brave, you will also have the chance to touch the almost-frozen water so that you may stay young forever! The advantage to visiting Humantay Lagoon in the early morning hours is the quiet surroundings with NO other trekkers besides those in your group. Due to the popularity of this location, this is not something everyone can enjoy!

After breathing in the beauty of such a magical place, you will begin making your way back down to the starting point to continue with your hike to the lunch spot in Soyroccocha. This hike will be approximately 3 hours on gradually ascending terrain. On your way, you will pass places such as Salkantay Pampa and enjoy the outstanding views of the surrounding peaks and snow-covered mountains.

After lunch and well-deserved rest, you will continue with your hike for about 1 hour more until Salkantay Pass at 4,650m - the highest point of the trek. Once here, you will be rewarded with hot drinks before continuing! From Salkantay Pass, it will only be a remaining 3 hours of hiking downhill to our last campsite for the day, Wayracmachay.

Upon arrival at the campsite, the trekking staff will have your tents set up and with your duffel bags ready. They will provide you with warm water to get washed up, so that you may change into something warm. We will have a happy hour with hot chocolate and coffee, followed by dinner. If the weather allows, you will get to enjoy the blue sky, along with a brief introduction to the visible Inca constellations.

Walking Distance: 18km Elevation Gained: 850 meters Elevation Descended: 850 meters Weather: Cold, windy, rainy in the wet season

Your trekking team will wake you up early with a hot drink to help you start the day. Hopefully, as you open your tent, you will see the sunrise over glacier peaks and clouds, lifting from the green cloud forest. You will have time to pack up and enjoy a nice breakfast prepared by your trekking chef.

Begin the day's hike by hiking for approximately 4 hours downhill until reaching the lunch spot at Ccollpapampa (2,700 m). After lunch and well-deserved rest, you will continue with your trek to the next private campsite called La Loreta at 2400m. This hike will be approximately 4 hours on gradually downhill terrain. Along the way, you will explore beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and again, flora and fauna. This will be another micro-climate called a tropical forest, where local people farm coffee, passion fruit, papayas, oranges and avocados.

Upon arrival at the campsite, you will be welcomed by your trekking staff and will have time to enjoy a free hot shower, hot jacuzzi, and perhaps even swim in our swimming pool. There will also be time to walk around our ecological garden to see some of our garden of coffee, avocado, chilies, tomatoes, and pineapples. Dinner tonight will be at our building with views of the Salkantay River which you will hear below to help you fall asleep at night.

Walking Distance: 18 km Night Elevation: 2,400 meters Elevation Descended: 1,400 meters Weather: Warm and hot

After a delicious breakfast, get started on the shortest, but most interesting, day of the trek. Today you will experience the most beautiful sights along your trekking route to Machu Picchu, including a tropical forest and a visit to a local, organic coffee farm.

At the farm, you will have the opportunity to explore some of the orange and avocado plantations and taste some of the freshly-brewed coffee. Also at the farm, you will have a brief introduction regarding the coffee in this region and its importance as the main farming product to all locals. As you will learn, the coffee in this region was introduced to the region after the Spanish conquest and most of the harvested coffee is exported to countries including the United States, Asia and Europe.

After the coffee farm visit, you will continue with your trek to Llactapata by hiking along a section of the Inca trail for approximately 2.5 hours. On your way to the Llactapata Inca site, you will see amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley. At Llactapata, you will get the first glance of Machu Picchu – including the main archaeological site, Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. You will also have the opportunity to explore the Llactapata Inca site along with your guide and take photographs for the books!

From here it will be an additional 15 minutes downhill to your lunch and campsite area. This campsite is owned by a local family, and only travel team has permission to stay there. You will find the campsite to be a great place to enjoy the sunset and sunrise over Machu Picchu. After lunch, you will have some free time to enjoy the views and relax from the hiking.

Again, we will serve a lovely happy hour, with tea and coffee, and your chef will prepare a delicious meal for dinner. Once the stars come out, you can enjoy the Milky Way and the Inca constellations – just like the Incan astronomers did to predict the weather.

Walking Distance: 12 km Campsite Elevation: 2,700 meters Elevation Gained: 400 meters Weather: During day time hot and humid, chilly at night

Your trekking team will wake you up early with a hot drink to help you start the day. Get ready for today’s activities and enjoy your last breakfast prepared by your trekking chef. The day's hike will begin with a 2 hour, downhill path, with views of Machu Picchu, until Hidroelectrica Station. The most impressive part of this area is the natural 300 meters high waterfall which generates electricity for the region of Cusco.

From Hidroelectrica Station, you will then continue to the famous Intiwatana (sun-dial rock). According to history, this Inca stone used to work with the famous sundial rock in Machu Picchu, during the winter solstice, which was the beginning of a new farming season for the Incas. From the Intiwatana, you will continue to the train tracks, which have a nice path to walk on. The hike along the train tracks will be approximately 3 hours and will lead to the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of the valley of Machu Picchu.



Finally, upon your arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will enjoy your packed lunch. You will then go to your hotel to enjoy a hot shower and a visit to the famous, hot springs (10 soles, not included), of Aguas Calientes. In the evening, you will enjoy your final dinner with your trekking chef and say goodbye to him.

Walking Distance: 14 km Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 meters Weather: Hot Accommodations: inti punku (or similar)

After an early breakfast, We will pick you up to go to the bus station and make our way up to the Inca site. This will be a 25-minute bus ride with amazing views of the cloud forest.

Your guide will provide a full guided tour all along the great Machu Picchu Citadel. The guided tour will last for about 2 hours, and if you have purchased Huayna Picchu tickets ($75 each, need to book in advance) you will have this extra hike after the guided tour. Your guide will give finish the tour and will wait for you at Aguas Calientes.

After lunch, you will go to the train station to catch on your train back to Ollantaytambo. Our driver will pick you up and drive you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.

Today we will say goodbye and wish you safe travels. Airport drop-offs are included.