After arriving at the airport in Cusco, we will meet you and take you by private transport to the hotel. Once checked in, you are free to rest from traveling or explore the city on your own. Tomorrow is when the adventures begin so be sure to get a good night’s sleep.

After breakfast, it is time for our first adventure. Today, we will be traveling to some archeological sites and towns in and around the Sacred Valley. Our first stop will be in Moray, a formidable archaeological complex consisting of various circular terraces that were used by the Incas as a laboratory for agricultural experimentation.

Next, we will make a brief stop at the well-known salt mines of Maras, made up of more than 3,000 pools that are fed by a saltwater channel. In this place we will learn about the production and extraction process of the pink salt of Maras, recognized for its medicinal properties.

After purchasing some salt at the gift shop in Maras, we will then head to the town of Ollantaytambo to take a look around, explore the ruins, and learn about the historical significance of the town in Incan times.

After a long day, it is time to head back to Cusco where we will retire at the hotel for the evening.

After a wonderful breakfast, we will pack our day packs and head out for the Cusco City Tour. The Cusco City Tour starts by visiting the Qorikancha or Golden Temple, considered the most important religious center of the Incas. We will also visit the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Cusco, to admire its beautiful architecture and colonial paintings before we go by private transport visit four nearby archaeological centers: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

After the tour, you are free to return to the hotel to rest or continue exploring the city of Cusco on your own. You will also have plenty of free time to explore the city as you wish and stock up on some gifts for friends and family back home. Also, be sure to ask our bilingual guide for some stellar restaurant recommendations or for a good place to grab some dessert before heading back to the hotel to rest before the big trek. Tonight, we will sleep in Cusco.

Today, we will leave our hotel in Cusco to embark on the world-famous Salkantay trek. Our van will leave the hotel at around 4 am to take us to Mollepata. Mollepata, located about 2:30 hours from Cusco, is a good place to use the bathroom, load up on some last-minute snacks, and hit the souvenir shops. There is also an optional breakfast here if you wish.

After a short time in Mollepata, it is back on the road again to where we will meet our porters at Challacancha. The support staff at Challacancha will organize all of our camping and cooking equipment and prepare the cargo mules. Also, this is the time to leave most of your luggage behind and to only prepare a small day pack that is lightweight and easy to hike with. Only bring necessities as we will be hiking for the next 3 hours/7 km to Soraypampa. 

Once we arrive in Soraypampa, we can rest a little bit and have lunch. When it is time, we will hike from Soraypampa up to the stunning Laguna Humantay. The hike to Humantay is only 1.5 km, but because of the higher elevation, it can take between 1:15 and 1:30 hours to the top. Humantay is one of the most beautiful places in the Andes mountain range. The water of the lake is an incredible turquoise reflective color that looks like a mirror reflecting the glaciers and peaks of Apu Humantay.

After some rest and some time to take pictures, it is time to return to Soraypampa where the support staff will have dinner prepared. Tonight, we sleep at the skycamp with each little cabin containing a bed and a glass ceiling to enjoy the night sky as you fall asleep.

• Total trekking distance: 10 km/6.21 mi
• Total trekking time – approx. 5.5 hours
• Start elevation – 3,800 m / 12.500 feet
• Highest elevation – 4,200 m / 13.800 feet
• End elevation – 3,900 m / 12.800 feet

The first challenge of the day is the hike to the highest point on the Salkantay trek, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m). We will wake up at 5:30 am and leave Soraypampa after a quick but energizing breakfast. Keep in mind that we need to get a move on today because we will be hiking over 22 km before reaching the next camp. 

After reaching the pass and taking in the views, we will continue the trek downhill for around 3 hours until we reach Wayramachay. Here we will stop to rest and have a quick lunch. After lunch, the trail continues descending for another 2 to 3 hours as we transition from mountains and ice to tropical green cloud forests. Along this path, you can see wild orchids, inquisitive hummingbirds, and winding flowing waterways. Tonight’s campsite at the village of Chaullay is located at an altitude of 2,900m, making for a much warmer and more enjoyable climate. 

Tonight, you can enjoy a relaxing dinner with your trekking companions and prepare for the next day’s hike — we will sleep in some cozy Andean wooden huts.

• Total trekking distance: 22 km/13.5 miles
• Total trekking time – approx. 10 hours
• Start elevation – 3,900 m/ 12.800 feet
• Highest elevation – 4,630 m / 15.200 feet
• End elevation – 2,900 m / 9.500 feet

Today will be a much easier day compared to yesterday. After waking up for an energizing breakfast in Chaullay, it is time to make our way to Lucmabamba where we will set up camp in the Jungle Domes camp area. On the way, we will travel through Collapapampa and La Playa. 

Once we reach Lucmabamba after approximately 5.5 to 6 hours of hiking, we will have lunch and then you are free to explore your surroundings on your own. There is an organic coffee farm nearby if you want to see how Peruvian coffee is harvested as well as banana and avocado farms. There are also plenty of rivers and waterfalls to visit, but be sure to confirm with the guide where it is safe to swim if you were looking to cool off in the fresh mountain streams. 

Tonight, we will sleep comfortably in the jungle domes as we are almost to our final destination of Machu Picchu.

• Total trekking distance: 18 km / 11 miles
• Total trekking time – approx. 5.5 hours
• Start elevation – 2,900 m / 9.500 feet
• Highest elevation – 2,900 m / 9.500 feet
• End elevation – 2,000 m / 6.500 feet

After waking up for breakfast in Lumabamba, it is time to trek the 2 hours it takes to reach the Incan archaeological site of Llactapata. Once at the site, you can get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu down below as our guide will educate you on the historical and cultural significance of Llactapta and the surrounding area. After a while, we will then start the descent to Hidroelectrica, stopping for lunch along the way.

Once we arrive in Hidroelectrica, you can continue the walk along the railroad tracks to Aguas Calientes for an additional 3 hours or opt to take the train for around $35 USD.

Once everyone arrives in Aguas Calientes, we will be dining in a restaurant and sleeping comfortably in a nice hotel as we prepare to go to Machu Picchu in the morning.  

• Total trekking distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles
• Total trekking time – approx. 9 hours
• Start elevation – 2,000 m / 6.500 feet
• Highest elevation – 2,800 m 9.200 feet
• End elevation – 2,040 m / 6.700 feet

After a good night’s rest,  we will visit the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu with our bilingual guide. We will spend around 2.5 hours learning about the history of the site and visiting the key areas including the Inca Palace, Temple of the Sun, and main plaza. There is also the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for spectacular views over the citadel and the mountains beyond. Please note these treks require a separate permit which must be booked well in advance.

After the tour, we return to Aguas Calientes where you will have some free time to grab lunch before we need to meet back at the train station to return to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, we will go by private transport to our hotel in Cusco where we will spend the night.

Our final day of the tour is when we say goodbye to our guides and prepare to head back home. If you have a flight to catch back to your home country, please prearrange transportation with us so we can get you to the airport on time. If you are continuing your travels in Peru, we wish you a safe journey. Also, be sure to talk to us if you would like to book an additional tour to take you to Puno and Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, or Iquitos and the Amazon Rainforest. We are always here to help!