Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Humatay Lake - Sky Camp
Your pickup starts at 4:00 a.m. from your Cusco hotel, heading out to Mollepata for breakfast before the main trek begins. At Challacancha you'll meet your trekking team and start following an ancient Inca canal system. After roughly 3 hours of hiking, you'll reach Soraypampa where Sky Camp is set up. Lunch happens here, then there's a 3-hour round-trip hike to Humantay Lake (4,200m) with its turquoise waters. You'll head back to camp for dinner and spend the night under the stars with Apu Salkantay mountain visible above you.
- Start point
- Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Pickup from Cusco hotels 30 minutes before departure time., 04:00 - 04:30)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Mollepata before starting the trek), Lunch, Dinner (Delicious dinner at Sky Camp)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Sky Camp)
Included Activities
- Hike from Challacancha to Soraypampa following ancient Inca canal (3 hours, 7 km)
- Round-trip hike to Humantay Lake (3 hours)
- Stay at Sky Camp with panoramic dome accommodation
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake
Landmarks Humantay Lake Apu Salkantay 
- Day 2
Soraypampa to Collpapampa
Morning starts with coca tea and breakfast while looking at Apu Salkantay across from your camp. The hike takes about 3 hours up what locals call the 'path of the seven snakes' to reach Abra Salkantay pass at 4,630m, the trek's highest point. From there you'll descend for around 3 hours to Huayracmachay where lunch waits with nice views of the surrounding terrain. After eating, the trail enters cloud forest where it gets warmer and the vegetation shifts to thick green growth with tropical plants and waterfalls passing by. You'll finish the day at Collpapampa and Mountain Sky View Camp, then have dinner and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Energy-packed breakfast with coca tea to start the hike), Lunch (Hearty lunch at Huayracmachay surrounded by beautiful scenery), Dinner (Hearty dinner at Mountain Sky View Camp)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Mountain Sky View)
Included Activities
- Hike from Soraypampa to Abra Salkantay summit (3 hours, 7 km)
- Descent from Abra Salkantay to Huayracmachay (approximately 3 hours)
- Hike through cloud forest to Collpapampa
- Stay at Mountain Sky View Camp in the cloud forest
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Abra Salkantay
Landmarks Abra Salkantay Apu Salkantay 
- Day 3
Collpapampa to Super Jungle Domes
You'll start around 6:00 a.m. with hot mate tea and breakfast, then trek through Santa Teresa Valley where the trail gradually descends between rivers, waterfalls, and orchids. Along the way you'll see banana, coffee, and avocado plantations as the terrain becomes more tropical and relaxed. Keep an eye out for the Cock-of-the-Rock, Peru's national bird. Lunch happens at La Playa, and from there it's about an hour more to Lucmabamba. During the afternoon there's time to visit an organic coffee farm where your guide explains the Andean coffee process and you get to taste the actual product. Dinner and your night are at Super Jungle Domes where you'll fall asleep to forest sounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hot mate tea and breakfast before the hike), Lunch (Typical lunch at La Playa), Dinner (Delicious dinner at Super Jungle Domes)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Super Jungle Domes)
Included Activities
- Hike through Santa Teresa Valley (approximately 5-6 hours, 17 km)
- Visit to organic coffee farm with coffee tasting and process education
- Stay at Super Jungle Domes in tropical setting
Landmarks Santa Teresa Valley - Day 4
Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast you'll head toward Aguas Calientes on what turns out to be your final hiking day. For the first 2 hours you'll ascend to Llactapata, an Inca archaeological site that has unusual views looking down at Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Your guide will talk through Inca history and civilization while you explore and take photos. The descent to Ahobamba takes about 1.5 hours and that's where lunch happens. Another 30 minutes of walking gets you to Hidroeléctrica, where you'll pass a 250-meter artificial waterfall. From there you can either take the optional train or hike 3 more hours along the train tracks through jungle to reach Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive, you'll have dinner at a local restaurant and stay at a comfortable hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Ahobamba), Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel)
Included Activities
- Hike from Lucmabamba to Llactapata following original Inca Trail section (2 hours)
- Visit to Llactapata Inca archaeological site with views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu
- Hike from Llactapata to Ahobamba (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Passage by Hidroeléctrica artificial waterfall (250 meters)
- Dinner at local restaurant in Aguas Calientes
Optional Activities
- Train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes (alternative to the 3-hour hike along the tracks)
- Continue hiking 3 hours along the train tracks from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Llactapata Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Intihuatana - Day 5
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
You'll head up to Machu Picchu early so you catch the sunrise before other visitors arrive. A 2-hour guided tour takes you through temples, houses, terraces, and water channels while learning about Inca engineering and hydraulic systems. If you want, there's the option to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for panoramic views. Later you'll head back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then board the scenic train to Ollantaytambo. Private transportation finishes the journey back to Cusco where your trek concludes.
- End point
- Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Drop-off at Cusco hotels, 18:30 - 19:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning ascent to Machu Picchu to witness sunrise
- 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu archaeological site including temples, houses, terraces, and water channels
- Entrance to Machu Picchu archaeological site
Optional Activities
- Hike Huayna Picchu Mountain (approximately 2 hours round trip, $60 per person, advance reservation required)
- Hike Machu Picchu Mountain (approximately 3 hours round trip, $60 per person, advance reservation required)
- Lunch at Aguas Calientes
- Dinner at Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Mountain 
