Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Cusco
You'll arrive and get picked up from the airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Later in the evening, you'll meet your guide and the rest of the group for an orientation session that runs about 45 minutes. This is your chance to ask questions and get familiar with everyone before things kick off.
- Day 2
Cusco to Salkantay Lodge
After an early breakfast, your guide picks you up from Cusco and you'll head out to see the Quillarumiyoc archaeological site along the way to Mollepata. You'll stop for lunch at El Pedregal farmhouse where they'll explain how local farming works. By afternoon you're at Coronilla Ranch meeting your horse, then riding to Soraypampa over 3-4 hours. You'll stay at Salkantay Lodge with tea, a briefing, and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at El Pedregal farmhouse), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Quillarumiyoc archaeological site
- Lunch at El Pedregal farmhouse with local agriculture orientation
- Meet horse at Coronilla Ranch
- Horseback ride to Soraypampa (3-4 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Quillarumiyoc Mount Salkantay - Day 3
Humantay Lake and Chakana
Start the day riding to Humantay Lake in about an hour, then take a short 20-minute walk to the glacier-fed lake if you want to swim. After a snack, you'll ride to Chakana viewpoint (30 minutes) and hike for an hour to the Cross of the Incas where a local Shaman does a traditional Pachamama offering. Lunch is back at the lodge, and you can spend your afternoon relaxing in the outdoor jacuzzi or riding more. There's an evening gear briefing before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride to Humantay Lake (1 hour)
- Walk to Humantay Lake (20 minutes)
- Horseback ride to Chakana gateway (30 minutes)
- Hike to Chakana/Cross of the Incas (1 hour)
- Pachamama offering ceremony led by local Shaman
Optional Activities
- Swim at Humantay Lake
- Soak in outdoor jacuzzi
- Additional afternoon horseback ride (approximately 2 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Humantay Lake Chakana (Cross of the Incas) Mount Humantay - Day 4
Salkantay Pass to Wayra Lodge
You'll ride up the Rio Blanco valley toward Machu Picchu, going around Humantay Peak with Salkantay Peak visible. The ride takes you to Salkantay Pass at 4,638 meters (15,213 ft), the highest point on the trek, where you can see snow-capped peaks across the Vilcabamba Range. Look for Andean condors while you're up there. After descending to Wayra Lodge, you'll have hot lunch on the way and spend the night with dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hot lunch en route), Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride up Rio Blanco valley
- Ride across Salkantay Pass (4,638 meters/15,213 ft)
- Descent to Wayra Lodge
Optional Activities
- Andean condor viewing
Landmarks/POIs Salkantay Pass Rio Blanco Valley Vilcabamba Range - Day 5
Wayra Lodge to Colpa Lodge
Breakfast is relaxed at Wayra Lodge before you ride downhill along the Salkantay River into cloud forest with increasingly lush green surroundings. The jungle air gets warmer as you go, and you'll see colorful butterflies and orchids. At Colpa Lodge you're greeted with Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian meal cooked underground with hot stones. Spend your afternoon relaxing or walking the orchid trail before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Pachamanca—traditional festive Peruvian meal cooked by layering meat and vegetables with hot stones, covered with plantain leaves, high Andean grass, and local herbs, baked in underground oven), Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride from Wayra Lodge toward Colpa Lodge
- Descent into cloud forest
- Pachamanca traditional Peruvian meal experience
Optional Activities
- Orchid trail exploration
Landmarks/POIs Salkantay River - Day 6
Colpa Lodge to Lucma Lodge
You'll ride through the Santa Teresa river valley past rural areas and plantations with bananas, passion fruit, avocado, and coffee crops. You're heading to the start of the Llactapata Inca Trail where you'll say goodbye to your horses. A short 30-minute walk through an avocado orchard gets you to Lucma Lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride along Santa Teresa river valley
- Ride through agricultural plantations
- Walk through avocado orchard to Lucma Lodge (30 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Santa Teresa River Llactapata Inca Trail - Day 7
Lucma Lodge to Aguas Calientes
After a hearty breakfast, it's the final trekking day with a 3-hour hike to Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974 ft) for a rare southeast view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary. You'll explore the recently restored Llactapata Ruins and have lunch from a viewpoint overlooking Machu Picchu. Then you hike down through bamboo forests, orchards, and coffee plantations, cross the Aobamba River bridge, and catch a scenic train (about 1 hour) from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch from scenic viewpoint overlooking Machu Picchu), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Llactapata Pass (3 hours, 2,736 m/8,974 ft)
- Explore Llactapata Ruins
- Train ride from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (approximately 1 hour)
Landmarks/POIs Llactapata Pass Llactapata Ruins Machu Picchu Sanctuary Aobamba River - Day 8
Machu Picchu to Cusco
Very early breakfast at your hotel, then head to the bus station for the 30-minute ride up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Your local guide takes you through a 2-hour tour, followed by roughly 2 hours on your own to explore. After meeting your guide to return by bus, you'll have late lunch in Aguas Calientes. Then it's an afternoon train to Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours) and a drive back to Cusco (another 1.5 hours), arriving around 7 or 8 p.m.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Late lunch in Aguas Calientes)
Included Activities
- Bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (approximately 30 minutes)
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins (2 hours)
- Free exploration of Machu Picchu (approximately 2 hours)
- Bus ride from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes
- Train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Private car drive from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (approximately 1.5 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo - Day 9
Departure from Cusco
A private transfer picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Cusco Airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
- Meals
- Breakfast
