Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Cusco
Your OneSeed staff member picks you up at Cusco airport and drives you to the partner lodge in San Blas, which sits just a short walk from Plaza de Armas. At 5:00 pm, you'll gather with your expedition group for an orientation session where they'll walk through your itinerary, go over what to pack, and explain what you'll encounter on the trail.
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas San Blas - Day 2
Cusco to Moray, Maras, Chinchero
After breakfast at your hotel, you head out to explore Cusco's surroundings. The drive takes about 90 minutes through snow-capped Andean peaks and colorful villages before reaching Moray, where you'll see three ancient amphitheater-like Incan terraces. From there, it's a 20-minute drive to the Maras Salt Mines with its 3,000+ salt pools that date back before the Incas. You stop at Chinchero to check out more Incan ruins, then drive back to Cusco for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Moray ancient Incan terraces
- Explore Maras Salt Mines
- Visit Chinchero Incan ruins
Landmarks/POIs Moray Maras Salt Mines Chinchero - Day 3
Cusco to Challa'cancha - Begin Trek to Soraypampa
You drive for 3 hours to Mollepata, a small village at the cloud forest edge, with Salkantay mountain visible at 20,691 ft. From there, you continue to Challa'cancha where you'll meet the assistant guides and start your trek. After a 2-hour hike to Soraypampa for lunch, you hike another 3.5 hours to Salkantay Pampa and settle into camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek from Challa'cancha to Soraypampa
- Guided trek from Soraypampa to Salkantay Pampa campsite
Landmarks/POIs Salkantay Mountain Mollepata - Day 4
Salkantay Pass Trek
This is your toughest trekking day. You eat breakfast early before tackling the challenging hike to Salkantay Pass at 15,246 ft. The trail winds through rocky, uneven terrain as you climb slowly upward. At the pass, you take a break to catch your breath and see the views, then continue downhill to Huayrac Machay for lunch. After that, you descend further to your campsite at Colcapampa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek to Salkantay Pass
- Guided trek descent to Colcapampa
Landmarks/POIs Salkantay Pass - Day 5
Trek to Lucmabamba
You keep descending into the high jungle, hiking along clear streams and rivers with waterfalls coming into view as the landscape gets greener. Small coffee and fruit farms start appearing around you. By afternoon, you reach the small town of Lucmabamba and check into a homestay with a local family. They'll show you their coffee roasting process and take you through their coffee farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided trek through high jungle with waterfall views
- Learn about coffee roasting process
- Explore local coffee farm with host family
Landmarks/POIs Lucmabamba - Day 6
Trek to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, you drive for two hours toward the Hydroelectric station, then hike for three hours to Aguas Calientes. You stop halfway for lunch before reaching town. Once there, you check into your hotel for a shower and rest, then head out for a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Celebratory dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided trek from Hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks/POIs Aguas Calientes - Day 7
Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
You wake very early for breakfast, then take a 20-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu. Arriving early helps you beat the crowds and take in the site at your own pace. Your guided tour lasts about 2.5 hours as you walk through the archaeological site. In the afternoon, you meet back in Aguas Calientes to board a train to Ollantaytambo (2 hours), then catch a bus from there to Cusco (2 hours), arriving around 9:30 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu archaeological site (approximately 2.5 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo - Day 8
Departure
Your international flight departs today. The hotel provides breakfast before your airport shuttle transfer takes you to catch your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
