Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek

The journey starts at 7 am, when your guide will pick you up on a bus from your Cuzco hotel. Your first contact with the ancient Inca culture will start at Limatambo town, approximately 1.30 hrs. apart from Cuzco, where your guide will take you to the Tarawasi ruins. Stop at Mollepata Village for a short coffee break, and then continue up the mountain until reaching Marcoccasa and the Royal Path route (“Camino Real” in Spanish). It is here that the first 6-hour trekking starts. Contemplate the mighty mountainous region, including the Salkantay Mount, the second most sacred peak in Inca mythology.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch during the afternoon. After reaching the first lodge, Salkantay Lodge, the staff members will give you a cordial welcome, take you to your rooms and offer you some tea and sweet treats. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude.

During the evening, the trip guide will organize a fireplace meeting to explain why this region was so importance to the Incas. Enjoy a drink and a tasty dinner.

Note: The hiking level of this trip is moderate. Guests who do not wish to trek can opt to take a vehicle to the lodge.

Today the lodge will offer an optional hike around the Humantay Lake, located beneath the Mount with the same name. This enchanting aquamarine glacial lake sets perfect scenery for taking photos. Those who are interested can go for a short swim.

After this 4-hour excursion, go back to Salkantay Lodge to have lunch, and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Enjoying Salkantay's facilities, such as the soothing Jacuzzi, and take some time to rest to make sure you're getting used to the altitude.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Note: The hiking level of this trip ranges from moderate to challenging. If you choose to spend and extra day, you can take a horseback-riding trip.

Today, you will get to the highest peak on the journey: Salkantay Pass. Start this 6-to-8-hour hike ascending Rio Blanco Valley, circling Humantay Peak from Salkantay Peak. Once on top of Salkantay Pass, the highest peak on the journey at 15,213 ft, make a stop to appreciate the landscape, with Vilcamba Range’s snow-capped peaks, the glacial, and the Andean condors flying around their natural habitat. Since nature is so important to everybody in this region, the second lodge was also named after a natural element: the wind. The complete name of the location is ‘Wayramachay,’ and it stands for ‘the cave where the wind lives.’ A hot lunch will be served during the excursion. At the evening, arrive at Wayra Lodge, were the staff will warmly welcome you, take you to your rooms and serve you dinner.

Overnight at the lodge.

Note: The hiking level of this trip is challenging, since you will be crossing a 15,250 ft mountain pass. If you choose to spend and extra day, you can take a horseback-riding trip.

Start your day with a tasty homemade breakfast at Wayra Lodge and get ready for the 3-to-4-hour hike. Descending towards the left bank of the Salkantay River, face a spring-like green landscape, which prepares you for the forest you're about to encounter! Peru is the country with more butterfly species on Earth, and in this area, you will find many of these colorful creatures.

Experience the traditional festive Peruvian meal called ‘Pachamanca’ at Colpa Lodge. It names comes from Kichwa, meaning ‘Pacha:' Earth and ‘manca:' pot, and consists of adding layers of hot stone between meat and vegetables, covering it with more stones, plantain leaves, high Andean grass and local herbs, and baking everything in this natural oven underground.

Afternoon and evening are to spend at leisure to acclimate. Explore this area in the open plateau where three rivers converge, or contemplating the vast verdant landscape from the outdoor Jacuzzi. Dinner and overnight at Colpa Lodge.

Note: The hiking level for this trip is easy to moderate.

Today’s hike will be around Santa Teresa River Valley. During this part of the journey, the route will be filled with many rural houses and coffee plantations. Have a picnic lunch by the river, surrounded by banana, granadilla, and avocado orchards.

The hiking continues until a private vehicle takes you to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail. Stop at an organic coffee plantation to make a short tour around the farm joined by its owner, who will explain the different processes of coffee making and harvesting. This coffee is said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world! The whole hike lasts about 5 to 6 hours, and will finish at Lucma Lodge, where the staff will greet you and serve you a delicious dinner.

Note: The hiking level of this trip ranges from moderate to challenging. If you choose to spend and extra day, you can take a canopy zip line tour.

Today's the last day of your trek. It will consist on a 4/6 hour trip, including lunch. Start during the morning with a hearty breakfast at Lucma Lodge before heading towards Llactapata Pass.

This trip is a great cultural experience, since your guide will take you to a rarely-visited place uphill to take in the first views of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Keep on learning about the Inca culture at the recently restored Llactapata Ruins.

Descend by a path filled with bamboo forest, orchards and coffee plantations, towards a train station to take a scenic ride, lasting about 1 hour. Arrive in Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu.

At the hotel, enjoy a celebration dinner with your group, where your guide will give you a last briefing.

Note: The hiking level of this trip ranges from moderate to challenging.

Wake up early to have a great breakfast at the hotel and head to the bus station to take the 30 minute ride to Machu Picchu. Your guide will take you on a 2 hour tour around the ruins of this mighty place that remained hidden to the Spaniards for centuries. Afterwards, there will be an optional tour to climb the steep and vertical Huayna Picchu staircase. This challenging 2 hours walk is rewarded with great views of Machu Picchu.

After this, return to Aguas Calientes by bus for a late lunch. Take a train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a private ride back to Cusco. The whole journey will take 3 hours.

Finish the trip back at your Cusco hotel around 7 or 8 pm.

Please note, the following items are not included in order to bring it:

Backpack with personal belongings
Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cuzco)
Strong footwear
Flashlight
Sun block
Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET
Snacks & waterbottle
Original passport (protected in a ziploc plastic bag)