Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu A Luxury Hiking Adventure

Fly over the Andes into Cusco

You will wake up refreshed and enjoy a complimentary breakfast in your hotel before we escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

We will be waiting for you when you touch down at our Andean airport and will bring you to the historic city center of Cusco for a delicious lunch. Afterwards you’ll have the afternoon free to explore and acclimate to the altitude at your own pace.

This evening, you will have your briefing for your Salkantay Trek.

Explore the Sacred Valley with an excursion through  Pisac’s archaeological complexes.

This morning, you will start with a life experience through the exploration of the ancestral sounds used by the Incas and pre-Hispanic cultures in various contexts, encouraging the appreciation of these sounds. With this activity you will have the opportunity to learn about and understand the different sounds of pre-Hispanic wind instruments such as: whistles for meditation, communication, ceremonial and ritual purposes. You will also listen to the sounds of some instruments such as: the pututo, whistling vessels, the kero, mancha and puito that were used in Inca and pre-Inca cultures.

Your journey will continue to an ancient hacienda, nestled in the fertile valley next to the pueblo of Pisac. Step onto the family-owned hacienda grounds and step into centuries past while your hosts expound upon the growing process of Giant White Corn and its profound cultural significance in the Andes Mountains.  Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch with sample dishes featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn.

Next, you’ll travel up the mountain in your private vehicle for today’s final stop at the ruins overlooking Pisac. Here, you’ll learn about the complexity of the Incan agricultural system, their methods of cultivating thousands of varieties of corn and potatoes, and you’ll watch the sun sink over the tips of the Andes Mountains surrounding you.

Upon completion we’ll return to your hotel in Cusco for an evening at leisure.

Uncover the secrets of Cusco’s cobblestone streets with a private city tour.

Prepare to fall in love with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of almost every traveler that passes through it. A private tour is the best way to learn about this historic city and uncover the best insider secrets. Your guide will meet you at your hotel, and from there you’ll start your exploration of the city!  Explore the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incas staged a great battle against the conquistadors, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, a hub of artistic inspiration, and Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery, a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun, enjoying local snacks and tasty treats along the way!

At the end of the tour, you will be free to explore our vibrant city on your own, and pick up any last minute items so that you will be ready to start your trek in the morning!

Start your journey on the Salkantay Trek

After an early breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Cusco and start the drive to the beginning of the trail. Cruise through the purple and blue mountains of the Andes, where you will visit the Tarawasi Incan ruins before reaching Marcoccasa. Here, you will begin your trek on the “Camino Real.” It will be a few hours of hiking today before reaching your first lodge, the Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort in Soraypampa.

Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley, Mt. Salkantay. Eternally topped with a covering of snow, Salkantay’s 20,600-foot summit is the highest in the region, and is often obscured by the swirling clouds that rise from the jungle. For the Incas, it was one of the most sacred mountains. You’ll be given a charming Peruvian welcome to the lodge before enjoying dinner.

Sleep overnight at the lodge, which – at 12,690 feet – is a good place to acclimatize to the thinner air.

Relax and enjoy Soraypampa before the real hiking begins

Today is all about rest and relaxation in the breathtakingly beautiful Humantay Lake, only half an hour from the lodge. This blissful four-hour excursion will be a leisurely way to enjoy the landscape before an evening at the lodge. Take a dip in the outdoor Jacuzzi, and prepare for the next few days of rigorous hiking.

Reach the highest point of the trek at Vilcabamba Range

Today, the challenge begins! Your adventure has a mesmerizing start, as you begin the trek with the sunrise illuminating the Andean peaks. Hike to the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from the summit of Salkantay. Once we reach the highest point on the trek, Salkantay Pass, we’ll take a break. At 15,213 feet, the views from here are glorious. The white-hatted Vilcabamba Range extends in every direction and the glacial south face of Salkantay towers above. Be on alert for Andean condors zooming by; these majestic birds are often seen soaring around the rocky ledges.

From the pass, we’ll descend toward Wayra Lodge, our destination for the night. ‘Wayra’ means wind, and references the nearby Wayracmachay, literally the “place where the wind lives.” Hikers will be given ample sustenance, with a hot picnic lunch served en route and dinner at the lodge.

Descend into the cloud forest and enjoy a Pachamanca feast

Being your morning with breakfast at Wayra Lodge before continuing the descent along the left bank of the Salkantay River. The further you plunge, the more verdant the scenery becomes. As the warm air from the jungle rises to envelop you, so do the colorful creatures that thrive in warmer climes: intricately patterned butterflies flutter through the air and attractive orchids can be seen spurting up from the ground.

The destination for today is Colpa Lodge, a charming lodge set on an open plateau at the confluence of three rivers. Once we get there, you and your fellow hungry hikers can fill up on Pachamanca – a traditional Peruvian meal made by layering meat and vegetables with hot stones and cooking them in a covered earthen pit. After, you might want to soothe your shaky calves with a soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi and enjoy the panoramic views. Or, should you crave something a little more active, you can ramble along the nearby orchid trail. Dinner will be at the lodge.

Trek past rural farms and explore small villages following the Santa Teresa river valley

Today, your luxury Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu continues, hiking across the more populated Santa Teresa River valley. You’ll see evidence of how local valley dwellers make their living. As you pass through plantations, you may even see the community members tending their crops of banana, granadilla, avocado, and coffee. Caffeine enthusiasts may be interested to know that some of the best organic coffees in the world are produced in this very valley!

Come lunchtime, we’ll find a suitable spot to stop by the river and refuel with a hot picnic. After lunch, get moving again for another hour or so until a private vehicle comes to collect us for a quick 30-minute transfer to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail.

Tucked into the mountainside among a lush avocado orchard is our next overnight stop: the Lucma Lodge which will provide dinner and rest before the finale of your trek: Machu Picchu.

Get your first glimpse at Machu Picchu and arrive in Aguas Calientes

Today you’ll tackle the last day of your trek. The first few hours will be an uphill slog toward Llactapata Pass which gifts travelers with a first look at Machu Picchu in the distance. From this vantage point, you’ll see the site looming from the southeast.

After gazing at the ruins, take some time out to check out the Llactapata ruins, which were also “discovered” by Hiram Bingham on that fateful expedition in 1911. The site, which was recently restored, looks better than ever. Sit down for lunch at a scenic outlook that offers views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains.

Once lunch concludes, begin your descent towards the Urubamba River, passing through several picturesque landscapes comprised of bamboo forests, orchards, and plantations. From here, you’ll ride the train to Aguas Calientes, the closest settlement to Machu Picchu and your final overnight destination before exploring Machu Picchu properly tomorrow. Celebrate your completion of the Salkantay Trail over an indulgent dinner.

Tour the Machu Picchu Citadel with your expert guide

Today will be a day that remains permanently etched in your mind, long after you’ve returned from your personalized trip to Peru, for today will be the day you finally set eyes on the storied city of Machu Picchu!

After an early breakfast at your hotel, meet your guide and begin the bus ride up switchbacks to the Lost Citadel. As you trek up the entrance’s stone steps, heavy foliage hides the surrounding views until you emerge at what seems like the top of the world, with Machu Picchu spread out below. Take in the wonder of this historic, sacred site, relishing in your accomplishment of trekking the valley below. Return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch, before heading back to your return train to Ollantaytambo.

Today, you will explore the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in Peru that retains its original Incan urban planning. You’ll note still-functioning street canals, multi-family houses with secret interior courtyards and iconic Incan trapezoidal doors! Here we’ll visit the Incan fortress perched on the mountainside overlooking the sleepy pueblo, and learn about nearby stone quarries and the pivotal Incan battle fought here.

We hope you worked up an appetite this morning, because next on the schedule is a true Peruvian feast: the traditional Pachamanca! The centuries-old Pachamanca tradition involves marinating lamb, pork, chicken, and potatoes in a variety of Andean ingredients and cooking them to perfection in an underground oven. You’ll witness each step of the process: how the oven is prepared, how white-hot stones are layered, and how the feast materializes before your eyes!

While waiting for your feast to roast, make sure to wander through the grounds’ organic garden, smell the fresh-roasted coffee produced by the farm’s head roaster, and sample some of the varieties of cañazo (a local Andean spirit) that are produced on-site at the one-of-a-kind distillery.

At the end of your meal, we will bring you back to Cusco for a final evening at leisure.

This morning, you can continue your exploration of the city of Cusco, or have a lie-in and enjoy the comforts of your hotel! At the appropriate time early this afternoon, we will bring you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. Your Kuoda Lima host will meet you upon arrival and bring you to the Huaca Pucllana site.

Here, you will glimpse pre-Columbian desert ruins, delicately preserved in the middle of Miraflores, one of Lima’s nicest neighborhoods. The huaca, or sacred site, is home to one of Lima’s finest dining establishments where you can enjoy a gourmet meal featuring Peruvian flavors while looking out over some of Lima’s most cherished ruins.

Upon conclusion of your meal, we will bring you to the Lima airport for your journey home. Thank you for traveling with Kuoda Travel, and buen viaje!