Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 7 Days

We start this beautiful day at 7:30am, when your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us towards Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba Valley and its traditional farming villages. You will see how the agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed little in the past five hundred years. Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, where you can see an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs.

There, we can admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. Here, we will spend about 2 hours, exploring the Inca city. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, spend about 20 minutes visiting it and afterwards drive to Urubamba for lunch.

Our next stop is the archeological site of Moray also known as “The Greenhouse of the Incas” a deep basin of architectural wonder. Levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, which was carefully engineered by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed.  Archeologists believe that they were used by the Incas to discover the optimal growing conditions for their crops and experiment in hybridization.

Continuing on our journey to the colonial town of Maras, we look down onto the “pre-Inca salt mines,” called Salineras in Spanish. Thousands of salt pans have been passed down through countless generations and used for salt extraction since before Inca times. A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt laden water, which is diverted into salt pans and evaporated to produce salt. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt!

Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo, taking the time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca Ruins, with a tour provided by our guide. Visit the massive architecture of the Sun Temple at the top of the formidable terraces and learn about the importance of this site for the Inca during the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Finally, return to Cusco and spend the night in a hotel.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meals: Breakfast at hotel

This unique hiking adventure begins at 5:00am with pick up from your hotel, drive in our private van for 2 hours to Mollepata. Travel along curvy roads in the Andes and have views of the villages Izcuchaca and Limatambo, the surrounding valleys and the famous snow-capped Salkantay Mountain. Here at a local restaurant, you will have breakfast. Then fulfilled with tasty food, we’ll continue to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek. The guide will give you the final instructions for your trek, put your bag on and start walking!
From here we will walk for about three moderate hours to Soraypampa. You will pass by through Inca Channels and admire the mountain views. Once at the Soraypampa trailhead, have a delicious and hearty lunch while enjoying the spectacular views of the Humantay Mountain (5,900m/19,356ft) and Salkantay Mountain (6,217m/ 20,396ft) glaciers. You will be installed in our exclusive panoramic domes and have some free time after lunch to relax before our next hike!

By early afternoon, we take a 2.5 hour round-trip hike up to visit Humantay Lake, take in the beautiful, crystalline-blue waters of the Lake. Be mesmerized by the beauty of such an incredible creation of nature, then hike back down to have a “happy hour” with hot drinks, popcorn and some cookies!

Followed by this hot drinks, enjoy a hearty dinner in our dining room, have a brief explanation for the following day and rest in our million-star campsite!

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner
• Accommodation: Exclusive Panoramic Domes
• Distance: 10kms / 8 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Today is our challenging day! The guide will wake you with a hot mug of coffee or tea to enjoy in the tent before you get up. After a tasty breakfast we continue onwards and upwards by the 7 snakes path through the mountains for about 3 hours until the Salkantay Pass (4,650m/15,367ft). Feel truly awed by the spectacular views of these three towering snow-capped mountains: Salkantay, Humantay, Huayanay. These peaks are considered sacred by the Andean people and the guide will tell you about how important these Apus are in traditional Andean beliefs. Below you are spectacular rivers of whitewater and small scenic lakes. Head down for 2 hours to Huayracmachay for a hot lunch. Later we descend for 3 hours to your next glamping experience in Collpapampa; at our sky dome with Sauna and Jaccuzi. Along the way, enjoy the refreshing lush green valleys and spectacular waterfalls. You have crossed over from the dry Andean highlands and are descending towards the warm and humid Amazon!

Once set in your comfortable dome, have a tasty dinner, fresh up in your 3-star room with shower facilities and relax in our steam room for an amazing closure of the day.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner
• Accommodation: At our exclisive sky dome with Sauna and Jacuzzi Included
• Distance: 18kms / 11 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

After another hot drink enjoyed in your comfy dome, you will be treated to the last delicious breakfast prepared by our chef. From here, we take a local transportation to Lucmabamba, then we walk in the footsteps of the Inca, along the ancient and remote Inca Trail for 3 hours to the Puncuyoc Pass (2,700m/8,858ft). Along the way, be amazed at the incredible views of deep valleys reaching into the distance with their fruit plantations. We finally arrive to Llactapata Inca Ruins; located right across the valley front Machu Picchu. There, we take time to enjoy the strategic location of the Citadel of Machu Picchu and its surrounding mountains, Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu and the Aobamba Canyon. From there, we descend for 2 hours to the hydroelectric plant, the primary power source for Cusco. Nearby, we will enjoy lunch before we take the train to Aguas Calientes, where we will have dinner and go to our hotel.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• 3* Accommodation:  Hotel Ferre´ Machu Picchu
• Distance: 15kms / 9 miles
• Time: Approximately 6 hours
• Difficulty : Moderate

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at the hotel, take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu, be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and something that you will not want to miss! The guide will give you a tour, which takes about two hours. See most of the important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. Learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. Also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to the hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. Arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meal included: Breakfast
• Difficulty: Easy
• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels

Pick up from your hotel at 4am to begin the amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure. Set out and drive for 3 hours through the South Valley of Cusco ending up at the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m/15,216 ft).  Along the way, there are amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, and high Andean peaks.

Breakfast with herds of alpacas and llamas, then we start on our hike following a lovely stream, you will have views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. Interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!

After a total hike of 1.5 hours, we reach our destination:  Rainbow Mountain (5,020m/16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area.  Take pictures or just soak up the view. Spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, there is an optional hike across to the top of the Red Valley.  This walk takes about 45 minutes longer to get back to the trailhead. Hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch by our cook. Embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at the Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00pm.

• Meals included: Hot Breakfast & Lunch
• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging