Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Humantay Lake
Your early morning starts with a 4:00 a.m. hotel pickup in Cusco, then you'll grab breakfast in Mollepata before heading to Challacancha to meet your trek team. The first section is a three-hour hike that follows an old Inca canal with views down into the valley until you reach Soraypampa and Sky Camp. After lunch there, you're doing a three-hour round-trip hike to Humantay Lake at 4,200 m (13,780 ft), where the water turns that brilliant turquoise color with a glacier backdrop. Dinner and your overnight stay happen in a dome tent with views of Apu Salkantay mountain.
- Start point
- Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Pickup from Cusco hotels 30 minutes before departure time., 04:00 - 04:30)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Mollepata), Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Sky Camp)
Included Activities
- Hike from Challacancha to Soraypampa following ancient Inca canal (3 hours, 7 km)
- Hike to Humantay Lake (3 hours round trip)
- Entrance to Salkantay and Humantay Lake trails with certified guide
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake
- Rent walking sticks ($25 per person)
- Rent sleeping bag ($25 per person)
Landmarks Humantay Lake Apu Salkantay 
- Day 2
Soraypampa to Collpapampa
Starting with coca tea and a filling breakfast while looking at Apu Salkantay, you'll then tackle the trek's most challenging climb up to Abra Salkantay at 4,630 m (15,190 ft). This three-hour ascent follows what's called the path of the seven snakes, and from the summit you'll take in Andes views and feel the spiritual energy of the sacred mountain. From there it's about three hours down to Huayracmachay where a hearty lunch waits. The afternoon section takes you into the cloud forest where things get warmer and greener with more tropical plants around. You'll spot birds and waterfalls on your way to Collpapampa. Dinner and an overnight stay at Mountain Sky View Camp finishes your day with nature all around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Coca tea and energy-packed breakfast), Lunch (Hearty lunch at Huayracmachay surrounded by beautiful scenery), Dinner (Hearty dinner)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Mountain Sky View)
Included Activities
- Hike to Abra Salkantay summit (3 hours, 7 km ascent)
- Descent to Huayracmachay (3 hours)
- Trek through cloud forest to Collpapampa
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Abra Salkantay
- Rent walking sticks ($25 per person)
- Rent sleeping bag ($25 per person)
Landmarks Abra Salkantay 
- Day 3
Collpapampa to Lucmabamba
Hot mate tea and breakfast comes first around 6:00 a.m. before you start hiking through Santa Teresa Valley on a gentle downhill trail. The path takes you between rivers, waterfalls, and orchid gardens with banana, coffee, and avocado plantations creating a tropical feel. Keep an eye out for the Cock-of-the-Rock, Peru's national bird, as you make your way to La Playa for a typical lunch. After that it's another hour to Lucmabamba. In the afternoon you'll visit an organic coffee farm to see how Andean coffee gets made and try some for yourself. Dinner and your overnight rest happen at Super Jungle Domes where the jungle sounds surround you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hot mate tea and breakfast), Lunch (Typical lunch at La Playa), Dinner (Delicious dinner)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Super Jungle Domes)
Included Activities
- Hike through Santa Teresa Valley (5-6 hours, 17 km)
- Visit organic coffee farm and learn about Andean coffee process
- Typical lunch at La Playa
Optional Activities
- Rent walking sticks ($25 per person)
- Rent sleeping bag ($25 per person)
Landmarks Santa Teresa Valley - Day 4
Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast you're heading toward Aguas Calientes on your final hiking day. Morning brings a two-hour ascent to Llactapata, an Inca site with special views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain, where your guide shares details about Inca civilization and you have time to explore and take photos. Then you descend for about an hour and a half to Ahobamba for lunch, followed by another thirty minutes to Hidroeléctrica where you'll see a 250-meter artificial waterfall that generates power for Cusco. From here you can either board a train or hike three hours along the tracks through warm jungle (you'll pass the Intihuatana solar stone on the way). Once in Aguas Calientes, dinner at a local restaurant and a comfortable hotel room wait for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel in Aguas Calientes)
Included Activities
- Hike to Llactapata Inca archaeological site (2 hours ascent)
- Guided tour of Llactapata with views of Machu Picchu
- Descent to Ahobamba (1.5 hours)
- Hike or train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes
- Hike along railway tracks viewing Intihuatana (optional instead of train, 3 hours)
Optional Activities
- Train ticket from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes ($40 per person)
- Rent walking sticks ($25 per person)
- Rent sleeping bag ($25 per person)
Landmarks Llactapata Intihuatana 
- Day 5
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu to Cusco
The trip's highlight happens today at Machu Picchu. You're climbing early in the morning to catch the sunrise before other visitors show up. During a two-hour guided tour you'll walk through temples, houses, terraces, and water channels while learning about the sophisticated Inca engineering that built this site on a mountainside using only ancient tools. If interested, you can optionally climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for different views (you'll need to book this in advance). Back in Aguas Calientes you grab lunch, then take the scenic train to Ollantaytambo. Finally, private transportation brings you back to Cusco where your Andean adventure finishes.
- End point
- Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Drop-off at Cusco hotels, 18:30 - 19:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Entrance to Machu Picchu archaeological site
- Two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (one way)
- Scenic train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Optional Activities
- Huayna Picchu Mountain hike (approximately 2 hours round trip, $60 per person, advance reservation required)
- Machu Picchu Mountain hike (approximately 3 hours round trip, $60 per person, advance reservation required)
- Return bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes ($15 per person)
Landmarks Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Mountain 
