Itinerary
- Day 1
Challacancha to Soraypampa
Your pickup happens around 5 a.m. from the hotel, and from there you're driven in comfortable transport toward the trailhead. You'll stop in Mollepata to handle the Salkantay trek entrance fee, then continue on to Challacancha where you'll meet your cooks and horsemen for a final check of all your gear. The trek itself runs about 3 hours at a moderate pace through a glacial valley, following an old Inca water channel the whole way. Once you reach Soraypampa camp, you'll settle in and grab lunch. After eating, there's a 3 km round-trip hike available that takes you up to Humantay Lagoon, where turquoise water sits surrounded by glaciers.
- Start point
- Cusco, Peru (Cusco Central Hotel, 05:00)
- Meals
- Lunch (Mountain lunch at Soraypampa campsite), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay
Included Activities
- Guided trek to Soraypampa (approximately 3 hours, 7 km)
- Round-trip hike to Humantay Lagoon (3 km, approximately 2-3 hours including altitude acclimatization)
- Meet cooks and horsemen at Challacancha
- Equipment check before trail departure
Optional Activities
- Breakfast in Mollepata (not included in tour price)
- Entry to Humantay Lagoon (USD 5 per person)
Landmarks Humantay Lagoon Soraypampa 
- Day 2
Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass
This is the toughest day physically. You start before dawn with traditional coca tea and a hearty breakfast to build energy. The hike covers about 7 km over 4 hours, following the route known as the Trail of the Seven Serpents, which climbs steadily upward. By midday you reach Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m/15,180 ft, the highest point on the trek. The views from the top take in several sacred snow-capped peaks including Salkantay Mountain, Humantay, and Pumasillo spread across the horizon. You'll camp right at the pass for the night, so you get plenty of time to acclimate and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional coca tea and hearty breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camping Site)
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) - 7 km, approximately 4 hours
- Trail of the Seven Serpents trek
Landmarks Salkantay Pass Salkantay Mountain 
- Day 3
Salkantay Pass to Chaullay
After breakfast you head downhill on a rocky path for 3 hours, descending toward Huayracmachay with valley views opening up below you. Then you continue for another 8 km or so (about 4 hours) and the landscape shifts completely as you enter the cloud forest, which marks the transition zone toward the Amazon. It's a dramatic shift from high peaks to warm, wet jungle with lush vegetation, different wildlife, and plants you won't see higher up. You reach Chaullay by early afternoon at 2,950 m/9,678 ft, where you'll have lunch, rest for a few hours, and eat dinner while settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Homestay)
Included Activities
- Guided downhill hike from Salkantay Pass to Huayracmachay (3,850 m) - approximately 3 hours
- Guided trek through Cloud Forest to Chaullay - 8 km, approximately 4 hours
Landmarks Cloud Forest (Amazon Rainforest Gateway) - Day 4
Chaullay to La Playa
You wake to tea and breakfast, then spend the day hiking mostly downhill through the Santa Teresa Valley. The route takes you through lush terrain with rivers, waterfalls, orchid plants, and various agricultural lands growing bananas, coffee, and avocados. Around midday you'll stop at La Playa, which sits at 2,060 m/6,758 ft. There you'll spend time with a local family learning how they grow and process coffee, and you get to prepare your own cup. If you're interested, there's an option to visit the nearby Cocalmayo hot springs for USD 17 per person (includes transport and entrance), or you can stay at camp and rest. Either way, you'll be back for tea time and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Homestay)
Included Activities
- Guided trek through Santa Teresa Valley to La Playa - mostly downhill
- Coffee experience with local family at La Playa - learn production process and prepare freshly brewed coffee
Optional Activities
- Visit Cocalmayo hot springs - approximately USD 17 per person (includes transportation 50 minutes drive and entrance fee USD 3, with transport USD 15)
Landmarks Cocalmayo Hot Springs - Day 5
La Playa to Llactapata
After a hearty breakfast you hike uphill for 3 to 4 hours along a preserved section of the original Inca Trail. Your destination is Llactapata, an Inca ruins site at 2,700 m/8,858 ft that sits directly across from Machu Picchu. This is when you get your first real view of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain in the distance. Your guide shares historical background and stories about the Inca civilization as you walk through the ruins. Later in the afternoon you have lunch and some downtime, then settle into your tent for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camping Site)
Included Activities
- Guided trek along original Inca Trail to Llactapata (2,700 m) - 3 to 4 hours uphill
- Guided tour of Llactapata Inca archaeological site
- First views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain from Llactapata
Landmarks Llactapata Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu - Day 6
Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
You'll have breakfast and then make a gentle 2-hour descent with multiple views of Machu Picchu throughout. When you reach Hidroelectrica at 1,800 m/5,905 ft, you'll stop for lunch. After that you walk along the train tracks for about 2 hours, with lush jungle vegetation and the Urubamba River on one side. At this point you can either take a scenic train to Aguas Calientes (about 30 minutes, USD 34 not included) or continue hiking for 2 more hours. Either way you'll arrive in Aguas Calientes where your 3-star lodge has a private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, and breakfast included. You have free time to walk around town or relax before dinner at 7:00 p.m. at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant at 7:00 p.m.)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MACHUPICCHU BOUTIQUE)
Included Activities
- Guided descent from Llactapata - approximately 2 hours
- Walk along train tracks from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes - approximately 2 hours (or optional train ride)
Optional Activities
- Scenic train ride from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes - approximately USD 34 (not included). Alternative: continue hiking for approximately 3 hours to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Hidroelectrica Aguas Calientes - Day 7
Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
Wake up early, have breakfast, then catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (about 30 minutes). Your guide leads a 2-hour tour through the main areas of the Inca citadel, explaining the history, architecture, and cultural background. After the guided portion ends, you're free to explore on your own, take photos, and just spend time absorbing the site at your own pace. Later you take the bus back down, board the train to Ollantaytambo, then ride in private transport back to Cusco with an expected arrival around 6:30 p.m.
- End point
- Cusco, Peru (Main Square , 18:30)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bus ride to Machu Picchu - approximately 30 minutes
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu - 2 hours (circuit 2A or 2B, start times 6 a.m. or 7 a.m.)
- Free exploration time at Machu Picchu
Landmarks Machu Picchu 
