Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Soraypampa
Your pickup happens at 4:00 a.m. from your Cusco accommodation to start the trek. You'll drive to Mollepata for breakfast, then head to Challacancha where you'll meet your local guides. From there, the hike to Soraypampa Base Camp takes roughly three hours and follows a scenic valley with glaciers overhead and an old Inca water channel running alongside. After lunch and rest time, you'll walk up to Humantay Lake before heading back to camp for dinner.
- Start point
- Hauqaypata, Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Pickup from Cusco hotels 30 minutes before departure time., 04:00 - 04:30)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Mollepata), Lunch (Lunch prepared by camp chefs at Soraypampa), Dinner (Dinner at camp)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Basecamp Domo)
Included Activities
- Hike to Soraypampa Base Camp (3,900 m) - approximately 3 hours
- Hike to Humantay Lake (4,200 m) - afternoon excursion
- Visit to local Inca water channel
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake
Landmarks Mollepata Challacancha Humantay Lake 
- Day 2
Soraypampa to Collpapampa
Wake up to watch Salkantay mountain light up from your campsite as the sun rises. After breakfast, you'll face the trek's toughest section today. Your guides lead you through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha toward the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m (15,190 ft), the highest point on the trek. You'll see impressive glaciers and then descend into cloud forest where wild orchids and hummingbirds appear. Lunch happens at Huayracmachay, and later you'll continue through thick vegetation to reach Collpapampa for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Energetic breakfast at camp), Lunch (Delicious lunch at Huayracmachay with rest), Dinner (Dinner at Collpapampa camp)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Mountain Sky View)
Included Activities
- Hike to Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) - approximately 3 hours, 7 km
- Descent to Huayracmachay (3,850 m)
- Cloud forest hike with wildlife observation
- Hike to Collpapampa - approximately 9.5 km
Optional Activities
- Horseback ride from Soraypampa to Abra Salkantay
Landmarks Salkantay Pass Huayracmachay 
- Day 3
Collpapampa to Lucmabamba
After breakfast, you'll hike through the Santa Teresa Valley where rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and banana plantations line your route. At La Playa, a local farm demonstrates how coffee is made and processed. You'll reach Jungle Domes in Lucmabamba by lunchtime with the afternoon free to walk around the village. If you want, there's a chance to visit Cocalmayo hot springs nearby to soak and relax. Dinner and overnight happen here while you listen to jungle sounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast before hike), Lunch (Lunch at Jungle Domes in Lucmabamba), Dinner (Delicious dinner at camp)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Jungle Domes)
Included Activities
- Hike through Santa Teresa Valley to La Playa
- Coffee-making process demonstration at local farm
- Free time to explore Lucmabamba village
- Entrance to Cocalmayo hot springs
Optional Activities
- Visit to Cocalmayo hot springs (optional afternoon activity)
Landmarks Santa Teresa Valley La Playa Cocalmayo hot springs 
- Day 4
Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes
Breakfast comes early before you start hiking along this section of the famous Inca Trail through Santa Teresa Valley. After about two hours of climbing, you'll reach Llactapata archaeological site where Machu Picchu comes into view in the distance. Your guide explains the history and Inca culture here. From there, you'll head down to Ahobamba for lunch, then push on toward Hidroeléctrica, passing through dramatic canyon sections with walls rising over 250 meters high. You have two options from Hidroeléctrica: walk roughly three hours to Aguas Calientes along the train tracks through jungle, or take the train to save energy (train costs extra). Either way, you'll check into your hotel in Aguas Calientes and have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast before hike), Lunch (Lunch at Ahobamba), Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant in Aguas Calientes)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel in Aguas Calientes)
Included Activities
- Hike along the Inca Trail through Santa Teresa Valley
- Archaeological site visit at Llactapata (2,700 m)
- Descent to Ahobamba
- Hike to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m) through canyon sections
- Either walk or train to Aguas Calientes (choice of two options)
- Guided tour of Llactapata archaeological site
Optional Activities
- Train ticket from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes - Additional cost: $41 per person (alternative to walking)
Landmarks Llactapata Ahobamba Hidroeléctrica 
- Day 5
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
This is the day you've been waiting for. After a light breakfast, you and your guide hop on one of the first Consettur buses heading to Machu Picchu so you beat the crowds. Your guide takes you through a two-hour tour covering the most important areas of the Inca citadel. Afterward, you head back to Aguas Calientes with time to grab lunch and shop for souvenirs. In the afternoon, you board the panoramic train to Ollantaytambo where private transportation meets you and drives you back to Cusco, wrapping up your trek.
- End point
- Hauqaypata, Cusco, Cusco, Peru (Drop-off at Cusco City hotels)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu (approximately 2 hours)
- Free time in Aguas Calientes for lunch and souvenirs
Optional Activities
- Huayna Picchu Mountain hike - approximately 2-hour round trip - Additional cost: $60 per person
- Machu Picchu Mountain hike - approximately 3-hour round trip - Additional cost: $60 per person
- Huchuy Picchu Mountain hike - approximately 2-hour round trip - Additional cost: $50 per person
- Return bus ticket (Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes) - Additional cost: $15 per person
Landmarks Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo 
