Luxury Lodge to Lodge Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
$3750
per personYour story begins with the dream of visiting Machu Picchu. The dream comes alive during a once-in-a-lifetime experience: The ultimate lodge-to-lodge trek along the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This is an exploration of the Sacred Valley of the Incas as well as as a physical, cultural and spiritual journey.
The pristine natural beauty will envelop you throughout your 7-day journey along the Salktantay Trail. Your journey will take you past 15 unique ecosystems, and will inspire you to challenge yourself, as you navigate changing altitudes (even a 4,572 m/15,000 ft mountain traverse!) and varied terrain. Along the route you encounter picturesque hamlets populated by Andean families. You will experience century-old traditions, while simultaneously witnessing environmental and social initiatives created to maintain the integrity of their culture and improve the quality of life.
Our warm staff and enchanting mountain lodges welcome you at the end of each day. The innovative Andean cuisine and comfortable mountain lodges will help to restore both body and mind as you continue your adventure in the footsteps of the Incas.
This is your journey! Take the chance to create your own amazing story on this luxury Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu!
Highlights of the Luxury Lodge to Lodge Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu:
Itinerary Overview:
Click through to “Tour Plan” to see the full itinerary for the Luxury Lodge to Lodge Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Day 1 | Cusco to Salkantay Lodge: Depart Cusco by car, traveling through the archaeological ruins of Tarawasi, Mollepata, and Marcoccasa. From there, you will begin our trek (6 hours)to Soraypampa where you will enjoy a beautiful stay in the Salkantay Lodge.
Day 2 | Salkantay Lodge: Begin your trek with an easy acclimatization hike (4 hours) to Humantay Lake before an afternoon of relaxation and gourmet dining at the Salkantay Lodge.
Day 3 | Salkantay Lodge to Wayra Lodge: Get an early start for your trek (6-8 hours) to the trek’s high point – the Salktantay Pass – and descend to the cozy Wayra Lodge for a comfortable night’s stay.
Day 4 | Wayra Lodge to Colpa Lodge: After a lake breakfast, you will make an easy trek (3-4 hours) to the Colpa Lodge where you can take in mountain views from the outdoor jacuzzi.
Day 5 | Colpa Lodge to Lucma Lodge: Take a hike (5-6 hours) along the Santa Teresa River valley before a car transfer to the newly restored Llactapata Inca Trail. Relax for the evening at the Lucma Lodge, a picturesque lodge set on an avocado plantation.
Day 6 | Lucma Lodge to Aguas Calientes: Today, you’ll hike (4.5-5 hours) towards Llactapata Pass, an extraordinary Machu Picchu viewpoint. After lunch, will descend towards the Aobamba River where you will take a train to Aguas Calientes. Here, you will get a good night’s rest before the main event – Machu Picchu!
Day 7 | Aguas Calientes to Cusco via Machu Picchu: You will wake up early for the short bus ride to Machu Picchu. At the park, explore with a guided tour and hike to Huayna Picchu (optional). Return back to Aguas Calientes by bus, before taking the train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer back to Cusco.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Important Information:
We recommend you book this tour at least 6 months in advance
Why book with us
Travel voucher & contact details:
You will receive an electronic voucher via e-mail once your booking is confirmed.
Book Now Pay Later
Simply pay an initial deposit of $599 per person and pay the rest later.
You must pay the balance of your Salkantay Trek no less than 80 days before the departure date. If booking less than 80 days before departure, you must pay in full at the time of booking.
If full payment has not been received before 80 days prior to check-in the booking will be automatically cancelled and your deposit will be forfeited.
You don’t need to miss out – JUST BOOK NOW PAY LATER!
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DepartureCusco / Cusco
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Departure Time7:00 am
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Return Time8:00 pm
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IncludeTransportEntriesAccommodationTour guideMealsActivities described in the itinerary
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Not IncludedDomestic flightsTravel Insurance
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Luxury Lodge-to-Lodge Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day One: Cusco to Salkantay Lodge
After an early breakfast, we are picked up starting at 7:00 am at your Cusco hotel by a MLP guide and vehicle. En route we take a short break to visit the Archeological site of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where we stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle). Here, we begin our trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for everyone to acclimate, while enjoying a beautiful six hour trek. Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley - Mt. Salkantay, the second most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 6,270 m (20,600 ft), the highest in the region. After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, we are shown to our rooms and have time to freshen-up, before tea and cookies. The trip leader will hold a briefing by the fireplace, followed by aperitifs and dinner.
- Overnight at Salkantay Lodge at 3,869 m/12,690 ft.
- Trekking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch en route)
- Hiking Level: Moderate
- Option: Guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge by vehicle
- Note: On the evening before this day there will be a briefing with your guide in Cusco
- Meals: L, D
- Accommodation: Salkantay Lodge
- Transport: Private tourist transport
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Two : A hike to Humantay Lake
Today we take an acclimatization hike on the slopes above the lodge to Lake Humantay, fed by the hanging glaciers of Mt. Humantay. The hike is optional, but the views are amazing, and those brave enough can even go for a dip. We return to the lodge for lunch with your afternoon at leisure, after which you may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. We spend the night at the Salkantay Lodge with gourmet food and warm, comfortable beds. In the evening, the guide briefs us on gear and the itinerary for the following day. All meals are served at the Lodge.
- Trekking Time: Approximately 4 hours
- Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging
- Meals: B, L, D
- Accommodation: Salkantay Lodge at 3869 m/ 12690 ft
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Three: Crossing the Salkantay Pass
This is the big day! After an early start, we hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay Peak. The highest point on the trek is the Salkantay Pass at 4,638 m (15,213 ft). At the pass we stop to take in views of snowcapped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the glaciated south face of Salkantay towering above us. We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we descend towards Wayra Lodge (“Wayra”: wind; from the name of the location “Wayracmachay”: ‘the cave where the wind lives’) our destination for the evening. A hot lunch is served en route; dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
- Trekking Time: 6–8 hours (including lunch)
- Hiking Level: Challenging, crossing a 4,638m (15,213 ft) mountain pass
- Meals: B, L, D
- Accommodation: Wayra Lodge at 3906 m/ 12812 ft
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Four :Descending into the Cloud Forest
On this day we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. Then we continue our descent along the left bank of the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. We can feel the warm air rising from the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids. Upon arrival at Colpa Lodge we are greeted with a Pachamanca, a traditional festive Peruvian meal cooked by layering meat and vegetables with hot stones. Everything is then covered with hot stones, plantain leaves, high Andean grass and local herbs and the contents are baked in this underground oven. Colpa Lodge is located on an open plateau at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor jacuzzi has panoramic views of lush green mountains. We spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the nearby orchid trail. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Trekking Time: 3–4 hours
- Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate
- Meals: B, L, D
- Accommodation: Colpa Lodge at 2870m/ 9414 ft
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Five : Following the Santa Teresa river valley
Today we hike along the Santa Teresa river valley, through more populated rural areas. We pass through banana, granadilla, and avocado orchards and coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world). A hot picnic lunch is served by the river. After lunch, we hike another hour before a private vehicle meets us for a short drive to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” (aprox. 30 minutes). From the head of the newly restored Inca trail we easily make our way to Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. On the way we visit an organic coffee plantation where we join the owner on a short tour of the farm and learn how coffee is grown, harvested, dried and processed. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Trekking Time: 5–6 hours (including lunch)
- Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging (because of distance, not terrain)
- Meals: B, L, D
- Accommodation: Lucma Lodge at 2135m/7003 ft
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Six : First views of Machu Picchu from Llactapata pass
After a hearty breakfast, we tackle the last day of our trek. We head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974ft), where we come upon a distant but spectacular view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary from the southeast, a view few travelers ever get a chance to admire. We take a short break to explore the Archeological site of Llactapata, which have recently been restored. Lunch is served at a scenic viewpoint, looking out to Machu Picchu. After which we begin our final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations. We then board a train for a scenic ride (approx. 1 hour) to Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we check into an award-wining hotel for a celebration dinner with our guide and one last briefing!
- Overnight in Aguas Calientes at 1,900 m/6,232 ft.
- Trekking Time: 4–6 hours
- Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging
- Meals: B, L, D
- Accommodation: Inkaterra Hotel or similar
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
Day Seven : Visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary
After a very early buffet breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary (30 min). Our trip leader will give an introductory 2 hour guided tour of the ruins, after which we have the option of climbing the steep staircase of Huayna Picchu, a steep and vertically quite challenging hike that takes about 2 hours which affords great views of Machu Picchu. Afterwards, we meet up with our guide again and return by bus to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch our train. The ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes about 1½ hours, and then a private vehicle will drive us back to Cusco (an additional 1½ hour). Upon arrival in Cusco (approximately 7 or 8 p.m.), we are dropped off at your hotel.
- Return to Cusco at 3,360 m/11,021 ft.
- Meals: B
- Activities: all the ones described in the itinerary accompanied by a professional tour guide
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