Humantay Lake

Start your trek with a 4:00 AM pick-up from your hotel in Cusco and a scenic 3-hour drive to Soraypampa (3,800 m). After breakfast with your chef and trekking team, begin with a round-trip hike to the turquoise Humantay Lake, surrounded by snowy peaks. Descend and continue the Salkantay trail for 2 hours toward Salkantay Pampa, where you will enjoy a freshly prepared lunch. Afterward, hike gradually uphill for 2 more hours to reach Ichupata campsite (4,000 m), located at the base of the Salkantay Glacier. Here, you’ll spend your first night in personal tents under the stars, surrounded by stunning mountain views.

Salkantay Trail

Wake up with views of glacier peaks and enjoy breakfast before starting a challenging ascent. Hike about 4 hours uphill to reach Inca Chiriaska (Salkantay Pass) at 5,100 m, the highest point of the trek. This “frozen” pass offers breathtaking panoramas of the Salkantay Glacier. After enjoying hot tea, descend 1.5 hours to the lunch spot with views of Palcayoc peak. Continue 3 more hours downhill until arriving at Inca Canal Mirador campsite (3,600 m). From here, you will admire Salkantay’s northeast face and the Pampaccahuana community. Rest and enjoy dinner at this unique campsite.

Paucarcancha Ruins

Begin your day with tea and breakfast while gazing at Salkantay Mountain. Today’s hike is more relaxed, starting with a cultural visit to a local family’s home to share experiences of Andean life. Continue with a 4-hour downhill hike to Paucarcancha, an Inca archaeological site where your guide will explain its history. After exploring, walk half an hour to your campsite near Huayllabamba (2,950 m). Here, take part in preparing a traditional Pachamanca, an Andean dish cooked underground with hot stones. Later, relax in a jacuzzi and hot shower, followed by dinner and a live cultural show with local music and traditional highland dances.

Mirador de Llactapata

Today you will hike part of the original Inca Trail, with spectacular views of valleys and mountains. The highlight is visiting Llactapata, an Inca archaeological site known for its houses, water channels, and impressive terraces. After a guided tour, continue hiking for 2 hours to your lunch stop. In the afternoon, transfer by car to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll enjoy dinner before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes (2,000 m). Spend the night in a comfortable hotel such as Tierra Viva (or similar), resting in preparation for Machu Picchu.

Machupicchu cusco

Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel before taking the bus with your guide to Machu Picchu. At the main viewpoint, capture your first iconic photos of the citadel, then begin a guided tour through temples, terraces, and sacred areas while learning about Inca history.