Your Travel Experience with Peru Pro
Day 1
Briefing the night before and DAY 1: ON THE WAY TO SORAYPAMPA
Please note: There will be a brief briefing about your tour the evening before, around 7:00 p.m. in Cusco (details to follow).
Important Information: • All guests must present valid proof of travel insurance before departure that includes specific coverage for adventure travel activities in Peru. • We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 1–2 days before the trip begins to acclimatize to the altitude and attend the pre-trip orientation.
Day 1: ON THE WAY TO SORAYPAMPA
After an early breakfast, your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco. The first stop is a visit to the Quillarumiyoc archaeological site on the way to the mountain village of Mollepata. Enjoy lunch at “El Pedregal,” a beautiful farmhouse in the village, where you’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about local agriculture and livestock farming. After lunch, enjoy a scenic drive along the winding mountain road to Challacancha. Here, you’ll begin your hike to our flagship lodge, the Salkantay Lodge in Soraypampa, along a picturesque trail known as the “Camino Real” (Royal Road).
Note: Although we highly recommend participating in the hike as part of your continued acclimatization to the altitude, guests may choose not to hike and instead continue by vehicle to the Salkantay Lodge.
• Hiking time: approx. 3 hours • Difficulty: easy to moderate
Meals: Lunch (El Pedregal), Dinner (Salkantay Lodge) Overnight stay: Salkantay Lodge (12,690 feet / 3,869 m)
Day 2
DAY 2: HIKE TO LAKE HUMANTAY
After breakfast, you’ll begin the ascent up the slopes bordering the plateau behind Salkantay Lodge*. An hour and a half later, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with your first glimpse of the lake’s sparkling turquoise waters and the Humantay Glacier towering high above you. Upon arrival, you’ll have the opportunity to relax, enjoy a light snack, meditate in the tranquility of this magical place, and participate in a traditional ceremony in honor of “la Pachamama” (Mother Earth). After your descent back to the lodge, the staff at Salkantay Lodge will welcome you with a warm lunch. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish—relax, enjoy a massage, or soak in the outdoor hot tub while taking in the spectacular view of the Salkantay peak at sunset.
• Hike duration: approx. 4 hours • Difficulty level: moderate • Optional activities:
Chakana Excursion (additional fee): A combination of horseback riding and hiking on the steep hills near the lodge. The destination is a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Salkantay River Valley, marked by an oversized Inca chakana (cross). This excursion replaces the hike to the glacial lake. Duration: approx. 5 hours (1.5–2 hours on horseback) Horseback riding (additional fee): After lunch, spend a leisurely afternoon exploring Soraypampa on horseback. Duration: approx. 2 hours.
*Note: Although the morning hike to Lake Humantay is optional, we strongly recommend that you participate in order to prepare for the strenuous hike on Day 3.
Meals: B (Salkantay Lodge), L (Salkantay Lodge), D (Salkantay Lodge) Overnight: Salkantay Lodge (12,690’ / 3,869 m)
Day 3
DAY 3: CROSSING THE SALKANTAY PASS
After an early start, the ascent to the Salkantay Pass begins. You’ll circle around the Humantay peak and gradually make your way across expansive plateaus connected by massive boulders—remnants of the Rio Blanco Valley, which was once carved by a raging river. The final and most challenging part of the ascent is navigating the switchbacks that lead you to the pass, the highest point of the hike (15,213 feet / 4,636 m). The journey continues with a spectacular descent through fields of large boulders and natural rock formations, which are often shrouded in fog. After lunch, you’ll have some time to rest before the final hike through the region’s idyllic landscape begins; its gentle hills eventually lead you through marshy plateaus to Wayra Lodge in Wayraccmachay.
• Hiking time: approx. 6 hours • Difficulty: challenging
Meals: B (Salkantay Lodge), L (Wayra Lodge), D (Wayra Lodge) Overnight: Wayra Lodge (12,812’ / 3,906 m)
Day 4
DAY 4: DESCENT INTO THE CLOUD FOREST
After a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge, you’ll continue your descent toward the cloud forest along the banks of the Salkantay River through an increasingly lush green landscape. Warm air rises from the edge of the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids. Today you’ll see more locals from the Andes, as the trail takes you past their simple homes and makeshift fences. Around noon, you’ll reach Colpa Lodge, perched on a high rocky outcrop at the confluence of three rivers. The staff at Colpa Lodge will welcome you with a pachamanca lunch, a traditional Peruvian meal cooked underground using hot stones that form a natural oven. After lunch, you can spend the afternoon lounging in the sun or relaxing in the outdoor hot tub while enjoying the panoramic views of the lush green mountains surrounding you.
• Hiking time: approx. 3–4 hours • Difficulty: easy to moderate
Meals: B (Wayra Lodge), L (Colpa Lodge), D (Colpa Lodge) Overnight: Colpa Lodge (9,414’ / 2,870 m)
Day 5
DAY 5: ALONG THE SANTA TERESA RIVER VALLEY
Today you’ll hike through the Santa Teresa River Valley on a rolling trail that winds through fertile orchards and crosses streams that originate from glacier-fed waterfalls. Take a break by the riverbank to enjoy a trail mix snack, then hike for another hour before being picked up by an shuttle, which will take you on a short ride to the base of the Llactapata Inca Trail steps leading to Lucma Lodge. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the lodge, then visit an organic coffee plantation—one of many in the region that produce some of the world’s finest organic coffees. You’ll also notice another change in climate; in Lucmabamba, the hot air and increased humidity signal that you’ve come even closer to the edge of the Amazon jungle.
• Hiking time: approx. 5.5 hours • Difficulty: moderate to challenging
Meals: B (Colpa Lodge), L (Lucma Lodge), D (Lucma Lodge) Overnight: Lucma Lodge (7,003’ / 2,135 m)
Day 6
DAY 6: LUCMABAMBA / FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MACHU PICCHU
After breakfast, you’ll set out from Lucma Lodge and embark on a 2- to 3-hour ascent through the cloud forest along a trail consisting largely of original Inca steps. A lush tree line forms a green canopy overhead, and the constant murmur of water indicates that the river is nearby. Your first destination today is the summit, the last one before you descend into the Aobamba River Valley, which connects you to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at the Llactapata Pass (8,974’ / 2,736 m), you’ll enjoy a magnificent view to the southeast of Machu Picchu—a sight that few travelers get to admire. After exploring Llactapata, the Inca tambo (fort) that marks the pass, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at a mountain viewpoint with panoramic views. The final descent along a trail that zigzags down to the roaring Aobamba River takes you through lush bamboo forests, diverse orchards, and more coffee plantations. Celebrate as you cross the bridge over the river and take the final steps of the hike on your way to the Hidroelectrica train station for a picturesque one-hour train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes, situated on the banks of the Urubamba River at the foot of Machu Picchu.
• Hiking time: approx. 4–6 hours • Difficulty: moderate to challenging
Meals: B (Lucma Lodge), L (en route), D (partner hotel in Aguas Calientes) Overnight: Partner hotel in Aguas Calientes (6,693 feet/2,040 m)
Day 7
DAY 7: THE CITADEL OF MACHU PICCHU
Your trip to Machu Picchu begins with a fast-paced bus ride uphill early in the morning. As you enter the “Sanctuary” (as the locals call it), marvel at the imposing, masterful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, to name just a few. After a two-hour guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore the site on your own, including a hike up Huayna Picchu Mountain* with breathtaking views stretching from the Urubamba Valley to the edge of the Amazon jungle. Be sure to take a moment to sit quietly—listen to the wind, meditate, and let the mystical energy surrounding you wash over you. After the visit, you’ll have lunch in Aguas Calientes before embarking on a scenic ride on the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo (approx. 1.5 hours) and a transfer by car to your hotel in Cusco (approx. 1.5 hours). As night falls and you arrive amid the bustling city life, you’ll be overcome by a sense of peace and renewal that will linger long after you return home.
Meals: B (partner hotel in Aguas Calientes), L (partner hotel in Aguas Calientes)