7-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu through Glaciers and Jungles

• Begin your Peruvian adventure in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire.
• Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with a warm cup of coca tea to help you adjust to the altitude.
• Spend the day relaxing or exploring the city's vibrant streets, where colonial architecture blends seamlessly with ancient ruins.
• Optional: Join an afternoon tour to uncover Cusco's secrets, including the awe-inspiring Sacsayhuamán fortress and the golden Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha).
• Rest at your comfortable hotel, ready for the trek ahead.

Meals included: -/-/-

Overnight: Cusco

• Embark early as you journey through the Andes, passing quaint villages like Mollepata.
• After a light breakfast, meet your support team in Challacancha and hike to Soraypampa, your first campsite.
• Take on a challenging ascent to Humantay Lake, a glacial jewel nestled beneath snow-capped peaks. Its surreal turquoise waters and sacred energy make every step worth it.
• Descend for a hearty dinner under the stars at Lodge Del Cielo.
  • Difficulty: Challenging
  • Maximum elevation: 4,200 m / 13,780 feet
  • Camp elevation: 3,900 m / 12,795 feet
  • Walking distance: 12 km / 6.21 miles
  • Hiking time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Meals included: B/L/D

Overnight: Campsite

• Today's is the toughest yet most rewarding leg.
• Trek through Pampa Salkantay, reaching the pass at 4,630 m (15,190 ft), where the glacier's grandeur will leave you breathless, literally and figuratively.
• Soak in panoramic views of rugged peaks before descending into the cloud forest.
• Witness the landscape transform as you arrive in Chaullay, where warmer temperatures and lush greenery welcome you.
  • Difficulty: Challenging
  • Maximum elevation: 4,630 m / 15,190 feet
  • Camp elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 feet
  • Walking distance: 24 km / 13.67 miles
  • Hiking time: Approximately 10 hours
  • Weather: It can be quite cold and wintry, or rainy at the Salkantay Pass

Meals included: B/L/D

Overnight: Campsite

• Hike through the Inca Trail Network into the jungle's embrace, surrounded by coffee plantations, passionfruit vines, and rare orchids.
• Opt for a coffee tour to learn about local bean-to-cup processes, or zip-line over the canopy for adrenaline thrills.
• End at Lucmabamba's Sky Lodge, where the microclimate's magic lulls you to sleep.
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Maximum elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 feet
  • Camp elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 feet
  • Walking distance: 18 km / 11.18 miles
  • Hiking time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours
  • Weather: It can be hot and rainy

Meals included: B/L/D

Overnight: Campsite

• An early start leads you to Llaqtapata, an Inca site offering a sneak peek of Machu Picchu across the valley.
• Descend to Hidroeléctrica for lunch, then stroll along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes.
• Soak in the hot springs (optional) or explore this charming town before your big day.
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Overnight: Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
  • Maximum elevation: 2,800 m / 9,186 feet
  • Machu Picchu citadel elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 feet
  • Walking distance: 25 km / 15.53 miles
  • Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours
  • Weather: It can be hot and rainy

Meals included: B/L/D

Overnight: Aguas Calientes

• At dawn, ascend to Machu Picchu by bus.
• A 2-hour guided tour reveals its temples, terraces, and the Intihuatana sundial, all shrouded in morning mist.
• After free time to photograph the citadel, return to Cusco by train and transfer, reminiscing about this Wonder of the World.
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Elevation: 2400 m / 7872 feet
  • Walking Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
  • Walking Time: 5 hours
  • Weather: Can be hot and rainy

Meals included: B/-/-

Overnight: Cusco

• Enjoy a final breakfast before your transfer to Cusco Airport.
• Depart with a heart full of Andes highs, jungle whispers, and the indelible magic of Machu Picchu.

Meals included: B/-/-