This unforgettable experience combines the exhilaration of a 50 km trek in the towering Peruvian Andes with the comfort and delights of lovely mountain lodges. In contrast to the traditional Inca Trail, in which you sleep in tents, here you are pampered in lodges with comfortable rooms, hot showers and even heated, outdoor Jacuzzis!
All four lodges have been designed and built in accordance with traditional building techniques, using Inca architectural & mythological concepts, and with great respect for the environment. The Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort has 12 private, double, twin or triple rooms with private bathroom facilities. Each Trekker’s Lodge (Wayra, Collpa, Lucma) has 6 private double, twin or triple rooms.
Rooms can accommodate up to three people. Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort, Wayra Lodge and Colpa Lodge have an outdoor hot tub, and every lodge has hot water for showers.
Itinerary
DAY 1
CUSCO to SALKANTAY LODGE (3,800 m/12,500 ft).
After an early breakfast, guests will be picked up from their hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am by an MLP guide and vehicle, and they will be taken to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR) in Soraypampa. You can take a short break en-route to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, you pass through the mountain village of Mollepata, where you can stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle).
This is the start of the trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the "Camino Real" (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for guests to acclimatise and enjoy a mild & beautiful 4 hour trek on their first day. (Hiking level: moderate). (Guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge in the vehicle).
The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley – the "Salkantay", the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,600 ft (6,270 m), the highest in the region.
After a warm welcome by the friendly staff, the guests are shown to their rooms and have time to wash. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude. An evening briefing by the fireplace is followed by aperitifs and dinner.
Note.- Lunch on DAY 1 is a packed lunch.
DAY 2
SORAYPAMPA
This day is spent at leisure for rest or activities, depending upon guests’ level of acclimatisation. The most popular activity at Soraypampa is a half-day hike (3-4 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging) to a glacial lake where the more adventurous might take a very short swim! This activity is excellent for acclimatisation, and a first immersion into high-mountain trekking. In the afternoon, guests may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. In the evening, the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the next four days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken at the Lodge.
DAY 3
SORAYPAMPA to WAYRA LODGE (3,850m/12,600 ft).
This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu. After an early start you hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from the Salkantay. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,600 m (15,000 ft). At the pass the party will stop to enjoy views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, and the south face of Salkantay towering above. Andean condors are often visible in this area. From the pass you continue down towards the Wayra Lodge (“Wayra” means wind; or rather, ‘the place where the wind lives’) . A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight is spent at the Lodge.
(Hiking time: 4-6 hours. Total excursion time for day: 5-7 hours. Hiking level: challenging with a 15,000ft mountain pass).
DAY 4
HUAYRACCMACHAY to COLPA LODGE (2,800m/9,200 ft).
Following the long first day, guests enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. The trek then begins by hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. On arrival at the next lodge enjoy a “Pachamanca”-style lunch (subject to availability; traditional underground stone cooking). The Colpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor hot tub in this lodge has fantastic views of lush green mountains and a small, far-away, local town. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
(Hiking time: 3-4 hours. Hiking level: easy to moderate).
DAY 5
COLLPAPAMPA to LUCMA LODGE (2,100m/6,900 ft).
After an early breakfast we head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas with coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world!), bananas, ‘granadillas’, and orchards. We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. After another hour of trekking a private vehicle arrives to take us to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” (30-minute drive). From the head of the trail it is a short climb (30 min.) to the Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the small village of Lucmabamba and possible meeting with members of the local community. (Hiking time: 5-6 hours. Total excursion time for day: 6-8 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging, basically due to distance, not terrain).
DAY 6
LUCMABAMBA to AGUAS CALIENTES (1,900 m/6,200 ft).
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, you tackle the last day of the trek. Head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata pass (2,700 m/8,900ft), to find a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse. An added experience of this day is the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. Then begin the final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hour descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short (30 minutes), scenic train ride away. (Total hiking time: 4-6 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging). Arrive in Aguas Calientes to check-in to your hotel for the night.
DAY 7
Machu Picchu (2,450m/8,000 ft) to Cusco
Wake up early for breakfast at the hotel before heading to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min). A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu is provided (2 hours). Guests have about 4 further hours to explore the site on their own (there is a lot to do and see). Afterwards, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure. The train goes to Ollantaytambo (1½ hrs), where a private vehicle will meet and greet for the final leg back to Cusco (1 ½ hrs).
Rooms can accommodate up to three people. Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort, Wayra Lodge and Colpa Lodge have an outdoor hot tub, and every lodge has hot water for showers.
Itinerary
DAY 1
CUSCO to SALKANTAY LODGE (3,800 m/12,500 ft).
After an early breakfast, guests will be picked up from their hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am by an MLP guide and vehicle, and they will be taken to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR) in Soraypampa. You can take a short break en-route to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, you pass through the mountain village of Mollepata, where you can stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle).
This is the start of the trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the "Camino Real" (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for guests to acclimatise and enjoy a mild & beautiful 4 hour trek on their first day. (Hiking level: moderate). (Guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge in the vehicle).
The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley – the "Salkantay", the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,600 ft (6,270 m), the highest in the region.
After a warm welcome by the friendly staff, the guests are shown to their rooms and have time to wash. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude. An evening briefing by the fireplace is followed by aperitifs and dinner.
Note.- Lunch on DAY 1 is a packed lunch.
DAY 2
SORAYPAMPA
This day is spent at leisure for rest or activities, depending upon guests’ level of acclimatisation. The most popular activity at Soraypampa is a half-day hike (3-4 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging) to a glacial lake where the more adventurous might take a very short swim! This activity is excellent for acclimatisation, and a first immersion into high-mountain trekking. In the afternoon, guests may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. In the evening, the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the next four days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken at the Lodge.
DAY 3
SORAYPAMPA to WAYRA LODGE (3,850m/12,600 ft).
This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu. After an early start you hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from the Salkantay. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,600 m (15,000 ft). At the pass the party will stop to enjoy views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, and the south face of Salkantay towering above. Andean condors are often visible in this area. From the pass you continue down towards the Wayra Lodge (“Wayra” means wind; or rather, ‘the place where the wind lives’) . A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight is spent at the Lodge.
(Hiking time: 4-6 hours. Total excursion time for day: 5-7 hours. Hiking level: challenging with a 15,000ft mountain pass).
DAY 4
HUAYRACCMACHAY to COLPA LODGE (2,800m/9,200 ft).
Following the long first day, guests enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. The trek then begins by hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. On arrival at the next lodge enjoy a “Pachamanca”-style lunch (subject to availability; traditional underground stone cooking). The Colpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor hot tub in this lodge has fantastic views of lush green mountains and a small, far-away, local town. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
(Hiking time: 3-4 hours. Hiking level: easy to moderate).
DAY 5
COLLPAPAMPA to LUCMA LODGE (2,100m/6,900 ft).
After an early breakfast we head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas with coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world!), bananas, ‘granadillas’, and orchards. We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. After another hour of trekking a private vehicle arrives to take us to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” (30-minute drive). From the head of the trail it is a short climb (30 min.) to the Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the small village of Lucmabamba and possible meeting with members of the local community. (Hiking time: 5-6 hours. Total excursion time for day: 6-8 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging, basically due to distance, not terrain).
DAY 6
LUCMABAMBA to AGUAS CALIENTES (1,900 m/6,200 ft).
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, you tackle the last day of the trek. Head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata pass (2,700 m/8,900ft), to find a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse. An added experience of this day is the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. Then begin the final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hour descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short (30 minutes), scenic train ride away. (Total hiking time: 4-6 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging). Arrive in Aguas Calientes to check-in to your hotel for the night.
DAY 7
Machu Picchu (2,450m/8,000 ft) to Cusco
Wake up early for breakfast at the hotel before heading to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min). A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu is provided (2 hours). Guests have about 4 further hours to explore the site on their own (there is a lot to do and see). Afterwards, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure. The train goes to Ollantaytambo (1½ hrs), where a private vehicle will meet and greet for the final leg back to Cusco (1 ½ hrs).
