Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Peru Machu Picchu & Salkantay Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking
Day 1 Arrive in Cusco
Meet your MT Sobek representative at the airport in Cusco and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an early afternoon guided walk through the enchanting former capital of the Inca Empire, taking in its ornate cathedrals, adobe walls, carved balconies, hidden courtyards, and cobblestone streets. Also stroll around the central square, where artisans display many fine Quechuan handicrafts. This evening, gather for a a pre-trek orientation, followed by a welcome dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in town.
Accommodation: Palacio del Inka
(D)
Day 2 Journey to Salkantay Lodge
3-hour private van transfer
2.5 hours/4 miles hiking with 1,200’ elevation gain
After an early breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco. The first stop is a visit to the Quillarumiyoc archaeological site en route to the mountain village of Mollepata. Enjoy lunch at El Pedregal, a beautiful farmhouse in the village, where you will also have the opportunity to learn about local agriculture and livestock. After lunch comes a scenic ride on a winding mountain road to Challacancha. Here you will begin your hike along a picturesque path called the "Camino Real" (Royal Path), to the Salkantay Lodge at Soraypampa. Note: Although we highly recommend participating in the hike as part of your continued altitude acclimatization, those who prefer to continue in the van to the lodge are welcome to do so.
Accommodation: Salkantay Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Hike to Humantay Lake
4 hours/3.8 miles hiking with 1,430’ elevation gain and loss
After breakfast, begin an invigorating morning hike, following a trail that ascends steeply to Humantay Lake, at 13,780 ft above sea level. As you ascend, marvel at ever-closer views of the high Vilcabamba Range, capped by the Salkantay and Humantay peaks. An hour and a half later, your hard work will be rewarded with a first glimpse of the lake's glistening turquoise waters and the Humantay glacier looming overhead. Upon arrival, you will have a chance to relax, enjoy a snack, and enjoy the tranquility of this magical spot, and participate in a traditional ceremony to honor "la Pachamama" (Mother Earth). After your descent back to the lodge, a hot lunch awaits you. The afternoon is at leisure to relax, enjoy a massage, or take a soothing soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi. Enjoy spectacular views of the Salkantay Peak at sunset. Meet up in the evening for a briefing and savor a hearty dinner. Note: While the morning hike to Lake Humantay is optional, we strongly recommend your participation in preparation for the strenuous hike on Day 4.
Accommodation: Salkantay Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Trek over Salkantay Pass to Wayra Lodge
7 hours/7.6 miles hiking with 2,630’ elevation gain & 2,480’ elevation loss
Today your trek towards Machu Picchu begins in earnest. Pack some hearty snacks provided by the lodge to enjoy en route, then start early on an ascent to the Salkantay Pass. You will circle Humantay Peak, gradually making your way along expansive plateaus connected by enormous boulders, remnants of the Rio Blanco Valley that was once bisected by a fast-flowing river. The last and most challenging part of the ascent is conquering the mountain switchbacks that lead you to the pass, the highest point on the trek (15,213'). Pause a moment in the thin air and take in the views of the surrounding Vilcabamba Range.The journey continues with a dramatic descent through fields of large boulders and natural stone formations often shrouded in fog, and then through rolling hills and marsh-like plateaus to the Wayra Lodge at Wayraccmachay. Enjoy a very welcome hot lunch on arrival at the lodge, where you can later wash away the trail dirt and relax in the Jacuzzi.
Accommodation: Wayra Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike in Dramatic Cloud Forest Scenery to Colpa Lodge
4 hours/5.6 miles hiking with 3,490’ elevation loss
After a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge, continue the descent toward the cloud forest along the banks of the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery down to the Collpapampa Valley. The warm air will begin to rise from the edge of the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids. Today you will see more local Andean people as the trail takes you past their homes. At approximately midday, arrive at Colpa Lodge, located on a high promontory at the confluence of three rivers. Enjoy a Pachamanca-style lunch, a traditional Peruvian meal cooked below ground with hot stones that create a natural oven. Spend the afternoon lounging in the sun or relaxing in the outdoor hot tub while you take in the panoramic views of the lush green mountains that surround you.
Accommodation: Collpa Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Follow the Santa Teresa River Valley to Lucma Lodge
6-7 hours/8-10 miles hiking with 3,350’ elevation loss and 935' elevation gain
After an early breakfast, continue downhill, hiking through the Santa Teresa River Valley along a rolling trail or road (depending on conditions) that winds past tropical fruit orchards and bisects several streams originating from glacier-fed waterfalls. At the end of the morning, meet a transport vehicle for the short drive to the bottom of the Llactapata Inca Trail steps. Take a short climb up the steps to Lucma Lodge, hidden away in a wooded tropical enclave. Enjoy lunch on arrival at the lodge. This afternoon, visit an organic coffee plantation, one of many in the area that produce some of the best organic coffees in the world. You will also begin to notice another shift in the climate; in Lucmabamba the hot air and increased humidity signal that you are even closer to the edge of the Amazon jungle.
Accommodation: Lucma Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Final Trek to Aguas Calientes with First Views of Machu Picchu
1-hour train ride
6 hours/7.5 miles hiking with 2,360’ elevation gain & 3,460’ elevation loss
Begin the final day of your trek by climbing 2-3 hours through the cloud forest up a path mostly comprised of original Inca steps. A lush tree line creates green canopies overhead and the constant sound of rushing water suggests that the river is nearby. Your first milestone today will be the top of the peak, the last one before you descend to the Aobamba River Valley that connects you to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at Llactapata Pass (8,974'), you'll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu off in the distance - a southeast view of the site that few travelers ever get to see. Continue on to Llactapata ruins, a recently rediscovered Inca fort that vegetation is starting to reclaim, before enjoying a picnic lunch at a mountain lookout point with panoramic views. Begin your final steep descent along a trail that zigzags down to the roaring Aobamba River, through lush bamboo forests, varied fruit orchards, and more coffee plantations. Celebrate as you cross the bridge over the river and take your final steps of the trek en route to the Hidroelectrica train station for a scenic, one-hour train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes, on the banks of the Urubamba River at the base of Machu Picchu.
Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Explore Machu Picchu
30-minute shared shuttle each way to Machu Picchu
3 hours guided walking tour of Machu Picchu, plus 2-3 hours/2 miles optional hiking with 1,000'-2,000' elevation gain and loss
Discover the secrets of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas," with a full-day visit. Your journey to the site begins with a rollicking uphill bus ride on a switchback road. Take your time exploring the vast city that was once at the heart of one of the world's most powerful empires. The landscape here is stunning, with orchids on the grounds and a massive cliff face known as Huayna Picchu towering overhead. Take a challenging climb up either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional and based on availability for the date) and be rewarded by breathtaking views of the citadel and the surrounding mountains. Enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, and learn the significance of the many temples, sanctuaries, and parks on a tour of the Machu Picchu citadel's three sections: the Sacred District, the Popular District, and the District of Priests and Nobility. Return to the hotel in Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon, and enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Return to Cusco
1.5-hour train ride & 1.5-hour vehicle transfer
Take the morning train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is the site of a monumental fortress that was one of the few places where the Inca Empire won a major battle against the Spanish, and the town below retains fascinating vestiges of Incan town planning. Explore both the well-preserved ruins and the town, and enjoy a special lunch before continuing by bus back to Cusco for a mid-afternoon arrival, in time to take a stroll or do some last-minute shopping. Gather for a farewell dinner in Cusco this evening.
Accommodation: Palacio del Inka
(B, L, D)
Day 10 Depart from Cusco
After breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely morning, depart on homeward-bound flights. If you're traveling on one of our late June departures, we recommend that you extend your stay to enjoy the pageantry of the spectacular Inti Raymi festival, a colorful celebration of the winter solstice. Call us for details.
Accommodation: Palacio del Inka
(B)
