Luxury Salkantay Trek 6 days

The Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort offers a new trekking experience, trekking from lodge to lodge along this spectacular route. Guests enjoy top class “Andean Energetic Cuisine” and cosy rooms with all the modern comforts including heating and hot showers. Each lodge has been carefully designed and built in accordance with the local environment.

Day 1 -  Cusco to Soraypampa

We leave Cusco early this morning in private transport. Along the way we will stop at the inca ruins of Tarawasi before continuing to Mollepata where we will have a short break. From here we take the road up to Marcocasa where we begin walking. We follow an old inca route which gently climbs up to the Soraypampa where we check into the Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort. You will have some free time to relax before aperitifs around the fireplace, then dinner.

Day 2 - In Soraypampa

Today you can choose to relax at the lodge, or if you are already feeling well acclimatised you can join our guide for an afternoon hike up to a glacial lake. The outdoor Jacuzzi is the perfect way to relax before we take dinner. This evening our guide will provide information on the itinerary for the next 4 days.

Day 3 - Soraypampa to Wayra Lodge at Huayraccmahay

This is the toughest day’s trekking. We leave early, heading up the Rio Blanco valley and up over the highest point on our trek, at 4600m. We pause here to take in the surrounding views of Salcantay and the Vilcabamba range, and maybe a Condor if we are lucky! We continue downwards, stopping for a hot lunch along the way before reaching the Wayra Lodge where we have dinner and stay the night.

Day 4 - Huayraccmachay to Colpa Lodge

We enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge this morning before beginning the descent towards the Salkantay river. As we descend the climate and flora change, becoming increasingly warmer and greener. We arrive at Colpa lodge in time for lunch, you may get the chance to try the traditional Pachamanca, wherby food is cooked underground using hot stones. The Colpa lodge is at 2800m and is in a very picturesque setting at the confluence of three rivers surrounded by lush green mountains. You have time this afternoon to relax in these beautiful surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5 - Collpapampa to Lucma Lodge at Lucmabamba

After an early breakfast this morning we head down through the Santa Teresa River valley. This is a coffee growing area which produces some of the world’s best organic coffee as well as bananas and granadilla fruits. We take a picnic lunch alongside the river, then after another hour’s easy trekking we meet our support vehicle. We drive a short distance to the head of the Llactapata trail from where we head up for about 30 minutes to the Lucma lodge, set in an Avocado orchard at 2100m. You have time to explore the local village before dinner. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 6 - Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes

After a hearty breakfast we set out on our last day of trekking. Our trail takes us uphill for 2 - 3 hours to the Llactapata pass at 2700m. From here we get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu from an angle which few visitors to the site ever see. We take lunch here and explore the small inca site of Llactapata before beginning the descent through bamboo forests to the valley floor. We then take a scenic 30 minute train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes at 1900m. Overnight hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Day 7 - Machu Picchu, Return to Cusco

We make an early start today to take a bus up to Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive. Our guide will take us on a 2 hour tour of the site, afterwards you will have plenty of free time for your own exploring, or perhaps a hike up to the sun gate or Huayna Picchu. Later in the afternoon we take the train to Ollantaytambo, from where our private transport will take us back to Cusco.