7 Day Salkantay Trek: Including Inca Trail

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!  We’ll start the day bright and early, picking you up from your accommodation in Cusco at 4:30am by private transport before arriving at the starting point of your journey – Marcoccasa. Along the way, you’ll get to know the rest of your team who will accompany you every step of the way.

Your hike starts with scenic green valleys surrounded by imposing Andean mountains and then, after 3 hours of excavation, you’ll reach lunchtime. As if by magic, the ginormous sacred Humantay Glacier will suddenly appear, sure to leave you astounded. Make sure to pack some extra layers too; once you reach this point the temperature will start to drop quickly!

Finally, we’ll make it camp for the night in Soraypampa where our team welcomes you with hot drinks and a delightful dinner accompanied by stunning glaciers before heading off to sleep in Sky Camp Igloos.

We’ll give you a wake-up call early this morning with a hot cup of coca-leaf tea. After a delicious breakfast, our guide will give you a talk on the importance of mountains in Andean culture. Then, it’s time to start your 1.5 hour hike to the gorgeous Humantay Lake. This natural gem is enveloped by a snowy glacier of the same name and is still used for ritual ceremonies honoring Mother Nature – or as the Andean communities call her, Pachamama.

After lunch and a short rest at our camp in Soraypampa, we’ll continue with a slight ascent to Salkantaypampa. Here you will be faced with the impressive Salkantay Mountain. We’ll keep going for another hour to arrive at our campsite either at Ichupata (4,500m/14,764) or Japanese Pampa (4,200 m/13,779). You’ll definitely feel the cold more at this altitude, so make sure to pack enough warm clothes, including hats and gloves.

Since we’re so close to Salkantay Mountain, you might sometimes hear the thunder of avalanches in the distance. Don’t worry though, they’re far away from where we are. This is the highest campsite on our journey and nighttime temperatures can reach 0°C (32°F).

After a hot coca tea to welcome the morning and a hearty breakfast, we’ll slowly ascend to the Incachiriaska pass (5,100m/16,732). When you reach the top, enjoy a nice cup of coca tea to help you adjust to the altitude while admiring the breathtaking landscape full of deep valleys and crystalline lakes. If you’re lucky, you might even spot an majestic condor flying above. There is also an optional 30-minute walk if you want to get a closer look at the glaciers. After that we’ll start heading down.

Soon, you’ll arrive at our lunch spot, take your time to relax before moving on. This afternoon we’ll descend through beautiful Andean valleys that are so picturesque it’s worth having your camera ready. We’ll hike until we reach our camp, Canal Inca, situated in a small nearby community called Pampacahuana.

Today, you’ll feel like you have been transported back in time as you walk the traditional paths of Peruvian farmers. Observe their lifestyle and appreciate the atmosphere of these isolated regions. Later on, visit the Inca archaeological site of Paucarcancha to explore its history and advanced architecture from its time. Your guide will also show you the different changes in vegetation as you get closer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas – gradually getting warmer and more lush.

Then, enter the classic Inca Trail and have lunch. Take a short break before beginning a gradual ascent towards our camp. Keep your camera ready to capture the impressive mountains that welcome you as you enter the cloud forest. This evening, enjoy a tasty dinner before getting some well-deserved rest.

Today is the most challenging part of the Inca Trail, but you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views. After breakfast, begin a 4-hour ascent and observe how the landscape dramatically changes – leaving behind the thick vegetation and entering colder mountains. Spot lots of Andean hay called “icchu” – the main diet of many animals that live in the region. Reach 4,215 m / 13,829 at Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest part of the Inca Trail. Take some time to relax and enjoy glorious views from all around glistening glaciers who persist despite climate change.

Afterwards, descend along a cobbled path to the lunch spot, lined with exotic flowers and wild orchids. Please take great care of them as they are at risk of extinction. After lunch, climb for another 45 minutes until reaching the beautiful archaeological site of Runkuraqay. Experts believe it was a vantage point for monitoring the valley below. Take this opportunity to click some photos and imagine soaring high above the mountains like a condor. Continue for 45 more minutes until reaching Runkuraqay Pass at 3,950 m / 12,959.

Your guide will give you a brief talk at the rest point of Runkuraqay Pass before starting the 30-minute descent to Yanacocha, where rituals were performed in honor of the water spirit. Step by step, mist will cover the road as you enter the cloud forest and approach Sayacmarca archaeological site – marveling at its craftsmanship and mystery.

Don’t give up yet! 25 more minutes of walking until reaching camp in Chaquicocha. Feel the warm embrace of the Amazonian spirit and observe local flora and fauna’s diversity in this incredible place. Enjoy hearty dinner and great night’s sleep.

After yesterday’s difficult hike, today is a much easier one – starting with a delicious breakfast. Before we begin, ask permission from the beautiful Pumasillo Glacier and fill yourself with its energy. Walk a total of 5 hours today and visit three majestic archaeological sites along the way. First off, reach the Inca complex of Phuyupatamarca or “Town above the clouds”. The Inca nobles used this sacred place to communicate with the stars and study astronomy, very important part of their culture.

Afterward, you’ll descend for two-and-a-half hours to reach an agricultural experimentation station, Inpata (2,800 m / 9,186 ), with platforms to create microclimates that boost food production in the area. Get a fantastic view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Urubamba River. Finally, arrive at our lunch spot and campsite in Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m / 8,694).

After lunch, you’ll have the afternoon to relax and take a shower. Visit the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna and be amazed by its advanced architecture featuring aqueducts and temples. Listen to your knowledgeable guide as they reveal secrets of this fascinating place. End your last night with happy hour snacks and drinks, followed by dinner before saying goodbye to the team of porters and cooks who made your journey truly fantastic.

The long-awaited day has arrived! Visit one of the most energetic places on earth, Machu Picchu. Get up early for a quick breakfast before starting a 2-hour walk to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

After an hour of walking, you’ll reach the Sun Gate and get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the middle of the mountains. Wonder at how this remarkable site was constructed on nearly inaccessible land and take in the gorgeous spectacle of sunrise illuminating it. The last stretch is 1-hour downhill and seeing this ancient site in all its glory will stay with you forever.

Once you enter to Machu Picchu, enjoy a 2-hour guided tour and delve deeper into the citadel’s secrets. Be amazed at the incredible architecture and how some fountains and aqueducts continue to function centuries after they were built. If you have prebooked tickets, opt for a challenging hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for an incredible panoramic view of Machu Picchu. Afterwards, catch a bus to the small town of Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch in one of it’s restaurants. Make sure you’re at least thirty minutes early at the train station when it’s time to leave, usually Expeditions class trains leave earlier than other classes.