Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Salkantaypampa
We leave the hotel in Cusco after breakfast and drive for two hours along the Cusco-Lima highway to the town of Limatambo. Here we visit the Inca archaeological complex of Tarawasi which shows impressive walls constructed with fine architecture. From here we continue along an unpaved road driving uphill towards Soraypampa (12606 ft / 3820 m), the starting point of our hike.
In the afternoon we walk for an hour and a half uphill along a path with spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains Humantay (19477 ft / 5902 m) and Salkantay (20700 ft / 6271 m) to Salkantaypampa (14256 ft / 3900 m) which is our camp.

Day 2: Salkantaypampa – Sisaypampa
We start hiking early in the morning along a fairly steep path for four hours to the mountain pass of Incachiriasca (16500 ft / 5000 m) which is the highest mountain pass along the route. From the pass we will appreciate the immensity of Salkantay and understand why The Incas worshiped and offered gifts to the impressive mountain. From there the path descends for two and a half hours to our campsite in Sisaypampa (13530 ft / 4100 m) camp from which you will get magnificent views of the Salkantay.

Day 3: Sisaypampa – Paucarcancha
Today we walk downhill for five hours along the streams created by the melting of the Salkantay glacier. On the way we may see wild birds, herds of llamas, alpacas and sheep. We will also walk through small farming communities stopping en route in one of the houses to learn about the lifestyle of the farmers. In Pampacahuana (12540 ft / 3800 m) we will find an original Inca canal running through the valley about three hundred meters long. After lunch we descend further until we reach Paucarcancha (10395 ft / 3150 m), a small but impressive Inca complex which is the starting point of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our campsite is close to the archaeological site so we can spend part of the afternoon exploring the Inca ruins. At this point in the trek we will say goodbye to our horses as they are not allowed on the Inca trail and we say hello to our new porters.

Day 4: Paucarcancha (Incarakay) – Llulluchapampa
We walk for three hours along a path full of vegetation down to Wayllabamba (9900 ft / 3000 m) which is along the Inca Trail to Machupicchu. We continue across walking uphill for three more hours over the mountains to Llulluchapampa, passing potato and maize plantations in the Sierra, through the green and humid Cloud Forest, to the cold Puna region in the mountains where we will get spectacular views of Mount Huayanay (117160 ft / 5200 m). Our camp will be in Llulluchapampa (12210 ft / 3700 m)

Day 5: Llulluchapampa – Chaquiqocha
We start the day hiking uphill for one and a half hours to the Dead Woman’s Pass (13860 ft / 4200 m) which is the second highest point of the route. From there we descend to Pacaymayo river valley where we have lunch. In the afternoon the trail goes uphill until we reach the third pass located at (13100 ft / 3970 m). Here we will have impressive views of the Pumasillo snow capped mountain which is located in the same mountain range as Salcantay. Next we hike along a paved Inca highway for one hour to Sayacmarca which is a beautiful city built at the base of the mountain and is accessed via a stone staircase and overlooks the Aobamaba river valley.
From here our campsite is only half an hour away hiking through the cloud forest to Chaquiqocha (11880 ft / 3600 m).

Day 6: Chaquiqocha – Wiñaywayna
This is the easiest day in our journey because we arrive at our campsite for lunch and will have the afternoon free to rest before reaching our destination of Machu Picchu the following day. The trail is very smooth as we hike uphill for an hour and a half until the pass of Phuyupatamarca where we will visit an archaeological site located five minutes away from the pass. Then the paved stone trail drops down for two hours towards Wiñaywayna (8910 ft / 2700 m) where we have lunch and camp. In the afternoon it is possible to visit the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna located only five minutes from the camp, this a highly recommended visit because it is the most beautiful and complete of all the previous archaeological sites that we have visited along the way.

Day 7: Wiñaywayna – Machupicchu – Cusco
Today we arrive to our destination. The day starts very early in the morning as we walk for two hours to reach Machu Picchu for sunrise. We will hike through a forested trail until we reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) from where we will get our first glimpse of this wonderful city. If the sky is overcast when we arrive at the sun gate, don’t be disappointed because the traditional picture of Machu Picchu is taken from the guard house which is located lower down in the same city.

Upon arrival we will go to the control point before having a complete guided tour in Machu Picchu. After the tour you will have free time to enjoy Machu Picchu before taking the bus down towards the village of Aguas Calientes. From here we will take the train to Ollantaytambo located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where a bus will be waiting to transport us to Cusco.