After visiting Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, spend four glorious days trekking the tranquil Salkantay trail through mountain vistas and cloud forest to Machu Picchu Town before exploring the Inca’s sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Our Salkantay Trek Journey itinerary includes visits to all key sites of central Peru.
Day 1Welcome to Lima
Day 2Tour of Lima and other famous sites
Day 3Fly to Cusco and explore the Inca city
Day 4Full day tour of the Sacred Valley
Day 5Salkantay trek to Salcantaypampa
Day 6Salkantay trek to Qollpapampa
Day 7Salkantay trek to Lucmachayoc
Day 8Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu town
Day 9Second day at Machu Picchu
Day 10Morning free before flight to Lima
Day 1 - Lima
Lima Arrival after 3pm
Welcome to Lima! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in the beautiful area of Miraflores. If time permits, venture out and begin to explore Peru's amazing culture and cuisine.
Casa Andina Miraflores or similar
Day 2 - Lima
Rise for breakfast and a morning guided tour of colonial and modern Lima. After lunch, explore the Inca culture at the Larco Museum followed by a visit to a Peruvian tavern for a glass of Pisco Sour and local petite bouchées.
Casa Andina Miraflores or similar
Breakfast
Day 3 - Lima / Cusco
Lima to Cusco - Fly before 9am
Early flight to Cusco (11,152 ft). Welcome upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. During the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Cusco with its ancient cathedrals and amazingly crafted Inca walls. You will also visit the ruins at Kenko, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, and Saqsaywaman.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast
DAY 4 - Cusco (Sacred Valley)
Today we will explore the Sacred Valley (9,350 ft) and experience the rich colors of its traditional towns and ruins. Our first stop after a scenic drive will be Pisac's colorful market a great opportunity to practice your bargaining skills! After lunch, we will tour the town of Ollantaytambo and visit the site of the beautiful rose-colored stone ruins where the Incas fought the Spaniards. The serenity and quaintness of the town will allow you to relax and transition into the Incas magical world.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 5 - Cusco / Salkantay (Hike 1)
8.1 miles (6-7 hrs) Elev. Gain: +4,100 ft
Early drive to the village of Mollepata, an Indian village perfect for growing citrus due to its subtropical altitude (9,196 ft.). If time permits, visit the Incan archaeological site of Limatambo (Tarawasi). Next, begin the trek to Cruzpata, a spectacular location overlooking the deep valley of the Rio Apurimac. After lunch, begin a slow ascent to camp at Salcantaypampa near the tiny settlement of Soraypampa. Enjoy great views of Humantay (19,400 ft.) and the majestic Salkantay mountain range. The campsite is at 13,100ft., with possible nighttime temperatures of 32 F.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6 - Salkantay (Hike 2)
13.7 miles (9-10 hrs) Elev. Gain: +2,430 ft
After an early breakfast, start trekking at around 6:00 AM. The hike will take you close to the glacier moraine of Salkantay (14,750 ft.). Then, descend to Huarachmachay for lunch. This portion of the hike features some of the original Inca Trail cobbled-stone paths. Arrive to the campsite at Qollpapampa in the afternoon.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7 - Salkantay (Hike 3)
9.9 miles (5-6 hrs) Mostly Downhill
Today, you will descend through a narrow path toward the banks of the River Cachora. Be sure to notice the changes in vegetation in conjunction with the change in altitude. You will have an opportunity to observe small pools of thermal waters, gorgeous scenery, and a triple-cascade waterfall. Lunch will be served once you arrive at the "Playa site." After lunch, continue the trek close to the banks of the river. To end the day, you will pass Sahuayaco, a small village of about 20 families before arriving at the campsite in Lucmachayoc.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8 - Salkantay (Hike 4)
11.8 miles (6-7 hrs) Elev. Gain: +1,440 ft
Your hike today begins at around 7:30 AM. While descending you will pass close to Llactapata, the last ruins on the trail. The terraces provide a beautiful spot for a break from hiking. From this point, you can see Machu Picchu in the distance. Continue hiking close to the banks of the Aobamba River, then enjoy a hearty lunch before saying goodbye to our porters. After lunch, start the hike towards the town of Aguas Calientes, situated at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu is located.
Ferré Machu Picchu or similar
Breakfast
Day 9 - Machu Picchu / Cusco
Machu Picchu to Cusco Train
Early in the morning you will enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu. After the tour, you can go back to your favorite spot in the sanctuary or climb Huayna Picchu. If passes for Huayna Picchu are not available, you can climb Machu Picchu mountain instead. You will return to Cusco by train in the afternoon.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast
Day 10 - Cusco / Lima
Cusco to Lima - Fly anytime
Enjoy an early morning walk in Cusco before your departure to Lima or continue on one of our extensions.
Breakfast
Bon Voyage!
Important Notice: Actual day-by-day itineraries may vary from those shown in order to take advantage of local sightseeing options, trains or flight schedule changes, or other unforeseen events.
Train to or from Machu Picchu: May to December: trains between Cusco and Machu Picchu depart from Poroy station (about 20 minutes from downtown Cusco). Between January and April, trains depart from Pachar station, about 1.5 hours from Cusco. Transfers are included for both options and total travel time is about the same.
Day 1Welcome to Lima
Day 2Tour of Lima and other famous sites
Day 3Fly to Cusco and explore the Inca city
Day 4Full day tour of the Sacred Valley
Day 5Salkantay trek to Salcantaypampa
Day 6Salkantay trek to Qollpapampa
Day 7Salkantay trek to Lucmachayoc
Day 8Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu town
Day 9Second day at Machu Picchu
Day 10Morning free before flight to Lima
Day 1 - Lima
Lima Arrival after 3pm
Welcome to Lima! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in the beautiful area of Miraflores. If time permits, venture out and begin to explore Peru's amazing culture and cuisine.
Casa Andina Miraflores or similar
Day 2 - Lima
Rise for breakfast and a morning guided tour of colonial and modern Lima. After lunch, explore the Inca culture at the Larco Museum followed by a visit to a Peruvian tavern for a glass of Pisco Sour and local petite bouchées.
Casa Andina Miraflores or similar
Breakfast
Day 3 - Lima / Cusco
Lima to Cusco - Fly before 9am
Early flight to Cusco (11,152 ft). Welcome upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. During the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Cusco with its ancient cathedrals and amazingly crafted Inca walls. You will also visit the ruins at Kenko, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, and Saqsaywaman.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast
DAY 4 - Cusco (Sacred Valley)
Today we will explore the Sacred Valley (9,350 ft) and experience the rich colors of its traditional towns and ruins. Our first stop after a scenic drive will be Pisac's colorful market a great opportunity to practice your bargaining skills! After lunch, we will tour the town of Ollantaytambo and visit the site of the beautiful rose-colored stone ruins where the Incas fought the Spaniards. The serenity and quaintness of the town will allow you to relax and transition into the Incas magical world.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 5 - Cusco / Salkantay (Hike 1)
8.1 miles (6-7 hrs) Elev. Gain: +4,100 ft
Early drive to the village of Mollepata, an Indian village perfect for growing citrus due to its subtropical altitude (9,196 ft.). If time permits, visit the Incan archaeological site of Limatambo (Tarawasi). Next, begin the trek to Cruzpata, a spectacular location overlooking the deep valley of the Rio Apurimac. After lunch, begin a slow ascent to camp at Salcantaypampa near the tiny settlement of Soraypampa. Enjoy great views of Humantay (19,400 ft.) and the majestic Salkantay mountain range. The campsite is at 13,100ft., with possible nighttime temperatures of 32 F.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6 - Salkantay (Hike 2)
13.7 miles (9-10 hrs) Elev. Gain: +2,430 ft
After an early breakfast, start trekking at around 6:00 AM. The hike will take you close to the glacier moraine of Salkantay (14,750 ft.). Then, descend to Huarachmachay for lunch. This portion of the hike features some of the original Inca Trail cobbled-stone paths. Arrive to the campsite at Qollpapampa in the afternoon.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7 - Salkantay (Hike 3)
9.9 miles (5-6 hrs) Mostly Downhill
Today, you will descend through a narrow path toward the banks of the River Cachora. Be sure to notice the changes in vegetation in conjunction with the change in altitude. You will have an opportunity to observe small pools of thermal waters, gorgeous scenery, and a triple-cascade waterfall. Lunch will be served once you arrive at the "Playa site." After lunch, continue the trek close to the banks of the river. To end the day, you will pass Sahuayaco, a small village of about 20 families before arriving at the campsite in Lucmachayoc.
Campsite
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8 - Salkantay (Hike 4)
11.8 miles (6-7 hrs) Elev. Gain: +1,440 ft
Your hike today begins at around 7:30 AM. While descending you will pass close to Llactapata, the last ruins on the trail. The terraces provide a beautiful spot for a break from hiking. From this point, you can see Machu Picchu in the distance. Continue hiking close to the banks of the Aobamba River, then enjoy a hearty lunch before saying goodbye to our porters. After lunch, start the hike towards the town of Aguas Calientes, situated at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu is located.
Ferré Machu Picchu or similar
Breakfast
Day 9 - Machu Picchu / Cusco
Machu Picchu to Cusco Train
Early in the morning you will enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu. After the tour, you can go back to your favorite spot in the sanctuary or climb Huayna Picchu. If passes for Huayna Picchu are not available, you can climb Machu Picchu mountain instead. You will return to Cusco by train in the afternoon.
Casa Andina Plaza or similar
Breakfast
Day 10 - Cusco / Lima
Cusco to Lima - Fly anytime
Enjoy an early morning walk in Cusco before your departure to Lima or continue on one of our extensions.
Breakfast
Bon Voyage!
Important Notice: Actual day-by-day itineraries may vary from those shown in order to take advantage of local sightseeing options, trains or flight schedule changes, or other unforeseen events.
Train to or from Machu Picchu: May to December: trains between Cusco and Machu Picchu depart from Poroy station (about 20 minutes from downtown Cusco). Between January and April, trains depart from Pachar station, about 1.5 hours from Cusco. Transfers are included for both options and total travel time is about the same.