DAY 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
We pick you up from your hotel and leave Cusco very early in the morning, heading toward Mollepata. You arrive at around 8:30 a.m., where you will have breakfast. There are minimarkets and restrooms in town in case you would like to buy something or use the facilities.
You then continue by vehicle for about 40 minutes to the lodge in Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). After settling into your cabin, you begin an approximately 1 hour and 30-minute hike up to Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), located at the foot of the glacier, with views of Salkantay.
You hike back down to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you can relax and take photos of the valley and the snow-capped mountains.
Dinner and overnight stay in Soraypampa.
- Meals: breakfast (in Mollepata, after 8:30 a.m.), lunch, and dinner
- Hiking distance: 4 to 5 km / 2.5 to 3.1 miles (round trip to the lake)
- Starting elevation: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
- Maximum elevation: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
- Accommodation: cabins in Soraypampa
- Difficulty: moderate (the altitude makes it feel more challenging than the distance itself)
DAY 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Wayracpunku – Chaullay – Loreta La Playa
(Domes in Loreta La Playa)
After breakfast, the most challenging day of the trek begins. You leave Soraypampa and hike through Pampa Salkantay, with the snow-capped mountain in front of you throughout the morning. You ascend along the side of the Humantay Glacier, next to Salkantay.
Around midday, you reach the highest point of the trek: Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). From there, you can enjoy views of the glaciers. You take a short break and have lunch in Huayracmachay.
In the afternoon, you descend for about 4 hours through the cloud forest until you reach Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), at approximately 4:00 p.m. From there, you take a vehicle to Loreta La Playa, arriving at around 5:00 p.m.
Dinner and overnight stay in the domes.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Hiking distance: 22 km / 13.7 mi
- Starting elevation: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
- Maximum elevation: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
- Accommodation: domes in Loreta La Playa
- Difficulty: challenging
DAY 03: La Playa – Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric Station – Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, we will take a short hike toward the lower Salkantay River area to visit a coffee plantation located near our Majestic Ecolodge. There, we will learn about coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing, followed by a coffee tasting. Along the way, we will pass plantations of coca, coffee, tea, bananas, passion fruit, avocados, and papayas.
After the visit, we will return to the Majestic Ecolodge at around 11:00 a.m., where you will have some time to rest. Lunch will be served in the ecolodge dining area.
After lunch, we will board our vehicle and travel for approximately 90 minutes, passing through Santa Teresa, until we reach the Hydroelectric Station (1,900 m / 6,234 ft). From there, we will begin a hike of approximately 10 km / 6.21 mi, following the railroad tracks and the Urubamba River. The route is mostly flat and passes through the high jungle, with dense vegetation, bridges, the sound of the river, and, depending on the season, small waterfalls. We will also pass through the Mandor area, known for its forest, birds, and plants.
In the afternoon, after a 2.5 to 3-hour hike, we will arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), where we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel. Dinner will be served at a tourist restaurant.
Overnight: hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Hiking distance: 10 km / 6.21 mi (Hydroelectric Station – Aguas Calientes)
- Starting elevation: 1,900 m / 6,234 ft
- Maximum elevation: 2,040 m / 6,692 ft
- Accommodation: comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,692 ft)
- Difficulty: moderate
DAY 04: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Tour – Cusco
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the bus station in Aguas Calientes and board the bus up to the Machu Picchu citadel. The uphill ride takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes along Hiram Bingham Road, a winding route that climbs from the town (2,040 m / 6,692 ft) to the entrance of Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972 ft), with views of the Urubamba River and the surrounding forest-covered mountains.
Those who prefer may hike up the stairs to Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, or hike back down after the visit. Both options are completely optional.
Once inside the citadel, the guided tour will begin and will last approximately 2 to 3 hours. The areas visited depend on the circuit assigned with your entrance ticket. On the classic circuit, you will usually see the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, and other important areas.
After the guided tour, there will be some free time within the schedule and route permitted by your assigned circuit. Those who wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain must have reserved their ticket in advance; these require a separate entrance ticket and an additional fee.
After the visit, we will return to Aguas Calientes by bus, or on foot if you choose that option. Lunch will be at the traveler’s own expense at a local restaurant recommended by the guide. In the afternoon, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, private transportation will take us back to Cusco and drop us off at the hotel.
End of our services.
- Meals: breakfast
- Optional: hike up or down
- Hiking distance: varies depending on the Machu Picchu circuit, plus the additional hike only if you choose that option
- Elevation of Aguas Calientes: 2,040 m / 6,692 ft
- Elevation of Machu Picchu: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
- Transportation: bus to Machu Picchu, train to Ollantaytambo, and private vehicle back to Cusco
- Difficulty: easy (moderate only if you choose to hike up or down)