Cusco and Salkantay Trek 9D

In the afternoon at 13:00 hours, we will start the archaeological City Tour of Cusco, in this tour we will visit the Cathedral of Cusco,  it houses a large collection of architectural works of Spanish Baroque style.

Then, we will visit the Temple of Coricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, where the Spaniards built the Church of Santo Domingo over one of the most important Inca Sacred enclosures.

After this, we’ll leave the city to go to four archaeological sites, such as Sacsayhuaman, where the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) the most popular celebration of Cusco, is recreated every June 24th, then we will visit Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Pukapukara (famous Inca Baths).

The tour ends at approximately 6:30 pm.

At 08:00 h in the morning, is the departure from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, we´ll go along the famous Vilcanota River, better known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way, we will stop to have explanations from our guide about the Inca sites and to observe the landscape.

The first archaeological site to visit is Pisac, with its huge Inca terraces for agriculture, the extensive constructions over the valley such as temples, houses, altars, etc., and then we go ahead to the traditional market (only on market days), there you will have some free time to interact with local artisans, or to buy handmade souvenirs and handycraft in general.

Then we continue to the Inkary Museum, where you will learn about the amazing history of the most important cultures of Peru, here you can appreciate life-size models and mannequins of pre-Inca cultures such as: Caral, Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Mochica, Lambayeque and Chimu. Then we visit this Inkary museun just with private gropus, but in shared service we go directly to Urubamba for lunch.

After lunch, we head to Ollantaytambo, well known as the Museum town , the Inca city with remarkable canals, stone streets, where the Inca architecture is still preserved. We visit the incredible temples with huge blocks.

Finally, we will back to Cusco and transfer to your hotel, then prepare for the next day Hike.

Our team will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Cusco. Then, we’ll go on a two hours trip in our private transport to Mollepata village. Here we will have a brief stop so you can buy some last-minute supplies, if needed.

We will then drive you to Soraypampa (3930m-12,849 ft). This is the trailhead to hike the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. After enjoying a healthy Andean breakfast, our guide will give you a briefing about safety along the trekking.  After this, we are ready to start hiking our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.

We start hiking for about an hour and a half to the Humantay glacial lake (4230m / 13,878 ft) Our tour guide will be giving you a detailed explanation about this hidden gem up in the Andes. You will discover its prominence in the Andean mythology. Once you have appreciated the views of this Andean jewel, we hike back to our campsite in Soraypampa, to have a   delicious Andean lunch.

Now, you will have some time to relax and unwind before to start hiking up the hill for about two hours to our base camp, Salkantay Pampa at (4200m / 13,780 ft).

As you arrive to the campsite, our team will serve a hot cup of coca leave tea. Normally, here we have a clear sky so  it’s going to be easy to see the formation of Andean Galaxy, our travel expert will be sharing some stories about this before you retire to rest in your respective tents.

As you wake up, before breakfast, our crew will serve you a hot cup of coca tea or Peruvian coffee, then we’ll have a typical Andean breakfast before starting the most challenging part of the five days Salkantay Trekking experience.

We will hike up the hill for about two hours to the highest point of the trekking, Salkantay Pass at 4600 meters (15091ft).  Here you’ll have a panoramic view of the Peruvian Andes and you will get a closer view of the Salkantay Lagoon which nestles on the foothill of the mighty Salkantay Peak (6240m / 20,472ft). In 2020, this caused a major avalanche and destroyed a part of the trail and the villages in the region.

After contemplating the views from here, we will hike down the hill to Huayracpunku, to have lunch. You will then have some time to wink a nap.

This region is home for different wildlife like Chinchillas, Mountain Cara Cara Falcons and more.

Now, it is time to start a gradual three hours descending to Chaullay, to take a local van to our second campsite Llucmabamba located at (2000 m/6561 ft) amidst the cloud forest. Our crew will be assisting you with a proper accommodation in your tent in our exclusive campsite.

Then, we’ll be serving a hot cup of coffee or tea followed by a traditional Andean meal for dinner.

Our crew will be waking you up to a cup of tea or coffee followed by a traditional breakfast. The third day of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu will take you through the cloud forest, here you will mostly be experiencing a warmer temperature.

After Breakfast, we will visit a local coffee farm. The coffee farmer would demonstrate the entire process from planting coffee seeds to roasting and brewing them.

Then, we will step on the original Inca Trail or Qhapaq ñan for a three hours hike to the beautiful campsite of Llactapata, amidst the cloud forest. Llactapata is a small and ancient town at 2720 meters (8924 ft.) above sea level. Here we will have lunch, dinner and you’ll have the afternoon free.

From this place, you will also get a stunning view of Machu Picchu at a distance. After enjoying a traditional dinner, we will overnight here, in Llactapata

Our crew will be waking you up to a freshly brewed cup of coca tea or coffee. After relishing a typical Andean breakfast with a stunning view of Machu Picchu citadel, we start our Salkantay trek to Machu picchu with a downhill hike to the Hydroelectric power Plant.

This is a 2-hours easy hike with views of waterfalls, mountains, and wildlife as parrots.

Once in Hydroelectric station, our team is in charge to serve you a delicious lunch. Then, we will bid goodbye to our support crew.

The last stage of our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu will take a three hours hike going along the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes town. This is the jump off point to Machu Picchu.

On this part of the trek, you will be retracing the footsteps of the well-known American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu.

When arriving to Aguas Calientes town, we will accommodate you in an ensuite hotel room. Later, in the evening we meet you for dinner at a local restaurant. Our tour guide will give you a briefing about the following day’s itinerary.

Aguas Calientes town gets its name after the Hot Springs. You can spend the evening relaxing in the thermal waters here.

After enjoying a typical breakfast, we will be visiting a local family house. They will demonstrate their skills in spinning and weaving. You can also buy some items as souvenirs if you wish.

We will then commence our last descent to Huaran. It is a four hours hike along the valley beside the river. You will get to see different Llamas and Alpacas along the way. We will also be passing through potatoes and fava beans farms. The farmers will be happy to demonstrate their farming skills here.

Once in Huaran, our chef will serve a traditional local meal called Pachamanca for lunch. Pachamanca is a traditional Andean meal baked with the aid of hot stones. The earthen oven is called Huatia.

After lunch, we will bid goodbye to our support team. We will then begin our trip in our private transport to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This was the former administrative capital of the Incas.

Ollantaytambo is also a “living Inca town”. Here you will witness the advancement of the Inca’s town planning and our guide will be giving you a tour.

After having an Andean meal for dinner here, we will be boarding the train to Aguas Calientes town where we will be accommodating you in an ensuite hotel room for the night.

The team will be at the hotel two hours before the departure of the flight to take you from the hotel to the airport, to go back to Lima.

Here, our service and your visit to the marvelous City of Cusco finishes!