Complete service on the Inca Trail and with the freedom to explore the Salkantay Trek.

Cusco to Soraypampa (Humantay Lake) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 4:40 am and 5:00 am in our private car, which will take you to the Mollepata community for a 2.5-hour journey towards the start of the Salkantay Trek. In Mollepata, my family will be waiting for you at the restaurant “La Casona”, where you will meet the founder of “Refugios Salkantay”, Mercedes Sotelo, and have the option to have breakfast before starting the hike.

You will leave your big backpack with our driver, who will take it to the hostel in Soraypampa. You only need to bring the essentials for the 2-hour hike. Start of the hike:

A member of the Refugios Salkantay family will show you the start of the trail to Soraypampa (7 km - 4.35 miles) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. The first part of the hike ascends a zigzag trail for about 30 minutes to reach a water channel that will guide you to Soraypampa. Upon arrival at Soraypampa, the first house you will see will be Refugios Salkantay, located right by the trail. Here we will invite you to have a coca tea and show you your private room with a private bathroom, hot water shower, and clean towels.

Experience authentic Inca cuisine: We will help you prepare the pachamanca, an ancestral cooking technique that uses hot stones to cook meats and vegetables. This unique culinary experience will allow you to immerse yourself in Inca history and traditions while enjoying delicious and nutritious meals. After lunch and a short break, one of our family members will accompany you for about half an hour to show you the way to the impressive Humantay Lake (4200 m - 13779 feet) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This is a round trip hike of 5 km (3.1 miles) that will take approximately 3 hours. Humantay Lake is one of the most beautiful points of the Salkantay Trek, with its turquoise lake that reflects the surrounding glaciers and the sacred Humantay Mountain. You will also see the spectacular snow-capped peaks of the Salkantay Glacier, one of the most sacred mountains of Inca mythology. Upon return, there will be a snack and a delicious dinner waiting for you.

Soraypampa to Lucmabamba (Family Home) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Wake up to a 5:00 am coca tea alarm, followed by a delicious breakfast waiting for you in our dining room at 5:30 am. (Your main backpacks will be transported by the families of Refugios Salkantay on mules). At 6:00 am, we will start our day’s hike by scaling the highest part of the trail, the Salkantay Pass (4650 m/15255 ft). The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) on a steep ascent and will take approximately 3 hours from the base of the rocky valley to the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6271 m / 20574 ft). When we reach the summit of the pass, we will catch our breath and admire the stunning views of the surrounding valleys and towering snow-capped peaks that surround us, including the mountains Salkantay, Humantay, and Tucarhuay. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region.

If you are tired or experience any altitude symptoms, do not worry, there will always be a member of the Refugios Salkantay families nearby and they will have a horse for you to ride on the most challenging part of the trail (Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass). We also have a first aid kit and an oxygen ball. Once we have reached the highest point of the hike, we will descend for approximately 2 hours to reach the town of Huayracmachay where a delicious lunch awaits you. Along the way, you will see a small house with a large sign that says Refugios Salkantay, if you are afraid of missing it, do not worry, the local family that accompanied you to the Salkantay Pass on horseback will be waiting for you in Huayracmachay.

After a delicious lunch, we will continue our journey to Chalway, accompanied by a member of the local families who will accompany you on horseback, carrying your heavy backpacks. The hike is a picturesque descent of approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) and will take about 3 hours. This is a wide trail that passes through a heavily vegetated area with plenty of tree cover. This is an incredibly beautiful part of the trail with plenty of flora and fauna, panoramic views, and abundant wildlife, with native plants and flowers. These forests are generally quite warm and tropical for much of the year, with high temperatures at certain times of the year. We will then arrive at the town of CHALWAY (2,900 meters / 9,514 feet of elevation).

Upon arrival, our private vehicle with a member of the Refugios Salkantay families will be waiting to take us to the family home located in Lucmabamba (The House is surrounded by coffee and fruit plants) where a delicious dinner and family sharing await you. You will have a private room with a private bathroom, with hot water showers.

Lucmabamba (Family Home) - Llactapata Inca Trail - Llactapata (Lodge In Front Of Machu Picchu)

Experience a traditional breakfast made with locally sourced products on this exciting day of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Our vehicle will then collect you and take you on a 30-minute journey through coffee and local fruit plantations, to take you to the best hot springs in the region of Cusco (Cocalmayo), where you will relax for a couple of hours.

Visit the coffee farms belonging to the Refugios Salkantay family, where the coffee from this region is considered one of the best in the world. If you are a coffee lover, this will be a phenomenal experience for you! Sample freshly prepared coffee made from the freshest coffee beans, recently toasted and ground. You will also pass through banana, granadilla, yucca, and avocado plantations. At the end of the visit, you will enjoy a local lunch made from the products that you have picked yourself, an unforgettable experience!

After lunch, continue your journey by hiking to Llactapata along an original Inca trail for about 2-3 hours. On the way, visit the Llactapata Inca site, where you will see incredible views of the Santa Teresa Valley. At the Llactapata Pass, you will arrive at the family home of Sra. Susana, Sr. Pedro, and their son Elio, who will welcome you and show you to your rooms. From your room with a purpose-built glass roof, you will be able to see Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of the Machu Picchu Mountain and the Huayna Picchu Mountain. After dinner, enjoy a bonfire under the stars and with a view of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata (Glass Roof) - Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes.

You will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu, from your bed! If it is cloudy, don’t worry, at some point the sky will clear and you can enjoy your first views of Machu Picchu.

A delicious breakfast will be waiting for us and after breakfast we will continue our descent, reaching the Inca site of Llactapata... right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site on the way to the mysterious lost city of the Incas! After visiting the ruins of Llactapata, we will continue our walk, descending for approximately 2 hours. During this part of the descent, we will have a continuous view of Machu Picchu until we reach the hydroelectric train station, where we will have lunch. (You will be wondering about your backpacks, don’t worry, the families of Refugios Salkantay will take care of all the logistics so that when you arrive at your hotel in Aguas Calientes, it will be waiting for you)

Once you have settled into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, your guide will be waiting for you at the reception at 7:00 p.m. with your tickets for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. During this meeting, your guide will provide you with detailed information about the two-day hike along the Inca Trail and your visit to the Machu Picchu citadel.

Aguas Calientes – Km. 104 Chachabamba – Machu Picchu – (Guardian’s House)

Our trek begins very early. This is where our guide will join us, as this route is regulated by the Ministry of Culture. We will need permits that Refugios Salkantay will process for you. After a 4:00 AM breakfast at our hotel, we will begin the hike to Km. 104, which will take approximately 2 hours. We will arrive at the control point, where we will present the annex, permits, and corresponding documents.

The first point we will reach is Chachabamba. Along the way, we will pass by the great Phuyuwachi Waterfall, a natural water formation that comes from the heights of Phuyupatamarka. Here, we will observe a variety of wild flora and native birds of the region. After a hike of approximately 4 hours, we will arrive at Wiñayhuayna, an impressive archaeological site with Inca terraces or “andenes.” We will continue our hike until we reach Intipunku (Gate of the Sun), which will be our point of entry to the Llaqta. From this place, we will have a beautiful view of Machu Picchu. Then, we will begin the descent to the Llaqta to take the classic photo and observe this world-renowned wonder. We will arrive at the control point to leave our backpacks and register to re-enter with our guide for an informative talk of approximately 2 hours. After finishing our tour, we will take the bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will rest.

Aguas Calientes – Llaqta of Machu Picchu - Cusco

Experience the majesty of Machu Picchu on your last day of adventure.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at 5:00 am. Accompanied by your guide, head to the Aguas Calientes station, where you will take a comfortable bus to the impressive Llaqta of Machu Picchu.

Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to capture the essence of this ancient archaeological site. To enter, make sure you bring your original passport and entrance ticket. Your guide will lead you on a fascinating route, offering you the opportunity to take numerous photos of the magnificent surroundings of Machu Picchu.

Then, embark on an exciting hike to the entrance of Machu Picchu Mountain (approximately 3 hours round trip), from where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views.

Once you have thoroughly explored the Inca city, use your bus ticket to descend to Aguas Calientes. Take some time to have lunch and collect your belongings from the hotel. The train station is less than a 5-minute walk from your hotel.

Finally, the train back to Cusco will leave you at your hotel, completing an unforgettable experience full of adventure and amazement.