Salkantay Trek with One Day Inca Trail Hike

Arrive to Lima on the flight of your choice today. After picking up your luggage and clearing customs, walk across the street to the comfortable and conveniently located Wyndham Costa del Sol Hotel. Settle into your room and rest up for your Peru tour ahead. Your exciting trip is filled with ancient ruins, local markets and hiking through the beautiful Andes Mountains!

Andean history comes alive in Cusco. Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas fill the streets and markets, colonial churches sit atop bases of smooth stonework laid centuries before the Conquistadors, and campesinos (Peru's rural farmers) in colorful dress move busily back and forth across the plazas. In the afternoon, you'll explore Cusco's largest open market and the adjacent witches' market. After tasting a few unique local foods, visit the Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco, a local organization committed to preserving the region's weaving traditions (if visiting the Sacred Valley on Sunday, you will visit their center in Chinchero instead). Watch weavers demonstrate their craft and learn about the history and processes of Peru's most well-known art form.

Today is free to relax and explore with your guide or on your own. You can visit the churches and surrounding ruins, such as the enormous Sacsayhuamán ruins that overlook Cusco (these ruins showcase building blocks the size of pickup trucks). You can also wander through the bustling Plaza de Armas in the heart of Cusco, shop for love potions in the local markets, or people watch from the cafes and restaurants that line these lovely streets. For those bursting with energy, horseback riding, mountain biking, or even whitewater rafting (Class III-IV) can be arranged. The evening is yours to take in some of Cusco's varied and exciting nightlife where live folk music and excellent food abound!

Leave Cusco early today by bus and drive over Tika-Tika pass, where you'll have your first view of the Salkantay and Humantay peaks. Arrive at Mollepata where you can stretch your legs, you'll continue by car to Soraypampa. After meeting the horse crew, guides, and rest of the group start your hike to Ichupata. Stop en route to have lunch.

After an early breakfast, start trekking. During this section, Salkantay peak dominates the horizon. You will continue hiking towards the Incachiriasca pass, where you will enjoy a beautiful view of two glacial lakes. From here on, the trail goes down until the next camp in Paucarcancha.

After breakfast, you will start hiking down along an Inca trail until reaching the community of Huayllabamba, where you will join the classic Inca Trail for a short section as you hike along the Patallaqta Stream to Kilometer 82 where your vehicle will meet and transport you to Ollantaytambo where you will spend the night at a local hotel.

Board the train this morning and travel about one hour to Kilometer 104 on the trail. At this point, Machu Picchu Park rangers will check your entrances passes and passports. You will trek for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñaywayna (2900 mm). On the way, you will see beautiful waterfalls, native flora and mountain birds. After lunch, there is time to rest and enjoy exploring the site with its houses, terraces, towers as well as visiting the Inti Punku, the Inca Gate of the Sun, where you will get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Finally, cross the ridge that leads to your final destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times will be revealed. After an initial introduction to Machu Picchu, you will take the tourist bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night.

Early in the morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the bus station. After a 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu Citadel, you will tour Machu Picchu with your guide, visiting the main areas while learning more about the Inca culture. In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes to take the Vistadome train back to Cusco. Upon arrival to Poroy train station in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Or with more time, extend your trip with a visit to the Amazon or to Lake Titicaca. Click here to see our Peru extensions!