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Peru. Machu Picchu Mountain Lodges Trek

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Day 1: Arrival In Lima

Arrive in Lima. Airport assistance and overnight at the Costa del Sol Ramada Airport Hotel just a short 2-minute walk outside customs.

Costa del Sol Ramada

Day 2: Cusco

Airport check-in assistance for one hour flight to Cusco and transfer in to your hotel. Afternoon half-day guided orientation of ancient Inca temples, Spanish churches, local markets and the surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Your guide will also direct you to shops, museums and markets where you can explore on your own. Overnight at the comfortable and El Mercado Tunqui Hotel, just blocks from the Plaza de Armas.

El Mercado Tunqui Hotel

Breakfast
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Day 3: Urubamba Valley

Full day exploration with an expert guide through the Sacred Valley of the Incas including the village and ruins of Pisac and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. You may visit pottery or weaving workshops, markets, and Quechua villages where highland Indians tend their fields and sell handcrafts in outdoor markets. Return to Cusco and overnight at the El Mercado Tunqui Hotel.

El Mercado Tunqui Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Soraypampa, Salkantay Lodge

Pick up at 8 am in Cuzco and drive 3.5 hours to the Salkantay Lodge, your base for two nights (12,690’). En route you visit the impressive Inca ruins of Tarawasi, a center for Inca rituals representing the finest masonry built with highly polished granite. Stop in at the mountain village of Mollepata for a coffee break then continue t the village of Marcoccasa where you can begin a 4-hour (5 mile) warm-up hike to the lodge, arriving in the late afternoon. (Travelers can also opt to continue to the lodge by car on a winding mountain track leading into to the spectacular valley of Soraypampa.) The Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley, the second-most sacred peak in Inca mythology and at 20,574’, the highest in the region. An evening briefing around the fire is followed by aperitifs and dinner. Overnight Salkantay Lodge at 3,869m/12,690 ft.

Salkantay Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5: Soraypampa

The high Andean valley of Soraypampa is a spectacular place for a free day to acclimatize on site walking around the meadow, photographing the unimpeded view of Mt. Salkantay and visiting with local people, or head out with a local guide to hike up to a spectacular alpine lake and viewpoint (Total hiking time is 3-4 hours covering 4 miles.) A pack lunch is available for those choosing to venture out for the day. Prepare for the start of your trek with an evening briefing about the next four days and a Jacuzzi soak under the southern constellations. Overnight Salkantay Lodge.

 

Salkantay Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Huayraccmachay, Wayra Lodge

6-8 hours hiking, 8 miles, 12,690’-12,812 feet with a 15,213’ ft pass
Today is the big day! Begin your four-day trek to Machu Picchu hiking up the Rio Blanco Valley approaching Humantay Peak across from Mt. Salkantay, with the glaciated south face of the mountain towering above you. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,638m (15,213’) where you rest on the shores of Lake Salkantaycocha surrounded by views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabama Range in every direction. Here, Andean condors can often be spotted soaring at close range. Descend toward Wayra Lodge (Wayra means ‘wind’ in Quechua) to soak in the Jacuzzi under the stars. Overnight at Wayra Lodge

Huayra Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7: Collpapampa, Colpa Lodge

3-4 hours hiking, 6 miles, 12,812'-9,414' feet
After a leisurely breakfast you continue downhill into the Colpapampa Valley descending into lush Andean cloud forest teeming with orchids, giant hummingbirds and beautiful views of endless valleys and waterfalls before us. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot along the way. Colpa Lodge is located in a lovely pasture amidst lush vegetation teaming with birds in this transition habitat between cloud forest and sub-tropical vegetation. Upon arrival you are greeted with a Pachamanca Meal – a traditional Peruvian feast to honor the Pachamama (Mother Earth) that is cooked by layering meat and vegetables with hot stones, then burying it to bake. Ease any hiking stiffness with a soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi, boating panoramic views of the lush, green mountains. Dinner and overnight at Colpa Lodge.

 

Colpa Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Lucmabamba, Lucma Lodge

5-7 hours hiking, 10 miles, 9,414’-7,003 ' feet
Trekking down the Santa Teresa river valley you will begin to pass through populated rural areas with avocado orchards and coffee plantations as the terrain becomes more lush and tropical. Pause along the river for lunch near a waterfall. Finally, your trail ends where a vehicle awaits to take you on a short drive to the trail-head of an original Inca Trail protected by the Ministry of Culture from which point it is a short walk to Lucma Lodge, set in a tropical wooded enclave. Often you’ll visit with native Quechua members of the local community who are small scale farmers, producing what is considered by some to be one of the finest shade-grown coffees in the world. Overnight Lucma Lodge.

Lucma Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9: Inca Trail & Llactapata Ruins Complex

5-6 hours hiking/7 miles, 7,003’-8,038 feet
Fit and acclimated, arise early to tackle the last day of your trek heading uphill for approximately 3 hours through lush cloud forest over the Llactapata Pass (2,600m/8,974 ft). This is one of the most beautiful protected remnants of an Inca Trail trek that leads to the recently discovered and incredibly extensive Inca ruins complex of Llactapata. Thought to have been the primary residential complex for workers who built Machu Picchu, it is located just 4 ½ km across a deep chasm with spectacular views of Machu Picchu’s legendary Watchman’s Tower. You explore Llactapata including a sun temple, residential areas, and remnants still unexcavated just as Hiram Bingham stumbled upon them in 1912. Descend a winding trail to the Urubamba River through lush bamboo forests, crossing a long, hanging bridge under the gushing waterfall of the hydroelectric station where the trail opens up at the railway line. Hop the rail for a short ride up the tracks to the village of Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel at approximately 8,000’.

Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Machu Picchu

Be among the first to arrive in Machu Picchu on one of the early shuttle buses up to the site. Your guide will accompany us on an orientation walk through the mysterious maze of streets and stone buildings of this magnificent site. Enjoy the rest of the day to hike the towering Huayna Picchu peak (hiking permits included) and explore and photograph the most impressive archaeological monument in the Andes at your own pace. Visit the temples of Inca royalty, hike up to Intipunku (The Gate of the Sun – Entrance to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail) and see the Intiwatana, the ancient stone sun dial. Leisurely return on the afternoon train to Cusco. Transfer in to overnight at the El Mercado Hotel Tunqui.

El Mercado Tunqui Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11: Return To Lima For Departure

Transfer to Cusco airport for flight to Lima. Airport reception and room for day-use at the Ramada Costa del Sol hotel at the Lima airport until your flight departure.


Costa del Sol Ramada

Breakfast
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Scheduled Departure Dates
Ask about your dates!

Departures available on request
Call 1.800.345.4453 or click here to request more information.

    6/29 - 7/9/2013

    7/3 - 7/13/2013

    7/4 - 7/14/2013

    7/6 - 7/16/2013

    7/9 - 7/19/2013

    7/13 - 7/23/2013

    7/16 - 7/26/2013

    7/19 - 7/29/2013

    7/21 - 7/31/2013

    7/24 - 8/3/2013

    7/27 - 8/6/2013

    7/30 - 8/9/2013

    8/2 - 8/12/2013

    8/4 - 8/14/2013

    8/10 - 8/20/2013

    8/13 - 8/23/2013

    8/16 - 8/26/2013

    8/18 - 8/28/2013

    8/20 - 8/30/2013

    8/24 - 9/3/2013

    8/25 - 9/4/2013

    8/28 - 9/7/2013

    8/30 - 9/9/2013

    9/2 - 9/12/2013

    9/7 - 9/17/2013

    9/9 - 9/19/2013

    9/12 - 9/22/2013

    9/14 - 9/24/2013

    9/17 - 9/27/2013

    9/19 - 9/29/2013

    9/21 - 10/1/2013

    9/24 - 10/4/2013

    9/28 - 10/8/2013

    10/2 - 10/12/2013

    10/5 - 10/15/2013

    10/10 - 10/20/2013

    10/15 - 10/25/2013

    10/19 - 10/29/2013

    10/24 - 11/3/2013

    10/29 - 11/8/2013

    11/2 - 11/12/2013

    11/7 - 11/17/2013

    11/16 - 11/26/2013

    11/23 - 12/3/2013

    11/28 - 12/8/2013

    12/5 - 12/15/2013

    12/11 - 12/21/2013

    12/17 - 12/27/2013

    12/20 - 12/30/2013

    12/21 - 12/31/2013

    12/24 - 1/3/2014

Dates listed are current scheduled departures only, other departure dates are available.

Contact us for details!