Peru's Machu Picchu Inca Trail
2008 Itinerary

Day 1 Transfer from the Cusco Airport to a hotel located in Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to spend the night, rest and relax.

Day 2 After breakfast at a Urubamba hotel, guests will be picked up at 8 am and driven to Cusco for a city tour. In the afternoon a briefing will be given at the Cusco hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Cusco.

Day 3 After an early breakfast, guests will be picked up at 7 am at the hotel in Cusco by your guide to be driven to the Coronilla Ranch, located in the mountain village of Mollepata (2 hour drive).  At the Coronilla Ranch you’ll begin your horse ride to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort located in Soraypampa (12,400 feet, riding time 4 hours), with a picnic lunch en route. After a warm welcome by the friendly staff, guests will be shown to their rooms and have time to wash-up.  The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude. An evening briefing at the bar is followed by aperitifs and dinner.

Dat 4 This day, after a nutritious breakfast, you’ll start the horse ride to the surrounding area of Soraypampa to visit the Humantay Lake (riding time 3 hours). After visiting the lake you’ll will ride down to the lodge. After lunch, if the weather allows and the group is interested you can explor some more and ride to the base of the Salkantay Peak (13,400 feet) and back (riding time 3 hours). After an exhilarating day, you spend the night at the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort.

Day 5 This is the big day: the start of the three-day ride to Machu Picchu. After an early start you will ride up the Rio Blanco Valley, circling Humantay Peak across from the Salkantay. The highest point on the ride is a pass at 15,000 feet. At the pass you stop to take in views of the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, with the south face of Salkantay towering above you. Riders will keep their eyes peeled for the Andean condors, often visible in this area.  From the pass you continue the descent toward the Wayra Lodge (Wayra means wind, the place where the wind lives) your destination for the evening. A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight at the lodge (riding time 5 hours; total excursion time for day 7 hours).

Day 6 Following the long first day you enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Huayraccmachay. You then begin the downhill ride above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. Your arrival at the lodge encounters a Pachamanca-style lunch (subject to availability; traditional underground stone cooking). The Collpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor jacuzzi in this lodge has prominent views of lush green mountains and a small far-away local town. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 7 After an early breakfast you head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas with coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world!), bananas, ‘granadillas’, and orchards. You stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. This is where the riding journey ends on the trip. From here on, you have optional trekking sections. A vehicle arrives at the lunch spot to pick the group up for a short drive to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail. From the head of the trail it is a short climb (30 min.) to the Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. You arrive in time to allow for exploration of the small village of Lucmabamba and possible meeting with members of the local community (riding time 5 hours; total excursion time for the day 7 hours).

Day 8 Today, there is an optional day-hike to the Llactapata Ruins and a spectacular view of Machu Picchu, from a perspective few people ever enjoy. Guests who do not wish to hike will be driven to the train station at the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric to meet with the rest of the group. The guide will ask each guest their preference the night before.
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, you tackle the last day of the trek. You head uphill for two hours towards Llactapata pass (8,500 feet), where you come upon a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse; an added value are the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. You then begin the final descent to the Vilcanota River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hours descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short, scenic train ride away (hiking time: 4-6 hours).  You arrive in Aguas Calientes to check in to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9 You wake up very early to have breakfast at the hotel and then make your way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min).  A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu will be provided.  Guests will have about 4 to 6 hours to tour the ruins (there is a lot to do and see).  Afterward, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure. The train will arrive in Cusco and you’ll be transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco.
Note: some trains that depart from Aguas Calientes only travel to Ollantaytambo, if this is the case, guests will have a transfer for one hour by car to Cusco.

Day 10 Breakfast at hotel and then transfer to Cusco Airport.