Machu Picchu Lodge to Lodge

Enjoy a spectacular Andean trek—without camping! Our trek along ancient Inca trails in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, the steep green mountain range cradling the stronghold of Machu Picchu, is an extraordinary visual treat, with gleaming glacial lakes, exquisite cloud forests full of waterfalls and orchids, and the dazzling peaks and glaciers of Salcantay (20,574') and Huamantay (19,239'), the guardians of this mountain realm. After each day on the trail, we rest comfortably in charming and dramatically sited mountain lodges that feature private rooms, hot showers, saunas, and delicious cuisine. Our ultimate reward is an exploration of the glorious “Lost City” of Machu Picchu, the ethereal wonder that has captured the imagination of travelers since its rediscovery a century ago.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Cusco / Salcantay Lodge

After a walking tour of Cusco, the archaeological capital of the Americas, we head up to the Soraypampa Valley and the spectacularly situated Salcantay Lodge (11,800'), ringed by the snowy peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. From the lodge’s dining room, majestic Mt. Salcantay, sacred to the Incas as home of the apus (spirits), is perfectly framed. The next day, an optional acclimatization hike up to a turquoise glacial lake at 14,000 feet offers stunning views of this Andean giant, as well as neighboring Huamantay.

Day 4
Huayrac Machay Wayra Lodge

Massive glaciers and icefalls are in close view as we cross the 15,200-foot Salcantay Pass, a dramatic notch between the glacial moraines of Salcantay and Huamantay. Keeping an eye out for Andean condors, we descend steeply through a green valley to our next accommodation, Wayra Lodge (12,000'), where we can soak in the Jacuzzi under a starlit sky.

Days 5-6
Colpa / Lucma

A hike into increasingly verdant scenery brings us to Colpa Lodge (10,300'), set on a spur of high land where three rivers meet. The next day, we descend further into the Santa Teresa Valley, with its waterfalls and beautiful botanic displays of bromeliads and orchids, and past small villages and coffee plantations to Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard at 6,600 feet.

Days 7-9
Machu Picchu / Cusco

We’re up early for a steep hike to Pallayacta Pass (8,500') and on to the Inca ruins at Llactapata, set high on a ridge right opposite Machu Picchu and its neighboring mountain, Huayna Picchu. Here we enjoy a rare view of the great sanctuary that few visitors get. We descend through lush bamboo forests to the banks of the Urubamba River and head by train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. Our overnight is at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a charming riverside hotel in town. So well hidden in the jungle-covered ramparts of the Cordillera Vilcabamba that the Spaniards never knew of it, the fabled “lost city” of Machu Picchu allows us a glimpse into the mysteries of the Inca world. After exploring its reconstructed ruins of staircases, altars, temples, and fountains with a specialist guide, we return to Cusco and depart on Day 9 (or join one of our Peru Extensions).

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What the Trip is Like

This trek is Level 5+, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. Most hiking is between 10,000 and 15,200 feet. Pack mules transport your duffels from lodge to lodge, leaving you free to hike with only a daypack. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed, and the group will spread out along the trail during the day. There are several full hiking days on the trip, plus two shorter days at the beginning to acclimatize, and one in the middle is a semi-rest day. You should be in excellent health and physical condition, and we recommend you get in top physical condition for the trip by engaging in regular exercise well beyond your normal routine. Try walking faster than 1.5 miles per hour, walking on steeper inclines, and using your gym’s stair-climbing machines. As you progress, practice these walks with your loaded daypack (full water bottle, camera gear, jacket). The object is to improve your overall level of fitness and aerobic capacity and get your legs and lungs in shape for the Andes.

Explanation of Trip Levels