Peru: A Lodge-to-Lodge Trek to Machu Picchu

Arrive in the Sacred Valley
Welcome to Peru and its legendary Land of the Inca! Sheltered by the soaring peaks of Los Andes, forgotten ruins lie in wait of discovery. Ancient whitewashed villages give a glimpse into mountain life as it has been lived for centuries. Exhilarating, awesome, breathtaking, and unforgettable, Peru is an adventure destination like no other.

During your adventure you’ll get to know your expert Peruvian trekking guide, who will lead the way and help you reach your goal at the end of your trek: Machu Picchu! You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

Meet your group at the Cusco airport by 3:00pm. There will be one group transfer to your beautiful hotel in the Sacred Valley included. If you’d like to come to Cusco early, AdventureWomen would be happy to help you make hotel arrangements (you may choose to arrive a couple of nights early in order to acclimate to the altitude and enjoy this fabulous city).

Enjoy dinner as a group this evening, where you’ll get to know your guide and fellow travelers.

Dinner

Overnight: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Sacred Valley
On the slopes of a mountain, which overlooks the Vilcanota River is the Archaeological Park of Pisac, where you will find different areas and altitudes separated by architectural structures. The most notable of these is the solar calendar Intiwatana.

Take a two-hour descending hike towards Pisac town, a beautiful place where Incan and colonial influences have balanced to create the unique local lifestyle. Explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets boasting jewelry, textiles, and crafts.

Enjoy lunch on a working farm where you can learn firsthand about both life on a hacienda and Cusco’s giant white corn and its production. Savor a delicious farm-to-table lunch while you take in the beautiful surroundings.

After lunch, meet with a female founder of Aquelarre (The Coven), a brand of botanical brews of herbal potions and magic teas. Visit her cozy home, with her green house and kitchen, where she grows and stores all kinds of plants and herbs from the Andes. All of these plants are said to have beneficial properties – or powers – where each ingredient for her potions is carefully selected for its unique benefits, based on both science and tradition. Prepare a smudge stick as a group in a ritual of healing and positive energy to set a powerful intention for our trip ahead.

Have dinner with the group at your hotel tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Sacred Valley to the Salkantay Route
Depart for the mountains this morning. The first stop will be the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo. Spend some time there before heading to the mountain village of Mollepata for a delicious lunch.

After a short drive on a winding mountain road, you’ll arrive at Marcoccasa. Here you will begin your hike to Soraypampa along a picturesque path called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path), which is also a good opportunity to acclimatize to the higher altitude. As you round the final turn of the Camino Real, the Salkantay Lodge will come into view. Standing like a sentry behind the lodge is the glacier peak of Mt. Salkantay, among the most sacred in Inca mythology and the highest in the region at 20,600 ft. (Trekking time 3.5 hours, approx. 2 miles, 1,689′ elevation gain)

Settle in your room and relax for a few minutes before meeting your guide in the lounge for refreshments and a briefing of tomorrow’s activities.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mountain Lodge

Salkantay Route
This morning, go on an acclimatization hike to Lake Humantay. Begin by hiking up the slopes that border the plateau behind the Salkantay Lodge. An hour and a half later, after making your way over the final hill, you will be stunned to see the turquoise water of the lake, made even more spectacular by the sight of the Humantay glacier looming behind it.

Here you will have a chance to relax, enjoy a snack, meditate in the tranquility of this magical spot, or admire a traditional offering to Mother Earth, getting an up-close view of the majestic glacier. (Trekking time 4.5 hours, approx. 4 miles, 1,155′ elevation gain / 1,155′ elevation loss)

Enjoy a late lunch back at the lodge.

Spend the afternoon at leisure. Soak in the outdoor jacuzzi, enjoy a massage, or just relax!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mountain Lodge

Salkantay Route
Today is the longest and most strenuous day, but arguably the most magical day of the trek. After an early start, hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak. As you gradually make your way up these mountain trails, you will encounter expansive plateaus dotted with boulders of varying sizes, the remnants of a valley that was once bisected by a fast-flowing river. The final and most challenging part of your ascent is conquering the mountain switchbacks that take you to the Salkantay Pass, the highest point on the trek at 15,213 feet. Celebrate your accomplishment with your group of amazing women at the top! What follows is a dramatic descent through fields of giant boulders, often shrouded in fog. (Trekking time 7 hours, approx. 8 miles, 2,522′ elevation gain / 2,401′ elevation loss)

Enjoy a hot picnic lunch before continuing your descent through rolling hills and marsh-like plateaus. Arrive at the Wayra Lodge this afternoon. Enjoy a spectacular view of the other side of Mount Humantay, reminding you of how far you’ve come!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mountain Lodge

Salkantay Route
After a leisurely breakfast at the Wayra Lodge, continue the descent along the banks of the Salkantay River through increasingly verdant scenery. The warm air begins to rise from the edge of the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids. Today you will see more of the local people as the trail takes you past their simple homes and makeshift fences. (Trekking time 4 hours, approx. 6 miles, 3,398′ elevation loss)

Arrive at Colpa Lodge for a special lunch. Your Pachamanca lunch is a traditional Peruvian meal cooked in the earth by hot stones that create a natural underground oven.

Relax this afternoon. Lounge in the sun or unwind in the outdoor jacuzzi while you take in the panoramic views of the green mountains surrounding you.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mountain Lodge

Salkantay Route
Today you will hike in the Santa Teresa River valley where you will hop over small streams fed by waterfalls descending from the glaciers and cross through fruit orchards. After breaking for a hot picnic lunch by the river, you will walk for an hour where you will meet a vehicle for a short drive to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail, which leads you to your lodge. (Trekking time 5.5 hours, approx. 10 miles, 387′ elevation gain / 2,798′ elevation loss)

Visit a local organic coffee plantation. You will notice a shift in the climate – the hot air and increased humidity signal that you are getting close to the edge of the Amazon.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mountain Lodge

Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu
For those who have the energy, depart early this morning for an optional hike. During a two to three hour climb up a path mostly comprised of original Inca steps, you will get a sense of what hiking through the rainforest would be like. Your first milestone today will be the top of the peak, the last one before you reach the Aobamaba River valley that connects you to Machu Picchu. When you arrive at the ruins of Llactapata at the Llactapata Pass (8,974 feet), you will be delighted to see a distant southeast view of the “back” of the Machu Picchu ruins, a sight few travelers ever get a chance to admire. At this point you will also take a short break to explore Llactapata, and then have lunch a bit farther down the trail in a meadow with panoramic views. The final descent toward the roaring Aobamba River takes you through lush bamboo forests, as well as more fruit orchards and coffee plantations. (Trekking time 6 hours, approx. 7 miles, 1,971′ elevation gain / 3,165′ elevation loss)

If your knees need a break, you can hike 30-45 minutes down to a vehicle and drive one hour to the Santa Teresa hot springs. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the springs and some relaxation time.

Take a one-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Machu Picchu
Begin your journey to Machu Picchu with a short uphill bus ride. As you enter the “Sanctuary” (as locals refer to it), the morning sun rises over the iconic Sun Gate and washes the structures and terraces with resplendent light. Prepare to be awed by the imposing and skillful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Take a moment to quietly sit and listen to the wind or to meditate and absorb the mystical energy that envelops you. Your imagination will soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins.

Enjoy lunch at Sanctuary Lodge by the entrance. In the afternoon when the crowds dissipate, explore on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Machu Picchu to Cusco
Take the train this morning from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Drive back to Cusco.

Visit a weaving project led by a master weaver. Textile production has profound historic and cultural significance in the Andes, and this project is part of a highly successful initiative to rescue and revive this way of life. Women are the owners and drivers of this activity, and you will see how their gregarious processes of spinning, gathering and use of natural dyes, setting up of looms, and the creation of designs, are fundamental to the family and social bonds of these highland communities.

Enjoy lunch as a group and explore Cusco on your own in this afternoon.

Have a farewell dinner with your new AdventureWomen friends. Reminisce over all of the memories you have made and celebrate the end of an incredible trip!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Palacio del Inka

Depart Cusco
Explore Cusco on your own this morning. Pick up some last-minute souvenirs, or just walk around this unique town. Lunch will be at your leisure.

Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flights home. You can depart from Cusco, Peru (CUZ) anytime after 12:00pm.

Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.