Mountain Lodges of Peru offers “Adventure at its finest”: the opportunity to experience the essence of adventure within the realm of creature comforts. But for Mountain Lodges of Peru (MLP), a great adventure does not end there: for it to be a life-changing experience for our guests, we believe that the experience has to be an adventure on many levels. This is why our proposal goes far beyond comfortable lodges and great treks…
it is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, contemporary manifestations of deep-founded culture, the most interesting and exotic variety of flora and fauna, culinary surprises, the determination of local people to progress, new friends and like-minded souls.
overview
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy a spectacular trek to Machu Picchu through the majestic Peruvian Andes
- Stay at a series of 4 comfortable mountain lodges along the trek
- Explore Machu Picchu for 2 days with expert, local guides
- Soak in views of snow-capped Andean peaks and awe-inspiring ruins sites
While many trails lead toward the wondrous "Lost City of the Incas," only one offers trekkers a close-up view of towering snow-clad peaks, insights into the age-old culture and traditions of local Andean families, and the welcome comforts of a cozy mountain lodge after each day's trek.
Join EXPLORE ADVENTURES on this unique and unforgettable trans-Andean journey to Machu Picchu, leaving our sleeping bags at home! We begin in enchanting Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire and a marvelous setting for our pre-trek explorations. After transferring to the remote Salkantay Lodge (the first of four lodges along our route) we begin our hike through the spectacular Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range, enjoying dramatic alpine vistas each day and warm beds and delicious cuisine each night. Our adventure culminates with two days at the famed ruins—ample time to appreciate the beauty of this truly magical place.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 - Tour Cusco's sites including Koricancha temple and Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Day 2 - Take a 4-hour warm-up hike to the Salkantay Lodge.
Day 3 - Relax or go on an acclimatization hike to a nearby glacial lake.
Day 4 - Hike up and over our highest pass with views of Mt. Salkantay.
Day 5 - Trek downhill to lower elevations and greener scenery.
Day 6 - Hike past coffee plantations, banana trees, and avocado orchards.
Day 7 - Begin our final descent and see the first views of Machu Picchu!
Day 8 - Guided tour of Machu Picchu and free time to hike and explore.
Day 9 - A final opportunity to return to the ruins before returning to Cusco.
Day 10 - Our great adventure ends in Cusco with a final farewell.
itinerary
Trip Itinerary and Details
Day 1 - Tour Cusco's sites including Koricancha temple and Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Your trip begins today in Cusco, Peru (11,250'). Upon arrival in Cusco, we will be met by our local guide at our centrally-located hotel where a brief orientation meeting will be held. We have most of the morning at leisure to relax and acclimatize before setting out on a guided tour of this lovely city, the historic heart of the Incan civilization. Our afternoon exploration takes us to many of the city's most notable sights including the bustling Plaza de Armas (main square) and neighboring cathedral; the Santo Domingo Church, built atop the stone ruins of the once magnificent Inca temple Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and the imposing remains of the monolithic Sacsayhuaman fortress, offering bird's-eye views of the entire red-roofed city far below. All meals on your own.
Day 2 - Take a 4-hour warm-up hike to the Salkantay Lodge.
We gather early this morning and begin our drive towards the Salkantay Lodge, the picturesque starting point of our Andean trek. En route we visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo and stop for a coffee break in the small village of Mollepata. We cover the final distance to the lodge via a beautiful 4-hour warm-up hike that begins in the nearby village of Marcoccasa (trip members can also opt to continue all the way to the lodge by vehicle). By late-afternoon, we reach our destination, located in the spectacular valley of Soraypampa, crowned by majestic Salkantay (20,500'), a sacred peak in Inca mythology and the highest in this region of the Andes. After checking in, we'll have the remainder of the day to relax and enjoy the fabulous views. A welcome briefing will take place this evening followed by dinner. Lodge elevation is 12,690'. All meals included.
Hiking: 4 hours. 5 miles.
Day 3 - Relax or go on an acclimatization hike to a nearby glacial lake.
We'll spend today in the vicinity of the Salkantay Lodge while we continue to acclimatize before our trekking adventure begins in earnest. Feel free to rest at the lodge or join in a 4-hour hike to a glacial blue lake allowing us to gain a greater appreciation for this valley's rugged beauty. Upon returning to the lodge, we can reward ourselves for our efforts with a relaxing soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi. This evening, our guide will conduct a pre-trek briefing and review the itinerary for the next four days. Overnight again at the Salkantay Lodge. All meals included.
Hiking: 3-4 hours. 4 miles.
Day 4 - Hike up and over our highest pass with views of Mt. Salkantay.
Having spent the last three days at altitude, we're at last acclimatized and ready to begin our trek to Machu Picchu! We'll set out early in the cool mountain air carrying only our daypacks and hike through the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay. We'll reach the highest point of our trip today (15,213 ft) as we hike up a series of switchbacks over a pass that offers outstanding views of the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction. With the south face of Salkantay towering above us, we'll keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we continue our descent toward the Wayra Lodge (Wayra translates to "The place where the wind lives"), our destination for the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Lodge elevation is 12,812'. All meals included.
Hiking: 5-7 hours. 8 miles.
Day 5 - Trek downhill to lower elevations and greener scenery.
Following our big day yesterday, we'll enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge and depart around 9am. We'll begin hiking downhill above the Salkantay River and notice the scenery becoming increasingly more verdant as we lose altitude. Our next lodge is located on a 1,000-foot promontory above the confluence of three fast-flowing rivers. Dinner and overnight at the Colpa Lodge. Lodge elevation is 9,414'. All meals included.
Hiking: 3-4 hours. 6 miles
Day 6 - Hike past coffee plantations, banana trees, and avocado orchards.
Today's trek through the rural Santa Teresa River Valley takes us downhill past vast coffee plantations (said to produce one of the best organic coffees in the world), banana trees and orchards. After a hot picnic lunch by the river, we'll trek for another hour before being met by a private vehicle that will transport our group a short distance (30-minute drive) to the last stretch of trail on today's route. A final short climb along the Llactapata Inca Trail brings us to the Lucma Lodge, set in a lovely avocado orchard. We may have an opportunity this afternoon to explore the small nearby village of Lucmabamba and perhaps interact with members of the local community. Lodge elevation is 7,003'. All meals included.
Hiking: 5-6 hours. 10 miles.
Day 7 - Begin our final descent and see the first views of Machu Picchu!
A hearty breakfast fuels us up for the last day of our trek and the initial 2-3 hour climb towards Llactapata pass (8,974'). Shortly after cresting the pass and beginning our 3,165' descent, we'll be treated to our first distant glimpse of Machu Picchu. As few tourists approach the ruins from this direction, our particular view is a unique treat. The final descent along the trail leading to the Urubamba River passes through more orchards and lush bamboo forests. Our hike today is timed to reach the river with ample time to spare before the train arrives that will transport us to the village of Aguas Calientes, located a short distance from the ruins. We'll spend the next two nights at the delightful Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a perfect base from which to explore the wonders of this magnificent site! All meals included.
Hiking: 4-6 hours. 7 miles.
Day 8 - Guided tour of Machu Picchu and free time to hike and explore.
A full day at Machu Picchu affords us the luxury of exploring at a leisurely pace while learning more about the Inca culture and the latest theories behind the construction of this marvelous complex. We have an early breakfast and head up to the ruins by shuttle bus before the morning tourist train arrives in order to fully enjoy the peace and solitude of this mystical place. Our knowledgeable guide leads us on a fascinating tour, recapping Machu Picchu's rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and explaining the significance of the various structures that cover the grounds. We have the afternoon to indulge ourselves with a hike to the dramatic viewpoint of Intipunku (the Sun's Gateway), or a variety of other intriguing possibilities including an easy walk to an ancient Inca drawbridge or more vigorous hike to the Temple of the Moon (inside a cavern on the north face of iconic Huayna Picchu, the peak that looms above the ruins) or an ascent up Huayna Picchu itself. Of course, we can also choose to independently continue our exploration of the main site and daydream about what life must have been like here centuries ago. We return to the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes again tonight. All meals included.
Hiking: Optional Huayna Picchu hike may be unguided and is steep with some exposure. Permits are limited. An alternative optional hike may be available if Huayna Picchu permits cannot be obtained.
Day 9 - A final opportunity to return to the ruins before returning to Cusco.
We have another opportunity today to return to Machu Picchu during the early hours, taking advantage of the soft morning light for dramatic photography, or using the additional time to complete another scenic hike. After lunch, we make our way down to Aguas Calientes and board the train back to Cusco, arriving in early evening. Overnight in Cusco. Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 10 - Our great adventure ends in Cusco with a final farewell.
After breakfast, we head to the airport for our departing flights. Trip members can opt to return to Lima for connecting flights home or extend their travels in Peru. Breakfast included.
Notes on Itinerary
Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive at the meeting point for the trip. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance and traveling on an overnight flight.
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions.
included
Price Includes
Accommodations in hotels and mountain lodges as noted on itinerary; meals as noted on the daily itinerary; English-speaking local guides; full baggage support/transfer while trekking (you carry only your daypack); all ground transportation within Peru as noted including transfer from Cusco to the Salkantay Lodge, airport transfers and rail tickets to/from Machu Picchu; all sightseeing excursions as noted including permits for entrance to Machu Picchu and optional unguided hikes
Machu Picchu Hiking Permits: We require your complete passport information in order to purchase your permit to Machu Picchu and the optional unguided hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. We will secure a permit for one of the optional hikes, but we are unable to guarantee which specific hike since permits are limited and issued on a first come, first served basis.
Not Included
Air transportation to/from Cusco; 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners; gratuities; excess baggage charges; alcoholic beverages; airport taxes, and items of a personal nature such as laundry expenses, immunizations or insurance of any kind (emergency medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip and can usually be purchased for less than $75 through EXPLORE Adventures).
prices
From: $5,175 per person dbl occp
2015 - $5,175
2016 - $5,299
Deposit
$400 per person - paid at the time of signup; fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure
Additional Fees
Medical & Evacuation Insurance - prices vary
Options
Single supplement 2015 - $1,599
Single supplement 2016 - $1,699
trip notes
Machu Picchu Lodge Trek – Salkantay Gear List
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary as this will help you and the field staff.
Gear Checklist
Recommended
- Base Layer Tops and Bottoms (Lightweight, Synthetic)
- Casual Clothing for Travel and Town Wear (Lightweight, Easily Washable)
- Casual Shoes for Travel and Free Time
- Day Pack (21L-35L)
- Duffel Bag or Soft-Sided Suitcase
- Flashlight or Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
- Fleece/Wool Gloves
- Fleece/Wool Hat
- Fleece/Wool Jacket or Sweater
- Gaiters (Low)
- Hiking Pants (Convertible, Quick-Dry, Lightweight)
- Hiking Shorts (Quick-Dry, Lightweight)
- Hiking Socks (Synthetic or Wool)
- Insect Repellant
- Insulated Down/Synthetic Jacket
- Liner Socks (Synthetic)
- Long Sleeve Shirts (Synthetic, Lightweight)
- Luggage Tags and Locks
- Passport/Money Belt or Pouch
- Personal First Aid Kit/Medications (Lightweight, with Anti-Diarrheal)
- Personal Wipes and Hand Sanitizer Gel
- Rain Jacket (Hooded, Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)
- Rain Pants (Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)
- Sun Block and Lip Balm
- Sun Hat
- Sunglasses and Accessories
- Swimwear
- Tee Shirts (Synthetic)
- Toiletries
- Trekking Poles (Rubber Tips Required)
- Underwear
- Watch with Alarm or Travel Clock
- Water Bottles (Two 1-Quart) or Hydration System
- Waterproof Hiking Boots
Optional
- Altimeter and Compass
- Bandana
- Camera and Accessories
- Ear Plugs
- Electrical Adapter Plug and Converter
- Energy Snacks and Drink Mixes
- Eye Mask
- Knee Supports
- Reading and Writing Materials
- Travel Pillow
Travel Documents
- Airline Tickets (Confirmation and Itinerary)
- Mandatory Evacuation Insurance
- Valid Passport
