Tour details

• Duration:

  10 Days

• Available Languages:

  Spanish, English

• Service type:

  Group Service

• Starting Point:

  Lima

• End Point:

  Cusco

Overview

• Enjoy and learn more about the capital city of Lima and the magical city of Cusco
• Trek for 5 days in the best alternative Trek that ends at Machu Picchu on its last day.
• Enjoy of a comfortable and dedicated service in small groups.

What is and what is not included

• Professional English-speaking tour guide in all the excursion along the tour
• Salkantay Trek standard services
• Admission fee to Cusco ruins
• Transportation from Lucmabamba to the Hydroelectric
• Transportation by train and bus back to Cusco.
• One-way ticket bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
• Admission fee to Salkantay and Machu Picchu
• Standard campsite accommodation and modern camping equipment
• One night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes
• Professional cook and meals included during the Trek (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches y 4 dinners), hot drinks and snacks.
• Porters to carry all equipment
• Luggage of 5kg maximum per person will be carry by the horses.
• First-aid kit and Oxygen tank
• Admission fee of Huaca Pucllana
• Sleeping bags (can be rent, please ask your travel specialist)
• Walking sticks
• Breakfast on day 1, and lunch and dinner on day 5
• One-way bus from Macchu Picchu to Aguas calientes on day 5
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain
• Travel insurance
• Tips and additional expenses

ITINERARY

DAY 1

WELCOME TO LIMA!

Upon your arrival in Lima, a Peru & U representative will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel of your choice to rest smoothly for the adventures ahead. Also you will have a short briefing about your itinerary and have the rest of the day at your leisure to relax and enjoy of the gastronomic capital of South America.

DAY 2

LIMA BIKING CITY TOUR (B)

After a nourishing breakfast, you will have a great adventure ahead as at 11 am you can start your biking tour, the meeting point will be close by at Larcomar Mall. Here you will join a small group lead by your well informed guide who will introduce you to the highlights along the way. The first stop will be the Indian Market a great chance to purchase a souvenir for your beloved ones at home. The next site it is the impressive archeological site of Huaca Pucllana that use to be a ceremonial and administrative temple of the Lima culture. As the biking tour follows then the Miraflores Malecon wait for you to enchant with views of the coastline and its fresh breeze, you will pass by the Love Park and the bridge of redoubt as well.
The rest of the day will be yours to explore on your own and make the most in the city of kings

DAY 3

LIMA - CUSCO (B)

After enjoying your breakfast, you will be pick up and taken to the airport according to your schedule to catch your flight to Cusco, where you will be met again by a Peru & U representative that will take you to your hotel downtown hotel. It is very important that today you adjust yourself and acclimatize to the high altitude of this magical city. The day is for you to enjoy at your leisure.

DAY 4

CITY TOUR & CUSCO RUINS (B)

Today after breakfast, you will have the morning free to wonder around the cobblestone city of Cusco at your leisure. By the early afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel to start the city tour. Our first stop is the Coricancha or Sun Temple, an incredible and religious construction that was built during the zenith of the Inca empire. Right after that we will be visiting the Plaza de Armas, which is Cusco’s main square for a complete explanation of the Cathedral its history and architecture. Afterwards, you will have the chance to visit the northern outskirts of Cusco where is laying the marvelous Inca complex of Sacsayhuaman. Walking through the massive openings of the huge Inca walls would leave you in owe, this fortress was also built with huge rocks weighing up to 180 tons, and perfectly fit together. As follows the tour, you will move on to another important Inca site well known as Qenqo. This very peculiar place protects on the surface its interior where subterranean hidden passages made of stone reside. It is also said that the Incas used to mummified their dead in here.
Finally, you will visit the Inca baths at Tambomachay and the gorgeous lookout point of Puka Pukara. After finishing this adventure, you will be taken back at your Cusco downtown hotel. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy and make the most of your visit in this lovely and mystical city.

DAY 5

CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA (L, D)

Departing Cusco at 5:00am, we will directly go to Marcoccasa (3400m/11154 ft), passing through the village of Mollepata (3000m/9843 ft). Once we have arrived in Marcoccasa, we will have the chance to meet with the horsemen and the other members of the trek team prior to commencing the hike. You will fall in love with the majestic beauty of the snow-capped mountains that embellish the scenery such as Humantay (5217m/17116ft) as well as Salkantay (6264m/20551ft). Camp for the night at the nice location of Soraypampa (3900m/12795ft). Climate: cold
• Climate: cold
• Transport time: 3 hours
• Hiking time: 6 hours
• Notes: Before reaching Soray Pampa, we recommend that you take a 2-hour detour in order to reach Humantay Lake,so that you can observe the stunning snow-covered peak of Humantay.

DAY 6

SORAY PAMPA– RAYAMPATA (B, L, D)

Once we have enjoyed your breakfast, we will embark on our hike to the Salkantay pass (4600m/15092ft) feeling blessed to witness the stunning views of the snow-capped Salkantay (6264m/20551ft). After spending some time admiring the ethereal beauty of nature, we will begin the descend while enjoying the vegetation and ever changing ecosystem. We will set up our camp at Rayanpata (3350m/10990ft) within the premises of the lush tropical forest.
• Climate: cold and warm with mosquitoes
• hiking time: 7-8 hours

DAY 7

RAYANPATA – LUCMABAMBA (B, L, D)

Our third day will be admiring and appreciating the region’s flora, as well as its coffee, cocoa and fruit plantations. Descending into a forest in order to enjoy the wide variety of orchids, bromeliads as well as a variety of other plants. We will also have the opportunity to meet local families in Chaullay (2950m/9678ft), Wiñaypoco (2650m/8694ft), La Playa (2100m/6890ft) and last but not least Lucmabamba (2000m/6561ft), the location where our campsite will be situated.
This afternoon, we will have the opportunity to meet with a local rural family in order to learn about cultivation as well as the process of coffee. Spend some time learning about the labor-intensive process about how your coffee comes from the tree to your cup. Feel free to ask the locals all about their work, they will be very glad to acknowledge your interest.
• Climate: warm during the day with mosquitoes
• Hiking time: 7 hour
• Note: We highly recommend that you take some time out to soak in the hotel mineral springs of Santa Teresa after all those days hiking, but the decision is yours to take. If you do wish to do so, please coordinate with your tour guide in order to arrange the transporation needed.

DAY 8

LUCMABAMBA – MACHU PICCHU TOWN (B, L, D)

After enjoying breakfast, our hike to the Inca Trail will begin in order to arrive at the archaeological site of Llactapata (2650m/8694ft). Uncovering beautiful scenery along the way, the hike will feel like it takes no time at all. Enjoy the sights of flora, evidence of Inca culture. From this point, we will have some incredible views over the Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu as well as the Volcanota Canyon. In continuation of the hike, we will head in the direction of the Hydroelectric train station (1950m/6398ft) in order to take a short break before embarking on a train and heading towards Aguas Calientes (2050m/6726ft) in order to spend the night.
• Climate: warm with some mosquitos
• Hiking time: 6 hours

DAY 9

MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (B)

After a nourishing breakfast, we will be leaving the hotel at 5:30am in order to make our way to Machu Picchu (2400m/7874ft) by a tourist bus, arriving at the citadel approximately at 6:00 am. Enjoy a guided tour around the site, including learning about life and culture of the Inca Empire. Enjoy a hike up to Huayna Picchu (if you have reserved your spot in advance) or simply walk the premises of Machu Picchu and make sure you have taken some photos for your memories to live on. After enjoying your time at the citadel, you will begin your descend to Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy some lunch, as well as have a time to relax in the natural springs. You will leave Aguas Calientes to head back to Cusco at approximately 6:00pm.
• Hiking time: 03 hours

DAY 10

FAREWELL CUSCO

After breakfast at your hotel, this adventure has finally come to an end, your Peru & U representative will take you one last time to the airport in order for you to take the return flight home.

Restrictions

• At least 2 people is required for this tour.
• The walking sticks are not included, but if you prefer we can arrange to provide you a pair of basic poles with an extra cost.
• If you would like to climb to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, please take in mind that is an unguided hike and require and additional cost. If you are interested, please consult with your travel specialist as we need to check availability far in advance.

Suggestions

• For your Trek please bring the appropriate clothing for warm and cold weather, besides:
• Hiking or trekking shoes
• Rain poncho or a waterproof jacket
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, toilet paper, hand cleanser and a hat.