Salkantay + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — 7 Days

Wake up with hot drinks and a hearty breakfast, then hike about 2 hours to Humantay Lake, famous for its turquoise-blue waters and its spiritual connection to the Incas and the Apus. Return to the main trail and continue to Salkantay Pampa for lunch with a grand view of Salkantay (6,215 m). After lunch, hike 2 more hours to the second campsite at Ichupata (4,200 m), where temperatures are colder—warm jacket, hat, sunglasses and gloves are recommended. Enjoy hot drinks, dinner and a star-filled night.

After breakfast and hot tea, prepare for the toughest day. Hike to Inca Chiriasca Pass (5,000 m) with panoramic views of glaciers, valleys, and wildlife such as condors and hawks. At the top, take a short break with hot tea and—if the group chooses—walk briefly toward a nearby glacier. Continue to the lunch spot where porters serve a hot meal, then descend through green valleys and streams to a campsite near a small village of about 10 families. The day blends intense effort with constant scenery and authentic rural Andean life.

Walk along ancient Inca agricultural routes still used by locals. Visit several Inca ruins as your guide explains their history and ceremonial purpose. As you descend toward the cloud forest, you’ll notice lush vegetation, waterfalls and changing microclimates. Reach the Classic Inca Trail, enjoy a hearty lunch, then hike uphill to Ayapata camp with spectacular viewpoints for photos. This day showcases the ecological transition from the Andes into the upper jungle.

After an early breakfast, hike about 2 hours up to Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmi Wañusca, 4,200 m), one of the Inca Trail’s iconic challenges. Descend to the lunch area at 3,600 m, spotting orchids, hummingbirds and cloud-forest species. Then climb for another 2 hours to a second pass at 4,000 m, where the Runcu Raccay ruins stand as a former Inca watchtower. Descend toward Yanaccocha lagoon—linked to water rituals—and finish at Chaquicocha (3,600 m) camp.

Enjoy breakfast with views of Pumassillo. A ~5-hour hike visits three Inca sites, highlighting Phuyupatamarca, the “Town Above the Clouds,” plus an agricultural station and the magnificent Wiñay Wayna with its water channels, terraces and temples. Lunch at camp, free time to explore nearby ruins, then a farewell ceremony for the porters with happy hour and dinner. It’s a more relaxed day blending Inca history and cloud-forest panoramas before the final push.

Wake early and hike about 2 hours to Machu Picchu, entering through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) for spectacular views over mountains, rivers and valleys. Enjoy a ~2-hour guided tour of the citadel, followed by free time to explore temples, palaces and the famous Inca Bridge. Afterward, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, board the panoramic Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo, and transfer back to Cusco—finishing an unforgettable expedition that merges two iconic routes.