Salkantay and Rainbow Mountain Trek

You’ll be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick you up around 4:00 a.m. You’ll travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive. After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for breakfast. We’ll then continue on to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

First, you’ll meet the cooks and horsemen, as well as do a last equipment check. Then, we’ll be on our way. You’ll start with a 3-hour moderate walk to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we’ll be spending our first night. The first section is relatively flat with a slight bit of uphill through a deep valley of glaciers. You’ll notice that a lot of the trail follows a restored Inca water channel, which local farmers still make use of today. This section is 7 km / 4.35 mi overall.

Once in Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Sky Camp, where you’ll sleep this evening. You’ll have a bit of time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the wonderful Humantay Lake (4,200 m /13,780 ft).

This round trip takes about 3 hours and covers 3 km / 1.86 mi. It’s not far, but you need to take things slowly at this altitude. You’ll have some time once you get to the lake to enjoy the fantastic scenery. There aren’t many places in the Andes quite as stunning as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. You’ll feel like you’re in a fairy tale!

Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset as your company. You can’t describe the energy here, but you’ll feel its peacefulness for yourself once here. Then it’ll be time to turn into your Sky Camp igloo. From the glass roof, you’ll enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets and wake up to see the Apu Salkantay watching over you.

Today you´ll wake up with the light of the day's first rays and an energizing coca tea to start the hike. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast before starting the trek to the highest point of the route, Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). You will walk a distance of 7 km / 4.34 miles for three hours. It is a difficult ascent along the "Trail of the 7 Snakes", so called because of its winding route.

Once at the top, you´ll appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys and the Salkantay mountain next to you (6,271 m / 20,574 ft), which is the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, considered Apus (Inca Gods). You´ll also be able to observe the mountains: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After enjoying the views and rest, you´ll begin the 7 km / 4.35 mi downhill hike to our lunch point at Huayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), from where you can enjoy fantastic views.

This section of the trail is rocky and steep and provides wonderful views of the valley. After a revitalizing lunch, you will enter the edge of the tropical rainforest, also known as "cloud forest". This tour has a distance of 9.5 km / 5.9 miles and lasts approximately three and a half hours. Along the way, you will enjoy a magical rainforest and witness the drastic change from the Andes to the Amazon. You will observe colorful landscapes, unique fauna, native plants, and you will feel that the climate will become much warmer.

After a long day of hiking, you will be happy to arrive at our camp in Collpapampa (2,950 m / 9,678 ft). In the evening, we´ll serve you dinner before resting in the Mountain Sky View.

Today you’ll be woken at 6:00 a.m. for your tea and then breakfast before setting off from the campsite. Our first destination will be La Playa, and we’ll be walking through the Santa Teresa Valley. You’ll enjoy a more leisurely walk today with more downs than ups as you soak in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, coffee, and avocado.

We’ll pass through a small village called Collpapampa, and after, descend through a valley where you’ll observe waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit trees, and plenty of flora and fauna. You might be lucky enough to see the national bird of Peru, the ‘Cock of the Rock.’

In La Playa, we’ll devour a tasty lunch before we head to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), just another hour away. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, especially perfect for those who are coffee lovers. Even if you are not a fan of a cup of coffee, the smell in the air is delicious. This is the main agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia, and all of Europe. You´ll also visit avocado and orange plantations.

After dinner, of course, you´ll go to bed for the night in one of our exclusive camps, Jungle Domes. While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with mother earth.

After a hearty breakfast, you´ll be eager to put on your hiking shoes for another day of hiking. This morning you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original, world-famous Inca Trail! After a 2 hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata is the first Inca site you’ll see on the trek, and you’ll learn all about the mysteries of the ancient culture and the extraordinary site. You even get to have your first exciting glance of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu from here. Your guide will fill you in on all the history of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 1:30 hours, where you get another couple of peeks at the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, along the way - only making your anticipation for tomorrow stronger. We stop for lunch in Aobamba before we continue on, for a half-hour, to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). One of the most impressive sites in this section is the 250-meter-tall artificial waterfall, which generates electricity for the entire city of Cusco.

Once in Hidroelectrica, you have a couple of options: 1) If you’re tired out after all the trekking, you can opt to board a train to Aguas Calientes (US$ 37.00 extra). 2) If you want to enjoy the last stretch of the trek, you can enjoy the flat walk along the side of the tracks to Aguas Calientes, which takes around 3 hours. It’ll be one more chance to enjoy your warm jungle surroundings as you hike.

Along the way, you’ll see Intihuatana, an ancient rock the Incas used as a sundial, which worked together with the sundial stone at Machu Picchu. These were used to measure and read the winter solstice, meaning the beginning of the farming season for the Incas. Next, you’ll reach the train tracks that lead to Aguas Calientes. Once in the small town, you’ll enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Note: During the rainy season and for safety reasons, the hike up the Llactapata Trail isn’t 100% guaranteed. When there’s frequent heavy rain, this trail can become very dangerous.

Today you´ll visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. You´ll have to get up early to avoid the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the morning light.

Once at the Inca citadel, you´ll enjoy an approximately two-hour guided tour through the most relevant sectors of this incredible ancient site. You will see houses, temples, terraces, and crop fields. You´ll be impressed by the intelligence of the Incas in terms of engineering work, which was way ahead of its time and remains a mystery in many aspects.

The Incas did not have the tools we use today, but they were still able to build and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

Bonus fact: When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and disrepair. Since then, it has been cleaned and restored; today, it is protected and treasured by people worldwide.

Be sure to return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. Once there, our private transportation will pick you up at the next station and take you back to your hotel in Cusco. It's time to rest and recover your energy; another incredible day awaits you tomorrow.

Today is the last day of our adventure. We´ll start at 4:00 a.m. picking you up at the door of your accommodation in private transport to head for three hours to the South Valley of Cusco. You will have the opportunity to sleep a little longer on the way, thanks to the comfortable transportation and the cozy blankets we will provide you with.

You´ll appreciate villages and herds of llamas and alpacas that will entertain you while you enjoy a delicious continental breakfast that will give you the nutritional boost you need to start the trek.

We will continue our journey until we reach the starting point of the trek, Llacto (4,630 m / 15,190 ft); from there, we will follow a beautiful stream and go along a winding path in the middle of the Andean mountains. As we ascend, you will be rewarded with the breathtaking view of Ausangate Mountain (6,372 m / 20,905 ft).

This remote region is home to many people, and you´ll have the opportunity to see them working the land. You´ll also be amazed to see the traditional clothing they wear and make, thanks to the artistic textile talents they have inherited from their ancestors.

After an hour and a half hike, we will arrive at the incredible Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732 ft). Take the time to admire the astonishing beauty of this impressive natural formation and feel the thrill of witnessing a unique natural site. Take this opportunity to take some fantastic pictures while your guide gives you a personalized site explanation. We will spend about 30 minutes to an hour at the top, depending on how fast you have walked and the weather conditions.

It will take us another hour to reach the hike's starting point; from there, we will board the transportation that will take us to a restaurant in Cusipata to enjoy a buffet lunch. Then, we will board our transportation again to return to Cusco. We will leave you at the door of your accommodation to rest after six special days around the Peruvian Andes.

Today, you’ll wake up, have breakfast, and pack your bags, as it’s time to say goodbye to the imperial city of Cusco for now. We’ll organize a time to collect you and take you to the airport or bus station to continue your vacation or return home.

This isn’t a forever farewell, and we’re sure you’ll long to relive all the special moments, learn more about the ancient city and cultures, and try out more of the excellent restaurants and their delicious cuisine. So, it’s not goodbye, but rather, see you soon!