Day 1: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO

Reception at Cusco´s airport and transfer to your Hotel, rest and acclimatize time as you are now at 3,400 meters above sea level. If you are feeling up to it. Afternoon: At 13:45 pm Guided Cusco City Tour : Koricancha " Sun Temple" , Cusco Principal Cathedral, Saqsayhuaman Inca Complex,Tambo Machay, Qenqo and Puca-Pucara. Please note you can organise the city tour for Day 3 if you prefer or if you are organising any pre or post tour accomodation you can organise the city tour for any day not necesarily the day of you arrival. Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses.

Day 2: SACRED VALLEY, PISAC,URUBAMBA,OLLANTAYTAMBO.

Transfer from Hotel Marqueses at approximately 8.30am and travel from Cusco past Saqsaywaman and Tambomachay, over the mountains toward the Sacred Valley. We descend 1500 feet to the valley floor of the sacred Urubamba river and the village of Pisac where we will visit a traditional market and you can buy some local souveniers. We then drive up to explore the extensive ruins of Pisac with stunning views over the valley. On the guided walk into the Citadel of Pisac you can observe temples, residences, altars, channels, carvings, tunnels/caves and the famous Intihuatana “The hitching post of the Sun",
For those who would prefer to spend more time in the market instead of visiting the ruins, advise your guide so he can organise a time and place to pick you up when returning through the market.
We continue on to Urubamba where we stop for you to buy lunch. A further 30 mins drive takes us to Ollantaytambo surrounded by the sacred mountains, where we will again discover the magnificence of the Incan constructions, the amazing temple of the Sun, enormous blocks of rock perfectly carved and polished, stone water fountains, stairs, terraces and the beauty of the local people in their traditional dress, all surrounded by the sacred mountains and Valley of Patacancha and Willoq. On our return, we quickly visit the famous church and archeological site in Chincheros, arriving to Cusco at about 6.30-7:00 pm. Accommodation: Hotel Marqueses in Cusco

Day 3: CUSCO to SALKANTAY - MOUNTAIN LODGE & ADVENTURE -SORAYPAMPA (3,869 m/12,690 ft).

THE NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE: EVENING BRIEFING IN CUSCO MEET & GREET
After an early breakfast, guests will be picked up starting at 7:00 am at their hotel in Cusco by an MLP guide and vehicle in direction to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR) in Soraypampa. En route we will take a short break to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where we stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle). Above & Left: Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort at Soraypampa Here, we will begin our trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for guests to acclimate and enjoy a beautiful 6 hour trek on their first day. (Hiking level: moderate). (Optional: guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge in the vehicle). The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley – the “Salkantay”, the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,600 ft (6,270 m), the highest in the region. After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, guests will be shown to their rooms and have time to wash-up. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude. An evening briefing by the fireplace is followed by aperitifs and dinner. Note.- Lunch on DAY 1 is a box lunch. MLP- Soray Lodge - Dinner.

Day 4: SORAYPAMPA.

This day is spent at leisure for rest or activities,depending upon guests’ level of acclimatization.
The most popular activity at Soraypampa is a half-day hike (3-4 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging) to a glacial lake where the more adventurous might take a very short swim! Thisactivity is excellent for acclimatization and a first immersion into high-mountain trekking. In theafternoon, guests may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. In the evening, the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the following day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken at the Lodge.Left: Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort.

Day 5: SORAYPAMPA to WAYRA LODGE at HUAYRACCMACHAY (3,906m/12,812 ft).

This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu. After an early start, we will hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay Peak. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,638 m (15,213 ft). At the pass we stop to take in views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the south face of Salkantay towering above us. We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we continue our descent toward the Wayra Lodge (“Wayra”: wind; ‘the place where the wind lives’) our destination for the evening. A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. (Hiking time: 6-8 hours. Total excursion time for day: 7-9 hours. Hiking level: challenging with a 15,000ft mountain pass)

Day 6: HUAYRACCMACHAY to COLPA LODGE at COLLPAPAMPA (2,870m/9,414 ft).

On this day we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. We then begin our trek by hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. The Colpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor hot tub in this lodge has prominent views of lush green mountains and a small, far-away, local town. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. (Hiking time: 3-4 hours. Hiking level: easy to moderate). Above: Wayra Lodge

Day 7: COLLPAPAMPA to LUCMA LODGE at LUCMABAMBA (2,135m/7,003 ft).

We depart early today and head down the Santa Teresa River Valley,through more populated rural areas. We will pass through banana,granadilla, and avocado orchards and coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world). We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. After another hour of trekking a private vehicle arrives to take us to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” (30 - minute drive). From the head of the trail it is a short climb (30 min.) to the Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the small village of Lucmabamba and possibly meeting with members of the local community. Dinner and overnight
at the lodge. (Hiking time: 5-6 hours. Total excursion time for day: 6-8 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging, basically due to distance, not terrain).

Day 8: LUCMABAMBA to AGUAS CALIENTES (1,900 m/6,232 ft).

After an early start and a hearty breakfast, we tackle the last day of our trek. We head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata pass (2,736 m/8,974ft), where we come upon a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse. An added value are the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. We then begin our final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hour descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short (30 minutes), scenic train ride away. (Total hiking time: 4-6 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging). We then arrive in Aguas Calientes to check-in to our hotel for the night.

Above: Lucma Lodge
Above: The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu}

Day 9: Machu Picchu (2,400m/7,872 ft) to Cusco

We wake up early to have breakfast at the hotel and then make our way to the bus station for MachuPicchu citadel (30 min), we will ride up to MachuPicchu.
A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu will be provided (2 hours). Guests will have about 4 additional hours to explore the site on their own there is a lot to do and see. Afterwards, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure The train takes us to Ollantaytambo (1½ hrs), where a private vehicle awaits to take us to Cusco (1 ½ hrs). Upon arrival in Cusco (approximately 7-8pm) we will drop guests off at the hotel of their choice.

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