THE JOURNEY
Named by National Geographic among the world's best treks. Cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 m beneath the sacred glacier, descend from ice to cloud forest, and reach Machu Picchu by its most epic route.
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THE ROUTE
04:30 am – 05:00 am | Pickup at your hotel in Cusco
Your adventure with Machupicchu Glory begins before dawn. Our team will pick you up at your accommodation and provide blankets so you can rest during the drive. We start the journey in private tourist transport heading to the town of Mollepata.
07:30 am | Breakfast in Mollepata
After roughly 2 to 3 hours of travel, we make a stop in Mollepata for an energizing breakfast and last-minute supply shopping. We continue to Challacancha (3,800 masl), the starting point of the trek.
09:00 am | Trek to Soraypampa along the Inca canal
From Challacancha we hike for about 3 hours following an ancient Inca water canal that crosses a glacial valley, until we reach the Soraypampa base camp (3,900 masl). We settle into the exclusive glass domes, with direct views of the snow-capped peaks, and enjoy a hot lunch prepared by our cooking team.
01:30 pm | Ascent to Humantay Lake
In the afternoon we take on the day's star excursion: the climb to Humantay Lake (4,200 masl), a stunning turquoise glacial lake at the foot of the mountain. The climb takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes; we will have time for photos and to admire this natural sanctuary before heading back down.
06:00 pm | Night of stars in the domes
Back at camp we welcome you with hot coca tea to aid acclimatization. After dinner, thanks to the glass domes and the low light pollution, the night is devoted to stargazing facing the Humantay and Salkantay glaciers. This is the key acclimatization day before the great high mountain pass.
04:30 am – 05:00 am | Wake-up and breakfast
This is the challenge day of the trek. We wake you up with hot coca tea in the dome and serve you a hearty breakfast to face the most demanding climb of the route.
05:30 am | Ascent to the Salkantay Pass
We begin the climb toward the Salkantay Pass (4,630 masl), the highest point of the entire route. The ascent takes about 3 to 3 and a half hours along a zigzag trail known as the "path of the 7 snakes," passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha. At the top we admire panoramic views of the imposing Salkantay mountain (6,271 masl) and the Humantay and Tucarhuay peaks; following Andean tradition, we leave an offering of stones (apacheta) to the apus.
11:00 am | Descent to Huayracmachay and lunch
A long descent of about 7 km begins down to Huayracmachay (3,850 masl), where lunch is served now within the cloud forest. The landscape changes dramatically from the high Andes to the high jungle.
02:00 pm | Descent to Challway
In the afternoon we continue descending among exotic vegetation, waterfalls, and warm air until we reach Collpapampa / Challway (2,900 masl) in the late afternoon. A hot dinner awaits you and, optionally, the chance to relax in natural hot springs before sleeping.
06:00 am | Breakfast at the campsite
The most relaxed day of the trek, a constant descent through tropical jungle. After breakfast we begin a downhill hike of approximately 5 hours through the subtropical valley of the Salkantay River.
08:00 am | Trek among coffee and orchids
The trail is beautiful: we cross organic coffee plantations, orchids, bromeliads, and waterfalls. Along the way we visit a coffee plantation where we take part in the process of growing, roasting, grinding, and tasting, a cultural experience highly valued by our travelers.
12:30 pm | Lunch at La Playa Sahuayaco
We arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco around midday for lunch. From here we take tourist transport (about 1 hour) to Santa Teresa, where our campsite is located.
03:00 pm | Free afternoon in Santa Teresa
In the afternoon there is time for a very popular optional activity: relaxing in the Cocalmayo hot springs (entrance not included) or doing canopy / zipline. Back at camp, afternoon tea and dinner are served, so you can fall asleep lulled by the sound of the jungle.
07:00 am | Breakfast and the walk to Hidroeléctrica
After breakfast we make the most of the cool morning. On the classic variant we take a 2 to 3 hour climb along the original route of the Inca Trail toward the Llactapata archaeological complex (2,700 masl), from where you get the first distant view of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu; our guide explains the history of the site.
12:00 pm | Lunch at Hidroeléctrica
We descend to the Hidroeléctrica area (1,800 masl), where we enjoy lunch.
01:30 pm | Final walk along the train tracks
From Hidroeléctrica we walk a flat, scenic stretch of approximately 2 and a half hours (about 10 km) following the train tracks parallel to the Vilcanota-Urubamba River, among rivers, mountains, and high jungle.
04:00 pm | Arrival in Aguas Calientes
We arrive in Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Pueblo) in the mid-afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, first hot shower in several days, free time to explore the town, and dinner at a local restaurant. A restful night before the great visit to the wonder of the world.
04:00 am – 04:30 am | Ascent to Machu Picchu
Final day and culmination of the Salkantay trek with Machupicchu Glory. After breakfast, we climb up to the citadel by one of two ways: hiking up the Inca Trail steps (about 1 hour and 30 minutes) or a bus from Aguas Calientes (25–30 minutes). The goal is to enter early to watch the sunrise over the mountains and enjoy the citadel with fewer people.
06:00 am | Guided tour of the citadel
Once inside, our guide leads a tour of approximately 2 to 2 and a half hours through the most iconic sectors: the classic photograph from the Guardian's House, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Three Windows, the agricultural terraces, and the urban enclosures. The guide reveals the history, astronomy, and engineering of this Inca sanctuary.
09:00 am | Free time and optional mountains
There is free time to explore on your own or, with advance booking and an extra cost, to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for higher views.
02:30 pm | Return train and journey back to Cusco
We descend to Aguas Calientes, with time for lunch on your own, and take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo (1 hour and 45 minutes). There our private transport awaits for the transfer to Cusco, arriving at your hotel between 07:00 and 09:00 pm, closing an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Andes.
THE DETAILS
Before You Go
MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY
TRAVELER STORIES
“Every detail felt considered before we even asked — the private train car, the guide who knew we loved photography and timed our arrival for the light. This is how Machu Picchu should be seen.”
“No crowds, no rush — just the two of us and nine hundred years of stone in the morning mist. Worth every mile.”
