Inca Trail with Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 15 days

Arrive in Lima, the capital city of Peru. A representative will welcome you at Jorge Chávez Airport and provide a private transfer to your chosen hotel. Spend the night in Lima.

Meals: None

In Lima: Your hotel will arrange for a pickup for a guided tour that showcases the city’s main attractions. Highlights include the historical center, San Martín Square, the renowned Plaza de Armas, considered the jewel of Lima’s historic area—and the Convent of San Francisco, famous for its catacombs. The tour continues to the modern district of Miraflores, where you can visit the iconic Park of Love, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. This guided city tour lasts approximately 4 hours.

Afterward, you will be transferred to the terminal for a double-decker bus trip to Paracas Bay.

In Paracas: Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Paracas.

Meals: Breakfast.

In Paracas: Enjoy a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, known as the “Peruvian Galápagos.” These rocky islands, accessible only by boat, are protected to preserve their wildlife. They are famous for their diverse animal species, including birds (like geese and partridges), Peruvian cormorants, Bougainvillea pelicans, seagulls, and vultures, as well as small Humboldt penguins, dolphins, and sea lions that inhabit the beaches of these rocky islets, located about 90 minutes from Paracas. Visiting this archipelago is significantly cheaper than a trip to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.

Next, explore the sand dunes of Ica and the Huacachina oasis: Begin with a guided visit to a traditional winery that produces grappa, including the famous Pisco. Here, you will learn about the entire Pisco production process and take a tour of the winery with an employee.

Afterward, visitors can sample different varieties of Pisco and wines produced at this winery. The tour continues with a visit to the Regional Museum of Ica, one of the most significant museums on Peru’s southern coast, where you can see fascinating artifacts from various cultures that once inhabited Ica.

Finally, we will head to Huacachina Oasis, located just 5 km from Ica’s center. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of this beautiful lagoon and explore the area for stunning photos. The towering dunes surrounding the oasis provide a perfect setting for sandboarding, a popular sport in the region.

Consider taking a dune buggy tour for a thrilling experience on the sand!

At the designated time, transfer to the terminal for a 2-hour bus ride to Nazca. Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the bus terminal and privately transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Nazca.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

The Nazca Lines are etched into the ground, located on an arid plateau stretching about 80 kilometers between Nazca and Palpa in southern Peru. There are over 300 distinct designs, including stylized representations of common animals in the area, such as whales, parrots, a lizard measuring more than 590 feet (180 meters) long, hummingbirds, condors, and a massive spider around 148 feet (45 meters) long.

In total, the geoglyphs consist of over 10,000 lines, some measuring 98 feet (30 meters) wide and extending over 5.6 miles (9 km), making them easily visible from the air or nearby hills. These figures include the tree, wings (or shells), alligator astronaut, whale, dog, hummingbird, shells, condor, iguana, blade, lizard, hands, mythological orca, parrot, pelican (or alcatraz), spider, monkey, snake, spiral, star, and more.

The Nazca lines are technically perfect, drawn with very slight angles of deflection and well-proportioned, showcasing the ancient inhabitants’ remarkable understanding of geometry.

At the scheduled time, transfer to the terminal for a double-decker bus trip to Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast.

Exploring Arequipa: Since 2000, the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its charm comes from the blend of Spanish and indigenous cultures, evident in the city’s unique architecture. Known as the “white city” due to the color of its buildings, it features the famous Santa Catalina Monastery and the Plaza de Armas, where an impressive cathedral stands.

During this guided tour, you will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina, an extensive area surrounded by beautiful walls, making it one of Peru’s most fascinating religious sites. The main square of Arequipa remains untouched by modern buildings, serving as an open-air museum of sillar architecture, white, striking, and aesthetically unique.

Trip to Chivay (Colca Canyon): This journey offers travelers the chance to experience one of the most spectacular attractions: the Colca Valley and Colca Canyon. The first stop is at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve to observe wildlife like vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas.

Then, we will stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes to admire various volcanoes exceeding 16,404 feet (5,000 meters), including Misti, Chachani, Pichupichu, Hualcahualca, Sabancaya, Chucura, and the Chila mountain range. Arrive in Chivay, with the option to visit the thermal baths in the afternoon. Overnight in Chivay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Colca Canyon Excursion: Today, you will visit several Andean villages, including Yanque, Maca, and Pinchollo, for brief stops and photo opportunities. The highlight of the tour is the stop at Cruz del Cóndor, where you can see the magnificent Andean Condor in flight—a truly spectacular natural display! Afterward, return to Chivay for lunch.

Trip to Llachon Community by Private Vehicle: This route offers breathtaking scenery. Along the paved road, you will pass through small towns and see a beautiful lagoon called Lagunillas, where trout farms are located. If you’re fortunate, you might spot Andean flamingos and various other Andean birds. A highlight of this journey is the burial towers of Sillustani, enormous cylindrical structures built long before the Incas.

These towers are perhaps the finest and most perfect cylindrical constructions of ancient Peru, a level of perfection found nowhere else in South America. If time permits, an optional tour to Sillustani will provide insight into pre-Inca civilizations, allowing you to admire the beauty of Umayo Lagoon at the base of the Sillustani plateau.

Upon arriving in Llachon, enjoy spectacular views of the lake and take short hikes to surrounding hills with stunning lookout points and ancient ceremonial sites. About 1,300 residents live in this peninsula, belonging to the Quechua ethnic group.

To Ticonata Island and Its Mummies: Take a short boat ride to Ticonata Island, where several archaeological remains have been discovered, including funerary baskets, mummies, ceremonial vessels, and Keros. These artifacts are currently displayed in the Tiahuanaco Museum located on the island. Overnight in the Llachon community homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

To Taquile Island: Upon arrival at Taquile, we will walk along a narrow path while enjoying views of Lake Titicaca and the traditional houses of the Quechua people. In the main square, you will have some free time to explore independently. Later, we will have lunch at a local restaurant, where grilled trout is commonly served. After lunch, we will descend to the dock to board our motorboat for the continuation of our excursion.

To Uros Floating Islands: The journey continues as we search for the Uros ethnic group and their community. The Uros, or Uru, are an indigenous group living on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. There is truly no other place like this on Earth. Finally, return to Puno and transfer to your selected hotel. Overnight in Puno.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Route of the Sun from Puno to Cusco: This journey offers an enjoyable way to travel from Puno to Cusco while taking in the highlights of the famous “Route of the Sun.” The trip covers nearly 248 miles (400 km) between the two cities and includes five stops:

• Pucará:Known as the Temple of Fertility.
• La Raya Pass:Renowned for its stunning Andean landscapes.
• Sicuani:A rural area where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
• Raqchi:Home to the Temple of Wiracocha, the creator of the Andean world.
• Andahuaylillas Colonial Temple:Often called the Sixtine Chapel of America.

Pucará Museum: Located at an altitude of 12,467 feet (3,800 meters), Pucará was the first significant population center in the Titicaca basin during the Late Formative Period (500 BC-200 AD). It provides valuable insights into the origins of Andean civilization in the highlands. At its peak, it covered over a square kilometer and housed thousands of bureaucrats, priests, artisans, farmers, herders, and possibly warriors. The Pucará style is marked by impressive monolithic sculptures featuring geometric, zoomorphic, and intricate anthropomorphic designs, alongside colorful ceramics used for both rituals and daily life.

Abra La Raya: Standing at 14,232 feet (4,338 meters), Abra La Raya serves as the watershed between the valley flowing into Lake Titicaca and the valley leading to Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Marangani Buffet Lunch: Located at an altitude of 11,617 feet (3,552 meters), Marangani (Sicuani) is a relatively large city in the highlands, acting as a key junction for travelers heading to Puno or Arequipa. This city is surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains, and you will enjoy a buffet lunch at our exclusive restaurant, which offers a family-friendly atmosphere.

Raqchi – Temple of Wiracocha: At an elevation of 10,577 feet (3,225 meters), Raqchi features the most important building in the complex, the “Wiracocha Temple.” According to ancient chroniclers, it was built by the Inca Wiracocha to honor the invisible Supreme God of the Andean people, Apu Kon Titi Wiracocha. The temple is an impressive construction for its time, classified architecturally as a “Kallanka,” meaning a tall building completely covered with straw.

Arrive in Cusco City around 5:00 PM. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

To Mollepata: An early pickup from your hotel at 4:30 AM will take you to the town of Mollepata, arriving around 8:30 AM, the starting point for our adventure. We will hike for approximately 3 hours, appreciating the diverse flora and fauna along the way. Later, we will reach Cruzpata, where we will take a short rest before continuing our hike to Soraypampa (the first campsite) for a delicious lunch.

Humantay Lagoon: In the afternoon, we will hike to the Humantay Lagoon, where we can admire the stunning glacier and the lagoon reflecting its beauty. Afterward, we will return to our Soraypampa campsite for dinner and then enjoy a restful night under the brilliant starry sky of the Inca and Cusco mountains.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

To The Salkantay Pass (15,584 feet / 4,650 meters): We will rise early to enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting off across the expansive Salkantaypampa, located at 11,155 feet (3,400 meters). Here, we will cross the highest point, the Salkantay Pass, at 15,584 feet (4,650 meters), where we can appreciate the breathtaking Andes mountain range and the sacred Apu Salkantay mountain, revered since Inca times.

After taking in this magnificent view, we will descend the mountain and enjoy lunch (the location will depend on our pace). We will continue on to Collpapampa, where we will have dinner and camp for the night. This area is tropical, so you may encounter mosquitoes and a diverse range of flora and fauna; it’s advisable to take necessary precautions, such as bringing repellent.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

To the Jungle eyebrow Playa: We will wake up at 6:45 AM, enjoy breakfast, and then continue our hike to Sahuayacocha, where we will stop for lunch. Along the way, we will see various orchids and impressive waterfalls, as well as coffee crops, fruit trees, bananas, pomegranates, and avocados. Additionally, we’ll encounter Inca bridges and observe the exotic flora and fauna of the region. Finally, we will camp in a location called “Playa.”

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Towards Aguas Calientes: After a nutritious breakfast, we will hike for 2 hours, observing the local flora, before arriving at Lucmabamba. Here, we will take the trail to LLACTAPATA, with a 2-hour climb to the archaeological complex. After exploring the site, we will descend to Hydro-Electric, where we will enjoy lunch and have some free time.

We will then walk to Aguas Calientes, which takes about 2 hours. On this final night, we will check into a hotel, have dinner, and if desired, spend a fun evening at local nightclubs or enjoy the thermal-medicinal waters of Machu Picchu town.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Note: The specific locations for lunch and camping may change based on weather conditions, current Salkantay Trail regulations, and the abilities of the group.

Guided Visit of Machu Picchu: Rise early to reach the bus station for a 20-minute journey to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. The bus will take you on a 6 km drive to the stunning site of Huayna Picchu, also known as Wayna Picchu (Quechua for “Young Peak”). Access to Huayna Picchu is limited to 200 visitors daily.

The Incas constructed a trail up its side and built temples and terraces on the summit. The peak stands about 8,920 feet (2,720 meters) above sea level, approximately 1,180 feet (360 meters) higher than Machu Picchu itself. According to local guides, the summit served as the residence for the high priest and local virgins.

Machu Picchu: Each morning, before dawn, the high priest would walk to Machu Picchu with a small group to signal the start of a new day. The Temple of the Moon, one of the three major temples in the Machu Picchu area, is situated on the mountain’s side at a lower elevation than Machu Picchu. Adjacent to the Temple of the Moon is the Great Cavern, another sacred temple known for its fine masonry. The other significant temples at Machu Picchu include the Temple of the Condor, Temple of Three Windows, Principal Temple, the “Unfinished Temple,” and the Temple of the Sun, also called the Torreón. Following this, we will join a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, and various burial sites.

The Sun Gates of Machu Picchu offer a breathtaking view overlooking Peru’s most iconic ruins. Visitors flock to this viewpoint high in the Andes Mountains to enjoy the same vista featured on nearly every postcard of the Machu Picchu citadel. Known as Inti Punku, the Sun Gates consist of two stones set in a narrow passage in the mountain’s crevice above Machu Picchu, where the sun shines through each day at sunrise—hence the name.

Return to Cusco: In the afternoon, take a train back to Cusco at either 2:30 PM or 7:00 PM. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your selected hotel for an overnight stay in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast.

Flight to Lima City: At the scheduled time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima.

In Lima City: Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your chosen hotel. Overnight in Lima.

Meals: Breakfast.

International Flight: At the indicated time, a private transfer will take you from your hotel to Lima airport for your international flight.

Meals: Breakfast.