Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Mountain Lodges of Peru

Date: Several departures per week from March to end of December (join a small group or build your own departure)
Host: Local guides
Group size: Minimum 2/Maximum 10 participants
Cost: Starting from US$2,990 per person, sharing

This 7-day lodge to lodge trekking experience will take you on a historic section of Inca trail through 15 different eco-systems, while you traverse a mountain pass over 15,000 feet, explore villages where locals still maintain age-old traditions and re-discover the mystical beauty of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of the Inca Empire.

Each day’s trek ends with a hot shower in a cozy lodge, complemented by a massage or a dip in an outdoor jacuzzi, followed by a gourmet meal with select wines and all provided with highly personalized service by local staff.

The Salkantay experience goes beyond deluxe lodges and a great trek. It is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, as well as the most interesting and exotic variety of flora and fauna, all in the company of new friends and likeminded souls.

© Images courtesy of Mountain Lodges of Peru

Brief Itinerary

• Mountain Lodges of Peru along the sacred Andes (5 nights)
• Machu Picchu Pueblo (1 night)

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We recommend arriving in Cusco 1-2 days prior to the start of your adventure to get comfortable with the altitude while you explore this fascinating historical city. You may also want to consider spending an extra day at Machu Picchu during your journey. Contact us to personalize your next adventure.

The lodge-to-lodge equestrian adventure is a five-day ride amidst snowcapped Andean peaks, through verdant cloud forests and along pristine creeks, all the while enjoying our mountain luxury lodges and friendly staff. Day six is a hiking day, as horses cannot travel over the newly restored Llactapacta Trail. The trips are led by expert riding guides and the horses provided are American quarter horses raised in Uruguay.

All saddles, tack and riding helmets are imported from the U.S. We generally recommend this adventure for intermediate and experienced riders, but beginners with some experience are also welcome. Equestrian-only departures are available throughout the year from March to December. Other available dates are mixed-group departures that are shared by trekkers and riders, each group having separate trip leaders.

Each of the four beautifully-appointed mountain lodges is one of a kind. The eco-minded architecture effortlessly mixes traditional Andean building techniques with contemporary design to blend seamlessly into their environs.

All of the guest rooms offer top-notch amenities. Hot showers, gourmet meals, fine linens, outdoor hot tubs, and highly personalized service from our local staff are just a few.

Includes: 

• Transportation from hotel in Cusco to Soraypampa on Day 1 and from Ollantaytambo back to hotel in Cusco on Day 7
• 6 nights lodging (5 nights in MLP lodges and 1 night in Aguas Calientes)
• All meals except breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day of the program
• Filtered water, tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks at all lodges (alcohol, sports drinks, and bottled water not included)
• Service of a bilingual guide, tours are led in English
• Transportation of personal belongings on the trek by pack horses/mules and/or porters
• Guided visit to Machu Picchu (including entrance fee and transportation to site)
• Train service to Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo

Excludes: 

• International flights
• All items of a personal nature
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities to local guides
• Any increases due to circumstances beyond our control

In 2006 Mountain Lodges of Peru sponsored the creation of Yanapana Peru, a not-for-profit Civil Association dedicated to social and environmental responsibility. Yanapana is committed to improving the quality of life through sustainable community development, in an effort to reduce extreme poverty in the Andean highlands.

Main activities of the association include donations for the enhancement of nutrition and infrastructure at a local public school, funding and training for local entrepreneurs, which include jam and honey, handmade textiles and organic coffee production. Other supportive efforts are directed towards child sponsorship programs, as well as medical prevention, detection and treatment programs.

"In our own journey through sustainability, we realized that it was necessary to take steps beyond what was traditionally being done in social inclusion, which is why in 2012, a joint-venture was born between the community of Huacahuasi and Mountain Lodges of Peru, naming it Kuska Purispa: Walking Together.

We are convinced that sustainable tourism in the region should be built around a model that empowers local communities, making them active investors in local development projects for the long-term benefit of all. We are committed to work under this innovative business model and keep empowering and generating added value to local communities in Peru".

Dates & Cost

Guaranteed departures from Cusco several times per week from March 1st through December 31st.

7-Day Program 2021 (Trekking):

• Low Season (March 1-31 & November 1 - December 14)- From US$2,990 per person
• High Season (April 1 - October 31 & December 15-31)- From US$3,990 per person

7-Day Program 2021 (Equestrian):

• Low Season (March 1-31 & November 1 - December 14)- From US$3,125 per person
• High Season (April 1 - October 31 & December 15-31)- From US$4,125 per person

If you’re looking to travel on your own please contact us for single supplement pricing.

Prices are valid at time of publication (January 4, 2021) and while not expected, itinerary and prices are subject to change. Contact us for dates of availability and pricing based on your group size and departure.