Salkantay 10 days / 9 nights

Many Inca trails lace the fabled Cordillera Vilcabamba, the steep green mountains that surround Machu Picchu. Our special route follows a traditional but seldom traveled Inca trail leading up from the Urubamba River past remote ruins, then higher still into breathtaking alpine reaches where we have some of the most glorious views and campsites in the Andes all to ourselves. Our highest point is Incachiriasca, a spectacular mountain pass with incredible views of the awesome icefields of sacred Salcantay (20,574'), the loftiest peak near Machu Picchu. From sublime alpine terrain, we descend into a cloud forest and head to the cliff-perched lost city, Machu Picchu. Our overnight at the only hotel right at the ruins offers a chance to visit one of the most mystical sites in the world without the crowds. Below is an Itinerary-in-Brief. To view a complete Detailed Itinerary, Download Full Itinerary or Email our Area Specialist

ITINERARY

Day 1.-Cusco

We explore ancient Cusco's atmospheric cobbled streets and remarkable Inca sites.Day

Day 2 The Sacred Valley

The Urubamba Valley is ringed by craggy mountains where the Incas built their most spectacular monuments.

 We visit the towering Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo, where rebel Manco Inca and his men held out against Pizarro's forces in one of the only battles the Spaniard's lost. We also explore the lovely village below the ruin, with its traditional market.

Our camp tonight has panoramic views of dazzling Mt. Veronica (20,275') in the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba.

Days 3-5 Pampaccahuana / Incachiriasca

Pass Hiking up past the extensive Inca ruin of Llactapata on the classic Inca Trail, we branch off into the alpine reaches of the Pampaccahuana Valley, where traditional Quechua bring their herds of alpacas and llamas.

Day 5,

we cross the spectacular 15,900-foot Incachiriasca Pass, a notch between Salcantay (20,574') and neighboring Huamantay (19,239'. The pathway at the top of the pass is marked by apachetas (rock cairns) left by the Quechuas to honor the mountain apus (spirits). There are amazing views of Salcantay's fabulous icefalls and deep couloirs as we ascend. Here in the high mountains, the beauty of the legendary Vilcabamba is all around us

Days 6-8 Salcantay / Santa Teresa

We cross Salcantay Pass (15,700'), and from this alpine paradise of turquoise tarns and glacial moraines, we begin our descent into orchid-draped forests and subtropical terrain.

Our trail leads down through a long valley to the small settlement of Colcapampa, where there is a hot spring. We continue through the subtropical Santa Teresa Valley, with its beautiful botanic displays of waterfalls, bromeliads, and orchids characteristic of the Andean cloud forest.

Days 9-10 Machu Picchu / Cusco

A short train ride along the Urubamba River carries us to Machu Picchu, and we head up to the ruins, exploring all day and enjoying an overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, or others hotels,right at the ruins, for fantastic access to the ruins.

In the afternoon of Day 10, we return to Cusco.