Day 1: CUSCO MOLLEPATA – CHALLACANCHA, TREK TO SORAYPAMPA and HUMANTAY LAGOON

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 a.m. on a bus to begin your journey to Salkantay and Machupichu. This bus will take us to a small town of Mollepata for 2.30 hours where you will have your first breakfast, after breakfast the bus will continue the journey 1 hour more until you reach Challacancha, the closest point to Soraypampa, where you will begin a 1-hour hike to the Soraypampa refuge, time permitting stunning views of two large mountains, Humantay (5,900 masl) and Salkantay (6,215 masl).

You will walk along the edge of the old water channels until you reach the refuge for a hot lunch. After lunch, continue the hike to Humantay Lagoon, a lagoon that is located at the base of the Humantay snow-capped mountain, which is at an altitude of 4,221 (masl) or (13,841 feet). This is a 2-hour uphill hike to the lagoon and then a 1:30-hour return downhill hike. This site provides stunning views of the glacial base of the great Humantay. Walking along the shores of the lake, we will have time to enjoy our first day of the trip.

After this hike, we will return to the Soraypampa refuge through a small valley of the Humantay River, observing the community of Soraypampa, located in the Salkantay and Humantay valleys. You will arrive at the refuge.

• Highest elevation: 4,221 meters (13,841 feet) (Humantay Lake)
• Elevation at the Refuge: 3,830 meters (12,530 feet)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Accommodation: Rooms and beds
• Climate: Cold with rain and wind during the months of March, November, and December.
• Trip type: 4:30-hour car ride and 5-hour hike

Day 2: Soraypampa, Salkantay Pass - Chaullay

At first light, approximately 5:00 a.m., we will wake up to a beautiful day and a hearty breakfast. We will begin our day hike to the highest point of our journey, the Salkantay Pass, which has an elevation of 4,638 meters (15,213 feet).

During this day's hike, you will explore the alpine views of the Andes during a 1-hour and 30-minute hike along the Salkantay River Valley until you reach Salkantaypampa at an elevation of 4,154 meters (13,625 feet). The views along this trail are breathtaking.

Continue your hike through the Salkantay Valley, along glacial streams, reaching Soyro Cocha, located at 4,491 meters (14,730 feet). 1:20 hours, here you will have a short break to replenish energy, again, this resting place has wonderful views of the Salkantay peak and you will be able to hear the springs emanating from the hills of the glacial peak.

After this break, you will begin the final part of the ascent, a walk of approximately 1 hour, until you reach the Salkantay Pass at 4,660 meters (15,213 feet). This is the highest point of our trek. Here you will be able to see the majesty of Salkantay Peak, one of the highest peaks in the Vilcabamba Mountain Range.

Then we will begin a 2-hour downhill hike where we will have lunch and hot drinks such as tea or coca mate in a community called Wayrac Machay (wind cave). After lunch, we will continue our downhill descent, passing from glacial temperatures to a warmer forest, a lush jungle that is home to abundant flora and fauna, many species of wild orchids, Begonia elephant flowers, as well as many varieties of hummingbirds.

You will end our day at the Chaullay Refuge.

• Highest Elevation: 4,638 meters (15,213 feet) (Salkantay Pass)
• Refuge Elevation: 2,852 meters (9,390 feet)

Day 3: Chaullay - Lucmabamba Coffee Tour

After a hearty breakfast, your third day will begin with a gradual, approximately 5-hour downhill hike to Sahuayacu Beach. Along this hike, you'll see and pass by waterfalls, a beautiful waterfall, many varieties of flora and fauna, and local fruits such as passion fruit. Amidst a jungle forest, you'll arrive at Sahuayacu Beach and continue hiking for approximately 40 minutes to Lucmabamba, our next refuge.

Here, you'll see large plantations growing coffee, bananas, avocados, and other fruits. When you arrive at the Lucmabamba refuge, lunch will be ready. After lunch, you'll have the opportunity to tour an organic coffee farm run by a local family and taste the coffee (THE COFFEE TOUR). Here, you'll learn the coffee process from the plantation to the final product.

You'll then have time to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs on a 1-hour bus ride from the refuge (additional cost). You'll return by the same bus for dinner at the Lucmabamba refuge.

• Highest Elevation: 2,850 meters (9,395 feet)
• Elevation at the Refuge: 2,100 meters (6,900 feet)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Accommodations: Comfortable rooms with private bathrooms
• Warm climate

Day 4: Lucmabamba - Llactapata - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes

Again, you will begin with a hearty breakfast at first light and then hike uphill for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. You will explore the rainforest along the Santa Teresa Valley with views of many beautiful local plantations growing coffee, avocados, and bananas.

This is an exciting and important day of our trip. You will have the opportunity to hike along the Inca Trail until you reach Llactapata at an elevation of 2,736 meters (8,974 feet). From this point, you'll see your first view of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu and continue on a downhill hike for approximately 2 hours until you reach the hydroelectric train station, which sits at an elevation of 1,771 meters (5,809 feet).

You'll have lunch and rest briefly here, then continue hiking along an easy trail for approximately 2.5 hours, arriving at the town of Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu Village. The Hidroeléctrica-Machu Picchu trail is a historically significant path, as it was used by North American professor Hiram Bingham when he was searching for the lost city of Vilcabamba. Fortunately, along this trail, Professor Bingham met a local farmer named Melchor Arteaga, who led him to Machu Picchu.

Once in Aguas Calientes, you'll check into your accommodations and continue to have dinner before preparing for the next day.

• Highest elevation: 2,736 meters (8,974 feet)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Accommodation: Included
• Warm weather

Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Return to Cusco

This is the most important day of your expedition to allow us the maximum amount of time to learn about and enjoy the famous citadel of Machu Picchu. You will begin your day before dawn so you can take the first bus to the entrance to Machu Picchu. The bus ride is approximately 45 minutes, then our guide will share stories and lessons about the Inca culture with you throughout the tour.