Luxury Lares 7 Day Lodge-to-Lodge Trek to Machu Picchu

The Hotel is attached to the airport by a footbridge. Simply walk across to the terminal and check-in for your morning flight to Cusco (departing at 10:00, arriving in Cusco at 11:20).

We will be waiting for you outside of Cusco Airport Arrival Hall with a sign with your name for an approx. 15-minute Private Transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

Luxury 5-star J.W. Marriott Hotel Cusco

Located in the city\'s historical center, the JW Marriott Hotel Cusco combines the needs of today\'s luxury traveler with the design elements of an architecturally stunning archaeological site. Built around a restored 16th-century colonial convent, this 5-star Cusco hotel offers easy access to Peru\'s iconic attractions. History-seekers will find Peruvian cultural artifacts in the hotel\'s two exhibition halls.

Inca Wall Rooms

Guestrooms come with customized authentic design decoration in king or double configurations, Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access, in-room safe, and mini-bar. All rooms have an oxygen enrichment system available to help acclimatize to the altitude.

The Pool & Spa

An exclusive environment with more than 300 square meters of relaxation space, relaxation pool, treatment rooms, dry sauna, and steam chamber.

Private Afternoon Cusco City Tour

Pick up in your Hotel Foyer at approx. 13:45. Returns at approx. 18:00. Visits all principal Inca and colonial highlights in Cusco:

• Tambomachay – Inca sanctuary dedicated to the cult of water, reserved for Inca royalty.
• Puca Pucara – Ancient Inca archaeological fortress and administrative control centre.
• Qenko – Sanctuary dedicated to animal adoration with zigzag stone stairs and amphitheatre.
• Sacsayhuamán – Colossal megalithic fortress built by 20,000 men over seven decades with massive carved stones.
• Cusco Cathedral – Grand colonial cathedral filled with historic Cusquenian art school masterpieces.
• Coricancha – Inti Qancha (‘Temple of the Sun’), the supreme spiritual temple of the Inca Empire.

After an early breakfast, we depart Cusco for the village of Chinchero, where we stop for a brief visit of the Inca archaeological site and the 16th century colonial church. Then we will have a short drive to the small community of Taucca, before another 30-minute drive takes us to the start of our day’s tour.

We first visit Moray (11,646 ft / 3,550 m), an unusual site set on a high plateau with several enormous terraced circular depressions that the Incas used as agricultural laboratories. We hike for about two hours along a gentle trail with views of snow-capped peaks and terraced hillsides toward the small, charming colonial town of Maras (11,023 ft / 3,360 m).

After a brief visit of the town, with its eclectic mix of building styles dating from pre-Columbian and colonial times, we hike for another 40 minutes to the nearby terraced salt evaporation ponds, called Las Salineras. Since pre-Incan times, salt has been gathered in Maras by evaporating subterranean salty brine water. The effect of sunlight reflecting from the complex maze of ponds is stunning.

After our visit we follow a downhill trail to the Urubamba River (9,186 ft / 2,800 m) where our private vehicle will be waiting to take us to Lamay. Dinner and overnight at Lamay Lodge.

After an early breakfast, we depart Cusco for the Urubamba Valley, the “Sacred Valley of the Incas.” We drive past Pisac and turn off at Qoya (9,514 ft / 2,900 m) with its charming colonial church, reaching the AyarCancha community where we start hiking at an elevation of 12,830 feet (3,850 m).

The trail winds uphill for two hours to Challwaccasa Pass (13,943 ft / 4,250 m), granting great views of the peaks of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountain ranges and distant snow-capped peaks of Ausangate and Salkantay. We then head downhill to the community of Viacha (12,950 ft / 3,950 m), where we enjoy a gourmet lunch.

After a well-earned rest, we join a restored Inca trail that leads to the stunning archaeological site of Pisac (10,826 ft / 3,200 m), which dominates the valley below with agricultural terraces and temples. After exploring the ruins we continue downhill for an hour to picturesque Pisac village (9,750 ft / 2,972 m), well known for its colorful handicraft market.

Our vehicle will take us to the town of Lamay (9,649 ft / 2,941 m) for dinner and overnight at Lamay Lodge (Total hiking time: 6 hours including lunch).

Optional Activities (Easier Day Alternative)

If guests prefer an easier first day, they can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and relaxing morning at Lamay Lodge. In the early afternoon, a private vehicle takes us to join the group for lunch at Viacha community. Guests may then join the downhill hike toward the Pisac archaeological ruins.

A one hour drive brings us to Ancasmarca (13,267 ft / 4,044 m), where we explore an old Inca site featuring ancient food warehouses, dwellings, and farming areas strategically connecting the Sacred Valley with the cloud forest communities of Lares.

Heading over the Lares Pass (14,501 ft / 4,420 m), we arrive at Cuncani (12,742 ft / 3,884 m), the starting point of our hike. Walking uphill for about two hours past farmhouses and potato fields, we meet local Quechua inhabitants who have maintained their traditional way of life, raising llamas for transport and alpacas for fine wool and food.

Reaching Cruzccasa Pass (13,740 ft / 4,188 m), we enjoy an impressive view of Mount Veronica, then have an hour’s descent to our scenic outdoor picnic lunch spot. Another hour’s hike brings us to Huacawasi Lodge (12,579 ft / 3,835 m).

In the late afternoon, enjoy a unique cultural encounter with the local weaving community. Dinner and overnight at Huacawasi Lodge.

A great day awaits us as we hike one of the most beautiful trails in the Cusco region! We depart Lamay early in the morning on a scenic two-hour drive toward Lares, arriving at the quaint village of Quiswarani (12,562 ft / 3,829 m) to begin our hike.

Our trail heads westward up a small valley dotted with glacial lakes and grazing alpaca herds, then narrows into switchbacks up to Abra Huchuyccasa Pass (14,481 ft / 4,414 m) reached after three hours. From the pass, enjoy amazing views of distant mountain ranges and stunning turquoise lakes whose brilliant hues are the result of bronze metal elements in their icy waters.

Descending slightly, we hike another hour toward our second pass at Phoñoccasa (14,393 ft / 4,387 m), descending to Qeywaqocha Lake for a leisurely trail lunch before ending at Qelqena village (11,965 ft / 3,647 m). Enjoy spotting native bird species, including Andean geese, ducks, and plovers along the way.

Our vehicle meets us at the trailhead for the drive to the famous weavers’ village of Huacawasi (12,579 ft / 3,835 m). Dinner and overnight at Huacawasi Lodge (Total hiking time: 8 hours including lunch).

Huacawasi is a famous weavers’ village, where men still wear traditional colorful ponchos and women’s attire includes wide handmade skirts and decorated montera hats.

Our hike starts right from Huacawasi Lodge through the village, immersed in scenes of community life, women working on looms and children heading to school. The trail takes us uphill for 2.5 hours to the top of Ipsaycocha Pass (14,757 ft / 4,499 m) with stunning mountain views. We descend gently for 40 minutes to Lake Ipsaycocha for lunch, with chances to spot Andean condors circling above.

We continue our descent for 2.5 hours to the village of Patacancha (12,624 ft / 3,848 m) where high quality weavings are produced. Our vehicle meets us here to take us to the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo (9,160 ft / 2,792 m) in the Sacred Valley. Dinner and overnight at a hotel (Total hiking time: 6.5 hours including lunch).

Enjoy a relaxing morning with a leisurely breakfast and visit to Ollantaytambo\'s impressive archaeological site and preserved Inca town, built as the estate of Emperor Pachacutec with some of the oldest continuously occupied dwellings in South America.

Late morning we board the First Class Vistadome train for the 1.5-hour scenic rail journey along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), arriving in time for lunch. Check into the luxury 5-star Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel set within 12 acres of secluded cloud forest. Optional afternoon visit to Machu Picchu Sanctuary with fewer crowds. Dinner and overnight at Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel.

The Vistadome Train Service

Panoramic wrap-around windows, leather seats, air conditioning and heating, and an on-board traditional Andean dance and music performance.

Luxury 5-star Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

An intimate 85-cottage luxury boutique hotel with casitas tucked into terraced cloud forest hillsides. Includes gourmet à la carte dinner and 6 complimentary hotel nature excursions: Birds Walk (Cock-of-the-rock, tanagers, hummingbirds), Native Orchid Garden (372 species), Nature Trail Walk, Organic Tea Plantation, Twilight Walk, and Spectacled Bear Conservation Project.

Today you will enjoy comprehensive Private Guided Tours of Machu Picchu Citadel with your expert guide, discovering the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, and royal palaces.

Choose from optional hikes based on your energy: hike to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) on the original Inca Trail (2 hours roundtrip), or the Inca Bridge carved into the cliff face (1 hour roundtrip). Additional hikes to Huayna Picchu or Apu Machu Picchu are available upon advance request.

An exquisite buffet lunch is included at the 5-star Sanctuary Lodge Hotel located right outside the sanctuary entrance (12:00 – 15:00).

Catch the 15:20 First Class Vistadome train returning to Poroy Train Station at 19:06 with light snack and cultural show on board. Private transfer (approx. 90 minutes) back to your hotel in Cusco.

Take the day to enjoy Cusco\'s historic city center, stroll through bohemian San Blas, and purchase fine souvenirs.

We will pick you up from your hotel foyer at the appropriate time for a 20-minute private transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight to Lima and onward connecting flight home. Services End.