Superior Luxury 7-Day Lodge-Based Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

4* Ramada Airport Hotel

Strategically located in the heart of Jorge Chavez International Airport, few miles away from all cultural and historical wonders Lima has to offer, Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel is the first hotel that provides the necessary services to meet your expectations during your stay. Perfect for those on transit, perceptive traveler will enjoy our services and amenities with the tranquility of walking to or from your flight in a few minutes. Indoor pool and free Wi-Fi.

Luxury 5* Monasterio Hotel

Right beside the lively Cuzco Central Square is Hotel Monasterio, a former monastery and national monument dating from 1592. This delightful hotel combines its centuries-old charm and ambience with luxury hotel service, inspired restaurants and boutique rooms and suites.

The ideal hotel from which to discover the delights of Cuzco, its doors open to a vibrant scene of old and modern architecture, markets, galleries and restaurants serving ‘new Andean’ cuisine.

The building was seriously damaged by the earthquake in 1650, and upon restoration, the beautiful Chapel was added. It is decorated in the indigenous Baroque style with gold-plated pictures frames and truly magnificent paintings by the best artists of the Cusquenian Art School, depicting scenes from the life of San Antonio Abad.

The Monastery was originally built in 1595 on the site of the palace of Inca Amaru Qhala. In 1598, it was founded as the Seminary of San Antonio Abad by the sixth Bishop of Cuzco, Monsignor Antonio de la Raya, to train Catholic priests.

Art and architecture

The building which houses Belmond Hotel Monasterio is steeped in history and hosts its very own art collection. You don’t need to travel far to soak up the local culture.

Superior Rooms

Feature warm and inviting Spanish colonial décor, king-size or twin beds and luxurious marble bathrooms. Each Room is wonderfully unique, reflecting the monastery’s charm and elegance.

These luxurious rooms feature rich wood furnishings and antique artwork, and some Rooms can be enriched with oxygen to combat the effects of Cusco’s high altitude.

All rooms also offer:

• Individually controlled heating system and air-conditioning
• Televisions
• Telephone
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet connection
• Rooms can be enriched with oxygen to combat the effects of Cusco’s high altitude.

Private Afternoon Cusco City Tour

The Private Half Day Cusco City Tour Visits all of the Principal Inca & Colonial Attractions in Cusco

Tambomachay – This was an Inca sanctuary dedicated to the cult of water, a place reserved for Inca Royalty.

Puca Pucara – This is an Inca archaeological site located again on the peak of a hill and is thought to be a military position and an administrative centre.

Qenko – A sanctuary dedicated to the adoration of animals, and consists of ruins formed by a rocky site with stairs in a zigzag, and a main building similar to a circular amphitheatre where 19 window sills are located as a way of seats.

Sacsayhuamán – Its construction took over seven decades and required the work of approximately 20,000 men, both for the foundations and hewn stone works, the transportation of materials, carving and stones setting. Many say it is as impressive as Machu Picchu itself!

Cusco Cathedral – One of the finest Colonial Cathedrals in the Americas.

Coricancha – Originally named Inti Qancha (‘ Temple of the Sun’) was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.

Full Day Private Sacred Valley of the Inca Tour

Pisac Market | Pisac Ruins | Lunch Posada Tunupa | Ollantaytambo

Pisac Market

A famed hill town, Pisac is a great place to purchase top quality Andean knitwear at lower prices than visitors will find in major cities during their travels in Peru. Woven blankets, tapestries, and alpaca garments such as sweaters and mittens, colorful fabric and accessories are found in abundance at the Pisac market in addition to pottery, jewelry, and other handicrafts.

Pisac Inca Ruins

It’s not hard to succumb to the charms of sunny Pisac, a bustling colonial village at the base of a spectacular Inca fortress perched on a mountain spur. Its pull is universal and recent years have seen an influx of expats and new age followers in search of an Andean Shangri-la. Located just 33km northeast of Cuzco by a paved road, it’s the most convenient starting point to the Sacred Valley.

Ollantaytambo

After lunch, we proceed onto Ollantaytambo an attractive little town located at the western end of the Sacred Valley. The town is located at the foot of some spectacular Inca ruins which protected the strategic entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley. The temple area is at the top of steep terracing which helped to provide excellent defenses. Stone used for these buildings was brought from a quarry high up on the opposite side of the Urubamba River – an incredible feat involving the efforts of thousands of workers. The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed.

Note: On the evening before this day there will be a briefing with your guide in Cusco.

After an early breakfast, we are picked up starting at 7:00am at our hotel in Cusco by a guide and vehicle for the drive to the Salkantay Lodge in Soraypampa. En route we take a short break to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco).

After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where we stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle). Here, we begin our trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for everyone to acclimate, while enjoying a beautiful six hour trek.

Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley—Mt. Salkantay, the second most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 6,270 m (20,600 ft), the highest in the region. After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, we are shown to our rooms and have time to wash-up, before tea and cookies. The trip leader will hold a briefing by the fireplace, followed by aperitifs and dinner.

• Trekking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch en route)
• Hiking Level: Moderate

Today we take an acclimatization hike on the slopes above the lodge to Lake Humantay, fed by the hanging glaciers of Mt. Humantay. The hike is optional, but the views are amazing, and those brave enough can even go for a dip.

We return to the lodge for lunch, after which you may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. Afternoon at leisure.

We spend the night at the Salkantay Lodge with gourmet food and warm, comfortable beds. In the evening, the guide briefs us on gear and the itinerary for the following day. All meals are served at the Lodge.

• Trekking Time: Approximately 4 hours
• Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging
• Option: Horseback Riding

This is the big day! After an early start, we hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay Peak. The highest point on the trek is the Salkantay Pass at 4,638 m (15,213 ft). At the pass we stop to take in views of snowcapped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the glaciated south face of Salkantay towering above us.

We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we descend towards Wayra Lodge (Wayra means wind; so the place where the wind lives) our destination for the evening. A hot lunch is served en route; dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

• Trekking Time: 6 / 8 hours (including lunch)
• Hiking Level: Challenging, crossing a 4,640m (15,200 ft) mountain pass.

On this day we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. Then we continue our descent along the left bank of the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. We can feel the warm air rising from the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids.

Upon arrival at Colpa Lodge we are greeted with a Pachamanca meal, a traditional festive Peruvian meal cooked by layering meat and vegetables with hot stones, and then covering the whole thing up to bake. Colpa Lodge is located on an open plateau at the confluence of three rivers.

The outdoor jacuzzi has panoramic views of lush green mountains. We spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the nearby orchid trail.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

• Trekking Time: 3 / 4 hours
• Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate

Today we hike along the Santa Teresa river valley, through more populated rural areas. We pass through banana, granadilla, and avocado orchards and coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world).

A hot picnic lunch is served by the river. After lunch, we hike another hour before a private vehicle meets us for a short drive to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail (30-minute or so). From the head of the newly restored Inca trail we easily make our way to Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

• Trekking Time: 5 / 6 hours (including lunch)
• Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging (because of distance, not terrain)

After a hearty breakfast, we tackle the last day of our trek. We head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974ft), where we come upon a distant but spectacular view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary from the southeast, a view few travelers ever get a chance to admire.

We take a short break to explore the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is served in a scenic viewpoint, looking out to Machu Picchu. We then begin our final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations.

Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu, is a short, scenic train ride away. Upon arrival, we check into our lovely hotel The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, for celebration dinner with our guide and one last briefing!

• Trekking Time: 4 / 6 hours
• Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging

Luxury 5* Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Breakfast | A la Carte Dinner | Orchid, Hummingbird, and Nature Tours Included

Inkaterra’s vacation paradise and luxury boutique Hotel, a pueblo of luxurious whitewashed bungalow nestles into terraced hills. Spa services use sublime natural essences, and a first-class restaurant boasts stunning views of the rushing Vilcanota River.

The train station is only steps away but Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel exists in a world apart. An intimate 85-cottage luxury Hotel in sprawling Andean style village within the secluded 12 acres of exquisite beauty, where guests follow stone pathways to their rooms, located in comfortable one or two-story whitewashed casitas.

Pueblo Hotel includes several services in their prices being:

• Your choice of 6 tours Detailed below
• A la carte Dinner
• Welcome gift
• Tea Time
• Happy Hour
• Breakfast

Optional Tours – All Included

Birds (2 Hours)

Walk early in the morning to take advantage of the optimum time for cloud-forest bird watching. Begin at a river observatory, with the possibility of sighting the sought-after torrent duck and the white-capped dipper. Then proceed to a productive tanager feeding area, where silver-beaked, blue-necked, fawn-breasted and saffron-crowned tanagers can be found. Along the hotel’s pathways, be on the lookout for the cock-of-the-rock, the golden-headed quetzal and many of the 18 different hummingbirds identified on the grounds, including the booted racket-tail and the green- and-white hummingbirds, which are native to the area.

Orchids (2 Hours)

Walk through the orchid garden to observe some of the hotel’s 372 different native orchids in bloom. Discover this extraordinary plant family, which has captured the human imagination for centuries. From the largest orchid flower in the world – the Phragmipedium caudatum, to tiny flowering specimens properly appreciated only through a magnifying glass, there are orchids to amaze both the newly inquisitive and the expert, including species new to science which have been discovered on the hotel grounds.

Nature Walk (2 Hours)

Walk along the hotel’s trails, and discover the fascinating yet fragile ecosystem of the Machu Picchu cloud forest, and learn about its many indigenous plants and animals. The Nature Walk offers guests a glimpse of cloud forest flora: ferns, bromeliads and orchids and fauna -an interesting variety of birds; as well as an introduction to the Vilcanota river system, the Observatory, the tea garden and house.

Tea Plantation (2 Hours)

Visit our organic tea (Camellia Sinensis) plantation and tea house to discover the wonders of the traditional tea making process. Take part as the freshly picked leaves are pressed over wooden blocks and finally seal your own tea bag.  A glass of fresh iced-tea is included.

Twilight Walk (2 Hours)

This early evening walk is designed to connect on a spiritual level with the environment and the historical energy of the Machu Picchu area. With special attention placed on nature’s core elements, the walk pauses at the Rocotal Observatory to appreciate an enchanting waterfall and sacred pre-Inca pictographs.

Spectacled Bear Project (2 Hours)

The Inka Terra Association (ITA) and the Peruvian National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA) manage the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Spectacled Bear Project, an effort designed to recover bears that have been negatively affected by human impact, and reintroduce them into their natural habitat. Donations are appreciated.

Visit Machu Picchu

You will enjoy further Private Guided Tours of Machu Picchu.

You may start at Dawn or as you wish. All tours are included and you are only limited by your time and energy.

The Sun Gate (2 Hours)

Inti Punku the Sun Gate marks the entrance to Machu Picchu.

It is a one hour uphill hike to the southeast of the Sanctuary, climbing more than 300 meters. The hike is on the original Inca trail and is paved with Inca stones. There is a spectacular view from the gate!

Additional Tours Available

Apu Machu Picchu (4 to 5 Hours Roundtrip)

The hike to the summit of Apu Machu Picchu is 2 ½ hours and can be quite steep in places.

This is a breathtaking hike, lot of orchids along the way, birds in the bushy areas, and with every stop the view is gets better and better. The climb is 600 meters uphill, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

*** Access to Apu Machu Picchu is controlled by special tickets which need to be purchased in advance by us. Access is 07:00 – 11:00.  Please ask to have these tickets included in your tour if desired***

Inka Bridge (Bridge 1 Hour Round Trip)

This hike is to the south west of Machu Picchu, a nice original trail that overlooks the Aobamba valley and the Hydro-electric plant.

This Inca Bridge is a part of a mountain trail that heads west from Machu Picchu. The trail is a stone path, part of which is cut into a cliff face.  A twenty-foot gap was left in this section of the carved cliff face, over a 1,900 feet drop that could be bridged with two tree trunks. When the tree trunks were removed then the trail became impassable to outsiders. The path is narrow and paved with original Inca stones.

Huayna Picchu (3 – 4 Hours)

Huayna Picchu is the mountain you see behind Machu Picchu. Towering above the north end of Machu Picchu this steep mountain is often seen in the backdrop to the classic photos of the ruins.

The mountain is steep, but stone steps are laid along most of the way and where the mountain is steeper you will find steel cables used as handrails. For fit people it is not a difficult climb.

Very Limited Access!

Only 400 people are allowed to hike Huayna Picchu each day.  You have to sign in at the entrance gate. The first 200 tickets are available for the 8:00am hike. The second 200 are available at 10:00am.

***We buy these special tickets in advance to be sure you will have space for this hike***

Guided Tour of Machu Picchu (2 – 3 Hours)

The ‘Holy Grail’ for lovers of Inca monuments, the enigmatic lost city of Machu Picchu is the most famous archaeological site in all of South America and possibly the world.

The spectacular collection of temples, terraced hills and plazas was the mountain-top citadel of the Inca under Pachacutec and Tupac Yupanqui, until the coming of the Europeans with Pizarro.

It may have the most familiar name, but Machu Picchu has refused to reveal many of its mysteries, including the secrets of its construction, function, and demise. The overgrown ruins were discovered by US historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, and the quality of the stonework hints that it was an extremely important ceremonial site.

The remains are thought to date from around 1450, built at the height of the Inca Empire, and as they escaped being plundered by the Spanish they include semi-intact icons and shrines that were defaced or removed at other sites.

Entering the site, a set of steps leads to the ruined Temple of the Sun and a series of altars and niches.  Highlights include the remains of ceremonial baths, the Sacred Plaza with its tremendous view across the Urubamba River valley, a rare shrine to the sun, and a labyrinth of passageways and cells.

The Vistadome Train Service

This DELUXE train ride into the spectacular land of the Inca is highlighted by amazing views of valleys, Inca farming terraces, snow capped mountains, and sub-tropical jungle.

After arriving in Aguas Calientes, a shuttle bus will transport you to this magic, sacred, and mysterious town known as Machu-Picchu.

The Vistadome service has large panoramic windows and additional windows in the roof allowing you to enjoy the mountain scenery.

A small meal and hot drink are included with the Vistadome service.

There is also a table in front of you and posh leather seats which are very comfortable with plenty of leg room.

The Vistadome also has air conditioning and heating, leather seats that adjust the body to provide comfort and relaxation during the entire trip, and a traditional show as well as a fashion show to keep you entertained – as if the amazing scenery isn’t enough.

This service allows the visitor to be immersed and feel the Andean culture through its landscapes, music, dance and food carefully prepared with local ingredients.

On-board experience with the best comfort and quality service.