The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is an intimate opportunity to feel the heartbeat of ancient history in the land of the Incas. To walk above cloud forests up into the high mountains is an unforgettable experience. Colourful orchids and llamas bring easy smiles along the way. It’s a bittersweet beginning–we’ll learn how to make Peruvian chocolate utilizing beans foraged from the nearby jungle.
This itinerary is a balance of adventure and self-care (and chocolate!). Uplift your weary spirit with a challenging hike to Humantay Peak and then recharge with a soak in the jacuzzi under a billion neon stars. In Sacred Valley (or “Vilcamayo” as the Incas refer to it), we’ll take in the spectacle of the Pisac ruins. We’ll also visit a women’s weaving cooperative where vibrant vegetable-dyed materials reflect the unique culture, talent and energy of the Peruvian people.
Each day on our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu journey seems to outdo the previous one–from the scenery-rush of the dramatic Rio Blanco valley to making an offering to Pachamama, to experiencing a comforting traditional meal cooked from the hot stones of the earth.
Peru’s diversity of bamboo forests, coffee plantations, fruit orchards and lush verdant hills that roll and unroll into the distance, create a magnetic pull along the hiking trail. What next?
When a train chugs you to the bottom of storied Machu Picchu and the sun filters over the iconic Sun Gate overlooking the ancient ruins, you will know the secret. Standing on the eastern slopes of the Andes at 2,430m (7,972ft) above sea-level, in the mighty midst of the mysterious religious, ceremonial, agricultural, astronomical powerhouse crisscrossed by stone terraces, you’ll feel the transformation.
