5-day Salkantay Trek with Humantay Lake

After a delicious homemade breakfast prepared by our renowned local chef, you'll begin the shortest and often most exciting day of your adventure. Today you'll experience some of the best sights along your trek to Machu Picchu.

You'll explore the tropical forest and visit a local organic coffee farm, where you'll have the opportunity to explore some of the orange and avocado plantations and taste some freshly brewed coffee. During your visit to the coffee farm, you'll be given a brief introduction to the history of coffee in the region and its importance to the area. We'll have an incredible lunch and cooking lesson at the coffee farm.

You'll then continue your trek to the ancient Inca ruins of Llactapata, walking part of the Inca Trail for approximately 2.5 hours. On the way to the Inca site of Llactapata, you'll see breathtaking views of the Santa Teresa Valley. No words can describe the views of today's walk!

At Llactapata you'll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu, including the main archaeological sites of Machu Picchu Montaña and Huayna Picchu. You'll also have a chance to explore the Inca ruins of Llactapata and take some unforgettable photographs.

From here you'll enjoy the last leg of your day's trek with a 15 minute downhill walk to your campsite. This campsite is owned by a local family who only allow us to stay there, so you'll have more privacy than other trekkers.

You'll find that the campsite is a great place to enjoy the sunset and sunrise over Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains. Depending on what time you arrive at the campsite, you'll have time to enjoy the views and relax from your trek. Cold drinks are available at the campsite.

Before our chef serves you dinner, you'll enjoy a lovely happy hour of tea and coffee. As the sun sets, prepare for another evening of unforgettable stargazing. You'll see the Milky Way as well as the Inca constellations, just as the Inca astronomers did to predict the weather.

Your team will wake you up early again (5.30-6am) with a hot drink to start the day. You'll get ready for the day's activities and then enjoy your last breakfast, prepared by your cook.

The day's trek begins with a 2 hour descent with unbeatable views of Machu Picchu to the hydroelectric station built to harness the natural 300 metre high waterfall to generate electricity for the Cusco region. This waterfall is one of the most impressive features in the area and it's here that you'll have your final lunch prepared by our chef and have the opportunity to say goodbye.

From the hydroelectric station you'll continue to the famous Intiwatana (sundial rock). According to history, this Inca stone once worked with the legendary sundial rock at Machu Picchu to signal the winter solstice, which meant the beginning of a new farming season for the Incas.

Once you've seen the famous Intiwatana, continue along the path that runs alongside the railway tracks for about 3 hours. This will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of the valley of Machu Picchu. This part of the trek is interesting because it was the trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham when he rediscovered Machu Picchu.

On his way to discover Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham met a local farmer, Melchor Arteag, who eventually led him to Machu Picchu. During your trek you'll pass Melchor Arteag's farm where you'll see many species of flora and fauna and amazing local birds such as Peru's national bird (called the Cock of the Rock), toucans, oropendolas and parrots. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you'll go to your hotel to enjoy a hot shower and then take the opportunity to visit the famous hot springs of Aguas Calientes (10 Soles, not included). Dinner is at the restaurant at 7pm.

Today is all about visiting the ancient city of Machu Picchu! To make the most of the day, we encourage each group to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses to Machu Picchu (from 5.30am). This will allow you to beat the crowds. You also have the option of hiking the steep, winding stairs and trail from the town of Aguas Calientes to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu if you haven't had enough walking!

The hotel will store your luggage for you while you are in Machu Picchu. This way you'll only have to take your backpack to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes about 30 minutes.

Once in Machu Picchu, your guide will take you directly to the best place to watch the sunrise (weather permitting) and take photos. Your local guide will then take you through the main areas of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour you'll learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire. You can hike Huayna Picchu (tickets must be booked in advance) and your guide will show you where to start. The walk takes no more than 2 hours return. Machu Picchu mountain can be hiked instead, which is more challenging and takes a minimum of 3 hours return (also request tickets in advance).

For your return from Machu Picchu, we recommend that you return to Aguas Calientes at least 2 hours before your train departs. The return journey from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you at the exit of the train station to take you back to Cusco by car. The drive to Cusco takes approximately 2 hours and you will be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco in the evening.