iRISE ADVENTURE TRIPS
PERU
HIKE THE SALKANTAY TO THE LEGENDARY LOST CITY OF THE INCAS
April 19-28, 2025
Arrive at the Cusco Airport (CUZ) where we’ll be there to give you a warm welcome and take you to the hotel. You're coming into a high altitude, 3,400 meters (10,498 feet), so it’s important to take it easy to let your body adjust throughout the day. Drink lots of water, coca tea (the locals swear by the stuff), and take the afternoon to rest and roam around the beautiful city that is Cusco. (We recommend hitting up the colorful, bustling San Pedro Market for an authentic taste of the Cusqueña culture.) At night we’ll meet for an authentic Peruvian meal (yum!), meet our guides, and get briefed for our trek.
We'll leave Cusco first thing in the morning and take a scenic drive through the Andes to Soraypampa - where our 4 day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu begins! The Salkantay Trail is a custom-designed, off the beaten path alternative to the classic Inca Trail that provides more spectacular vistas, privacy and authenticity than the traditional route. Oh and, did we mention that National Geographic Adventure named it as the coolest way to trek to Machu Picchu?! After eating a homemade breakfast, we'll begin trekking to our first camp, Soirococha (4,400 m), where we'll have the evening to enjoy the gigantic glaciers and majestic mountains surrounding us!
This is one of the most humbling and physically challenging days, but it's also one of the most beautiful and rewarding! We'll reach the highest point on our trek, the Salkantay pass (4,600 m), as we hike between the Salkantay (6,264 m) and Humantay (5,990 m) glaciers. It's a long day, but there'll be plenty of time to stop for photo ops (and dance parties) before traversing the valley to camp.
The temperature will start to become warmer and our surroundings more tropical as we follow the trail along the Santa Teresa River. The contrast between the lush forests and mountainous peaks is one of the many reasons this trail will take your breath away! We'll be entering the "Ceja de Selva" (eyebrow of the jungle), which is full of colorful orchids, hummingbirds and flocks of parrots. At the end of the trail we’ll be picked up and take a fun, panoramic drive to camp. At camp we’ll have time to relax and tour a local coffee farm, complete with a tasting, before dinner.
We'll pass through some avocado, banana and coffee plantations on the final leg of our journey to Machu Picchu. We'll start the day hiking up to Llactapata Ruins (2,650 m), one of the most scenic spots on the trail! Once there, we'll have a break and listen to the history of the area while we enjoy a spectacular view, a sneak peak if you will, of the backside of Machu Picchu! We will then head to the Hidroelectrica train station for lunch followed by a short train ride back to civilization to spend the night in the town of Aguas Calientes. You'll have the evening to recuperate, take a hot shower and roam around the charming town.
We'll start early, so we can experience Machu Picchu in the magical morning light. You'll have time to get lost in the Lost City of the Incas, and our guide will be on hand to tell you more about the fascinating history of this World Heritage archaeological site. In the afternoon, we'll take a scenic train ride back to Cusco for the evening.
Every adventure is made more special by connecting and sharing adventure experiences with local women. Our last day in Cusco as a group, is all about reflecting, reinforcing and celebrating how special and powerful women coming together is! We'll begin the day with a visit to Mama Sherpa's village, Chinchero. Here you will connect with the local women as they tell you how they have come together to use their skills to improve the lives of those around them.
The next morning we will set out in the early morning for a 2 day adventure trek to Rainbow Mountain. After a three hour drive to the trailhead, a hot breakfast will be waiting for us! Our hike to Surine Cocha will take us past herds of alpacas and llamas, and we’ll enjoy stunning views of Ausangate Mountain the whole time. We'll stop trailside for a delicious lunch to fuel up before heading to the highest point of our trek so far, Warmisaya pass (5,025 m), and from there we’ll be able to see our first views of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain in the distance! By early evening we'll reach our camp at Surine Cocha where we will enjoy a beautiful evening under an unforgettable night sky full of constellations and shooting stars.
We'll wake up bright and early with the rising sun over the Andes. Our chef will prepare a hearty breakfast to fuel us up for our final climb to Vinicunca (aka Rainbow Mountain). After breakfast we'll make our final push towards the beautifully colored Rainbow Mountain. After soaking in the vibrant views, and of course grabbing some unforgettable photos, we'll head down towards the bottom of Llaqto where we’ll enjoy a final delicious lunch together before our journey back to Cusco for one more night together.
