Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
DAY 01: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA
The evening before the tour you will normaly participate in a briefing, joined by your tour guide and group.
To start the tour, you will get an early start and be picked up from your hotel around 4:30 a.m. You will travel in comfortable transportation with blankets if you wish to sleep a little longer during the trip. After two hours, we will briefly stop in Mollepata for an energizing breakfast. Then, we will continue to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek.
Before starting our adventure, you will meet the cooks and muleteers and check your luggage one last time before we head out on the trail. You will begin with a moderate three-hour hike to Soraypampa (3900 m), where we will spend the first night. The first part of the section is relatively flat, with a slight ascent through a deep glacier valley. You will notice that much of the trail follows a restored Inca water canal, which local farmers still use today. This trail is 7 km in total.
Once in Soraypampa, you will settle into our exclusive Sky Camp for the night. You will have time to rest after enjoying your first lunch around the mountains. After recharging your energy, we will start hiking to the beautiful Humantay Lake (4200 m). This round trip takes three hours and covers 3 km. It is not far but take it easy at this altitude. Once you reach the lagoon, you will have time to enjoy the fantastic scenery. Not many places in the Andes are as impressive as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. You will truly feel like you are in a fairy tale.
Upon returning to camp, you will enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner in the company of a beautiful sunset. There is no way to describe the energy here; you will feel tranquility once you arrive. Afterward, you can relax in your igloo at Sky Camp. From the glass roof, you will enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Difficulty: moderate to challenging Walking distance: 10km Walking time: 5-6 hours Starting elevation: 3800 m Highest elevation: 4200 m Campsite elevation: 3900 m
Sky Camp is located in front of the impressive mountains Humantay and Salkantay. This campsite creates the perfect union of sky and earth. It allows you to sleep calmly under a clear sky starred with an exceptional view of the cons tellations. At the same time, you can enjoy all the comforts of a first-class vacation home. - 32 Igloos (2 people per igloo) - Dining room and kitchen - Toilets - Optional: Wi-Fi
Day 2
DAY 02: SORAYPAMPA – COLLPAPAMPA
In the morning, you will wake up with the day’s first rays and see the Apu Salkantay while enjoying an energizing coca tea. Afterward, you will have a nutritious breakfast before embarking on the 7 km trek for approximately three hours to the highest point of the route, the Salkantay Pass (4630 m). It is a difficult ascent along the “path of the 7 snakes” because of its winding path. Once at the top, you will appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys and the Salkantay mountain right in front of you (6271 m). It boasts the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, and it’s considered an Apu (Inca God). You will also be able to observe the mountains: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After enjoying the views and rest, you will start descending (7 km) to our lunch point at Huayracmachay (3850 m). This section is rocky and steep but has impressive views of the surrounding valley.
After a revitalizing lunch, you will enter the edge of the rainforest, also known as the “cloud forest.” This section has a distance of 9,5 km and lasts approximately three and a half hours. Along the way, you will enjoy the verdant rainforest and witness how the scenery changes rapidly and drastically from the Andes to the Amazon. You will observe colorful landscapes, unique fauna, and native plants and feel the warmer climate. After a long day of hiking, you will be glad to arrive at Collpapampa for the night. Finally, we will serve you a hearty meal before resting at our exclusive Mountain Sky View Campsite.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Difficulty: challenging Walking distance: 23,5 km Walking time: 10-11 hours Starting elevation: 3900 m Highest elevation: 4630 m Campsite elevation: 2950 m
Mountain Sky View campsite: is a warm mountain accommodation and our novelty this year, and it’s with great pleasure that we prepared this place for all those looking for a glamping experience surrounded by nature. Each one of its individual Andean Sky Huts counts with a private bath besides spectacular tropical mountain views. You’ll find peace under the shining stars listening to the voices of wildlife and the whispers of the river in the valley.
- 37 Sky huts (2 people per hut) - Dining room and kitchen - Toilets and Hot shower - Optional: Wi-Fi
Day 3
DAY 03: COLLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA
Today begins at 6:00 a.m. with a warm cup of tea and a hearty breakfast at camp. We’ll then set out on a scenic hike through the Santa Teresa Valley, following a gently descending trail that offers spectacular views of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado. Keep your eyes open—if we’re lucky, we might spot the iconic Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Peru’s national bird. Upon reaching Zona Propiedad, a private vehicle will be waiting to transfer us to La Playa, allowing us to arrive with more energy and time to enjoy an authentic coffee experience. Here we’ll explore the coffee fields, learn about the cultivation process, and finish by roasting, grinding, and brewing our very own cup.
After this enriching activity, we’ll continue by vehicle to Lucmabamba (2000 m), where a delicious lunch awaits before settling into our exclusive Sacred Jungle Lodges. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, this luxurious retreat has been designed to offer maximum comfort after a day on the trail. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the nearby Cocalmayo hot springs—included in this exclusive package— where crystal-clear, mineral-rich pools provide the perfect setting to relax and soothe tired muscles and joints. Finally, we’ll return to Lucmabamba for a delicious dinner and a well-deserved night of rest. As you unwind, let the harmonious sounds of the surrounding nature embrace you and reconnect with the spirit of Mother Earth.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Difficulty: moderate Walking distance: 10,3 km Walking time: 4 hours Starting elevation: 2950 m Highest elevation: 2950 m Campsite elevation: 1900 m
Sacred Jungle Lodge: Hidden among the cloud forest’s greenery and offering a serene riverside setting, our dome-style lodges provide privacy, more space, better ventilation, and a quieter atmosphere than other options. It’s our most premium option and is particularly popular with couples, honeymooners, and anyone celebrating a special trip. We offer elevated comfort in the jungle here to include not only comfy beds, private bathrooms, and WIFI, but also lighting that respects the natural surroundings. Enjoy enhanced privacy, outdoor fore pit areas, and full meal service before retiring to open views of the tropical forest. - 10 lodges (dome-style huts) (2 people per hut) - Dining area and kitchen - Privat bathroom and Hot shower - Wi-Fi
Day 4
DAY 04: LUCMABAMBA - AGUAS CALIENTES
After a good breakfast, you will hike some of the original and world-famous Inca Trail. After climbing for two hours and enjoying fascinating views over the Santa Teresa valley, you will arrive at Llactapata (2700 m), an Inca archaeological site in front of Machu Picchu. Llactapata is the first Inca complex you will see on the hike, and you will learn all about the mysteries of this ancient culture and the extraordinary site. Even from here, you will get the first sight of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Our guide will explain the history of the Incas while you take as many pictures as you want as a souvenir to share your fantastic experiences with your friends and family back home.
Later, you will descend for an hour and a half and have the chance to glimpse the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu along the way, which will heighten your excitement for tomorrow. We will stop in Aobamba for lunch before continuing for another 30 minutes to Hidroeléctrica (1800 m). One of the most impressive sights on this stretch is the 250-meter high artificial waterfall that powers the entire city of Cusco. Once in Hidroeléctrica, you will board the train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, appreciating the best scenery along the way. Once in the small town, you will enjoy dinner at an exclusive restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel. Note: Hiking the Llactapata trail is not 100% guaranteed during the rainy season, and for safety reasons, it can become very dangerous when there are frequent heavy rains.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Difficulty: challenging Walking distance: 14 km Walking time: 8-9 hours Starting elevation: 2000 m Highest elevation: 2800 m Accommodation elevation: 2040 m
Accommodation: We offer a selection of well-located hotels in the town with very comfortable and tastefully decorated rooms. You’ll find them impeccable with clean rooms and beds as well as adequate toilets and showers. It’s a perfect place to rest before the most important day of your trip!
Day 5
DAY 05: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Today is the day you have been waiting for the whole trip. You’ll finally visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! You’ll need to be up early to make sure you beat the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the early morning light. After going up to the Inca citadel by bus, you’ll enjoy an approximately two-hour guided tour to this incredible ancient site to see temples, houses, palaces, and cultivated fields, among others. You’ll be impressed by the intelligence of the Incas in terms of engineering work, which was far ahead of its time and remains a mystery in many respects. The Incas did not have the tools we use today, but they could still build and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.