Local on hillside playing instrument, snowy mountains, hills behind them.

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Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour

Journey Through the High Andes from Cusco to Machu Picchu

From atop the Salkantay Pass, it’s clear why ancient people worshipped these mountains. Your destination: legendary Machu Picchu. Feeling breathless? Maybe it’s the altitude. Maybe the views. Or maybe both.

9 days, 8 nights

Deluxe & Luxury Hotels

Activity Levels 3-5

Couples, Friends & Solos

Also Available for: Families with Teens & 20s

From $7,799 - $8,299/person

Itinerary Where You’ll Stay What to Know Reviews

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Trip at a Glance

Highlights

Hike unencumbered from lodge to lodge, with porters and mules handling your luggage and leaving you free to soak up the scenery
Trek the famed Salkantay Pass route to 15,200 feet for breathtaking views of the dramatic snow-covered Andes
Observe a stunning bird’s-eye view of Machu Picchu and join our local guide for a visit to the Lost City, where we gain insight into Inca culture
Relax in style after full days of hiking at comfortable high-altitude lodges—many complete with hot tubs!
Take a grand tour of the Andes’ diverse landscapes, from cloud forest to alpine steppes and Cusco’s charming streets

This is a Special Departure. See Terms & Conditions.

Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.

Start Cusco Airport & Travel Details

Take in stunning vistas of the Cusco Valley as you trek to the Inca Temple of the Moon and the fortress-temple Sacsayhuamán with a local expert
Visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art to view unique artifacts from ancient Peruvian civilizations.

Inkaterra La Casona

(Luxury Hotel, 1 night)

Activity Options & Terrain

couch and coffee table around a fireplace

Night 1

Inkaterra La Casona

Cusco

Luxury Hotel

Located between the San Blas arts district and Cusco’s vibrant main square, this serene oasis mixes contemporary fixtures with traditional design. A Relais & Châteaux member.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Trek along a route used by the Inca in the 15th century
Ascend to the high-altitude grasslands of Soraypampa with breathtaking mountain and valley vistas, including your first look at Mount Humantay
Walk up to a glacial lake and take in views of towering glacier-covered Salkantay peak, a sacred mountain in Inca mythology
Taste pisco sours, the country’s national drink.

Salkantay Lodge

(Deluxe Hotel, 2 nights)

Activity Options & Terrain

Corner room with large windows and a cushioned chair, looking out towards tall mountains

Outdoor hot tub with an illuminated yellow light, with snow capped mountains in the background

Indoor seating area with staircases on either side, with a patterned couch and black table

Stone building with straw roofing, with illuminated orange lights and snow-capped mountains in the backgroun

Nights 2-3

Salkantay Lodge

Soraypampa

Deluxe Hotel

This stylish mountain lodge, set at 12,600 feet, welcomes you with a hot tub and incomparable views of Salkantay, the region’s highest peak.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Watch for condors soaring overhead as you travel up the Río Blanco Valley
Summit Salkantay Pass, standing eye-level with the glacier-capped slopes of the mighty Salkantay mountain
Soak in the views from the outdoor hot tub at our remote mountain lodge.

Wayra Lodge

(Deluxe Hotel, 1 night)

Activity Options & Terrain

Stone building with a straw roof in the middle of a grass valley, with large mountains in the background

Stone building with warm lights inside, with foggy mountains in the background

Stone room with an open hot tub in the back right

Stone-walled room with masks hanging on the wall, with a red couch in front of a furnace

Night 4

Wayra Lodge

Huayraccmachay

Deluxe Hotel

Overnight at “the place where the wind lives” and enjoy a hot tub soak at 12,800 feet.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Make your way into the cloud forest—one of the world’s most fascinating and threatened ecosystems
Amid the Ceja de la Selva (or “eyebrow of the jungle”), look for frogs, hummingbirds, parrots and beautiful flowers, including orchids, asters and begonias
Feeling adventurous? Try cuy (guinea pig) at a traditional Andean feast, cooked pachamanca style on buried coals.

Colpa Lodge

(Deluxe Hotel, 1 night)

Activity Options & Terrain

Man and woman in an outdoor pool, holding glasses of wine

Exterior view of orange building with a straw roof, with a grassy hill in the background

Group of people sitting at a long, rectangular dining table sipping on glasses of wine

Cabin lounge area with cushioned seats and recliners, with large windows along the perimeter of the room

Night 5

Colpa Lodge

Collpapampa

Deluxe Hotel

This lodge features a hot tub and rests in a cloud forest at 9,400 feet in the Collpapampa Valley.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Trek through an incredible portion of the Santa Teresa River Valley
Follow an undulating route through wild highland landscapes to the river, up a picturesque mountainside
Try specialties like giant avocados and a sugar-sweet passionfruit cousin called granadilla in the town of Playa
Hike on a restored ancient Inca trail to our serene lodge, nestled amid coffee plants and banana, avocado and eucalyptus trees.

Lucma Lodge

(Deluxe Hotel, 1 night)

Activity Options & Terrain

Exterior view of stone building with straw hut roof, with tree-covered mountains in the background

Exterior view of illuminated stone building, with a tall grass mountain in the background

% wooden reclining chairs on a hill, looking out to grassy, tree-covered hills

Group of people sitting on a dining table drinking wine, with a stone wall behind them

Indoor view of wooden lodge wit an open seating area, and dangling red light fixtures

Night 6

Lucma Lodge

Lucmabamba

Deluxe Hotel

Savor spectacular views from this lodge, built right into the mountainside and flanked by an avocado orchard.

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

Gaze upon Machu Picchu from the seldom-traveled Llactapata Trail
Head through bamboo forests to the Vilcanota River
Take a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes and explore its markets and shops
Rise early for a full day in Machu Picchu
Spend the morning exploring the ruins
Hike up Machu Picchu Mountain for an impressive overview, then get up close as our local guide reveals secrets of Machu Picchu’s discovery
On your final morning, learn about native orchids, birds and tea plantations with our hotel’s naturalist.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

(Luxury Hotel, 2 nights)

Activity Options & Terrain

Inkaterra Machu Piccu Pueblo Hotel Exterior

lobby with steeple ceiling and leather seats

wood walkway with railing into the trees

Nights 7-8

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Aguas Calientes

Luxury Hotel

This eco-lodge's exclusive location, tucked into gardens and cloud forest at the edge of Aguas Calientes village, makes it the best digs in town as a base camp for Machu Picchu (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.

End Cusco Airport & Travel Details

Start/End
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Trip direction

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This trip has an activity level range of 3-5

Route & Terrain Notes

On this trip, we primarily hike through high-altitude meadows, mountain passes and jungle valleys on well-worn dirt trails, plus village and archaeological site walks on Inca stone-paved paths. Overnight trekking lodges are located at elevations between 6,600 and 12,700 feet and trekking routes reach up to 15,200 feet. During our trek, many days include substantial elevation loss. The altitude, rugged terrain and elevation profiles tend to make the routes feel more challenging than the mileage suggests. Sturdy hiking shoes with ankle support are a must on this trip.

Day 1

Hiking & Walking

Level 1

3 miles

300 ft. gain; 700 ft. loss

Day 2

Hiking & Walking

Level 2

4 miles

1000 ft. gain; 300 ft. loss

Day 3

Hiking & Walking

Level 2

4 miles

1800 ft. gain

Day 4

Hiking & Walking

Level 5

8 miles

2600 ft. gain; 2400 ft. loss

Day 5

Hiking & Walking

Level 4

7 miles

3600 ft. loss

Day 6

Hiking & Walking

Level 3

7 miles

900 ft. gain; 2100 ft. loss

Level 5

12 miles

1000 ft. gain; 3200 ft. loss

Day 7

Hiking & Walking

Level 4

7 miles

2300 ft. gain; 3400 ft. loss

Day 8

Hiking & Walking

Level 5

2 miles

1700 ft. gain; 1700 ft. loss

Other

Machu Picchu Guided Walk (half day)

Day 9

Other

Early Morning Naturalist Walk (45 minutes)

View Dates & Prices From $7,799/person

What to Know

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Terrain & Trail Support

Many of our hikes through the Andes are remote and do not intersect with roads, so we won't see support vans along the route. Instead, you'll be provided with water, snacks and encouragement out on the trail.

Due to trail permit restrictions, there is also a small chance that your Backroads leader may not be able to accompany you on certain sections of our routes. You'll be fully supported on these short sections by our trusted Peruvian team, many of whom have worked with Backroads for years.

Hiking on Your Own

In most Backroads destinations we encourage you to hike at your own pace, even if that means you don't have a leader in sight. Peru is a bit different: due to unmarked rustic trails that can change with the seasons, you'll spend most of your time hiking in the company of a Backroads leader or one of our local support staff. And on the few days when we're in national parks, staying with our certified park guides is mandatory. We'll still accommodate everyone's pace, offering a slightly different version of our dynamic trail support.

Permits & Passport Information

Some of our activities require trail permits, which Backroads will attempt to obtain on your behalf. Permits for Peru’s most popular hikes are limited; booking as early as possible—and at least 6 months before your departure date at the very minimum—will give you the best chance of securing them. Unless you’re contacted by your Trip Consultant, you can assume we secured your permits successfully.

Trail permits are linked to the traveler's passport information. For this reason, your passport information will be collected at the time of booking. If your passport information changes between then and your departure, it's essential that you let us know as soon as possible.

Air-Conditioning

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is a Premiere Hotel. While it offers outstanding service and amenities, please note that it is not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region’s generally temperate climate and cool nights, guestrooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.

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Route and activity options to match your pace and preferences.
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Experienced leaders on every trip backed by a dedicated service team.
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