Machu Picchu Trek

Fitness level

Perfect for those who want to push themselves physically and mentally. You will be walking long distances over uneven and rough terrain and you may experience some harsh weather conditions.

Mountaineering skills

One of the huge benefits of the Machu Picchu Trek is that you do not need any specialist mountaineering skills, experience or equipment.

This non-technical climb will be a real test of your mental and physical resilience - but it does not require you to be a seasoned mountain climber.

Accommodation

• 3 nights in a comfortable hostel
• 5 nights in tented accommodation which will all be set up and ready for your arrival each day

Whilst in Cusco you will stay in a comfortable hostel.

During the challenge, you will stay in shared tents in campsites in the mountains. The campsites are basic yet comfortable. You will be housed in good-quality 3-person tents on a twin-share basis. There will also be kitchen and dining tents, and your food will be served communally in the dining tent by the cooks each night.

There are occasional opportunities to use Western-style toilet facilities (sometimes at cost), and on the trek there is infrequent access to running water. There are washing facilities at most campsites (showers are often at cost), but the staff will provide bowls of hot water daily for washing.

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Alejandro Velasco Astete Cusco International Airport (CUZ)
Av. Velasco Astete
Cusco
08006
Peru

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Travel

  After weeks of preparation and excitement, you will board your flight(s) to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Peru.

• Day 2 | Arrival and orientation

  You will be met by a challenge representative at your hostel in the centre of Cusco. After a free afternoon to explore Cusco there will be a briefing with the team. You'll acclimatise to your new altitude of 3,400m.

• Day 3 | Free day in Cusco

  Today you are free to explore the beautiful town of Cusco and there are optional day trips available. You will be given your 8kg duffel bags to pack in the evening, in preparation for your trek the following day.

• Day 4 | Marcojasa - Soraypampa

  Depart for Marcojasa where you will start your trek, having lunch along the way, and following the path along the aqueduct to Soraypampa (3,760m). You will arrive into your campsite at Soraypampa in mid-to-late afternoon.

• Day 5 | Soraypampa - Salktantaypampa

  Today is an acclimatisation day, so you will ascend from your camp in Soraypampa to Laguna Humantay, one of the most beautiful lakes in the region at the base of the Humantay Glacier (4,200m). You will descend back to camp for lunch before a 2-hour trek to your next camp at Salktantaypampa

• Day 6 | Salktantaypampa - Collpapamapa

  After breakfast, you will depart on a long and tough ascent towards Abra Salkantay, the mountain pass at an altitude of 4,650m. The views will be spectacular with the looming hulk of the sacred mountain, Nevado Salkantay, dominating the glaciated valley through which you pass. You will spend a short time at the top of the pass for snacks and rest, before descending to Wayracmachay where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will make a slow and steep descent to Collpapamapa (2,900m).

• Day 7 | Collpapamapa - Lucmabamba

  After breakfast, you will continue down the Sta Teresa Valley, taking small breaks as you walk very close to the river, completing the day with a 6km walk along the road to your campsite at Lucmabamba (2,100m). From here you will have fantastic views over Peru’s coffee plantations and fruit trees. At dinner your guides will show you how the local coffee is made - you’ll be able to taste freshly-made coffee from the bean!

• Day 8 | Lucmabamba - Aguas Calientes

  On your penultimate trekking day, you will take a steep and humid climb through the jungle up to Llactapata. You will spend some time here, learning about the history of the Inca and the surrounding mountains. If you look very closely you can spot part of Machu Picchu in the distance. You will then descend into the Aobamba Valley for lunch at the hydroelectric plant. After lunch, you will trek alongside the rail tracks, following this route for around 3 hours. You will arrive into Aguas Calientes (1,900m), the town at the base of Machu Picchu, in the late afternoon.

• Day 9 | Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas

  You will have a light breakfast before setting off to ascend up the steep steps to the ruins of Machu Picchu. You will have an optional guided tour of Machu Picchu before having time to explore the Lost City of the Incas yourself. Then, choose to walk back down to Aguas Calientes or hop on the bus (at an additional cost). On your return, you will have a late lunch and then free time to explore Aguas Calientes. You will catch an early evening train back to Ollantatytambo and arrive back to Cusco in the late evening.

• Day 10 | Travel or Amazon Explorer trip begins

  You may depart for home today, arriving the following day. If you're joining the Amazon Explorer, you will depart on the extension trip today.

Included

• Accommodation
• Meals - breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• All National Park fees, entrance fees, taxes, and permits
• English-speaking professional guides
• Safe drinking water during the trek
• Communal camping equipment including tents and crockery
• Porter service on the trek
• Comprehensive pre-departure support and advice
• 24-hour emergency line for use during your trip

Not Included

• Flights to Peru
• Airport transfers
• Tips and gratuities
• Visas
• Travel insurance
• Medical expenses in case of emergency on your trip
• Any necessary vaccinations or medications 
• Additional meals and drinks
• Optional excursions
• Personal camping equipment and clothing
• Other items of a personal nature
• Equipment hire is available if required

Carbon offsetting

This challenge follows a carbon offsetting programme in partnership with WeForest, a European non-profit organisation who work tirelessly with local people and projects around the globe to fight climate change by planting trees across the world.

A proportion of your trip costs go towards a tree-planting project in Zambia, where WeForest works with hundreds of small-scale farmers to plant trees to sequester the carbon emissions that your trip produces.

The project also assists the local community by providing these farmers with training and tools to diversify their sources of income while they plant and protect local forests. As a result, they receive a higher income, diversify their economic activities and learn new skills. This allows the local farmers to become self-sufficient.

A responsible challenge

This challenge is operated in a sustainable, ethical and transparent manner - from the initial booking, to your return home, there is a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices in all areas.

• Local impact and welfare

  This challenge is locally led, made up of local people with expert local knowledge and a genuine passion for the sites and communities in which they are based. All guides and support staff are paid a fair wage.

• Integrity and transparency

  This challenge is operated with members of multiple accreditation agencies and the organisers are always working towards new schemes to ensure they remain the most informed, transparent, sustainable, safe and inspiring travel company around. Currently members of multiple standards agencies, including ABTA and ATOL, and accredited by Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) and Tourism Concern as an Ethical Tour Operator.

  Commercial partners are granted access to risk assessments, as well as all up-to-date licences and certificates, providing reassurance that they are collaborating with a professional tour operator.

• Single-use plastics

  The Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) pledge was established in 2018 to help fight the harmful consumption of single-use plastics through challenge operations. In all destinations, water is purified from local sources for challenge participants.

  In remote areas where this is not possible, the team prioritise large, decantable cooler bottles which are later recycled. Where the provision of safe drinking water is not possible, teams adhere to a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra.

• Animal welfare

  Animal welfare is taken extremely seriously, so itineraries which facilitate or encourage the mistreatment of animals are not produced or promoted. Animal welfare policies are strongly influenced by industry-standard ABTA guidelines on the treatment of animals. When sourcing ground agents, there would be no partnership with non-compliant agents and the opportunity is taken to help to educate non-compliant agents in best practice.

  As an active member of ABTA’s Animal Welfare Working Group, the organisers are up to date with all animal welfare issues the world over.

You will be required to pay the registration fee at the time of booking and the final balance 10 weeks before departure.

Once your final balance has been settled at or before 10 weeks prior to departure, your place on the trip will be confirmed and you'll be ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime!

Costs

I had an absolutely unbelievable time on the Machu Picchu trek, everyone was really friendly, including all the guides, chefs and the team. It was a great way to meet new people and raise money for charity. Abigail, Warwick