The Wild Mountain tour has become one of the most popular hikes on the route to Machu Picchu over time.
This trail takes you to Machu Picchu in 4 days, passing through different ecosystems, from the cold weather of the Andes to the jungle of Cusco. During these 4 days, you will not only be amazed by the landscapes and the nature around you, but you will also enjoy a unique experience at our luxury camps, with personal service, comfortable beds, drinks, high-quality food, and massage services, all for a truly special experience.
You will visit places such as Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Llactapata, and Machu Picchu during 4 incredible days in the mountains!
The trek of your dreams is about to begin! Today, we will pick you up from your hotel to start this 4-day adventure through the wild mountains.
The drive to our first stop will take almost 2 and a half hours. Relax in your seat and get ready to make your dream come true, as the pickup will start at 4 am. We will arrive at the village of Mollepata, located north of the city of Cusco. Here, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast that will give us the energy we need to start the adventure.
We will continue driving to Challacancha, the starting point of our hike! The car will take us through the mountains for almost 1 hour to the starting point of the trek. Pack your backpack, get your last things ready, and we will start walking! From here to our camp, it will take almost 2 hours along a dirt path that is considered flat. You will enjoy mountain views as you get closer to your luxury panoramic dome.
As you walk and enjoy the views, you will arrive at your dome, where you can relax and enjoy the Sky Domes in Soraypampa, have a refreshing drink, and try the fine selection of food prepared by your experienced cook. With meat, proteins, carbohydrates, and salads, you will have a balanced meal to keep your energy up during these 4 days.
In the afternoon, you will have the option to go up to Humantay Lake by horse or on foot. The choice is yours; we are here to make your wishes come true.
The hike up to Humantay Lake takes almost 2 hours uphill from Soraypampa, passing through trees typical of the area, llamas, and horses running around. The final point is close, and from here you will be able to see the turquoise colors of the geological formations while the snowy Humantay Mountain welcomes you. After taking photos and listening to the explanations, we will walk back down to the camp, where a massage therapist will be waiting for you to relax your muscles before the next adventure.
Once you are ready and rested after the hike, you can have dinner in our dining room and get ready to enjoy the comfort of your bed, prepared for the next day.
You slept well, right? Well, there is nothing better than a hotel with more than a thousand stars, with a view of a sacred mountain and the comfort of a luxury dome in Soraypampa. Your guide will wake you up in the morning with a delicious and refreshing coca tea to start the day!
Get the last things ready in your backpack. The horses will already be ready to carry your things. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast because, believe me, we will need the energy to climb up to Salkantay Pass! This day is a little long, but don’t worry, your local guide will be there to help you reach your goal. The first part of the climb takes almost 4 hours from the camp to Salkantay Pass.
During the climb, you will pass places such as Salkantaypampa, Soyrococha, and the Seven Snakes Pass, which will open the way to the snowy Salkantay Mountain, waiting for you to see it in person. Take a deep breath. This fresh air will give you the strength you need to keep going. Once you have reached Salkantay Pass, you will be able to see everything from above, with a clearer view and a happy heart because you have reached your goal. Of course, if you want to ride a horse to this point, you just need to ask your guide, with no extra cost!
Here, our cook will be waiting for you with a snack and a cup of coca tea to help you deal with the altitude before going downhill to the lunch spot. Don’t rush, enjoy the view!
After a short break, walk down the rocky trail to Huayracmachay for almost 3 hours. You will enjoy the most incredible views of the snowy mountains as you get closer to the jungle part of Cusco. You will also see how the vegetation changes along the way, and of course, the sun will be your faithful companion.
When you arrive, our team will welcome you with refreshing water so you can wash your hands and freshen up, while our chef gets everything ready for your lunch and helps you regain your energy. The buffet lunch will be just what you need before the last part of the hike to your next panoramic domes in Collpapampa. This last stretch takes 3 and a half hours and will be your final hike of the day. Relax, because our massage therapist and your comfortable beds will be waiting for you.
When you arrive, you will notice the change in temperature and you can rest while enjoying a massage. You can also choose to relax in the jacuzzi facing the mountains. In the evening, your delicious dinner will be waiting for you before night falls.
Enjoy Wi-Fi, hot showers, and everything you need to recover after this long day of hiking.
Today will be the most relaxed day of the whole trek. You will enjoy breakfast at the camp, and afterwards, our private transport will take you through the Cusco jungle to Lucmabamba. Keep in mind that it is important to bring your insect repellent because as we go down in altitude and move through different ecosystems, the plants and animals will also change.
The drive takes almost 2 hours, surrounded by green plants and clear skies, until you reach the famous coffee-growing area. Once you get out of the transport, you will have the chance to see the coffee crops up close and learn about them firsthand. Cusco is known around the world for its delicious coffee, and this once-in-a-lifetime trip will be no exception.
After this guided visit to the coffee fields, you will continue with the last hike of the trip, climbing up to Llactapata. This hike takes almost 3 hours, with steps along the way that will take you to one of the archaeological sites and part of the old Inca Trail, a beautiful stone doorway from where you can see Machu Picchu in the distance.
Here at Llactapata, you will enjoy one last picnic in the mountains with panoramic views. You can also relax in the hammocks and enjoy your last peaceful moment on the trail. After tasting the last dishes prepared by the chefs, you will walk downhill to Hidroeléctrica. Here, you will say goodbye to the whole team of chefs and massage therapists before taking the 2:50 pm train to Aguas Calientes. The journey will feel like a dream as you travel through the cloud forests and arrive in a warm and cozy town, where we have included one night for you at a 4-star hotel.
After taking a shower and relaxing, your guide will come to your hotel to take you to dinner at a local restaurant, where you can remember all the stories from the trip and raise a glass with your guide to celebrate what you have achieved. Tonight will be all about getting some rest before the long-awaited day: Machu Picchu.
This is the day you have been waiting for! After thousands of photos and memories in the mountains, today you will finally visit Machu Picchu, the world wonder. Without a doubt, visiting one of the 7 wonders of the world is a true privilege, and Machu Picchu is no exception.
The day will start with breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy the variety of options to start your day well. After breakfast, your guide will be waiting for you to take you to the bus station and start your adventure to Machu Picchu. After 25 minutes, you will arrive at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. Have your passports ready, as they will be the key to entering this archaeological paradise.
You will explore the Machu Picchu citadel according to the circuit included in your tour (depending on availability at the time of booking). Here is a little information about each circuit:
Circuit 1 allows access to the upper terraces and panoramic viewpoints, where you can take the famous postcard photo of Machu Picchu.
Circuit 3 takes you through the lower part of the citadel, visiting important areas such as temples, terraces, and residential areas, offering a deeper understanding of Inca daily life and architecture (only the lower part of the citadel).
Circuit 2 is the most classic and complete option (also the most popular, so please book in advance). It basically covers circuits 1 and 3 (upper and lower terraces).
After this amazing guided tour, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes and have some free time for lunch (not included, but your guide will recommend the best place to end the experience). You will also have some free time to explore the town on your own before returning.
At a specific time, your guide will take you to the hotel to pick up your duffel bags and then go to the train station. You will take the panoramic train back, with large windows and snacks included in the VISTADOME service. Enjoy a one-hour-and-45-minute ride back to Ollantaytambo, along the Urubamba River and with beautiful mountain views. Upon arrival, your private transportation will take you back to Cusco for almost 2 hours, dropping you off at your hotel.
YOUR ADVENTURE. OUR EXPERTISE.
Guest Reviews
Real experiences from travelers who slept under the Andean sky
I never thought I could sleep in a luxury bed while staring at the Milky Way through a transparent dome. The Salkantay glacier right in front of you at sunrise — absolutely unreal. Worth every penny.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky DomeWe did the full Salkantay Trek and stayed at the dome on night two. After a hard day of hiking, coming back to a real bed, hot shower and that view of the mountain? Nothing compares to that.
SkyDomeCamps - Salkantay TrekI have camped across Patagonia and Nepal but nothing matched this. The dome is warm, beautifully designed and the silence at 4,600m is something else entirely. I woke up at 3am just to stare at the stars.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky Dome
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