Lima, Cusco & the Salkantay Trek

Double Tree is a modern hotel in Miraflores with tasteful rooms and free WIFI . Facilities include a rooftop pool with panoramic views, 2 restaurants and a gym offering yoga classes. El Pardo Double Tree is 9.7km from Jorge Chavez Airport, and 8 blocks from Larcomar entertainment center. Miraflores is a great choice for travelers interested in friendly people, shopping and food.

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning. The city tour begins with a visit to the Plaza des Armas, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Plaza is lined along two sides with shops: Portal de Escribanos and Portal de Botoneros. In the centre of the Plaza is a bronze fountain dating from 1560. The plaza is also home to the Cathedral, with its splendidly carved stalls, silver-covered altars surrounded by fine woodwork, and mosaic walls bearing the coats of arms of Lima and Pizarro. Continue to the San Domingo Convent. You will also see the old colonial streets in the centre of the city. Conclude your tour with the visit to the Larco Herra Museum, famous for its collection of Pre-Columbian art.

Novotel Cusco is the ideal place to go for a long weekend or to spend your vacation. The hotel is situated in the heart of the historic centre, near to the Plaza de Armas main square, the cathedral and 10 minutes from the airport. Novotel Cusco is a starting point for discovering the Inca civilization. This 4-star hotel offers 99 rooms, including 16 superior rooms, all housed in a 16th-century building, and 38 non-smoking rooms.

Enjoy a guided tour through the "imperial city's" Incan and Colonial past. The tour starts at Koricancha, an old Incan palace, then continues to the Main Square - Plaza de Armas - on which sits the exquisite Church of the La Compania de Jesus, and other colonial buildings. The tour continues to Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an impressive example of Incan military architecture that overlooks the city of Cusco.

It is from here that your tour ends with a unique experience - that of a sundowner overlooking what was once the heart and capital of the might Incan Empire. With the mighty stones of Sacsayhuaman at your back and the sun setting over this UNESCO world heritage city enjoy sparkling wine and some small snacks to savor your day and your view.

Depart Cusco early (approx. 600AM) and drive to the village of Mollepata, an Indian Village situated in a citrus growing area at a subtropical region at 2800mts / 9185ft. On route you will visit the archaeological site of Tarawasi, one of the better preserved buildings in the region. The site was used as a ceremonial center, as well as a resting place for the Inca chasquis (Inca runners who delivered messages over long distances). Then onto Mollepata.

From Mollepata, continue driving on a dirt road until arriving at Challacancha, the start point of the trek where you also meet your horse handlers, horses and all your supplied camping gear. The climb begins towards Salcantaypampa, where you have lunch before continuing to Soroycocha at 4,200mts / 13780ft, which is the first campsite. From this height you have magnificent views of Apu Salcantay in the distance - a snow capped peak of 6271mts / 20575ft called, Guardian, Lord of Cusco.

After an early healthy breakfast, with a long day of trekking ahead, you will depart around 6:30 am, toward Collpapampa, but the first stage is downhill to the Salcantay Mountain pass at 4525mts / 14845ft. Offering wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers and the snow-capped mountains of the Vilcabamba Range, you come face to face with the south face of Salkantay towering above you.

Lunch is at the little village of Huayracmachay and then a further descent into a more tropical climate of the cloud forest. Along the route, you will see an original Inca Trail before coming joining the Salkantay River, arriving at the second camp at Qollpapampa (2890mts / 9480ft) with some natural hot springs to relax your tired muscles in.

After breakfast, descend a narrow path toward the banks of the Cachora or Santa Teresa River. Today will offer a warmer and more humid climate, with this altitude also marking a noticeable change in the
flora and fauna: becoming more verdant and lush as you pass through wild plantations such as passion fruit and coffee. You then pass the waterfalls of Coripacchi for a quick swim and then onto the village of Winaypoko, where you will enjoy a delicious Lunch. In the afternoon you will continue close to the banks of the river and pass Sahuayaco, a small village of 20 families. Late afternoon you arrive at your campsite at Lucmabamba.

After breakfast, you head toward La Playa village and cross the river before starting a 2 hour uphill climb where you arrive at the El Mirador (lookout) of Abra Q'elloqasa at 2860mts / 9383ft. From here you have an exceptional, and rare view, from a direction most never get the opportunity to enjoy, of the Lost City of the Incas, the legendary Machu Picchu. After the last trek based lunch, at the lookout point of Llaqtapata (2650mts / 9315ft) from where you can view both Machu Picchu and the Salkantay Mountain range you head into the Urubamba Valley.

The 2 hour descent towards the Urubamba River, crosses lush bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations and brings you to the hydroelectric plant of Machu Picchu from where you board a train that takes you to Puente Ruinas (a short, scenic 30-minutes ride), and Aguas Calientes. You are transferred to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Enjoy the towns many restaurants, bars, shopping opportunities as well as the famous hot springs where you can rest and soak some tired bones in anticipation of your visit to Machu Picchu the following day. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

After an early breakfast you will take the first bus that travels to the ruins of Machu Picchu where your guide will take you on a comprehensive tour of the ruins. After the tour there is free time to explore the runs at your leisure, climb Wanya Picchu (must pre book) - the small peak in all the famous images of the ruins - walk to the Inca bridge or to the famous Sun gate above the ruins.

Early afternoon you will travel by bus back to Aguas Calientes to take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, where a bus transfers takes you back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley or Cusco.

Novotel Cusco is the ideal place to go for a long weekend or to spend your vacation. The hotel is situated in the heart of the historic centre, near to the Plaza de Armas main square, the cathedral and 10 minutes from the airport. Novotel Cusco is a starting point for discovering the Inca civilization. This 4-star hotel offers 99 rooms, including 16 superior rooms, all housed in a 16th-century building, and 38 non-smoking rooms.