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Route Rating Level 4 to Level 5

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Premiere Inns
  • From $4,498
    To $4,798 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$990 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 lunch.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Cusco, Peru

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Geological Wonders, Horseback Ride, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Peru Walking Vacations

Peru Trekking

From Cusco to Machu Picchu

Join Backroads on this fully supported lodge-to-lodge trek to one of the ancient world's most extraordinary sanctuaries: Machu Picchu. From Cusco, former capital of the Inca empire, follow a little-known route through the Vilcabamba range, a spellbinding region of misty foothills blanketed in lush greenery and high Andes peaks cloaked in white. Cross a mountain pass at nearly 15,000 feet, marvel at hidden ruins and visit isolated communities where traditions of pre-Columbian cultures still thrive. Experience the acclaimed Monasterio del Cusco and the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, as well as four stylish trekking lodges, each offering a full bar, hot tub and views of ice-manteled peaks or subtropical hillsides. Spend evenings unwinding by the fireplace, stargazing and enjoying a wealth of creature comforts. It's a high-altitude adventure you won't want to miss!

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Day 1 Cusco

Meet in Cusco After a gourmet Backroads picnic, hike to the Inca sites of Q'enko, the Temple of the Moon and the fortress-temple Sacsayhuamàn.

Days 2-3 Soraypampa

Mingle with Cusqueños at a lively fruit and vegetable market before shuttling to the Soraypampa valley  Getting acclimated doesn't mean getting bored: enjoy a short hike, go horseback riding or fish for trout in a glacial lake  Savor aperitifs by the fireside.

Day 4 Huayraqmachay

Begin the trek by hiking along a rediscovered Inca route up the Río Blanco Valley, circling Humantay Peak  Stop at a 15,000-foot pass (the trek's highest point) for superb views of the snow-covered Vilcabamba Range  Keep an eye out for Andean condors, often visible in the area.

Day 5 Colpapampa

Hike downhill above the Salkantay River amid a lush subtropical landscape At day's end, treat yourself to a well-deserved soak at a hot spring near our lodge.

Day 6 Lucmabamba

Trek down the Santa Teresa River Valley through a patchwork of orchards and coffee plantations  Visit a traditional village and meet members of the community.

Days 7-9 Aguas Calientes

Descend through bamboo forests to the Vilcanota River before taking a train to Aguas Calientes  Arrive at magical Machu Picchu, where you have the entire day to explore—hike to the Gate of the Sun or climb the stairs of Huayna Picchu for an impressive view of the citadel  Later, our local guide reveals secrets of the Lost City's astrological designs A morning train and bus ride returns you to Cusco.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Trip praise

My best vacation ever. And I travel a lot! This was my third Backroads trip. It was a fantastic experience, just like my previous trips. Our guides were fantastic, as always. Can't wait for our next trip.
Kellie Vander Veur - Holladay, UT

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Peru tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Latin America, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Latin America walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America multisport tours click here.

Peru Trekking

CLASSIC HOTELS & ENCHANTING REFUGIOS : Premiere Inns

Hotel Monasterio del Cusco

Cusco (1 night): The colonial San Antonio Abad seminary, built in 1592, is now an elegant member of Leading Hotels of the World and listed on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List.

Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort

Soraypampa (2 nights): Located at 11,800 feet, this luxury lodge welcomes you with a hot tub, reading room, trout fishing, horseback riding and incomparable views of Salkantay, the region's highest peak.

Wayra Lodge

Huayraqmachay (1 night): Overnight at “the place where the wind lives” and enjoy a hot tub soak at 12,000 feet.

Colpa Lodge

Colpapampa (1 night): This lodge rests in a cloud forest at 10,300 feet in the Colpapampa Valley, near hot springs and the confluence of three rivers.

Lucma Lodge

Lucmabamba (1 night): Savor spectacular views from this lodge, built right into the mountainside and flanked by an avocado orchard.

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Aguas Calientes (2 nights): With a pool, stunning gardens and beautifully decorated adobe cabañas, this 100% Carbon neutral hotel is both environmentally friendly and  the perfect base for our Machu Picchu visit.

Peru Trekking Peru Trekking

Hotel Monasterio del Cusco

Peru Trekking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • 2 Route Options Available
  • Walking 3.7 , 4.3 miles (2-3 hours)
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Optional Activities
Day 3
  • Optional Activities
Day 4
  • 1 Route Option Available
  • Trekking 8 miles (4-6 hours)
  • 3000 - 3500 feet elevation gain 
Day 5
  • 1 Route Option Available
  • Trekking 3.5 miles (3-4 hours)
  • 0 - 1700 feet elevation loss
Day 6
  • 1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 6.2 miles (4-6 hours)
  • 0 - 3700 feet elevation loss
Day 7
  • 1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 5.6 miles (4-6 hours)
  • 1500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • 3 Route Options Avaialbe
  • 2.2, 3.7, 5 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
  • Guided Tour of Machu Picchu
Day 9
  • Conclusion of trip

Overnight trekking lodges are located at elevations of 6,600 feet to 11,800 feet. Trekking routes reach 15,000 feet at highest point.

Peru Trekking Peru Trekking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles