Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Luxury Hotels
Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Luxury Hotels
2026: Aug-Oct, Dec 2027: Apr-Dec
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.
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.
Start/End Cusco
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
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.
Night 1
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.
Days 2-3
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.
Nights 2-3
Luxury 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.
Day 4
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.
Night 4
Luxury 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.
Day 5
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.
Night 5
Luxury 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.
Day 6
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.
Night 6
Luxury 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.
Days 7-9
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.
Nights 7-8
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.
This trip has an activity level range of 3-5
- Activity
- Activity Level
- Mileage
- Elevation
What's Included
See moreStraight 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.
Some of our activities require trail permits which Backroads will obtain on your behalf. Booking your trip a minimum of 6 months prior to departure will give you the best chance of securing all necessary permits. Your Trip Consultant will reach out if there are any issues; unless this happens, 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.
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.
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.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates to see pricing, hotel or itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy, in USD.
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