Salkantay is the highest peak of the Cordillera Vilcabamba (6,271 m), located approximately 60 km northwest of Cusco. This stunning trek takes you to the slopes of this glacier, culminating at the lost citadel of Machu Picchu. Truly an unforgettable tour for lovers of mountains, hiking, and breathtaking landscapes.

We will leave Cusco at 5:30am and head towards Marcoccasa (3400m/11154f), passing the village of Challacancha (3400m/9843f). In Marcoccasa we will meet the horsemen and the rest of the group and start our trek. We start hiking in the high part of the magnificent Soraypampa valley, surrounded by huge snow-capped mountains such as Humantay (5217m/17116f) and Salkantay (6264m/20551f). In the afternoon we hike to “Laguna de Humantay” (a beautiful lake at the foothill of Humatay snowy peak). The walk to Humantay takes about 3 hours (return). Our campsite will be in Soraypampa (3900m/12795f).

Climate: cold
Transport time: 3hrs 30 hours
Hiking time: 6 hours

After breakfast, we will begin our ascent to the Salkantay Pass (4,600 m), where we will enjoy a magnificent view of the snow-capped Salkantay peak (6,271 m). We will then descend, observing the ecosystem shift as we approach Collpapampa (3,000 m) near the tropical forest, where we will set up camp for the night.

Climate: Warm with mosquitoes
Hiking time: 9–10 hours

We will dedicate our third day to discovering the region’s flora and plantations, observing orchids, bromeliads, and many other species. We will take a close look at coffee, cacao, and fruit tree crops, meeting local families in Wiñaypoco, Granadilla, and Lucmabamba, where we will camp (2,000 m). We will spend the afternoon with a local farming family who will guide us through the entire process of growing and processing coffee, from plant to cup. We will learn how it takes about four years for a coffee plant to yield its first harvest and how the picking is done entirely by hand—a meticulous and labor-intensive task.

  • Climate: Warm with mosquitoes

  • Hiking time: 7 hours

Note: In the afternoon, for an extra cost, it is possible to alter the itinerary to visit the Santa Teresa Hot Springs (1,830 m).

After breakfast, we will walk along an Inca trail until reaching the archaeological complex of Llactapata. From this viewpoint, we will observe Machu Picchu mountain and the Vilcanota Canyon. We will then continue our descent to the Hydroelectric station, where we will catch the train to Aguas Calientes for our overnight stay at the hotel.

Climate: Warm with mosquitoes

Hiking time: 6 hours

All’alba realizzeremo il sogno di una vita: da Aguas Calientes saliremo in bus fino a Machu Picchu, la leggendaria “città perduta”. Questo sito archeologico, celebre per le rovine e la vista sulla valle dell’Urubamba, è Patrimonio UNESCO e una delle sette meraviglie del mondo moderno. La visita guidata di gruppo (circa 2 ore e mezza) vi svelerà la storia di questo luogo unico. I più intraprendenti potranno salire autonomamente sul Huayna Picchu, sulla Montagna Machu Picchu o sul Huchuy Picchu. Nel pomeriggio treno per Ollantaytambo (o Poroy) e trasferimento in bus con altri turisti fino a Cusco.

Clima durante il giorno: caldo

Tour di gruppo.

Guida in inglese/spagnolo.

Per integrare questa esperienza nel vostro itinerario, è necessario estendere il vostro viaggio di quattro giorni.


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    Giulia R profile picture
    Giulia R
    23 days ago
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    Beautiful trip organized perfectly We had a wonderful experience, perfectly organized and enriched by the contribution of the guides Camilo, very kind in welcoming us to Cusco, and David, who accompanied us on the subsequent stages. What I appreciated most was his frankness in telling us about Peru, helping us to observe and understand a reality deeply different from our own through his perspective. It certainly enriched our trip from a human and cultural point of view. We absolutely recommend this experience!
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    Emanuela profile picture
    Emanuela
    33 days ago
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    Peru has entered our hearts, thanks to PerùEtico Usually I organize trips by myself, and it is a part of the trip that I love: I want to choose everything and leave nothing to chance. This year, for a series of reasons, I decided to rely on an agency for the trip to Peru with my sister, and I could not have made a better choice. The thing I loved most is that PerùEtico built the trip exactly as I would have organized it, following my idea of travel. In August we experienced 15 intense days. We started from Lima and Cusco, then Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon, up to Arequipa, Huacachina and Paracas. It was a trip that made us fall in love with this country. All the guides, whom we met on our path, were always wonderful: knowledgeable, passionate and capable of telling about their land with a contagious affection. The organization was impeccable. The app was our compass: day-by-day schedule, times, tickets, and accommodations always accessible. Next to the app was Gianni, who assisted us throughout the trip, via Whatsapp, with rare availability and kindness. Any question was immediately answered. Thank you very much Gianni, you were our point of reference! We did not have a single problem. The transfers were always punctual, the guides wonderful, and we felt followed at every moment. Some experiences particularly impressed us. First of all Cusco: we fell in love with the city and its surroundings (do not miss the evening walk Myths and legends with Camilo, who will make you discover a fascinating and mysterious side of the city). Then the private tour in the Sacred Valley, with an extraordinary guide who told us about every place with passion. The Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain: we really appreciated this choice, because it is less beaten by mass tourism and for this reason even more exciting. Finally, the two days in the Colca Canyon, managed to perfection. A special mention goes to Taquile. We spent two days on Lake Titicaca hosted by a local family, sharing their daily life. It is the experience that remained most in our hearts. We loved everything about this trip. Peru is an incredible country and the Peruvian people are fantastic, welcoming, and smiling. PerùEtico knew how to let us experience it in the most beautiful way. We recommend it to anyone who dreams of this trip: you will be in excellent hands. Heartfelt thanks to the whole team! Emanuela and Elisa
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    Claudio C profile picture
    Claudio C
    35 days ago
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    Excellent experience, beyond expectations!! Highly recommended! We organized a personalized 15-day itinerary with them, which included 4 days of the Inca Trail. The organization was fantastic (in Italian), complete and detailed, with many tips derived from their long experience and with easy and friendly interactions (Emanuele is the best!). Very detailed and transparent quote (and final statement), including the breakdown of costs. He advised us to spend a day with a family on Lake Titicaca, and it was truly worth it. One of the best memories of the trip! Before departure, everything was uploaded to the app: the highly detailed program (appointments, pickup times, names and phone numbers of the guides) as well as all the necessary tickets for the tour, information sheets for the booked hotels, tips on restaurants, the itinerary, luggage, etc. We were then looked after on-site by Camilo, a friendly, comforting, and constant presence who assisted us day and night (via WhatsApp, by phone, and in person!) and, above all, managed critical issues in a very proactive manner, providing us with a series of alternatives and always proving willing to understand and accommodate all our needs. The Inca Trail was closed due to bad weather, and we had to do the short itinerary (2 days). Camilo promptly proposed a series of alternatives, reorganizing the bookings and the transfers of our luggage in an optimal manner, according to the new route. In Cusco, he made himself available to spend time with us (not planned) and was a fantastic guide, telling us about the peculiarities of the city and its history, which allowed us to truly appreciate the city and the Peruvian people (do not miss his \"Myths and Legends\" guided tour). I usually organize my trips on my own, so I was able to particularly appreciate their meticulous assistance in all phases, their advice and proposals, and, above all, the passion and experience they demonstrate in their work! Truly great! Highly recommended!
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    Alessandro P profile picture
    Alessandro P
    47 days ago
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    Perú Etico top of the range Wonnderfull trip The team at the agency was fantastic; there were never any delays, and everything was perfect.
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    marco p profile picture
    marco p
    54 days ago
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    Peru with PerúEtico We visited Peru in August 2026, with a 2-week trip organized by PerúEtico. Family trip for 4 people. PerúEtico supported us with attention from the very beginning during the trip planning phase. All of our questions received an immediate response and always within 24 hours. PeruEtico gave us advice on how to customize our visit, and in particular, Machu Picchu. During our stay in Peru, we were constantly in contact via WhatsApp with Camilo, who was always available to answer any of our questions. The first few days in the Cusco area, we had a guide in Italian dedicated to us and attentive to making sure we followed the visit schedule while respecting our pace. Even in cases of unforeseen events, PeruEtico supported us in a timely manner to try not to compromise the travel itinerary. We recommend choosing PeruEtico if you are thinking about visiting Peru, a wonderful trip!!!!
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    MaghettoGS76 profile picture
    MaghettoGS76
    58 days ago
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    Great job, precise, attentive. Highly recommended! We used Perù Etico for a tailor-made trip in August to Peru. They customized everything based on our needs. We dealt with Emanuele for the quote and trip planning part and then with Gianni regarding the on-site assistance. Both very precise, fast, quick, and attentive to the customer's needs. Top-notch 24/7 on-site assistance. Consult Perù Etico, they are truly good.
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    Liliana C profile picture
    Liliana C
    60 days ago
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    Unforgettable trip Peru, an unforgettable trip! Certainly first and foremost for the extraordinary beauty of this vast territory, which amazed us more every day. But a special thanks goes to PerùEtico, which allowed us to create a perfect tailor-made tour far from the usual standardized tourist routes. They allowed us to live unique experiences with local families and businesses, letting us savor Peruvian culture in all its facets. We return home happy from this fantastic adventure! Thank you PerùEtico!
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    Annalisa d profile picture
    Annalisa d
    63 days ago
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    PerùEtico for an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend anyone planning a trip to the wonderful land of Peru to rely on Perù Etico. Thanks to Perù Etico, it was possible for us to visit many different places in 15 days, moving through Peru with an impeccable organization of time and transportation. The 24/7 assistance from a dedicated person is very reliable, as well as the detailed travel itinerary accompanied by recommendations for the best restaurants at the various stops (which we enjoyed so much!!! the food in Peru is fantastic!!). Thanks to the application provided by Perù Etico, you always have all the necessary information at your fingertips to travel and organize yourself during the various stops. We will definitely rely on this tour operator again for other trips to Latin America. A thank you to the whole staff, to Emanuele for the assistance in the initial phase of planning the trip, and to Gianni for his exquisite availability during the trip. Thanks to Perù Etico, the travel experience was authentic and genuine, just as I had wished!
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    Alfio F profile picture
    Alfio F
    66 days ago
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    A trip full of new experiences. They led us with care, experience, and availability to plan the vacation following our directions but adjusting the aim and giving advice that proved to be valuable. During the trip, there was always support to solve the small problems that inevitably, in a trip like this, arose.
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    Daydream58648319190 profile picture
    Daydream58648319190
    67 days ago
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    The colors of Peru Trip to Peru with Peru Etico, a local tour operator that provided us with various tips on accommodations and itineraries, and with prepared and reliable guides and drivers who accompanied us for most of the trip. A nice experience in the Amazon and sleeping at a local family's home on the island of Taquile. We especially thank Emanuele for the initial preparation of the trip and Camilo for the support on-site. A nice experience to recommend..
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    nick71 profile picture
    nick71
    71 days ago
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    Fantastic Peru Together with my wife, I took a 12-day trip to Peru organized by Perù Etico. The trip was planned and customized by Emanuele in relation to our needs and requests. Emanuele proved to be a very empathetic person and extremely quick to respond to my emails in which I asked for information or other things. The organization of the tour was done very well, and all the bureaucratic part was also handled in a quick and efficient way. A very interesting idea is to create an always-updated app within which everything you need is included: itinerary, tickets, hotels, etc. etc. During the tour, we had constant and direct support from Camilo, who proved to be a very helpful person and attentive to managing the practical activities of the trip as well as any specific needs. Kudos also to the guides and drivers who supported us on this trip, knowledgeable, sociable, and very helpful, in particular to Louis and Edwin with whom we spent most of the time. The trip was overall very beautiful and interesting. If I have to indicate what we liked most, I would say Machu Picchu and the day-and-a-half experience in the home of a local family on the island of Taquile. Elisabeth and her family treated us very well and let us live an authentic experience on this beautiful island. Cristian
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    Cecilia G profile picture
    Cecilia G
    76 days ago
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    A Peru to be experienced, not just visited We just returned from a beautiful trip to Peru, organized with great attention and with an itinerary that allowed us to truly discover the country. We particularly appreciated the preparation and availability of the guides, always attentive and capable of helping us get to know places, history, and culture in an engaging way. One of the best memories is certainly the day spent with a local family in Taquile: an authentic and very moving experience, which allowed us to get to know their daily life up close and which we will carry with us as one of the most special moments of the trip. Serious and reliable organization, which we definitely recommend!