Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu & Amazon River Cruise – 15 Days

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While Machu Picchu is a must-see in Peru, there’s more than one way to reach the iconic Inca site. During this 15-day itinerary, take on the lesser-known, more challenging Salkantay Trail on your way to the 15th-century citadel, catching stunning mountain views and visiting villages, coffee farms, and archaeological sites along the way. Once you’ve completed the trek, kick up your feet for a four-day cruise within the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

Highlights

  • Pick up unique souvenirs at the Sacred Valley’s largest handicrafts market
  • Hike the lesser-known Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu
  • Visit an organic coffee farm in the cloud forest near Lucmabamba
  • Cruise along the Marañón River, the mainstem source of the Amazon

Difficulty

Condition

Travel Program

Day 1: Arrival in Lima

Welcome to Lima! Once you land in Peru’s capital city, a private transfer will take you to your accommodations. If you have time, consider exploring the city on your own. Check out the chic shopping centers in Miraflores, visit Museo Larco‘s massive collection of pre-Columbian art, or take a walk past the lemon-yellow buildings surrounding the Plaza Mayor de Lima.

Today, it’s off to Cusco to acclimate for your trek—and to check out the former capital city of the Inca Empire, of course! After you’ve been transferred from the airport to your hotel, head out into the city to walk its narrow streets, peruse local markets, or drink a cup of coca tea to help adjust to its 11,000-foot (3,000 m) elevation. For an early taste of the Inca architecture, you’ll find later in the trip, head uphill to the sacred site Sacsayhuamán, known for its walls made of huge boulders.

Tour three of the Sacred Valley’s gems today on a tour of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. Start at Pisac Archaeological Park and check out the Inca-era complex, where you can find remnants of burial grounds, irrigation systems, and astronomy centers. Later, head down the hill to the modern town’s handicraft market, the largest in the region. Then stop for lunch at a local Peruvian-Andean restaurant with views of the Urubamba River, which flows through the Sacred Valley.

From here, head to Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in the Sacred Valley that have retained its original Inca urban planning. Walk through the streets with Inca-era canals and view the ancient houses still in use today. Climb the agricultural terraces for a bird’s-eye-view of the valley. You’ll be able to see some of the quarries from where the Ollantaytambo stone was sourced and marvel at the feat of engineering that brought them to the site.

Then, head back toward Cusco and stop at Chinchero, a small Andean village sitting at a higher elevation than the other villages at 12,342 feet (3,762 m) above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views of snowy mountains like Salkantay, which you’ll hike to later in the trip, as you explore the Inca terraces, a colonial stucco church, and another artisanal market.

Get ready for an adrenaline rush today! You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven for 1.5 hours to the Chuquicahuana area of the Urubamba River, affectionately known as “Chuqui,” for an exhilarating day of white-water rafting. Experienced guides will help you prepare for the Class III and higher rapids in the area, and you’ll be rewarded with lunch at the Cusipata River Lodge after two hours on the water. If that’s not enough adventure, try the zip line that spans 328 feet (100 m) across the river!
Get to know Cusco on a guided tour through the city. First, walk Plaza de Armas and explore the Cathedral of Cusco, home to several paintings from the Escuela Cuzquena (“Cusco School”), known for their gold leaf accents. From there, head to the ruins of the legendary Qoricancha (“Temple of the Sun”), once the Inca’s most important temple, whose walls were said to be plated with gold. Wrap up the tour with visits to other archaeological sites, like Q’enqo, Tambomachay, and Puka Pukara.
Today, the Salkantay trek begins! Spend the next few days on the trail on the slopes of Salkantay, the highest mountain in the Vilcabamba range in the Peruvian Andes. Get an early start this morning when you leave Cusco and ride toward Marcoccasa, where the trail starts. Muleteers and their steeds will help carry the heavier items as you climb toward your first camp, Soraypampa, passing villagers and farmers. It can get quite chilly at camp at 12,631 feet (3,850 m) in elevation, so enjoy a well-deserved hot meal and a warm drink.
Today will be one of the longest and most challenging days of the trek as you make your way up and over Salkantay Pass, but it will also be the most rewarding. Once again, get an early start and climb past boulder fields and switchback trails until you reach the pass at 15,190 feet (4,630 m). From there, continue downhill past more ancient boulders, rock formations, mountain fog, and wildlife until you reach camp at Chaullay.
Follow the Salkantay River as you enter the cloud forest. As your elevation decreases, the air will get warmer, and the surrounding vegetation will grow denser—keep an eye out for orchids and bromeliads clinging to the trees. Your destination today is Lucmabamba, a village at 6,561 feet (2,000 m) that’s home to a coffee plantation where you’ll spend the night. Upon arrival, take a guided tour and learn how the beans are harvested and roasted to create some of the best coffee in the world.

Today marks the last day of hiking on the Salkantay trail! Trek along an old Inca trail up to Llactapata Pass. It’s here, at 8,974 feet (2,736 m), that you can look across the valley to spot Machu Picchu for the first time and enjoy views of Vilcanota Canyon, weather permitting. There is no shortage of archaeological sightseeing to do on your side of the valley, though—the pass is home to Llactapata, an Inca tambo (fort). Once you’ve explored the site, catch the train for the one-hour ride to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Presiding nearly 8,000 feet (2,438 m) above the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu has been stunning visitors for centuries. Ride the bus up early in the morning to catch a breathtaking sunrise over the mountain. Then, take a guided tour through 15th-century dry-stone walls and check out the three most famous structures—the Intihuatana ritual stone, The Temple of the Sun, and The Temple of the Three Windows—as well as some lesser-known spots around the area. At the end of the day, catch the train to Cusco.

Now that your trek in the Peruvian Andes has ended gear up for your cruise through the Amazon. A private transfer will take you to the Cusco Airport for your flight to Iquitos, known as “the capital of the Peruvian Amazon.” Once at your accommodations in town, you’ll have some time to check out the city. Head to the Plaza de Armas to see buildings constructed during the 20th-century rubber boom, or explore Belén, a neighborhood famous for its street market and houses suspended on stilts.

A private transfer will take you from Iquitos to Nauta to board your cruise ship, La Perla, and start your adventure on the Peruvian Amazon. Today’s leg of the trip takes you along the Marañon River to its confluence with the Ucayali River, forming the Amazon. Visit the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a sprawling, 8,000-square-mile (20,800-sq-km) protected area of seasonally flooded forest. Here you can find freshwater charapa turtles, and then later tonight, you and your guides can head into the rainforest to try and spot the nocturnal residents of the area.
Today, you’ll revisit the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and enjoy a picnic breakfast—keep an eye out for its famous pink river dolphins! There are plenty of other animals to seek out, including blue and yellow macaws, toucans, and several species of monkeys. Later on, meet a shaman from San Regis, a local community, who will share insights about Amazonian culture and rituals, and then join a tree-planting ceremony. This evening, take a ride through Nauta Creek, known as the mirrored forest, thanks to the still, reflective floodwaters framing the trees.

Experience a little action today as you head to Shiriyacu Creek for a little piranha fishing. Guides will show you the traditional techniques developed by the local people in the area. You’ll get to learn even more about the people who call this corner of the Amazon rainforest home when you visit Kukama Prado, a local village. Later this afternoon, you’ll have the chance to take one last boat ride along the Amazon River to spot any wildlife you might have missed previously, like caimans, frogs, tarantulas, and snakes.

After enjoying one last morning on La Perla, disembark and take a bus to Nauta and then onto Iquitos. Take a pit stop at Amazon Rescue Center, a rescue and rehab facility for wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon. Learn about the center’s mission and come face-to-face with some of their rescues, including manatees, pink river dolphins, and land creatures like sloths and anteaters.

Once you arrive in Iquitos, take a flight back to Lima for your next connection. Whether you’re headed back home or onto the next adventure, you’ll leave Peru with memories that will last a lifetime.

Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner

What's Included

Included

  • English- and Spanish-speaking guide
  • Entrance tickets as per itinerary
  • Accommodation
  • Trekking staff (if applicable)
  • Camping equipment (if applicable)
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Transportation as per itinerary
  • Airport transfers (if specified)

Not included

  • International or domestic flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional tours or additional entrance tickets
  • Personal equipment

What to Bring

What to Bring or take fo Day Hiking and Technical Equipment for Climbing Expedition

This equipment list is compiled to provide you with adequate help when choosing your equipment for a climb. Most items are required. Please consider each of them and make sure you understand the function and exclusive use for mountaineering, before substituting or removing items from this list. Please note that this list has been carefully annotated by the organizer. Remember that mountaineering, climbing or mountain expeditions tours is an extreme, risky sport, therefore everything related to it is of great attention.

Hiking backpack for hiking 50 to 60 liters

Light gloves for hiking or (Optional Mittens waterproof)

Medium weight socks

Sleeping bag (-15º to 20ºC)

Small daypack for one day hiking 30 liters

Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)

Hiking boots or shoes

Medium weight parka with fibber fill or down

Rain poncho (or rain gear)

Long-sleeved shirts

Fleece or Wool sweater and/or trousers

Lightweight pants

Cotton short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts

Water bottle for hiking or trekking

Strong waterproof duffel bag

Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb

Towel for personal hygiene each participantFirst-aid kit

Regular and long underwear

Knife or multi-tool

Light cap and wool hat

Sunglasses with UV certification, Sun block, lips

The rest of the list Essentials as appropriate for your hike

Grooming and personal hygiene kit

One Hiking Buff per person

3 Locking carabiners, we recommended per person

We recommend 2 ice screws for each client

1 Daisy Chain (Life Line) per each person

2 Ice axes (per person) technical, we recommended GRIVEL company

1 ATC descender (Rappel), this is very necessary for technical mountains

2 Cords for prusik, very important (Size Cord 6 mm x 10 m. long)

Gloves(Good gloves) for expeditions over 6000meters

Harness for climbing

Sleeping pad / Mattress, we recommend with air or inflatable mattress

Crampons, we recommended GRIVEL company

Walking sticks – Trekking Poles (optional), a pair per person, we recommended GRIVEL company

Down Jacket for expedition

Very important to have personal clothing such as pants and jacket with GOROTEX certification

First aid kit, for high mountains, because we as guides cannot medicate clients

Backpack Capacity 60 liters, it is better to have a bigger backpack to go comfortably to the high camps, because here you have to carry all your personal things

Gaiters or Leggings, now modern boots already have built-in (Incorporated), but better to have an extra pair

Dressing appropriately for the mountains can make the difference between a pleasant trip and a really uncomfortable one. Clothing must provide the right degree of temperature, perspiration and be well ventilated. Preferably cotton clothing should be avoided, as in humid conditions they absorb body heat.

In general, the weather conditions in in the Andes of South America can vary from day to day and even throughout the day. Therefore, clothing must be versatile.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the necessary equipment.

Prices & Dates

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 APR 2026 / 19 APR 2026

$ —-

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Please note: Insurance for emergency evacuation is required for this trip. Call for more details.

» Additional dates available upon request
» Rates may vary from July 26th to 31th for the national holidays

Prices (per person):

1 PAX 2 PAX 4 PAX 6 PAX 8 PAX 10 PAX 12 PAX 14 PAX
— USD — USD — USD — USD — USD — USD — USD — USD

Deposit for reservations

— USD (– EUR) ✓ Full payment 40 days before. No refund if you cancel less than 30 days!

Places: 🟢 *Available
Trip-code: Number ►BOL-000
Duration: 1 day
Participants: Minimal: 2 Maximal: 15
Members: We don’t have an open group to join – We can open a new group – Contact us!
Country / Location: Bolivia
Mountain Guide: Eric Raul Albino Lliuya
Other dates / additional info: Contact us!

3% early bird discount when booking 6 months prior to departure 2024

Legend Booking-information:
EZZ Single room supplement
🟢 On this trip, places are still available.
🟡 On this trip, only a few places left.
🔴 This trip is sold out / closed.

Eric Raul Albino Lliuya

Expert guide certified by AGOMP
General Sales Manager of Peru Expeditions

Hans Honold | Certified Mountain and Ski Guide

For a trip with a Professional Certified Mountain Guide from abroad with your own language that you speak, please request us to get in touch. We have guides working for our company from all over the world who are members of IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Guides.

It is very important to have accident coverage for trekking and climbing mountains, more if you go a technical mountains over 6 thousand meters, we oblige and recommend buying travel insurance with our partner Global Rescue, you get the peace of mind that the finest medical, security evacuation, field rescue, intelligence and telehealth.

Only $1000 deposit to book

Pay over time, interest free

No booking fee, no change fee

24/7 support

Accommodations

Scroll through our exclusive accommodations for this trip below. Although very unlikely, we will be able to make substitutions when necessary. The comfortable accommodations that guests stay in every night offer comfort, the level that these options are are 3 stars and some hostels in some towns of first class quality to make your stay very pleasant.

*These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some cases, alternative accommodation of similar quality and location can be used.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What our travelers or clients always ask questions before joining our trips, tours & expeditions, read all the information provided here.

Suggested FAQs

For our mountain climbing trips: If they are easily accessible mountains: For easy-climb mountains, well, you don’t need much experience, but if you already want to climb mountains above 6,000 meters and the conditions become more difficult, we recommend if you already want to go through mountains above 6,000 meters, have a basic or intermediate course for a good preparation. It is very important to be physically, technically and psychologically prepared.

Regarding the preparation of children: Everything will depend on which mountain you want to climb with your children, once you are clear on which of our tours or mountains you want to go with your children, we can give you some advice or see how to prepare them before going with they.

Regarding older people: It all depends on the condition of experience and how well the person is in health, on many occasions older people are the best to walk in the mountains because they have more experience, so it is always good to ask and find out about their experience of older participant. If you have any other questions, please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In all our trekking or mountaineering trips we do not include personal equipment in our prices, so you have to have your own equipment: Personal equipment (such as boots, ice ax, crampons, harness, sleeping bag, mat, Goretex, etc. ) and also within each page of the trips that we sell is a small list so you can see it on our website.

Our company can also rent the materials that you would need for your trip, see the list here on our website: https://peru-expeditions.org/equipment-rental/ . For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

Safe and effective vaccines are available that provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against COVID-19, help end the pandemic and stop new variants emerging.

We also recommend having accident insurance, we always recommend. We are Partners –Global Rescue. If you have any other questions about the trip we can schedule a date for a calling via WhatsApp. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

To do long-distance hiking you need to at least train or do some tours such as visiting lagoons to get the experience and feel comfortable with what you do, it is always good before doing a long-distance hiking tour to test yourself so as not to be with the problems of altitude sickness during the trekking, and if you travel with children it is good to first train them before taking them, if they are accompanied by an adult of legal age, they must do a good acclimatization before going on the long-distance tour or with high altitude camps If you want to know or learn more advice, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

The preparation is according to what type and what technical level you want to go and climb a trek or mountain, the preparation will always gain experience little by little.

For this type of demanding or technical climbing sports, it is recommended to do some summits above 5 thousand meters beforehand and have good knowledge of high mountain technical equipment such as the use of technical ice axes, ice screws, correct use of crampons, and of course all the technical material. For more information, we can schedule an appointment to be able to explain in more detail everything about the mountain equipment and the preparations prior to joining our outings. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

Every day we have active walks around approximately 4, to 5 sometimes 6 hours of walking, everything is according to your pace and physical condition of each person, in each of our travel programs you will find more detailed information, and if If you need more information about each day of the travel program, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts or questions, for this please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In our trips, either hiking or mountaineering: Depending on the type or destination of the trip that you are going to book, in some parts of the treks you go with mules or donkeys or sometimes with horses, and within the mountain trips, the approach camps are also They go with mules or donkeys, but there are some stretches where pack animals can no longer reach. In this part, our logistics is fully supported by the porters.

Who are the porters? They are people from the area who were born and live in the heights of the towns, they are very strong and are very acclimatized, the reason is that after the tourist season ends they dedicate themselves to agriculture and livestock for that reason they are people They are used to the altitude and have lived in nature all their lives and they are happy to be in the mountains together with our expeditions. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About accommodation or meals during the tour: Well, depending on the type of tour, when the tour is a classic cultural tour or a city tour, we eat during the route in tourist restaurants and sleep in category hotels that the client has requested.

If the tour is with camps and trekking: During the activity, logistics we include the service of Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with traditional and typical meals of the region where you are going to travel with us, during the night we stay in tents, and we have a special tent for the kitchen and another for the dining room.

If the trip is at altitude or in the mountains: We bring special high mountain food, It are quicker meals to cook and we provide complete logistics such as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and we sleep in special 4-season high mountain tents, with the best tents. If you have any questions or concerns, we can schedule an appointment via Whatsapp to clarify all your doubts and give you better information so that your trip is an unforgettable tour.

In mountains above 5000 meters: A local guide takes a maximum of 3 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide

In technical mountains: In large-big mountains we manage the travel policy, a guide and a maximum of 2 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In the interest of the team’s enjoyment and success, we work with every single guest to ensure they are properly prepared and ready for this expedition. We pride ourselves on vetting every member to make sure that the team can bond and succeed together. It really sucks to be grouped with members that are much faster, or much slower, than you are. No one wants to the weakest link on a trip like this. By setting expectations and a solid training plan, we work to insure maximum cohesive success. Use this trip as an exercise motivator, and we will succeed together with style.

For the pick-ups of each trip, depending on the place or the trip that you are going to make with us, the meeting point is always at our office, in one of our trips we pick you up where you are staying or staying, or in some cases a A representative of our company will pick you up and then ship you to your transport to continue with your destination of the tour or trip you have booked with us. If you wish to request more information, do not hesitate to contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About the meteorological conditions of the climate, we try to organize the trips of each tour in the best season to have the best views and enjoy the selected trip but sometimes even is good season we can have bad weather, in this case on hiking or treks trips The complications are minimal, but when this happens during high-altitude climbing expeditions, the complications can become very difficult, that is why the bosses or leaders of the local guides must always make the most correct decision for the safety of our passengers, so we always recommend listening to the best advice from the local guide assigned for each tour. If you have any other questions please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

We as a local company and connoisseurs of tours have departures on different dates. The best thing to do is to join a travel group to take care of your budget, and of course you can join our groups, but on trips like mountaineering we recommend going in small groups. To join a group, ask us for the dates and we will send you the necessary information to be able to join any of our trips.

Why go in a private trip: For trips whether trekking or high mountains, going privately is the most recommended option, but the costs are more expensive. So, if one joins a group, the prices will be more reasonable. In the mountains, the only disadvantage is if you are in a wall with another partner and if one of the participants gets tired or gets sick. In this case, you have to abort or cancel the summit and return together. For more information, contact us. We can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify all your questions.

In a mountain, for example, if 3 people go and one of the participants falls ill on the route, for security reasons they have to cancel or abort the summit or return all together. The same in a technical mountain if the climbing partner gets sick they all have to return, for these reasons sometimes it is better to go private only because for a single person the costs are more expensive for the same reason that the trip would already be private .

For more information please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

Additional information

We help in the purchase of air tickets: we set up convenient flight options with each participant of the trip and book tickets such as international flights and domestic flights in each destination city of the countries that we offer our trips. We recommend you booking international flights tickets well in advance so we can find current flights offer prices from the airlines. In order for us to search for and book your flight, please contact us and we will be happy to help you!. → More information click here
About a Satellite Phone or inReach® Messenger - GARMIN: On each trip we recommend having a satellite phone at your disposal. The possibility of quick contact from anywhere on the mountain will guarantee your safety on the road. In case of need (for example, contact with the family or the travel company), for this service the participants have to request to rent a satellite phone, of course this service has an additional cost, contact us or ask our office for more information. A practical device is to have an inReach® Messenger - GARMIN also helps for any emergency. → More information click here
Many of the participants or clients of our adventures, hikes and expeditions in the mountains are people who sign up alone, but in some of our trips you will be able to find a travel partner companion to join a group. We have many options for you from day tours, short treks, long duration tours, and even the most extreme climbing high mountains on each country or South American continent and other destinations, as like the destinations you can see on our website. The mountains are a great place for rapid integration and a very healthy sport. → More information click here
Our mountain guides or tour leaders: All of our Tour Leaders are multiple conquerors of the peaks they lead the expeditions to. Each of our cultural guides, high mountain guides, mountainbike guides, among others are internationally recognized and certified guides, such as the certifications of (UIMLA) Union of International Mountain Leader Associations & (IFMGA) International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. The mountaineering experience, skills and knowledge of your guides are a priority for us. → More information click here

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