Your adventure begins early in the morning with a scenic tour from Cusco to the charming village of Mollepata. After a short stop, we continue to Soraypampa (3900 m / 12 795 ft), the starting point of your hike. Surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks, this stunning landscape sets the tone for the journey ahead. From Soraypampa, we gradually ascend for about 1.5 to 2 hours until we reach the stunning Humantay Lake (4200 m), a turquoise gem nestled at the base of the majestic Humantay Mountain. Here you will have time to explore, take pictures and enjoy the peaceful energy of this sacred Andean lagoon. Afterwards, we descend back to Soraypampa, where your camp awaits, which offers spectacular views of the Humantay and Salkantay mountains. In the evening, under a star-studded sky, you will enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by the team before resting for the next day’s adventure.
We wake up early with a hot coke tea and an energizing breakfast to start the most challenging, but also the most rewarding day of the hike. From Soraypampa, we gradually ascend through stunning valleys and Andean landscapes until we reach the Salkantay Pass (4650 m), the highest point on the entire route. At the top, you will be surrounded by stunning views of the majestic Salkantay mountain (6271 m), considered sacred by the Incas. Here we will take some time to celebrate the achievement, take pictures and connect with amazing natural beauty. Afterwards, we will begin the descent, watching the landscape change from snowy peaks to lush green valleys. We will stop at Huayracmachay for lunch before continuing the descent until we reach Chaullay (2900 m), where the highlands meet the edge of the cloud forest. Dinner and night in the camp, surrounded by the sounds of nature.
Enjoy a break in the village of Chaullay while admiring the view of the mountains, Sample the Exquisite Breakfast, prepare for the most beautiful day of this experience, Today you will walk along narrow paths along the river, pass by wooden bridges, small waterfalls and banana plantations, Coffee, Cocoa and Granadilla until you reach the village of Playa (2000 m / 6561 ft). Lunch today will be at the same place we'll spend the night. After lunch, we will continue to an organic farm, where you can taste the best coffee in the area. This area is characterized by organic coffee growing, where you can participate in the coffee making process. From the plants, roasting process beans and even the exquisite drink. After this beautiful experience, we will have time to relax visiting the Cocalmayo hot springs, which are optional and not included in the package, but can be arranged with your guide.
This day will be quite demanding, as we will walk about 24 km from the beach to Aguas Calientes. The first 3 hours will be of pure ascent, with magnificent views from which you can see the sunrise, until you reach the place called Llactapata, from where you can see Machu Picchu. This view will be unique as you can be closer to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu after an arduous hike. You will also find Inca buildings in this area. The three-hour trail is considered part of the original Inca trail from Machu Picchu to the Amazon. Your guide will tell you more about the area. After the visit, you will descend to the Aho Bamba Valley, where you will have lunch at the home of a family, which always means financial support for the local population. After lunch, you will continue the walk to the hydroelectric power plant. The route from this place to Aguas Calientes runs alongside the train track and borders all Machu Picchu.
This Day you will visit one of the seven wonders of the world, a city abandoned for unknown reasons during the 16th century by the great Inca Empire. We will start early, have breakfast at the hotel and take the first buses to reach Machu Picchu at dawn. Once there, an expert guide will take you to the most important places of the citadel: temples, palaces, squares and enclosures, while revealing the mysteries hidden in this spectacular Inca city, nestled on top of a mountain. The guided tour lasts approximately 3 hours. If you have tickets, you can climb Huayna Picchu or the mountain (Machu Picchu mountain). After finishing with the citadel, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, have lunch, collect your belongings from the hotel and take the expedition train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, the Guiding Cusco team will take you back to Cusco on board your private transportation. You will arrive at the hotel around 7:30 p.m.
Excellent Experience doing the 5 Day Salkantay trek with Guiding Cusco. The landscapes were increíble and everything was very well organized. Our Guide was friendly and always made sure we were doing well. Definitely and adventure i highly recommend!
An Unforgettable Experience in Ausangate – Guiding Cusco Treking Ausangate with Guiding Cusco was one of the best experiences of our trip to Peru. From the very beginning, everything was very well organized, and the team made us feel safe, comfortable, and supported throughout the entire adventure. I want to give a special mention to Nazario, our cook, because he truly surprised us with the quality of the food. Being in such a remote place and at such a high altitude, we never imagined we would eat so well. Each meal was different, plentiful, fresh, and delicious. After long hikes, arriving at camp and finding a hot and well-prepared meal was incredible. We also want to give a special thanks to Percy, our muleteer, who did an excellent job throughout the trek. He was always attentive to the equipment, the horses, and making sure everything was ready at each campsite. It's clear he knows the mountain perfectly and works with great dedication. The campsites were excellent; everything was prepared and organized so we could rest after each day of hiking. Sleeping surrounded by the Ausangate mountains and waking up to those landscapes was simply spectacular. But the best part was the team. Everyone was kind, attentive, and professional, and we truly felt like we weren't just tourists on a tour, but rather having an authentic experience in the Andes. I highly recommend Guiding Cusco for Ausangate. If you're looking for a local, professional company with excellent organization, good food, good campsites, and a team that genuinely cares about its travelers, this is an excellent choice. Thanks to Nazario, Percy, and the entire Guiding Cusco team for making our Ausangate trip an unforgettable experience!
I did the 5 day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Guiding Cusco as a solo traveller and had such a great experience. I felt comfortable and well looked after throughout the trek, and the group quickly became good company. The scenary was incredible and reaching Machu Picchu at the enf made all those challenging hiking dayscompletely worth it. So glad i decided to do this.
We had an incredible trek to Machu Picchu with Lisbeth from Guiding Cusco. Everything was well organized, from the beautiful mountain scenery to the journey toward Machu Picchu. The team was friendly, professional, and always helpful. A challenging but unforgettable experience and definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Peru. Highly recommended.
Amazing experience! The smoll group made the Salkantay Trek feel very personal and relaxed. The guides were friendly, supportive, and the views were absolutely unforgettable. Reaching Machupicchu after five days of hiking was truly special.
We did the 5 day/4 night Salktanay trek and it was awesome! Edwin is a local celebrity on the trail-- he knows every guide and all the community members along the trail. He was able to seamlessly resolve little the inevitable little hiccups (arranging cars, etc) and even helped us snag some Circuit 2 (the best circuit) Machu Picchu tickets when we arrived in Aquas Calientes. One thing that's special about Guiding Cusco Expeditions is that it's a smaller outfit and they do things a little differently from the two big trekking companies. Edwin knew different trails that were less crowded (both people and mules) that were far more beautiful than the mainline trails that we could see the other group taking across the valley. Edwin is also extremely knowledgable about the local ecology, plants, and birds. After going over the Salktanay pass and dropping into the cloud forest, he pointed out all the different species of flowers and even the wild orchids along the trail. I also have to give a special shout out to Nassario, the mountain chef who accompanied us for most of the trek-- every day he put together these incredible meals that were diverse, full of local flavor, and perfect for a long day of trekking. He even taught us how to make lomo saltado one afternoon. We had a fantastic experience and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Guiding Cusco Expedition-- they're a really awesome outfit who were a pleasure to work with at every step of the journey and we had an absolute blast.
Outstanding Trip! Pick Guiding Cusco Expeditions. We just completed the 5 day / 4 night Salkantay Trek with Guiding Cusco Expeditions led by expert guide Edwin and chef Nosario. I cannot recommend Guiding Cusco more highly. First of all, the trek is spectacular. Every day is a completely new ecological environment, from high alpine peaks to a rainforest full of wild orchids and half a dozen different species of hummingbirds. Guiding Cusco Expeditions is a particularly good guide company. Coordinating with Lisbet over WhatsApp prior to the trip was easy and efficient. Edwin has over a decade of experience guiding in the Andes and he and Lisbet recently started Guiding Cusco. The entire trip was both safe, fun, and exceeded anything I could have organized myself. Edwin is extremely knowledgeable about history, geography, and the natural world and a true pleasure to learn from. Edwin also made our hike absolutely seamless, from the hotel pickup to the pass at 15,000 feet, to the 45th mile. He is able to juggle many logistics while making everything seem effortless (certainly felt that way to us). The accommodations were really great. Edwin knows the region very well and our hike benefited from his expertise. For example, there were several parts of the trek where we would see other companies walking along the road whereas Edwin would take us on forested trails with waterfalls and wildlife. I also have a severe food allergy and Guiding Cusco Expeditions expertly accommodated this throughout the entire trip. Guiding Cusco Expeditions was extremely diligent. They even led a cooking class one day on the trail! It was spectacular to cook classic Peruvian cuisine surrounded by the peaks of the Andes. If you want to support a local business and enjoy hiking in small groups with great vibes, pick Guiding Cusco Expeditions. You'll have an amazing time.
Amazing experience. Lisbet and Edwin were great.
We did the four-day Salkantay trek and were exceptionally pleased with how everything was arranged. Logistics, accommodations, meals, and pacing were handled smoothly from start to finish. A special mention goes to our guide, Edwin. He was knowledgeable, calm, attentive, and clearly experienced. His presence made the trek feel both safe and meaningful, and he struck the perfect balance between professionalism and genuine care for the group.
My friend and I did the five day trek to Machu Picchu and had a fantastic time! The hike was challenging, but so worthwhile, having spectacular views throughout. Edwin was our guide and he did an excellent job of keeping the group together, making sure everyone was safe and healthy, and giving us information throughout the trip. Edwin also is just a nice guy and a good conversation partner for such a long hike. He took the time to get to know us and we had many entertaining conversations on a wide range of topics.
5 Day Trek with the Best Edwin Guide! Very good support, top accommodation, excellent food, varied landscapes with the arrival of MachuPicchu... 🤩 An experience that I am not about to forget, thank you for everything!
A top team, I highly recommend this trek, I would remember it all my life. Thanks again to Edwin for this organization!!!
The agency was impeccable! We did the Salkantay Trek, it was fantastic. Edwin gave us all assistance before the trip and during the days of the tour was impeccable with us. Note a thousand!
The experience was excellent! Edwin has a lot of experience and managed to plan a perfect trip, we didn’t worry about anything and we had an amazing experience!
Huge thanks to Edwin for organizing our trek to Salkantay He showed a lot of patience and helped us in this wonderful adventure. I thank him so much 🙏 Everything was perfect 👍
Thanks to Edwin for organizing our trek to Salkantay, a wonderful adventure. He was always there for us and answered all our questions at any time. Professional, reliable and available.
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