This lovely authentic hotel, is set in 5 hectares of beautiful grounds just across from the train station in Aguas Calientes. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 83 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. All the casitas are individually decorated with Andean textiles and colonial style furniture and are set around the beautiful gardens. Superior casitas are spacious enough but Superior Deluxe casitas have the benefit of a working fireplace and Junior Suites have a sitting area and outside terrace or balcony too. There are also a number of Suites and 2 spacious villas which are perfect for families.

A member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, the property has 12 acres of exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species – such as the golden-headed quetzal and the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock – and the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species) have been registered.

After exploring the Historic Sanctuary and in-house excursions, guests can enjoy the Unu Spa, which combines the classic nurturing with a mystical Andean approach. Natural products are derived from local botanical extracts (mint, eucalyptus and orchids), thus providing a pleasing spiritual, sensual and soothing experience. The first-class restaurant features stunning views of Vilcanota River, and shares the secrets of Peruvian cuisine with a contemporary twist.

MACHU PICCHU SUGGESTED ITINERARY

DAY 1

Reception and assistance at Machu Picchu train station / Check-in / Briefing of excursions & activities / Lunch in the Main Dining Room or in Cafe Inkaterra (additional cost) / Orchid excursion on hotel grounds / Visit the Tea House / Andean Sauna (or Choice of massage services; additional Cost) / Cocktails and dinner in the Main Dining Room or Cafe Inkaterra / Overnight.

DAY 2

Wake up early to see the Archaeological Site at dawn / Buffet breakfast / Depart on first bus to start Machu Picchu Archaeological site excursion by sunrise / 3 hour excursion through the citadel (additional cost) / Lunch at Cafe Inkaterra (additional cost) / Tea time at the hotel / Twilight Walk/ Massage session at the UNU Spa (Additional cost) / Overnight.

DAY 3

You have two options:

For enthusiasts: Get up early to enjoy the hotel gardens / Guided Birdwatching Walk or Orchids Excursion.

For the laidback: Sleep late and enjoy your breakfast buffet until 10:00 a.m. / Check-out of the hotel. After checking-out, enjoy the hotel grounds or lunch in the Main Dining room or Café Inkaterra / Transfer back to Cusco or Ollantaytambo by train. Reception at Machu Picchu train station.

Cusco City is 3.5 hours away by train. It’s travel by car to Ollantaytambo and continue by train for one and a half hours. It is also possible to walk the Inca Trail on a one-day trip, exploring the archeological remains and return by bus.

Visiting Machu Picchu Citadel
Buses to the Machu Picchu citadel leave Aguas Calientes, beginning before dawn, in 15-minute intervals all throughout the day and the last bus returns at 5:30 pm.

Spectacled Bear Project
The Inkaterra Association (ITA) and the Protected Natural Areas National Service (SERNANP) manage the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Spectacled Bear Project, an effort designed to recover bears that have been negatively affected by human impact and reintroduce them into their natural habitat.

Once common throughout the Andes, the spectacled bear is now critically endangered. Visits to the project are organized with advanced coordination to gain insight into the world of these large mammals (the only bear species in South America), and learn about the challenges they face to survive in today’s world. Donations to the project are welcome and will be duly acknowledged and certified.

Guided Walk
A guide for three-hour walk along the hotel’s Orchid or Bird trails, by our resident biologist, includes a personalized tour of our facilities and a detailed description of their natural highlights.

Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu
Visit the historical citadel of Machu Picchu with a private guide, followed by an hour-trek up Wayna Picchu. The steep trail, overlooking Machu Picchu, clings to the side of the mountain, leading the adventurous traveler to a remote corner of this archaeological site. In addition to a magnificent bird’s-eye view of Machu Picchu, the summit also offers a perfect vantage from which to take in the Vilcanota River, the mountain of Putukusi and the distant snow-capped Andean peaks.

Apu Machu Picchu
Hike the Machu Picchu mountain for two and a half hours from the archaeological site, and reach the Summit of Apu Machu Picchu. This trail, accessed from the Reserve, joins parts of the Inca trail leading to the Sun Gate before climbing to the mountain’s highest point. From there, enjoy the view of soaring eagles as well as Machu Picchu, other significant ruins in the area, Putukusi, Wayna Picchu, Salkantay mountain and the Vilcanota River.

Machu Picchu
Take a 30-minute bus transfer to the Historical Reserve of Machu Picchu. Your expert guide will lead a tour of the Reserve, providing geological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most significant and spectacular archaeological sites on the planet, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Wayna Picchu and Intipunku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.

Mandor
A two-hour walk along the Vilcanota River follows the railroad tracks into the Mandor Valley, inhabited by varied and fascinating birdlife, including cock-of-the-rock, speckle-faced parrots and green jays.

Relax and bathe under a secluded waterfall, before walking back to the hotel in the shadow of Machu Picchu.

Museum - Market
Visit the open-air market at Machu Picchu Pueblo, filled with displays of local Andean curios and clothing, then make the 30-minute walk to the archaeological site bridge and the Manuel Chavez Ballón Museum, home to excellent displays, maps and artifacts related to the archaeological site.

Birds
Walk early in the morning to take advantage of the optimum time for cloud-forest bird watching. Begin at a river observatory, with the possibility of sighting the sought-after torrent duck and the white-capped dipper.

Then proceed to a productive tanager feeding area, where silver-beaked, blue-necked, fawn-breasted and saffron-crowned tanagers can be found. Along the hotel’s pathways, be on the lookout for the cock-of-the rock, the golden-headed quetzal and many of the 18 different hummingbirds identified on the grounds, including the booted racket-tail and the green-and white hummingbirds, which are native to the area.

Nature Walk
Walk along the hotel’s trails and discover the fascinating yet fragile ecosystem of the Machu Picchu cloud forest, and learn about its many indigenous plants and animals. The Nature Walk offers travelers a glimpse of cloud forest flora: ferns, bromeliads and orchids and fauna -an interesting variety of birds; as well as an introduction to the Vilcanota river system, the Observatory, the tea garden and house.

Orchid Trail
Walk through the orchid garden to observe some of the hotel’s 372 different native orchid species in their natural habitat, the world record according to the American Orchid Society. Discover this extraordinary plant family, which has captured the human imagination for centuries.

From the largest orchid flower in the world – the Phragmipedium caudatum, to tiny flowering specimens properly appreciated only through a magnifying glass, there are orchids to amaze both the newly inquisitive and the expert, including species new to science which have been discovered on the hotel grounds.

Tea House
Visit our organic tea (Camellia sinensis) plantation and tea house to discover the wonders of the traditional tea making process. Take part as the freshly picked leaves are pressed over wooden blocks and finally seal your own tea bag.

A glass of fresh hot or iced-tea from the Tea House at the hotel lobby completes the experience.

Twilight Walk
This early evening walk is designed to connect on a spiritual level with the environment and the historical energy of the Machu Picchu area. With special attention placed on nature’s core elements like an enchanting waterfall, also sacred pre-Inca pictographs, and then the walk pauses at the Rocotal Observatory.

Native Farm
Visit the crop-rich native farm at km 108, 30-minute walk. Interpretation of the flora and fauna of the area. Detailed explanation of the various plantations; origin, properties and uses. Learn about beekeeping as well as guinea pig and rabbit breeding.

Tasting of snacks made of farm products.

Salkantay Trek

This 7-day lodge to lodge trekking experience will take you on a historic section of Inca trail through 15 different eco-systems, while you traverse a mountain pass over 15,000 feet, explore villages where locals still maintain age-old traditions and re-discover the mystical beauty of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of the Inca Empire. Each day’s trek ends with a hot shower in a cozy lodge, complemented by a massage or a dip in an outdoor jacuzzi, followed by a gourmet meal with select wines and all provided with highly personalized service by local staff. The Salkantay experience goes beyond deluxe lodges and a great trek. It is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, as well as the most interesting and exotic variety of flora and fauna, all in the company of new friends and likeminded souls.

Day 1  Cusco on the way to Soraypampa
After an early breakfast, your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco. The first stop will be a visit to the Inca ruins of Tarawasi. Next, you will stop in the mountain village of Mollepata. There you will visit El Pedregal, a beautiful farmhouse where you can learn about local agriculture and livestock.

You will continue on along a winding mountain road to a site called Challacancha. Here you will begin your hike to Soraypampa along a picturesque path called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path), which is also a good opportunity to acclimate to the higher altitude. As you round the final turn of the Camino Real, the Salkantay Lodge will come into view, where you will spend 2 nights.

Day 2  Hike to Lake Humantay
You’ll have another day to gauge your altitude-acclimatization with a half day hike to Lake Humantay. After breakfast, you begin an ascent up the slopes that border the plateau behind the Salkantay Lodge.  An hour and a half later, you will be stunned to see the turquoise water of the lake. Here you will have a chance to relax, enjoy a snack, meditate in the tranquility of this magical spot and be part of a traditional offering to “Pachamama” (Mother Earth). After your descent back to the Salkantay Lodge, the staff will be waiting with a hot lunch. The second half of your day is spent at leisure. You may opt to soak in our outdoor jacuzzi, indulge in a relaxing massage or even take a long nap.

Day 3  Crossing the Salkantay Pass
After an early start, you hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak. As you gradually make your way up these mountain trails, you will encounter expansive plateaus dotted with boulders of varying sizes, the remnants of a valley that was once bisected by a fast-flowing river. The final and most challenging part of your ascent is conquering the mountain switchbacks that take you to the Salkantay Pass, the highest point on the trek (4,636 m/15,213 ft). What follows is a dramatic descent through fields of giant boulders, often shrouded in fog. After a very welcome hot picnic lunch, you will continue down through bucolic rolling hills and marsh-like plateaus as you take your final steps to the Wayra Lodge at Wayraccmachay.

Day 4  Descending into the Cloud Forest
After a leisurely breakfast at the Wayra Lodge, you continue the descent along the banks of the Salkantay River through increasingly verdant scenery. Today you will see more of the local people as the trail takes you past their simple homes and makeshift fences. At lunch time you will arrive at Colpa Lodge, located on a high promontory at the confluence of three rivers. You are greeted by the staff with a Pachamanca lunch, a traditional Peruvian meal cooked in the earth by hot stones that create a natural underground oven. After lunch, spend the afternoon lounging in the sun or relaxing in the outdoor jacuzzi while you take in the panoramic views of the lush green mountains that surround you. Overnight at cozy Colpa Lodge.

Day 5   The Santa Teresa River Valley Hike
Today you will hike in the Santa Teresa River valley where you will hop over small streams fed by waterfalls descending from the glaciers and cross through fruit orchards. After breaking for a hot picnic lunch by the river, you will walk for one hour before we meet an MLP vehicle for a short drive to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” that leads us to Lucma Lodge. On the way you will visit an organic coffee plantation, one of many in that area that produces some of the best organic coffee in the world. In Lucmabamba, the hot air and increased humidity signal that you are even closer to the edge of the Amazon Jungle.

Day 6  Exploring the Llactapata Pass
During a 2-3 hour climb up a path mostly comprised of original Inca steps, you will get a sense of what hiking through the rainforest would be like. Your first milestone today will be the top of the peak, the last one before you reach the Aobamaba River valley that connects you to Machu Picchu. When you arrive at the ruins of Llactapata at the Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974 ft), you will be delighted to see a southeast view of the “back” of the Machu Picchu ruins. Enjoy your lunch a bit farther down the trail in a meadow with panoramic views. The final descent takes you through lush bamboo forests, until you end the day’s hike at the Hidroelectrica train station. A one-hour scenic train ride delivers you to your final stop, the town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Overnight stay at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

Day 7  Machu Picchu Sanctuary
At dawn, you begin your journey to Machu Picchu with a short and rollicking uphill bus ride. Prepare to be awed by the imposing and skillful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Your imagination will soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins. Some may even choose a hike to Huayna Picchu, the iconic towering mountain often seen in photographs. After the visit you will have lunch in Aguas Calientes before your train/ transfer back to Cusco. As night falls and you arrive at your hotel amidst and hustle and bustle of Cusco, you will be touched by a feeling of peace and rejuvenation which will linger even as you journey back home. (Optional: it is possible to spend an extra night (or 2) at the Inkaterra MP hotel for an additional cost).

7 Day Adventure: Deep Immersion into Ancient Cultures

DAY 1 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | TREASURES OF THE SACRED VALLEY

Begin your adventure with a journey from the urban setting of Cusco into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, full of lush green fields and surrounded by striking mountain peaks. Explore the beautiful archeological site of Chinchero, where colonial buildings rest atop Inca foundations.  Enjoy an astonishing hike through authentic Inca trails from Chinchero to the town of Urquillos. Also, you can go back in time and study the natural Inca salt mines of Maras and the astonishing circular terraces of Moray, believed to be an Inca laboratory dedicated to the study of foreign plant species.

Highlights: Chinchero | Maras | Moray

DAY 2 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | EXPLORING PISAQ

 

Option to visit to the celebrated market at Pisaq or take a moderate hike in the hills and mountains over the Sacred Valley. Later, enjoy exclusive access to the isolated community of Viacha, where you will learn about its artisanal potato farming practices and enjoy a traditional “Pachamanca” meal, cooked under hot stones. After lunch you will visit the archaeological complex at Pisaq, an afternoon excursion that offers a unique opportunity to explore the complex free of crowds, with the sun setting behind the peaks.

Highlights: Viacha | Pisaq archeological site

DAY 3 LARES REGION | INCA SITES AND VILLAGES

 

Go deeper into the heart of the Lares region. A road journey into the mountains will take you through remote archaeological sites. After lunch, choose between visiting a traditional weaver’s villager or a scenic drive and a moderate/strenuous hike amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi. Locals will give you insight into the evolving role of the original Andean people in both the culture and commerce of modern-day Cusco.

Highlights: Ancasmarca | Choquecancha |Cuncani hike | Quelquena hike

DAY 4 LARES REGION | ENCOUNTER WITH THE COMMUNITY

 

If you’re in the mood for a relaxing cultural experience today, you can walk through the village of Huacahuasi and learn more about its heritage and daily activities. The expert weavers will share their stories, each depicted in artful textiles full of traditional Inca/Andean symbols and imagery. Then take a cooking class, or just enjoy a walk to a beautiful waterfall near the village. For those who want to go deeper into these remote mountains, challenge yourself with an all-day hike to Quiswarani. Although strenuous, you will be rewarded with amazing views of turquoise lakes and majestic mountains as you travel on well-worn paths edged with wildflowers, passing herds of alpacas and llamas grazing on hillsides as you make your way over steep mountain passes.

Highlights: Quiswarani hike | Huacahuasi communities

DAY 5 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | HIKING AMONG AUTHENTIC INCA TRAILS

Spend some time in the morning learning more about the heritage and day-to-day activities of the Huacahuasi community. Then, you can choose to embark on a spectacular hike through varied terrain and over a high pass, to the adjacent valley leading to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, the oldest living city in Latin America; or try an easygoing hike from Lares Pass- through an astonishing authentic Inca trail- along a beautiful canyon down to the Local Community of Totora.

If you prefer to see more of the Sacred Valley, you can drive back for a visit to an ethnographic museum featuring the history of Peru’s rich civilizations of the past or choose to explore the valley on mountain bike. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the Urubamba River countryside on your way to Ollantaytambo, where you can spend time meandering through its charming maze-like streets.

Highlights: Patacancha hike | Ollantaytambo town

DAY 6 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | DISCOVERING OLLANTAYTAMBO

 

Early morning short hike to Inca storage structures high above Ollantaytambo for magnificent views of the town and the temple. After, enjoy a guided tour of the fortress, one of the best examples of Inca architecture and revel in its mystical history…a perfect introduction to the wonder of Machu Picchu. Midday, embark on a scenic train ride along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, a bustling town below the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

Highlights: Ollantaytambo

DAY 7 MACHU PICCHU | THE SANCTUARY

 

At dawn, begin your visit to Machu Picchu with a rollicking uphill bus ride. As you enter the Sanctuary, the morning sun rises over the iconic Sun Gate and washes the structures and terraces with resplendent light. Prepare to be awed by the skillful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Take a moment to quietly sit and listen to the wind…or to meditate and absorb the mystical energy that envelops you. Your imagination will soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins. Optional uphill hike on Huayna Pichhu. Lunch in Aguas Calientes. Afternoon/Early evening return to Cusco by train and private coach.

Huayna Picchu Mountain tickets are subject to availability*

Highlights: Machu Picchu | Huayna Picchu

For more information on Inkaterra Machu Picchu click HERE