Today your trek to Machu Picchu begins in earnest. Start early on a hike up the Río Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak. After reaching an altitude of about 15,200', pause a moment in the thin air and take in the views of the surrounding Vilcabamba Range. From there, descend to Wayra Lodge, where you can wash away the trail dirt and relax in the Jacuzzi.

After a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge, head through an increasingly verdant landscape down to the Collpapampa Valley. Enjoy a Pachamanca-style lunch (subject to availability), where meats and vegetables are cooked underground with hot stones. Spend the evening resting up or relaxing in the outdoor hot tub at Collpa Lodge, located on an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers with orchids and butterflies all around.

After an early breakfast, continue downhill through the slightly more populated rural areas of the Santa Teresa River Valley. The lush trail winds past tropical fruit orchards, coffee plantations, and dazzling wildflowers of all sorts. Rest alongside the river for lunch, then take a short climb to Lucma Lodge, hidden away in a wooded tropical enclave. If there's time, you can explore the small village of Lucmabama in the afternoon and spend time with the locals.

Begin the final day of your trek by climbing towards Llactapata Pass, where you'll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu off in the distance - a view that few tourists ever get to see. Continue on to Llactapata ruins, a recently rediscovered Inca complex that vegetation is starting to reclaim, before enjoying lunch at an observatory with more views of Machu Picchu. Begin your final steep descent to the Urubamba River through lush forests and diverse mountain terrain. Then, board the train for the scenic, 30-minute ride to the village of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Discover the secrets of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas," with a full-day visit. The landscape here is stunning, with orchids on the grounds and a massive cliff face known as Huayna Picchu towering overhead. Take your time exploring the vast city that was once at the heart of one of the world's most powerful empires, and learn the significance of the many temples, sanctuaries, and parks on a tour of the city's three sections: the Sacred District, the Popular District, and the District of Priests and Nobility.

Explore more of Aguas Calientes, take an orchid tour, go back to Machu Picchu (this needs to be booked ahead), or simply relax at the hotel. After lunch, take the afternoon train back to Cusco, where you can take a stroll or do some last-minute shopping.

Explore Cusco in the morning, then bid "adios" to your traveling companions before your afternoon flight to Lima, where you can connect with your homeward-bound flight. If you're traveling on one of our late June departures, we recommend that you extend your stay to enjoy the pageantry of the spectacular Inti Raymi festival, a colorful celebration of the winter solstice. Call us for details.