Peru — Cusco & the Salkantay Trail

Cusco, then five days on the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu — the hard way in, and you sleep in lodges rather than tents. Two trips in one: a few days in Cusco for the food and the altitude, then the Salkantay Trail — the high route to Machu Picchu that most visitors never walk. You cross desert valleys, cloud forest and a pass under the Salkantay glacier before arriving at Machu Picchu on foot rather than by train. Ryan has run this route three times, and the trekking days go with a local Cusco partner who does it every week. Group: 8–16 travelers. Hosted by Ryan Lee. Booked via Pangea (luma.com) or the partner booking page. Itinerary. Days 1–2: Cusco — Land, settle, and let the altitude do its work. Group dinner, the markets, and the food Cusco is quietly very good at. Days 3–7: The Salkantay Trail — Five days on the trail — high pass under the glacier, the lagoons, and the drop into cloud forest. Expect up to eight hours walking on the hardest day, at altitude.