Peru: Ancient Trails to Machu Picchu
Condors, sacred mountains, and the Inca Trail — privately guided from Cusco to the Sun Gate.
The Story
Raul Montes was born in Cusco and has always been passionate about the area around Mount Salkantay. From a young age, he saw groups of tourists coming to his grandfather’s property, the Hacienda Pincopata (which is today Pincopata EcoCamp). In the early days, the property was the starting point for the early expeditions to Mount Salkantay, Choquequirao, Espiritu Pampa in the remote Vilcabamba mountain range. Raul was a young assistant whose job was to prepare the expeditions to ensure their success. This began his curiosity to become a mountain guide and for many years he led treks in the region and also a specialist guide for Choquechurco archaeological site which remains on the edge of his family’s property. It wasn’t until 2016 that the area began to see many more tourists and hence the beginning of Salkantay treks and horseback adventures.
Peru EcoCamp is a dream come true to see the family heritage evolve into a project that is environmentally friendly, eco-development and helps benefit local people. The communities themselves are strategic partners and have learned valuable skills, which is a major initiative in job creation and forming the Peru EcoCamp family.
— Raul Montes Rodriguez
The EcoCamps
Five (5x) EcoCamps en route to Machu Picchu.
- Pincopata
- Soray
- Humantay
- Milpo
- Cafe
We Are Green
- Our camps are powered by solar energy and water turbine systems.
- The water is filtered and treated with UV light, so it is safe to drink the tap water. This reduces the use of plastic bottles.
- We count 2 flush systems in each toilet: liquid waste is first filtered and then goes back into the ground. The whole waste goes into a container with a biodegradable system. Once a year, this container is emptied, and the compost is used for reforestation progress.
- To grow our vegetables, we use organic fertilizers and compost produced by the waste of fruits and vegetables from our kitchen.
- Our kitchens and bathrooms use organic non-detergent products.
- Our camps contain all the facilities needed. In this way, we are reducing the wearing down, destructure and pollution of the route.
Food & Dining
Three-course, freshly prepared meals at every EcoCamp — built around local, organic produce and the skills of our mountain chefs, served in the dining dome at each camp’s altitude.
How We Do Peru
Private Peru EcoCamp glamping on the Salkantay Trail
One-day Inca Trail with Sun Gate arrival
Expert Andean guides and gourmet altitude dining
Hand-picked routes that avoid the crowds
Private guides, porters and gourmet mountain dining
Helicopter access and luxury lodges at altitude
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Cusco
Privately met and transferred to your hotel in the bohemian San Blas district. A welcome drink and private briefing set up the days ahead, near Plaza de Armas — where 30,000 km of ancient Inca pathways once converged.
The Stone City
Walk the immense walls of Sacsayhuamán and the ceremonial site of Qenqo, then follow an old Inca road through San Blas to the main square.
Condors to Pincopata
Drive the Limatambo Valley to the condor viewpoint at Chonta, watching Andean condors soar above the Apurímac Canyon. Continue to Pincopata EcoCamp for a three-course dinner of Peruvian cuisine.
Tilca & Choquechurco
Hike through farms and native Polylepis forest to the sacred site of Tilca, then on to the rarely visited ruins of Choquechurco beneath the snowy Salkantay.
Salkantay Pass or Humantay Lake
Choose the 4,664 m Salkantay Pass or the turquoise Humantay Lake at 4,298 m. Both end with dinner and stargazing around the campfire.
The Sacred Valley
Moray's circular terraces, a traditional lunch with the Misminay community, and the pre-Inca salt pans of Maras, still harvested by hand by local families.
SUP, Bikes & Chinchero
Paddleboard on the calm waters of Huaypo Lake at 3,400 m, then bike through patchwork fields to Chinchero, where master weavers teach backstrap loom and natural-dye techniques.
The Inca Trail to the Sun Gate
Board the train to Km 104 and walk the one-day Inca Trail through cloud forest to the Sun Gate — the original entrance to Machu Picchu. Descend to Aguas Calientes for the night.
Machu Picchu
A private walking tour of the citadel, an optional climb of Huayna Picchu, lunch at Sanctuary Lodge, and the Vistadome train back to Cusco.
Peru in Motion
Peru South America
From Cusco to Machu Picchu — the wonders of Peru.
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Journey Line
Follow the path from start to finish — each stop along your adventure.
Designed Around You
This is an example, not a fixed package. Every element can be adjusted to how you want to experience Peru.
Your Peru Story Starts Here
From the condors of Chonta to the citadel of Machu Picchu, we will design a private journey shaped around how you want to experience the Inca world.