Visiting: Santa Teresa Hot Springs · Lucmabamba Zipline & Coffee · Llactapata Inca Site · Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu
Overview
The Llactapata Trek 3 Days is one of our newest and most varied ways to reach Machu Picchu — and one of the easiest. Instead of crossing the high Salkantay Pass, it focuses on lower-altitude highlights: a thrilling zipline in the Lucmabamba coffee park, the relaxing Cocalmayo hot springs, a hands-on coffee farm tour, and the original Inca Trail to Llactapata, where you get a unique, distant view of Machu Picchu before visiting the citadel itself.
You'll spend one night in our exclusive Sky Star Domes at Lucmabamba — panoramic glass domes under the Andean sky — and one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. With its easy pace and low altitude, it's a great option for travelers who want adventure and Machu Picchu without a demanding high-mountain trek.
Machu Picchu entrance is included. We aim to secure Circuit 2 – Route 2-A (Classic), the iconic panoramic viewpoint; if it isn't available we book the best alternative circuit. For the classic circuit we recommend booking 3–4 months ahead, as tickets are sold by the Peruvian government.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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1
Cusco → Santa Teresa: Zipline + Hot Springs → Sky Star Domes
The trek begins at our Machu Picchu Team office in Cusco at 6:30 AM, where you meet your guide and group before a scenic ~5-hour drive to Santa Teresa through a variety of stunning Andean ecosystems. You arrive around 1:00 PM and head to a local restaurant for lunch, then take a short 30-minute transfer to Lucmabamba for the day's big adventure.
There you tackle an exhilarating zipline — five cables spanning mountain to mountain, plus a thrilling 300 m Tibetan bridge suspended nearly 500 m above the ground (about 1.5–2 hours in all). Afterward, a 30-minute drive takes you to the famous Cocalmayo hot springs to soak in the thermal pools for a couple of hours. The day ends with a 45-minute drive to the Star Domes, where you spend the night in panoramic glass domes beneath the stars.
Good to know: The Lucmabamba zipline features five mountain-to-mountain cables and a 300 m Tibetan bridge suspended almost 500 m above the ground — the unforgettable highlight of the day.
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2
Coffee Tour → Llactapata Inca Trail → Aguas Calientes
After a 5:30 AM wake-up and breakfast at 6:00, you visit a local family to learn how coffee is made — Lucmabamba produces some of the finest coffee in the Cusco region, and this hands-on tour (30–45 min) covers cultivation, harvesting and roasting, ending with a fresh tasting. Then you set off on the Llactapata Inca Trail, a 12 km original Inca path with about 3 hours of uphill walking to the Llactapata ruins, where you're rewarded with a unique, distant view of Machu Picchu while your guide shares the site's history.
From the ruins the trail descends about 2 hours to Hidroeléctrica, where a well-earned lunch awaits. The day finishes with a mostly flat 3-hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, surrounded by lush vegetation and Andean scenery. You check into your hotel to rest, and around 7:00 PM the group gathers for dinner at a local restaurant before the big Machu Picchu day.
Good to know: This is the main hiking day — a 12 km original section of the Inca Trail — and the climb to Llactapata rewards you with the trek's signature distant view of Machu Picchu.
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3
Machu Picchu Guided Tour → Return to Cusco
Your entry time is printed on your ticket, so you must be at the main gate exactly then. From Aguas Calientes you can either hike up (about 1.5 hours: a 30-minute flat walk to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint, then roughly 1 hour climbing around 1,700 steps) or take the shuttle bus (about 30 minutes, $12 USD one way, running from 5:30 AM every 5–10 minutes). Inside, you meet your professional guide for a 2-hour guided tour of the citadel, following the circuit assigned to your ticket, with time for photos and the views.
If you booked an extra ticket for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you can start that roughly 3-hour round-trip climb after the tour. Then you return to Cusco one of two ways: by train to Ollantaytambo (departures usually between 2:30 and 3:30 PM) and on by vehicle, arriving around 7:00–8:00 PM; or by car via Hidroeléctrica — a 3-hour hike to catch the 3:00 PM departure, then a 5–6 hour drive arriving around 10:00–10:30 PM.
Good to know: The car return via Hidroeléctrica only works if your Machu Picchu entry time is between 6:00 and 9:00 AM; with a later entry you can't reach the car in time and would spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes.
Trek at a Glance
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Highest point | Llactapata Inca site (~2,750 m) — low altitude |
| Highlights | Zipline · hot springs · coffee tour · Llactapata · Machu Picchu |
| Difficulty | Easy (great for first-time trekkers) |
| Accommodation | 1 night Sky Star Domes + 1 night hotel |
| Meals | 2 breakfasts · 2 lunches · 2 dinners |
| Group size | Max 16 travelers |
| Machu Picchu | Included — guided tour |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Prices — 2026 Season
The price depends on your return option (by car is the most affordable; by train adds the scenic Sacred Valley ride) and traveler category.
| Return | Adult | Student | Child (8–17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| By car | $270 | $250 | $250 |
| By train | $320 | $300 | $300 |
Prices per person, group service. Student rate requires a valid ISIC-approved ID (under 25). A $180 deposit per person confirms your booking.
Optional Add-ons
- Huayna Picchu Mountain$60
- Machu Picchu Mountain$60
- Vistadome panoramic train (one-way)$35
- Trekking poles (pair, full trek)$15
The zipline, coffee tour and hot-springs visit are already included in this trek.
What to Pack
You'll get a duffle bag at the briefing for up to 7 kg of personal belongings. Everything for the day goes in your daypack. Note: bags over 25 L aren't allowed inside Machu Picchu.
- Always with you: original passport (+ student ID if applicable), 25–30 L daypack, 1.5–2 L water, comfortable hiking shoes, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
- Clothing: light layers for warm days, a fleece and rain jacket/poncho for the cloud forest, plus a swimsuit and small towel for the hot springs.
- Extras: insect repellent, high-energy snacks, cash (hot springs / tips), personal medication, camera, and trekking poles if you like them (rentable).
How to Book
Book online from anywhere or in person at our Cusco office (Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo). A $180 per person deposit confirms your spot and lets us buy your Machu Picchu ticket; the balance is due no later than 48 h before departure.
- Choose your date and package (return by car or train) and traveler category.
- Fill in traveler details and accept the terms.
- Add optional extras (mountains, Vistadome, trekking poles).
- Pay the deposit or full amount — our team confirms your booking and our team contacts you by WhatsApp.
Deposit: $180 per person, non-refundable (used to buy your Machu Picchu ticket immediately).
Machu Picchu & mountain tickets: issued by the Peruvian government — non-refundable, non-transferable, non-modifiable (date, time, circuit, name are final).
Cancellation: more than 48 h before — you lose the $180 deposit; within 48 h — 100% of the amount paid, no refund.
Force majeure: we may adjust the itinerary for weather, strikes or government restrictions, always seeking the best alternative.
Full terms are confirmed at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — it's one of our easiest routes to Machu Picchu. There's no high Salkantay Pass; the main hiking day is the ~12 km original Inca Trail to Llactapata. With reasonable fitness it's a great choice for first-time trekkers and families.
Yes. Day 3 is a guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel and your entrance ticket is included. You also see Machu Picchu from a unique distant viewpoint at Llactapata on Day 2.
It skips the high Salkantay Pass, so it's easier and lower-altitude. Instead it packs in a zipline, the Cocalmayo hot springs, a coffee farm tour and the Inca Trail to the Llactapata viewpoint — all included.
Yes — the Lucmabamba zipline (5 cables plus a 300 m Tibetan bridge) is included, along with the Cocalmayo hot-springs visit and the coffee farm tour. Only the hot-springs entrance fee (≈ 10 soles) is paid locally.
Our exclusive panoramic glass domes at Lucmabamba — a unique glamping experience under the Andean sky. You spend 1 night in them, with mattress, pillow and sleeping bag provided.
The dry season (April–October) has the most stable weather and clearest views. The rainy season (November–March) is greener with fewer crowds. April and October are excellent transition months.
