Travel is a core part of wellness for us. Often that includes long naps in crisp sheets and room service breakfast in bed, but sometimes it means getting steeped in a full-on wilderness experience. Lately, we’ve eyeing these incredible eco-camps in Peru.

Peru Ecocamp offers the first private sustainable luxury glamping experience in Peru. The luxury trekking slash glamping experience is the ultimate blend of remote adventuring and comfortable, conscious travel. Treks include the hike to Machu Picchu over the course of several days, staying in five ultra-sustainable eco-camps with tent pods along the way.

The Journey | The Peru EcoCamp Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a professionally-guided glamping excursion that spans from the Mollepata valley to the ancient and sacred city of Machu Picchu. The celebrated Salkantay Trek was selected by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine as one of the world’s 25 best hikes. According to the EcoCamp site, the trek allows visitors to “experience the rich geography of this part of the Peruvian Andes as you hike remote and ancient trails where enormous snowcapped mountains give way to lavish forests of tropical fruits and unique orchids as well as visiting a traditional Peruvian coffee plantation”. Check out the complete itinerary here.

The Accommodations | Peru EcoCamps offers an opportunity to explore the wild Andes with the added comfort of any high-end hotel. The geodesic domes are a comfortable place to stay, and the gourmet meals they offer daily are made with vegetables grown right around the corner. The traditional Peruvian dishes offered on the trek “showcase the fresh, natural ingredients and varied flavors of world-renowned Peruvian cuisine”.

The Camps | There are five Ecocamps on the route to Machu Picchu — all of which are built with sustainability and comfort in mind. Every Ecocamp has eight 300 square-foot dome tents and are equipped with community spaces such as the “Dining Dome” and a “Lobby Bar Dome”. Below are each of the five camps and their unique features, as described by EcoCamp:

Pincopata EcoCamp. The first EcoCamp on the trek is located ten minutes away from the quiet town of Mollepata in the province of Limatambo. Using green technology, it offers the area’s first 100% sustainable camping experience.The camp boasts beautiful green lawns and plenty of local flowers planted across the whole area. The large fire pit in a quiet corner of the camp allows for the perfect place for stargazing.

Soray EcoCamp. The second Ecocamp and a 45-minute drive or day trekking from Pincopata. Soraypampa is the beautiful and peaceful area that is only home to a few campsites and our Ecocamp, overlooked by both the Sacred Humantay and Salkantay mountains. Due to the altitude and the cooler temperatures, the environment in Soray Ecocamp is very different to Pincopata, and gives the opportunity to experience a different ecosystem. It offers wonderful views to the snow-capped mountains.

Humantay EcoCamp. Humantay is the highest of all the Ecocamps sitting at 3,900 m / 12,792 ft. It is also the coldest camp due to the altitude. It is located on a flat expanse of pampa watched over by Mount Humantay.

Milpo EcoCamp. The beautiful Ecocamp is the only accommodation offered in the area. The exclusive route between Huayra and Milpo means that you will not meet any other travelers along the way. The camp is located in the cloud forest region, offering the chance to spot endemic orchid species right amongst the domes. The domes all face the valley across the river, a very peaceful and tranquil area, where the only sound comes from the river in the basin below.

Cafe EcoCamp. The final Ecocamp is located in the small town of Lucamabamba, in the Santa Teresa Valley. It is surrounded by local farms producing a variety of produce from coffee to exotic tropical fruits and honey.

Susntanability Efforts | Every EcoCamp site is 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 — which helps reduces the possibility of waste generated by plastic bottles. To grow their vegetables, every camp uses organic fertilizers and compost produced by the waste of fruits and vegetables from their kitchen. Every campsite contains all the facilities needed for a journey like this one to reduce the wear and tear on the route.

Remote Magic | It pays to go off the beaten path, but in style. According to the site, “limited accessibility is a benefit for those wanting to experience nature in a more intimate and untouched setting. You can travel by boat and hike through jungles to see monkeys, a plethora of birds, and if you’re lucky, the last of the wild jaguars. Then unwind with a pisco sour and get lost in Peru.”

Nature Therapy | It’s proven that spending time in nature is good for your health. This beautiful, adventurous and just the right amount of spoiled trip is an opportunity to connect with nature in a unique way. Disconnect and get off the grid. Tune into your surroundings. Between pristine lakes and clean mountain air, this epic journey is sure to reset any rocky state of mind.

What do you think of the Peru EcoCamp experience? Would you try it? The next trek starts October 2018.
Share your thoughts in the comments below!