SALKANTAY TREK 4D/3N

Duration:

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Departures:

Every day

Pick Up

Hotel

Min pax: 2

10 Call Us: +51 990 757584

The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in Cusco and is undoubtedly the best alternative route to experience the original Inca trails. This hike takes you through many different types of landscapes. You will have the best opportunity to see the typical Andean landscape up to the snow-capped mountains, down into the tropical forests and finally venture into the dense jungle. If you are considering a trekking trip to Machu Picchu and want to be off the beaten track, close to Andean communities and appreciate the beautiful and diverse nature of Peru, the Salkantay Trek is highly recommended.

What to bring

WHAT TO BRING

✓ Your passport and/or ISIC card (if you are a student).

✓ A backpack to carry your personal things.

✓ Sleeping or sleeping bags.

✓ Mountain boots with ample support for your ankle.

✓ Trekking poles with rubber tips, metal tips are not allowed on the Inca Trail trail.

✓ Thermal underwear for trekking.

✓ Gloves or mittens, wool socks, wool hats for cold nights.

✓ Flashlight and extra batteries.

✓ Cameras and extra batteries – binoculars.

✓ Wear a hat to shield the width of your face from the sun from the brim.

✓ Sunscreen and sunglasses.

✓ Repellent.

✓ Rain gear, a rain jacket, rain poncho.

✓ Toiletries, toilet paper, small towel.

✓ Water purification tablets are optional, because we provide boiled water.

✓ Bathing suits for use in hot water.

INCLUDED

Pre-departure briefing
Transportation
Personal tents
Experienced guide
We offer private campsites
Camping equipment
Free entrance to Machu Picchu.
Foam mats or sleeping pads
Hosting
Pack mules
Trekking cook
Meals
Tea time = happy hour
First aid kit
Train tickets

NOT INCLUDED

Free entrance to the Salkantay Trail (S/.10 per person)
Sleeping bags
Poles
Last day: lunch and dinner
Personal clothing and equipment
Bus up/down to MP. Citadel
Travel insurance
Tips for our staff

Itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - CHALLACANCHA - SORAYPAMPA (HUMANTAY LAGOON)

We start the day by picking you up at your hotel or hostel at 05:00 am. We will drive for around 2 hours, crossing Anta, to Mollepata and we will end up in Challancha. Through the bus windows you can clearly see the white snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Huamantay: the holy gods of the Incas. But also the spectacular landscape of the located high areas and the low valleys with colorful landscapes. After two hours of travel, there will be a quick stop in the town of Mollepata. In Mollepata there are sanitary facilities, souvenir shops and an optional short breakfast. When this short break is over, we will soon continue to Challacancha, which is the beginning of our path. There we will meet our support staff. The staff will organize all the equipment, horses and mules. Around 9:30 a.m. We will start our walk to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 ft). The first section of the path is a walk through some deep valleys. In some sections of the trail you can still see the old water channel. The canal still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. The beginning of the trek is 7 km (4.35 miles) of walking in 3 hours to Soraypampa, where we will have our lunch at the base camp. After lunch and a quick nap we continue the trek to Lake Humantay (4200 masl - 13779 ft). This is a 5 km (3.1 miles) round trip that we will walk in a total of 3 hours. In the Humantay Lagoon you can see the bottom of the glacier, and also the most spectacular views of the valley in the background at sunset. Soraypampa is located in the middle of the glacial valleys and at night the sky is so immensely clear that we can really appreciate the stars, constellations and even shooting stars.

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY PASS - CHAWLLAY

After an early awakening with the first light of day at 05:30 am. and a quick breakfast, we soon start hiking to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL - 15,255 ft). The distance is a hard ascent of 7 km (4.34 miles) in 3 hours, between the rocky bottom of the valley and the magnificent Salkantay mountain (6200 masl – 20,341 feet). When we finally reach the top we will be able to and will definitely appreciate the spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snow-capped peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. Cerro Salkantay is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca Gods called "Apu". After reaching the top of the pass, it is a 5 km (3.1 mi) 2 hour downhill hike to the camp for our lunch. The hike down is along a snake-shaped path and a rocky gravel path to reach the Huayracmachay lunch spot. In the afternoon we will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle, also called "the cloud forest". This is a 10 km (6.2 miles) hike in 3 hours on a wide path in the thick forests. This hike is really beautiful, the hills are decorated with colorful landscapes and lots of wildlife and native plants. The forests are most times of the year warm or have a temperate temperature. At the end of this magnificent walk we finally arrive at Chaullay Village (2900 masl – 9,514 feet), our base camp in the jungle.

DAY 3: CHAWLLAY - LA PLAYA - SANTA TERESA - HYDROELECTRIC - AGUAS CALIENTES

At 6:00 am. We will start our walk towards La Playa through the Santa Teresa Valley. We will be walking for approximately 6 hours. During the walk we will see: waterfalls, wild orchids, but also coffee, banana and avocado plantations. Here you can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla. We will see a town called Colpapampa, also called "the cloudy eyebrow of the forest" where you can see waterfalls, fruit trees, varied flora and birds. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the famous bird called “Gallito de las Rocas”, this bird is the national bird of Peru. After lunch at La playa, we will take a local transport to the Hidroeléctrica train station. Here you will have two options: 1) If you are exhausted, you can take the train to Aguas Calientes. 2) If you are still eager to walk, you can walk from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. Once in Aguas Calientes we will go to the accommodation that is included in the tour. At 7:00 p.m. m. We will have dinner at a local restaurant. All expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company. Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner and accommodation in hostel (OPTIONAL HOTEL)

DAY 4: THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY - MACHU PICCHU OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO

You’re going to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu! From Aguas Calientes, we’ll take a bus up to the Inca citadel before entering and gazing in awe at the incredible construction. Once in the complex, you’ll enjoy a tour of approximately two hours with your guide and visit the most important parts: houses, temples, terraces, cultivation fields, among others. You’ll truly be amazed by the ingenuity of the Incas, which to this day remains a mystery. After your incredible guided tour of the citadel, you’ll have the chance to enjoy one of the additional hikes up Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843 ft); these tickets must be booked in advance. You’ll be able to contemplate an incredible view over the citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the best panoramas in the world. You need to ensure you come back down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy some lunch before you catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. Your train time will depend on availability. In Ollantaytambo, our private transport will be awaiting you to transport you back to your accommodation in Cusco. You’ll now be able to enjoy a well-deserved rest, although your heart will be soaring high in the Andes like a condor for years to come.