The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is frequently regarded as the greatest option to the Inca Trail. The high-altitude journey begins in the snow-capped Andes and ends in the cloud forests at Machu Picchu.
The Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu was named one of the greatest 25 hikes in the world by National Geographic Travel Magazine. The route provides a little bit of everything, with jaw-dropping views at every bend.
The adventure starts high in the Andes. It takes you through various small settlements before dropping you off in the tropical zone.
Salkantay Pass, at 4600 meters above sea level, is the highest point of the Salkantay Trekking route. To avoid altitude sickness, we strongly advise you to spend a few days in Cusco before to the hike.
We pick you up at 04.30 AM from your respective hotels. We leave Cusco at 05.00 AM passing through the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo arriving at Mollepata where we will be at approximately 08:00 AM. There we will have our breakfast and then we will deliver 05 kilos to our carrier.
We board the bus from Mollepata to Marqoq’asa for 1 hour, then start the trek to the viewpoint where we can see the snow of Humantay and Inca gutters. Then we will continue for 3:30 hours to the point of lunch and camping at Soraypampa.
Marqoq’asa and Soraypampa (14 km. 5 hours)
Humantay Lagoon: Ascent and visit to the Humantay Lagoon located 4220 m.s.n.m. The ascent is done in 1:20 minutes and the descent in 40 minutes.
Our tea time is approximately at 6:00 p.m. and then we will go to our dinner at 7:30 p.m. Finally we will go to our tents or sleeping tents.
Beginning at 5:00 am we will go for breakfast and then continue with our walk at 06.30 am, making a gradual ascent of 4 hours to the point of Salkantay Pass located at 4650 meters. On that route we can go through two important points of history (Salkantay-pampa and Soyroq’ocha). We will make a small offering with coca leaves to our pachamama and apu salkantay, and we will talk about history and religion of the Incas.
We will thn make a descent of 2:30 minutes to the Huayrac-pampa lunch point where we will stay for 1:30 minutes. After lunch, we continue the walk from 4100 masl to 2900 masl for the time of 3:30 minutes. All this journey is in jungle terrain, arriving at the camp named Chaullay, where we will have our tea and dinner.
We will have our breakfast at 6:00 am, then walk around 5:30 hours through our jungle eyebrow with flat ascents and descents. We will appreciate coffee plantations, orchids, begoneas, bromeliads and many natural plants used for medicine, arriving at our lunch point Playa Sahuayaca. After lunch, we will take a transport to Hydroelectric station and then walk for 3 hours to the hot springs, where we will spend the night in a hostel and have the last dinner in a restaurant.
We will get up very early in the morning to visit Machu Picchu, where we will have a guided tour of the citadel of Machu Picchu and visit temples, terraces, palaces and platforms. Then you will have time to take pictures and explore on your own.
You will return to the town of Aguas Calientes to wait for your Expedition train at 6:20 PM
Note: If in case you have Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountain you would be entering the first schedule from 6AM – 8AM and second schedule from 9AM – 11AM
(Not included in the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain package)
TRANSPORT
The following required transportation services are included in the tour:
INCOME TICKET
ACCOMMODATION
NOTE:
If you wish to book your own hotel or work with a specific hotel, let us know in order to coordinate the details.
aximum load of 5KG per passenger on horseback.
SUPPORT STAFF
FEEDING
SECURITY
