SALKANTAY TREK

5DAYS / 4NIGHTS

Duration:

Description:

The best alternative to the classical four day Inca Trail. The Salkantay trek also goes over an old Inca path, passing the Salkantay pass on the side of the Salkantay mountain, one of the highest mountains of the cordillera Vilcabamba (6271 meters) It is a route with fantastic views and landscapes and one will pass through different ecological floors; the trek is unique in its natural diversity. Highly recommendable for nature lovers!

As a bonus on top of all the natural beauty you will arrive to the old Inca City of Machu Picchu on the last day of the hike.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

We will depart from Cusco at 5.00 and travel by public transport to MOLLEPATA (this the starting point of the trek)

This drive takes about 3 hours. When we get to Mollepata we will have our first breakfast. After arranging the baggage and our horses we will start walking uphill for about 3 hours to CRUZ PATA. Here we have lunch. After the lunch we will have one hour to take some rest and then we will start walking to SORAYPAMPA (3.850 Meters) At this part of the trail we can see in front of us the first HUMANTAY snow capped mountain. We will arrive to our first campsite at around 17:30. Here our horsemen will be waiting with some hot tea and dinner.

Day 2: Soraypampa - Chaullay

After having a good breakfast we leave at 6:30. We have to climb up for 4 hours to the first pass of the SALKANTAY mountain, which is over 4.540 metres high.

At the highest point of our trek we will stop for about 25 minutes to take group pictures.

From this point we will have a great view over a range of the mountains. After this, we will walk downhill for 4 hours through a nice trail until we reach Chaullay, a lower campsite at 2.900 metres where we have our tea time and dinner.

Day 3: Chaullay- La playa- Santa Teresa

We depart from Chaullay after our breakfast at 7.00. We will pass through COLLCAPAMPA. At this part of the trek we will walk on a narrow trail on the mountainside.

Passing some species of orchids and different kinds of plants, some cornfields and fruit fields, we have the opportunity to see the most beautiful waterfall on the trail after walking for 5 hours. Finally we will get to LA PLAYA, where we will take a small truck for 45 minutes to go to SANTA TERESA town. Santa Teresa has an altitude of 1.645m.s.a.l

We will arrive at around 13.00 to set up our tents. We can go to the medicinal hot springs only 45 minutes from Santa Teresa town.

Day 4: Santa Teresa- Hidroeléctrica- Aguas Calientes

We get up at 7.00 in the morning and after breakfast we start walking for around 2 hours to get to the Urubamba River where we cross the river by a cable. After this spectacular experience we keep going for 2 more hours to a hydroelectric power station which is also a small village and the train station for this part of the trail. Here we can see many kinds of fruits, trees and plants. At around 3:00pm we will take the local train to Aguas Calientes (1 hour) where we spend the night in a hotel.

Day 5: Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes - Cusco

We have to get up at approximately 5:30 to have breakfast and then take the first bus up to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. At the site we will have a guided tour.

The guide will explain the meanings and history of Machu Picchu while we walk around the city and visit the most important places of Machu Picchu for around 2 hours. After the explanation you have the the option to climb up to the Huayna Picchu Mountain to enjoy the view over Machu Picchu. After that we will have to take a bus to Aguas Calientes and then we catch the train back to Cusco.

This return trip takes about 4 hours. We will get to Cusco 21.00.

A pick up and transfer in Cusco are included.

Includes:

• Pick up from the hotel in Cusco
• Private transport to Mollepata
• Professional bi-lingual guide
• 5 breakfasts. 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Horses and horsemen
• 1 extra horse for emergencies
• Accommodation in tents
• Sleeping mats
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle
• 2 Star hostel in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
• Return ticket in train Aguas Calientes a Cusco