Journeys to Machupicchu - ALTERNATIVE TREKS

SALKANTAY TREK

● Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 5 Days

● The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, was recently named among the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.

The Salkantay Trail is one of the richest trails to Machu Picchu in terms of natural beauty due to its unique geographical position. The elevation of Salkantay Mountain is 6,264 m above sea level with climatic conditions ranging from sub-tropical to arctic.

The Salkantay route offers a range of levels for tours of which we offer treks for the more rugged traveler to the traveler who would like a more comfortable tour.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

4:30 am We will pick you up from your hotel and travel to Mollepata in a tourist bus. Mollepata is an Andean village where a nice and hot local breakfast will be waiting for us and at 9:00 a.m. We will begin our journey with a hike up to Tres Cruces. We will have lunch with a spectacular view of the Limatambo Valley and then continue our trek to Markokasa.

From this point we will be able to see the Salkantay Mountain and at about 4:30 p.m. we will arrive at Soraypampa which is at 3500 meters (20.671 feet). At our first campsite, the highest and coldest camp site of the trip at 4000m (12750ft), we will be able to take in the beautiful landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 2: Soraypampa - Huayracpunku - Collpapampa

We will have a hot breakfast at around 5:30am and begin our walk to the highest pass on this trek (4650m/15200ft) located between two huge mountains: Salkantay on the right and Humantay on the left (Salkantay at 6271m/20575ft and Humantay at 4120m/13500ft). From the pass, the views of both of the snowcapped mountains are incredible. There will also be a possibility of snow here. At this point we will have a small ceremony.

This ceremony is known as Payment to the Earth or Pachamama (Jaywarikuy), in which we leave a few coca leaves in the rocks for Mother Earth asking permission to continue and to have an amazing and memorable trip.

We will continue our walk downhill through a beautiful cloud forest and we will arrive in Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the jungle until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft). Another possible campsite would be in Challway. Following the course of the Salkantay River, at this point we will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Andean scenery in the same place we set up camp (2900m approx.).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3: Collapapampa – La Playa – Lucmabamba – Santa Teresa

After our breakfast at 6:30am, we will pass through several valleys, crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of small brooks, appreciating some wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruit, colorful birds and various native plants. The path is less demanding with a usually warm climate. We have lunch on the way and, while traveling, we will enjoy more of the vibrant valleys. Eventually we will arrive in Santa Teresa which is our following campsite.

After a rest and a few snacks to help recover our strength, we have the option of visiting the local hot springs and try the well-deserved, soothing water, a real treat after having walked the whole day!.

Meals: Breakfast - Lunch – Dinner.

Day 4: Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Machu Picchu Pueblo

After breakfast we will continue our trip by walking another 3 hours to reach Hidroelectrica. The trail cuts into the old coffee plantation of Mandorpampa and enters the cloud forest, following the sacred river for about one and a half hours until we see the waterfalls from Hidroelectrica. These falls are about twelve meters high and are fed by the crystal clear melt waters of the sacred Mount Yanantin.

From the falls the trail continues up to the ridge, before becoming lost in the increasingly dense vegetation. This is a beautiful, fertile landscape, with coffee, banana and avocado plantations carved from the forest, and pristine areas that are the natural habitat of mammals such as the spectacled bear and hundreds of species of birds and butterflies, some of them endemic to the region. The forest is covered with bromeliads and many varieties of orchids, some of which have only recently been identified by biologists.

We will finally arrive in Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes) to have overnight in our comfortable hotel.

Optional: You can go on an early night visit to the Aguas Calientes Hot Springs where the entrance fee is US $4.

Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner.

Day 5: Full day Machu Picchu

We will have breakfast and then take the bus (6am) up to Machu Picchu. A walking tour of approximately 2 hours is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city at your leisure. At 10 am there will be time to climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft). It takes about 45 minutes to reach the top.

We will take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo on the Expedition and a bus to Cusco. We'll be in Cusco at approximately 22:30pm.

Meals: Breakfast.

Optional: Huayna Picchu Sacred Mountain. It has a limitation of 400 spaces per day, so we highly recommend that you to book in advance. If you still have some energy you can also climb Huayna Picchu Sacred Mountain (2720m/8923ft)! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top, the entrance fee is at extra cost US$ 15.00 and you might haave to skip the Machu Picchu tour to be able to climb this mountain.

NOTE:

Itinerary is subject to change depending on time of booking and campsite spaces at the time of arrival.

The camps can vary depending on climate and health status of travelers.

Train Included in all tours is Expedition Service (to Ollantaytambo) and train times will be confirmed close to the time of the trek. If you join a group late in the day, we can't guarantee that you will travel on the same train as the rest of the group.

Train times are subject to change depending on Peru Rail’s time table and availability.

More Information

Included

Transfers from Hotel

Transportation Cusco-Mollepata. (Start Trek)

Professional bilingual Tour guide.

Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.

Bus tickets to Machu Picchu Inca City and to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes).

Meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners and various snacks to be eaten throughout the day. Meals after the last breakfast (Day 5) are not Included

Professional Cook: all our fresh vegetables are washed in iodine water prior to serving. Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost! All dietary requirements from vegans, lacto-allergies and general dislikes can be catered for so long as prior warning is given when booking the trip

Dining tent with tables and chairs

First Aid Kit

01 Oxygen tank

Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)

Horse handlers

Quadruple (4 person) waterproof tent for 02 people

01 Sleeping Mattress per person

01 night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes.

Return train tickets Expedition Service (Machu Picchu to Ollanta) and bus to Cusco.

Not Included

Meals after breakfast on Day 5

Sleeping bag

Extra Porters or Horses for carrying personal items (Optional US$ 60.00 per 4days)

Entrance Fee to Huayna Picchu Sacred Mountain or Machu Picchu Sacred Mountain (US$ 15.00)

Entrance fees to Hot Springs US$ 4.00

Other items or activities not mentioned.

Extras

Bag Rental U.S. $ 25.00 for entire trip

Metal walking sticks US$ 15.00 for the entire trip

Extra Horses for carrying your personal equipment $ 80.00 dollars for 04 days.

Supplemental single Tent for camping nights U.S. $ 35.00.

Tourist train Class Vistadome (a "1st Class train with panoramic windows to enjoy the view of Machu Picchu Valley") is an additional U.S. $ 50.00 per person

Hotel in Lima, Cusco or other cities in Peru can be booked for the kind you prefer (Standard, Economy, First Class, Luxury). Ask us about this service! We have confidential rates of each hotel in Cusco to be able to get you a good deal.

You Need

Original passport (and International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)

Sleeping bag (not included but can be rented from us)

Walking boots

Waterproof jacket/rain poncho

Warm jacket, hat and gloves

T-shirts

Comfortable trousers

Sun hat

Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)

Re-usable plastic or metal water container or camel bags.

Water, water purification tablets, or money to buy water along the way

Insect repellent

Toiletries

Personal medication

Camera

Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)

Shorts

Walking stick/Trekking pole (with rubber tip)

Plasters and bandages

Sandals

Extra money

Bathing suit for hot springs in Aguas Calientes (entrance fees at the door $4)

Notes

Train Included in all tours is Expedition Service (to Ollantaytambo). Train times will be confirmed close to the time of the trek. If you join a group late in the day we can't guarantee you will travel on the same train as the rest of the group.

Train times are subject to change depending on Peru Rail time table and availability

bamba river runs from the high Andean ranges down through the Sacred Valley of the Incas