Trip Details:

• DURATION: 7-Days/ 6- Nights
• STARTING POINT: Pick up at 5:30 am From the hotel in Cusco.
• ENDING POINT: Drop off in Cusco at the main square around 9:00 pm, If you tell us, in advance, we can drop you at your hotel.
• DEPARTURE: The date that better suit you.
• ACCOMMODATIONS: 6-night camp
• MACHU PICCHU:  Entrance ticket included

Highlights:

• “Scenic drive from Cusco to Soraypampa Valley with awesome panorama of mountains with view of Salkantay Mt. Within world heritage sites at Machu Picchu National park enriched with lovely Andean forest
•  Explore the most picturesque lagoon of Humantay situated in the shortest of Salkantay Mountain.
• Explore traditional farm villages and Mysteries Inca settlements along the trail where your Trekking guide will explain you all about the Inca culture.
• Enchanting pristine forest filled with Andean, tropical and sub-tropical trees.
• Experience the dawn at Machu Picchu and enjoy an informative Tour.

At a glance:

• 1^st Day: Aclimatization day: Cusco – Mollepata Umantay Lagoon – Soraypampa
• 2th Day: Easy day: Soraypampa – Pampajaponesa
• 3th Day: Top day: Pampajaponesa – Canal Inca
• 4^th Day: Join the Classic Inca Trail. Canal Inca – Huayllabamba Ayapata.
• 5^th Day: Top day: Ayapata – Pacaymayo – Chaquicocha
• 6^th Day: Longest Day: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna
• 7^th Day: Important day| – Explore Machu Picchu.

Why book with us?

• Stay within our exclusive private campsites with stand-up tents, thick mattresses and pillows.
• Enjoy hearty meals each day freshly prepared by our dedicated kitchen team. Drinking water included in the walk.
• Hike at a good pace led by experienced Tour Guides trained in nature first aid, equipped with a group medical kit and a portable Oxygen bottle.

Why Salcantay Trek and Inca Trail?

• Salcantay Trek Inca Trail is listed as one of the 25 best trekking dstination in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel magazine.
• Trekking Salcantay Trek  & Inca Trail is definitely one of the best trekking adventures you will find in Peru and South American.
• Hikers can see natural bridges, snowy mountains, colorful valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, unique plants, and a cloud forest.
• Camping with fewer people allows you to be in control of your own trip and have the best views of these amazing mountains!

DAY-BY-DAY SALCANTAY TREK & INCA TRAIL ITINERARY 7D/6N

Briefing before Your Trekking to Machu Picchu:

• You will have an in-depth informative talk with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Trek
• Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you can take the opportunity to ask questions and make final preparations.

Day 0: Arrival in Cusco (3,400masl) Transfer to the Hotel:

Welcome! A representative from “Sunrise Peru Trek” will be waiting outside the airport who will transfer you to your hotel. A short briefing will be done after you have settled down. If you have any queries, please do let us know.

1st: Acclimatization day | Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa (Explore Humantay Lagoon).

We start the day with an early pick up from your hotel in Cusco (at 5:30am.) We will travel in our private car for approximately 4 hours; we will cross the zone of “La Pampa de Anta”, the village of “Mollepata” and we will finish in the zone of “Challancha” (3,750masl). Through the bus’s windows you can clearly see the white snow-capped mountains of “Salkantay” and “Huamantay” – the holy gods of the Incas. But also the spectacular landscapes of the areas located in high and low valleys with colorful landscapes.

After 2:30 hours of driving, there will be a quick stop in the village of “Mollepata” where you can use the bathrooms, souvenir shops, and an optional short breakfast. Once this short break is finished, we will shortly continue to “Challacancha”, which is the beginning of our Salcantay Trek & Inca Trail. There we will meet our support staff. The staff will organize all equipment, horses and mules. Around 9:30 am. We will start our walk towards Soraypampa (3850 masl – 12631 feet). The first section of the trail is a hike through some deep valleys. In parts of the trail, the old water channel can still be seen. The canal still provides water to farmers in the lower valleys.

The start of the hike is a 7 km (4.35 miles) hike in 3 hours to “Soraypampa”, where we will have lunch at the base camp. After lunch and a short nap, we continue the hike towards “Humantay Lake” (4200 masl – 13779 feet). This is a 5 km (3.1 mile) round trip that we will hike in 3 hours total. At “Humantay Lake” you can see the bottom of the glacier, as well as the most spectacular views of the bottom with the valley at sunset. “Soraypampa” is in the middle of glacial valleys and at night the sky is so immensely clear that we can really appreciate the stars, constellations and even shooting stars.

• Walking distance: 12 km / 7.45 miles
• Highest Altitude: 4,200 meters / 14,779 fts
• Difficulty: moderate
• Meals: lunch, dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)
• Accommodation: Camping

First day Map: 4 hours drive and 5 hours walk .

2th Day: Easy day: Soraypampa – Pampajaponesa

Today we will get breakfast at 7:00am and then begin our ascent graduali to Salkantaypampa, getting closer and closer to this huge mountain at the astonishing height of 6,271 meters / 20,574 feet, whose name refers to the wild and untamed force of nature that governs the creative forces of this world. Our campsite today will be at “Pampa Japonesa” (4600 meters / 15,091 feet), the last place closest to the glacier before climbing to the high pass. Tonight, you will feel the cold wrath of the nearby ice and possible avalanches here from a safe distance.

• Maximum altitude: 4,600 meters / 15,091 feet
• Distance: 9 km / 5.59 miles
• Accommodation: Camping

2th Day Map: Short Hike but beutiful day

3th Day: Top day: Japanese Pampa – Incachiriaska – Inca Canal

Be prepared for a cold Morning since we are Very clous to the Salkantay Mountain. Today, it is possible to observe the “Andean condor” and its majestic flight. Today the altitude will test your strength as we ascend to the high Incachiriaska Pass (5,200 meters / 17,060 feet). From the camp we’ll accent gradually for about 1:30 hours until we arrive to the highest pass and after we rest and take enough pictures, we continue descent for about 4hours to the valley below. Upon arriving at our camp, we will share dinner and rest. The night views continue to amaze us due to the low environment at this altitude, which allows us a spectacular view of the night sky.

• Maximum altitude: 5,200 meters / 17,060 feet
• Distance: 14 km
• Accommodation: Camping

3th day Trekking Map Top day but great.

DAY 4: Inca Aquaduct – Huayllabamba – Ayapata

After Breakfast we’ll continue our hike thought amazing high Andean valley with presence of fabulous vegetation. Today we will enter to the famous Inca Trail, starting first with the archaeological center of Paucarcancha. Continuing, we will return to an altitude with abundant vegetation and abundant flora and fauna in the Andean cloud forest. The view of the towering mountains above us, and the multiple waterfalls at every corner, accompany us as we venture through the changing microclimates. From the camp the trail continues down to the community of Wayllabamba (3,000m) from where we’ll continue 2 hours up to the camp in Ayapata (3300 meters / 10,827 feet).

• Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
• Accommodation: Camping

4th day trekking Map: Join to the Classic Inca trail

DAY 5: Ayapata – Warmiwañusqa – Chaquicocha

Today, we will reach the highest point on the Inca Trail (Dead Woman’s Pass) (Warmiwañusca) (4,200 Meters – 13,776 feet). Upon reaching the pass we will stop for a short rest to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Valle de Pacaymayu – Río Oculto). It’s two-hours and a half down the valley side to our lunch spot and a chance to fill our water bottles. After lunch, we begin to ascend again to the second step of the Inca Trail.After Lunch, we will continue to the second pass (Runkurakay) (3,970 meters / 13,022 feet), stopping halfway to visit the impressive archaeological site of Runkurakay. From the second pass, we’ll descend towards Lake of “Yanacocha” and enter the cloud forest to reach the Inca ruins of Sayacmarca (3,624 Meters / 11,887 feet), from here we’ll hike half hour to our campsite in Chaquicocha 3,600 meters

• Maximum altitude: 4,200 meters / 13,779 feet
• Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
• Accommodation: Camping

5th day trekking Map: Long and top day

DAY 6: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna

We will start again early and get up at 6.30am to begin what is generally considered the happiest day of the entire Trail. We walk for 2 hours through what we like to call “Inca flat” (gradual slopes) and we begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk, we will have the opportunity to see Salkantay Mt, from the other site, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca plains, we begin to climb to the last section to Phuyupatamarka (3600 meters) from where we will have excellent views of the Urubamba River. At the bottom of the valley we have our first view of Machu Picchu Mountain, but the site itself is still hidden. From Phuyupatamarka, a 3 hour hike up a staircase that leads to our last camp, near Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the road after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite due to its proximity to Machu Picchu. During the descent, we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (city in the clouds) and Intipata (terraces of the sun). We arrived at our camp at around 1:00 p.m. for lunch. After lunch you can relax.

• Maximum altitude: 3,600 meters / 11,800 feet
• Distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles
• Accommodation: Camping

6th day Trekking Map. Short but beautiful day

DAY 4. Important day –  Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

The wake up time will be at 4:30am, get your breakfast in the hotel and leave your duffle bag in the storage of the hotel. In between of 5:30am – 6.00am, we will board the bus that will take us to the great energy center of the Incas – “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary, the same professional guide from Scenic Salkantay Trekking & Expedition will teach you the whole history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Palace, the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Sundial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the informative guided tour of Machu Picchu, you will have free time to explore on your own.

• If you have reserved “Huaynapicchu” or “Machupicchu” Mountain you must coordinate with your guide to visit Machu Picchu depending on the time you go to the mountain, for people who do not hike in the mountains there are other optional activities (not included in the price):

After all you’ll return to the town of “Aguas Calientes” where you can enjoy your lunch and rest until the time of train’s departure
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return from the town of “Aguas Calientes” to “Ollantaytambo” train station. Upon arrival at the train station, you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

7th day trekking Map: Today you’ll explore the Iconic Machu picchu

What is included for Salcantay Trek & Inca Trail

In the price are included the following items:

• PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION: you will meet your guide in our office to get an orientation before your hike. The guide will see, if you have all necessary things for the trek and If you have some questions or doubts you can clarify here. Here also, we will provide you with one duffle bag per person that our horses will carry it. The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. the day before the start of the trip.
• TRANSPORTATION: We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and travel by private transportation to the zone of Challacancha, the starting point of the trek.
• EXPERIENCED GUIDE: Official English speaking tour guide, professionally trained. Your guide will explain the culture and the surrounding area along the route, even guiding your group through ancient ceremonies! He will keep you safe, healthy and comfortable during your walk so you can enjoy your time worry-free.
• ACCOMMODATION: six-nights camping.
• CAMPING EQUIPMENT: dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs and kitchen equipment (all carried by horses).
• Entrance to the Salkantay Trail
• Entrance ticket to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu.
• PERMITS: As soon as we receive your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits (pending availability, check our Inca Trail Availability). These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They can´t be changed once confirmed. Only your passport number is allowed to be updated. The permit includes an entrance to Machu Picchu.
• PORTERS: We include a personal porter, who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag. There is no additional fee for this. You will not have access to your duffel bag until your evening campsite.
• BUS TICKETS: Two bus tickets (Up and down) From the town of Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
• 1 DUFFEL BAG: You can put your personal luggage, up to 7 kg (15.4 lbs), including your sleeping bag, in this bag for our horses to carry.
• PACK MULES: On Day 1 and 2, pack mules carry all camping equipment and their permitted personal luggage (7 kg / 15.4 lbs). On day 3, your luggage will be transported by car or train to your destination.
• TREKKING COOK: with an assistant, will prepare all your delicious meals throughout the trip – You will never be hungry!
• MEALS: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (vegetarian, vegan or special menus available at no additional cost)
• TEA TIME: On the first afternoon before dinner, cooks will provide you with popcorn, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of walking, you won’t have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up and grab a bite!
• SNACKS: Our snacks consist of local fruits, cookies, chocolate, candy, etc. We will give you this snack at the beginning of each day in its cloth bag.
• MEDICAL KIT: our team will bring a first aid kit, which includes an emergency oxygen cylinder
• TRAIN TICKETS: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (“Expedition” service with Peru Rail between 15:00 and 18:20). Subject to availability.
• TRANSPORTATION: private transportation from the Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco (day 4th)
• 24-HOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE: We have a 24-hour telephone service to facilitate communication and preparation with the agency that leads your walk.
• We will create for you a memorable experience for a lifetime.

Not included in the price:

• Sleeping bags: (you can rent from our company), our sleeping bags are -18 ° C-comfort (0 ° F), mummy-shaped. They are cleaned after each use.
• Last day: lunch in the town of Aguas Calientes.
• Travel insurance.
• Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid, so feel free to tip or not to tip.
• Additional costs or delays caused by uncontrolled management

EXTRAS: That we can arrange for you

• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountai. USD 55 per person
• Walking pole USD 10 For one pair

Important information for Salcantay Trek & Inca Trail 

The following information will help you with any questions you may have about this trip

How is this trip?

The Salcantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a great HIKE and is best suited for more adventurous hikers who can handle higher altitudes and longer distances.  The hardest part of the trip is to reach the famous Apacheta Pass at 5,200 masl; but it is not too strenuous, since it is at the beginning of the trek, it is not very steep, but it requires resistance and a time in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before starting this trek.

The Briefing:

All informational sessions are held in our office at 6.30 p.m. the day before your walk. If you can’t make this time, you should coordinate another time with a member of our office team. The briefings last between 30 and 45 minutes and you will receive your duffel bags.

The duffle bags:

The day before your walk, you will receive a SMALL DUFFLE BAG to pack your clothes for the next days. Its allowed weight is up to 7 kg / 15.4 lbs; this duffle bags will be carried by our horses together with the food and camping equipment. It is important to know that you will NOT have access to your items in the duffle bag until the end of each day as riders and horses will always be ahead of the group. During the trip, you need a day pack large enough to carry your personal items such as a warm jacket, raincoat, camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Generally, a 30-40-liter backpack is appropriate.

Collections:

“SPT Tour Operator”, is one of the few companies that picks you up directly from your hotel. While your hotel is in the center of the city of Cusco, we will coordinate this collection according to the time that your guide will discuss during the briefing Time. Collection times can vary from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions and previous collections.

Cusco is an old town with cobbled streets and very narrow passages. Small hotels are often found on streets that cars can’t cross. They are also frequently found on slopes with long and steep climbs, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with better and easy access.

How to book this trek?

To make a reservation, email us to check availability and receive personalized reservation forms. However, we’ll require the following information:

• Personal information (full name, exactly as in your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• Date of birth (dd / mm / yyyy)
• nationality

Returning to Cusco:

Leaving Machu Picchu requires a lot of logistics, all of which is included in your visit.

• From Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, you will take a 25-minute bus to the town. Buses are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and operate throughout the day.
• You will take a train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Your guide will give you your train tickets with the train schedule. Be sure to get to the platform 30 minutes early.

           * The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 2 hours.

• Once at the station, look for a man with an “SUNRISE PERU TREK” sign or with your name. Then he will take you to the Plaza de San Francisco, Cusco

            * The trip by van from Ollantaytambo to the nearby Plaza de San Francisco takes 2 hours

• Once you arrive near the Plaza de San Francisco, you will be separated into separate prepaid taxis and returned to your hotel.

Our effort:

Our trek is managed by a team of professionally trained leaders / guides who are responsible for all aspects of the trek operation. We will do our best to maintain the Trek as the suggested itinerary, but since this is an adventure trip to a remote area of ​​the Andes, we cannot guarantee it! The climatic and health conditions of the member of the trekking team can be a factor for us to change the route. The manager will try to make sure the trip goes accordingly, but be prepared to be flexible when necessary. Please note that flights to and from Cusco are highly dependent on weather conditions and delays may occur. Therefore, we always recommend that you spend an additional one or two nights in Cusco after your Salkantay Trek, which would ensure that there is no impact on your international flight, even if your trip is delayed due to the flight problem. If all goes well according to plan, you can use these days for additional tours in Cusco.

Trekking group:

Machu Picchu is full of offers to make it a year-round travel destination. Based on this fact, many international tourists incorporate Machu Picchu into their ideal travel itinerary. in our trek group there will be a trek leader, Cook, Horseman and horses for each group, but we provide a second guide if the group is over 8 persons. In general, in our group, the minimum number of tourists will be two and the maximum group size is ten. We say that 10 people is our maximum for the walk does not mean that we do not operate more than 11 people, we do it on request. However, it is good to keep the group size limit, which means that we can provide the best services and take care of our valued clients while traveling with us.

Physical demands:

Hikers who plan to travel to the Andes mostly need three basic elements of preparation: aerobic, strength, and mental. Aerobic conditioning is important especially because you will be hiking in the air, up to 50% less than at sea level. With good aerobic conditioning, you can minimize the possible effects of the disease. high altitude mountains (AMS). Walking for at least two hours a day with a little weight on your back is the best way to prepare for trekking in the Andes. Running, biking (outdoors or stationary), Nordic walking, rock climbing, or any other exercise that puts your heart rate in the aerobic range for extended periods of time. Every day you will walk through the for approximately 6-8 hours and will reach the highest point at 4650m. Health is therefore an essential part of your adventure trip. Before booking a trip with us, we suggest that you consult your doctor and, in his references, proceed to book your trip.

Our leaders and Trekking staff:

The role of your Trek Leader is to ensure that all aspects of the journey go smoothly. He will share his local knowledge, advice on how to fill his free time, and coordinate the daily flow of the tour, although sometimes he may need your understanding if things don’t go as planned. If you have any problems during the visit, please inform your Trek Leader so that steps can be taken to correct it. We are a well stabilized adventure company and we have hired a professional trekking leader. We also provide training to our staff increasing their efficiency at work. And our guides are intimately familiar with all the local breeds and customs along the trails and will share with you a wealth of cultural knowledge that is not covered in any guide. You will have a good opportunity to learn, cultural things and more on your walk.

Travel Insurance:

To be properly protected in terms of insurance, you will need specialized travel insurance to participate in dangerous activities. A travel insurance policy that covers evacuation, trip cancellation, personal injury, death, loss of luggage, theft, liability, medical treatment and expenses is highly recommended. Make sure the insurance covers all the activities you will do during your stay in Peru.

Permits and fees:

In Peru, most need permits and fees to enter some areas, such as World Heritage Sites, National Park, Restricted areas like Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. All travel prices include the cost of the relevant permits and entrance fees. In case of such conditions, we will inform you if necessary of the additional permit fees before making a reservation with us.

Meals and accommodation:

During the Trek, we provide good quality food in sufficient quantity. We offer all full board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea and coffee. When hiking to Machu Picchu, accommodation is one night in camping tent and one night in hotel in the in town of Aguas Calientes with very comfortable facilities.

What to bring for the Trek?

We recommend the following items:

• Original Passport
• Small Backpack (30lts) to carry water, snacks, camera, sunscreen, valuables, jacket, etc.
• Sleeping bag of at least 5 cº. If you DO NOT have one, you can rent us for $ 10.
• Wool hat
• Sun hat
• Scarf
• Gloves
• 2-3 shirts, if you have better long sleeves
• layers (sweater, fleece)
• 2 pairs of long pants if you have leggings, you can make it over leggings
• Mountain boots
• 2-3 pairs of wool socks
• A rain jacket (pants, jacket, if you don’t have one you can buy a rain poncho) this is crucial especially for the rainy season.
• A small towel
• Shorts.
• Sunglasses.
• A little lighthouse.
• Water bottle.
• Toothbrush and other toiletries.
• Toilet paper.
• Sunscreen.
• Insecticide.
• Sandals and flip flops.
• Swimsuits.
• If you have thermal clothing, you can take it with you, which is not so important, you will wear it at least during the first night, which is 4000 m.
• Certain snacks like chocolate, granola bars, candy, nuts, energy bars, etc.
• Extra money in soles (300)
• Remember that we provide you with a duffel bag so that you can pack 7 kilos of luggage that will be transported by horses. You will receive the duffle bag the day before the walk, the day of the briefing.

To inquire about the availability for Salcantay Trek Inca Trail , contact us to sales@sunriseperutrek.com and we will send you detailed information, prices, terms and conditions.

Please note that there are available discounts for groups. All our tours are fully guaranteed, departure every day. Contact us for more information of the tour you choose or to start customizing your own itinerary.

“SPT Tour Operator”, is an authorized travel agency located in the city of Cusco (Local tour operator); we really know what we do and offer, we are well managed with long list of travel destinations, offering all Peru travel alternatives, family trips, honeymoon and luxury trips, including adventure trips and jungle exploration trips, for almost any budget.

NOTE: “SPT Tour Operator”, specializes in organizing the perfect travel plan for Peru, with the hotels and destinations you choose, since we all have promotional and confidential rates. Find out how to organize your personalized package. Please write to us.

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