WHY SALKANTAY TREK 08 DAYS?
During the first 2 days before the Salkantay Trekking to Machu Picchu starts, we will experience acclimatizing activities including visiting Cusco, the Capital of the ancient Inca Empire (Private City Tour), sightseeing, and the Private Sacred Valley tour. A few days are necessary to start this amazing adventure to the Salkantay Trek. The difficulty is for professional trekkers. Motivated Amateurs can also handle this trail on foot. There is also an option for horseback riding. This trek will take you over the Salkantay Altitude 14,900 Ft. 4,600 Meters Above Sea Level, rated by National Geographic among the best 25 top hikes in the world. The Salkantay trek is along the Andes and the Amazon Cloud Forest.
This hike will take you through different Ecosystems before you arrive at Machu Picchu, Salkantay Trek and Machu Picchu Reservations are available all of the year. Try to book within a minimum of a few months before your travel date, with the option to do it by yourself but always recommended to do it with a licensed tour guide or tour operator.
We organize Salkantay Trekking with the most professional Local Tour Guides, first aid kits, and horses to carry all of the equipment. Our goal is to make your experience unforgettable, Salkantay Cost can be from 500 Usd Dollars up to 1,000 Usd dollars depending on the type of service and hotel at your arrival to Machu Picchu Town.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
12:00
Important
Regarding horses who carry personal items. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, water bottle, snacks, cold weather clothing and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season – May to October) – but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as horses do not walk alongside you. You will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites. NOTE: You will need to leave your luggage in the Cusco hotel, all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. RECOMMENDED TIME OF YEAR FOR THIS TREK:
MAY TO NOV AND FROM DEC TO APRIL (rainy season) it’s possible to do this trek but it’s hard. This trek is rated a moderate to difficult hike considering the high altitudes and length of walking especially on the 2nd Day. You need to acclimatize in Cusco at least 2 full days (3 days is better) prior to start the trek..
At your arrival at the airport during the morning time, we will meet you with your name heading to downtown Cusco hotel. There will be enough time to relax before we start our Private City Tour at 01:00 pm 06 km north of Cusco driving to visit Sacsayhuaman Archeological site and few more places. While you are on the top of the City in the late afternoon, enjoy the world-famous Qorikancha Sun Temple, the Heart of South America, built by the ancient Incas, and the Basilica Cathedral by 05:00 pm. This is the end of the first day. The rest of the evening we recommend relaxing and we will recommend many of the best restaurants for dinner.
At 08:00 am we will start at the hotel to drive over the Sacred Valley. Private Tour between the Andes Mountain and Deep Canyons for the first stop, then we will stop at an alpaca farm to learn about the South American Camels and ancient weaving textile by native Quechuan Community, Then we will continue our tour to Pisac Archeological site ancient Inca Tombs. There is an optional spiritual feeling experience, Dive deep into the traditions of the locals. Next, we will continue our travel to Ollantaytambo, recommended stop for lunch, in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Then we will finally arrive in the Ollantaytambo fortress. This is known as a “living museum” by Unesco. In the late afternoon, we will go back to Cusco to start the Briefing for Salkantay Trekking.
Early in the morning we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you in a private bus to Mollepata. We will be passing by traditional towns like Iscuchaca, Ancahuasi and Limatambo, as well highlands plateaus and landscapes with great views of snowcapped mountains that belong to the Cordillera Vilcabamba. The bus ride will take 3 hours to Mollepata. We will stop for breakfast before we continue the drive to Soraypampa for 01 more hour. At 10 am we arrive to the beginning of the hike to Humantay Lake. This is a 2 hour gentle climb to limber up before Salkanatay Pass. At 01:00 pm we will return to set dining tent up to enjoy lunch. Late afternoon we will continue our hike to Soyrococha rith on the bottom of the Salkanatay Pass.
Overnight stay in camping tents while over 14,000 Ft. 4,000 meters altitude.
Early in the morning we will leave from Soyrococha and keep going up the beautiful valley. We will enjoy walking just below the majestic snowcapped mountain named Salkantay (6270 masl). After 1/2 hours the trek becomes steep zigzagging for a while, after that we will arrive at the pass named Salkantay pass only 4650masl from where you will be rewarded with superb views. The trail then descends through an old moraine, passing great pastures down to the camp of Huayroqmachay located at 14,000Ft. 4,000masl. We will eat lunch and after proceed to the second camp site at 2950 10,000 Ft. masl. (B, L, D).
You wake up with lovely mountain scenery and good morning tea. Continue to the north down to the lush jungle through different ecosystems watching birdlife like hummingbirds, trashes, finches, tanagers, sparrows, guans, parrots, etc. It will be a long descending day towards the cloud forest where people live, taking advantage of nature, Keep an eye out for the great waterfalls. At the end of the day we will see passion fruit fields. The hike will last approximately 5 or 6 hours. The lunch stop is at La Playa. After lunch we have a local drive to Santa Teresa place to enjoy the hot springs and the last supper. You will not be disappointed with the cooking staff, best dinner surprise,
(B, L, D)
Leaving from Santa Teresa camp site the trek continues through plantations of coffee, banana, and tropical fruits, Zip Line adventure optional before we arrive to Hydroelectric for lunch (1800 masl) then continue to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu town Inca sanctuary. This afternoon you can go to have a bath in the natural hot springs, a great place to relax after this challenging trek. Overnight at selected accommodation (B, L)
Early shuttle bus ride for 25 minutes to go to Machu Picchu city, guided tour for 3 hours and plenty of free time for further exploring, photos, and an optional climb of the mountain Huayna Picchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Gate of the Sun. An according to time, we will go down to the Aguas Calientes town lunch at your leisure. We will take the Inca Trail Train to return to Cusco City. Reception at the train station to transfer everyone to the hotel for overnight stay. (B),
Transfer out from your hotel to the airport.
