SALKANTAY WALK 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
Description
This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salkantay mountain (6.271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, passing through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally join the 4-day Inca Trail to Machupicchu.
Itinerary
DAY 01: CUSCO – TARAWASI – MOLLEPATA – CHALLACANCHA – SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAYPAMPA:
We will leave Cusco by bus early today and drive over Tika-Tika pass with the first view of the Salcantay and Humantay peaks in the horizon. After this, we will arrive at Tarawasi and visit its ruins (7,778.00 ft). We will reach Mollepata (9,512 ft.) and continue in our private transportation until Challacancha where we will start to hike for 1 ½ hours until reach Soraypampa where we will take the lunch. Also, here we will meet our horses crew. Then after resting and meeting the rest of the group, we will hike for 1 hour more until our first campsite (Salkantaypampa). From here we will be able to appreciate the majestic Apu Salkantay (6271m / 20569ft). (Lunch / Dinner)
DAY 02: SALKANTAYPAMPA – INCACHIRIASCA- SISAYPAMPA:
After breakfast, we will start hiking during the route the Salcantay peak (19,811ft) which dominates the views. We will continue hiking towards Incachiriasca pass (15,252ft), where we will appreciate a beautiful view of two glacier lakes. From here, the trail goes down until our next camp in Sisaypampa (13,776 ft) (B,L, and D). 7 – 8 hours of trekking.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
DAY 03: SISAYPAMPA – PAMPACAHUA- PAUCARCANCHA
The trek continues down until the end of the valley where it turns north and enters the Pampacahua valley, with an amazing Inca water channel and many agriculture fields along its edges. We will continue walking down and then up, cross a short pass and then reach our next camp in Paucarcancha, the first Inca ruins of the journey (10,332 ft). 5 – 6 hour trekking.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
DAY 04: PAUCARCANCHA – HUALLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSCA PASS – PACAYMAYO:
After breakfast, we will start going down along an Inca trail route until we reach the community of Huayllabamba, where we will join the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We will start the ascent close to the Huayruro stream until we reach Tres Piedras Blancas for lunch. We will then cross a forest with many native trees as Uncas and Chachacomos and continue trekking uphill until Warmiwañusca pass (13,776ft) with a magnificent view of the trail ahead of us. We descent over the mountain down to Pacaymayo to our campsite (3,500 m (11,480 ft.)7 – 8 hours trekking.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
DAY 05: WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Early this morning we will start our day following the magnificent cloud forest suspended Inca trail until we enter Machu Picchu through the Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun), with a magnificent view of the entire citadel. Trekking 3 hours. Guided visit of the ancient citadel. Train back to Cusco, arrive and transfer to Hotel. Breakfast / Lunch)
We highly recommend spending the night in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel the next day.
We highly recommend spending the night in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel the next day.
Included
It Included:
- Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
- Assistant Tour Guide for groups of 9+
- Chef
- Mules / Porters to carry cooking and camping equipment
- Mules / Personal porter to carry 10kg of your personal effects
- Pick-up from your hotel
- Transportation by bus to Challacancha
- Return transportation by train and bus to Cusco
- Water (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own)
- 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Afternoon Snacks and 5 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian
- food please let us know.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- 4 man tent for every 2 trekkers
- Sleeping mattress
- Oxygen bottle
- First aid kit
- Walking Poles
- Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
Not Included:
- Sleeping Bag (Can be hired from us)
- Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 6
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain
- Tips
- Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING
- A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
- Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
- Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Sun block
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
- Handkerchiefs
- Toilet paper
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
- Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
- Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
- Small towel
- Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Cash in soles and/or US$
- Original passport
- Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
- Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the Inca Trail)
