Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Mountain Challenge Hike

SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS BY LLACTAPATA

Description

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 because of its unique geographical position. The elevation of the mountain is 6,264 m above sea level with climatic conditions ranging from arctic to subtropical. This 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.

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. Salkantay Trek 5 Days Soraypampa

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 Pachacutec Lake

Day 3 | COLLPAPAMPA – 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. salkantay Playa Lucmabama

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 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. Machu Picchu

Day 5 | FULL DAY MACHUPICCHU

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.


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.
meals:Breakfast Machu Picchu

Included

  • Transfers from Hotel
  • Transportation Cusco-Mollepata. (Start trek)
  • Professional bilingual tour guide.
  • Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
  • Bus tickets to Machupicchu Inca City and to Machupicchu town (Aguas Calientes)
  • Meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners and various snacks to be eaten throughout the day. Meals after the last breakfast (on day 4) 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 only
  • 01 Sleeping Mattress per person
  • 01 night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes.
  • Return train tickets Expedition Service (Machupicchu.Ollanta and bus to Cusco) transfer to Hotel.

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 Pay in the door $4

Contact for join