Salkantay Inca Trail Machu picchu

Day 1: Cusco - Soraypampa - Lake Huamantay - Salkantaypampa

We will pass by your hotel early and we will go northwest of the city of Cusco traveling for about 3 hours to reach Mollepata (2 803 m. - 9 196 ft.), here we will stop for 20 minutes so take advantage of buying some bottles of water or a snack that we need.

after we will continue the trip until we reach Challacancha (3,500 m. - 11,482 ft.), here we will begin our trek through old Inca canals until we reach the camp of Soraypampa (3,912 m. - 12,834 ft.) where we will have our lunch, after a short break We will begin the ascent towards a beautiful lagoon called Humantay (4,200 m. - 13 779 ft.).

The landscape is really rewarding, we will continue with the descent to Soraypampa and we will continue an hour and a half more of hiking up to Salkantaypampa (4,100 m. - 13,451 ft.) place that will be our first camp.

• Total distance: 9 km
• Estimated walking time: 6 to 7 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 4,200 m. (13,779 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 4,100 m. (13,451 ft.)

Day 2: Salkantaypampa - Salkantay Pass - Sisaypampa

After breakfast we will start the walk, remember that this day will be one of the most demanding of the entire walk, because we will climb to the Salkantay pass (5 200 m – 15 091 ft).

From this point we will have a privileged view of the Salkantay Mountain (6 271 m – 20 574 ft.), then we will continue our trip until we reach Sisaypampa (3 700 m – 12 139 ft.), the place of our second camp.

• Total distance: 16 km
• Estimated walking time: 7 to 8 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 5,200 m. (15,091 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 3,700 m. (12,139 ft.)

Day 3: Sisaypampa - Canal Inca - Huayllabamba

After spending the night, we will have a comforting breakfast and begin the trek leaving behind the domains of the Salkantay mountain, we will follow the Cusichaca river route.

In this part the climate will rise in temperature, on the way we will find Inca remains, but the main one Inca Racay is located on the right bank of the Cusichaca River, here we can see beautiful Inca buildings and also several Inca platforms.

After our visit we will continue our walk until we reach Huayllabamba town which is located within the Inca Trail network and this will be our entry point to the famous Inca Trail and for this night it will be our campsite.

• Total distance: 13 km
• Estimated walking time: 6 to 7 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 3,700 m. (12,139 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 3,000 m. (9,842 ft.)

Day 4: Huayllabamba - Warmiwañusca - Pacaymayu

This day we will start early, we will leave the camp of Huayllabamba (3 000 m. - 9 842 ft.), we will pass through the valleys of Yuncachimpa and Llulluchapampa towards our great challenge of the day to reach the Warmihuañusca Pass (4 250 m. - 13 779 ft.), this landspcape is similar than Lares trek 4 days.

This ascent will take us on average 3 hours, from this place we will have a privileged view, continue with moderate ascents and then descend until we reach Pacaymayu 3600 m. (11 811 ft.) which will be here our camp.

• Total distance: 11 km
• Estimated walking time: 6 to 7 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 4,200 m. (13,779 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 3,600 m. (11,811 ft.)

Day 5: Pacaymayu - Runcuracay - Wiñayhuayna

For the attractions that we can see this day will be one of the most surprising, the walk starts early in the morning and the first place to visit will be Runcuracay (3 080 m - 12 467 ft) which is a semicircular formation, had a military function as a vigelance point.

Then we will continue our walk until we reach Sayacmarca (2 650 m. - 8 694 ft.) which has Inca sites and some food deposits called colcas in the time of the Incas.

Phuyupatamarca (3 680m - 12 073 ft.) is an Inca archaeological center that is covered most of the time by fog, it was a place of worship in the time of the Incas, continuing our journey we reached Wiñayhuayna (2 680 m. - 8 792 ft. ) that The largest Inca archaeological center is located on the Inca Trail.

In this place there are several Inca residences, 10 Inca fountains and several Inca terraces. In the afternoon we will arrive to the last camp of this beautiful hike that will be Wiñayhuayna.

• Total distance: 16 km
• Estimated walking time: 7 to 8 hours
• Maximum altitude point: 3,680 m. (12,073 ft)
• Campsite altitude: 2,680 m. (8,792 ft.)

Day 6: Wiñaywayna - Machu picchu - Aguas Calientes - Cusco

This last day, we will have breakfast very early and we will start our walk around 5 in the morning, we will walk about 2 hours and we will arrive at the famous Intipunku 2 745 m. (9 005 ft.), entrance door to the wonderful citadel of Machu picchu.

From this point we can appreciate the sunrise and then descend to the citadel of Machu picchu 2 400 m. (7 874 ft.), here we will have a guided tour of 2 hours and then have a free time to explore a little more and take the necessary photographs.

After a while prudent in the citadel will descend by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, where the train station is located, we will take into account the time of our return train and finally we will return to Cusco

Includes

• Pick up from your hotel in Cusco.
• Private transportation from Cusco to the town of Challacancha (where we start the hiking).
• Professional Guide.
• Horses to take the equipment of the company to Huayllabamba (meals, camping equipment and 5 kilos of personal passenger luggage).
• Chef.
• Food (05 breakfasts / 05 lunches / 05 dinners).
• Camping equipment (tents, mats, tables and chairs, kitchen tent and dining tent).
• First aid kit and oxygen balloon.
• Saddle horse for emergencies.
• Support staff that will take the camping equipment from Huayllabamba.
• Entrances to Inca Trail and Machupicchu.
• Bus ticket from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes.
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Expeditions Service).
• Transportation from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco.

Not Included

• Breakfast on first day.
• Lunch and dinner on the last day.
• Tips.
• Sleeping bag (can be hired in our office USD $ 5 per day).
• Entrance to visit the hot spring in Aguas Calientes town (10 soles).
• Porter and horses to carry your personal items 12 kilograms.
• Vistadome train service ($50 plus).

We recommend bringing

• Backpack and sleeping bag.
• Hiking shoes or boots.
• Rain coat or poncho.
• Warmth clothes.
• Insect repellent.
• Sun block, sun glasses and hat.
• Water bottle.
• Water purifying tables.
• Flash light and knife.
• Towel and toilet paper.
• Snacks (chocolates, candies, cookies, etc).
• Personal first aid kit.
• Extra national currency (soles.)
• Original Passport.