The Salkantay trail is a remote and ancient footpath passing through an amazing progression of ecological zones from sparsely Vegetated pine meadows to the subtropical forest in the Inca Trail.
We see waterfalls and rivers as well as experiencing local Communities and rural life first hand. Your trek will enable you to inmerse yourself in this ancient civilization and soak up the Peruvian culture. At the end of the trek we visit Machupicchu at sunrise- the “Lost City of the Incas”. It is one of the world’s most fascinating and important Archaeological finds. As we stroll through the many temples, altars, terraces, fountains and chambers all displaying intricate stonework we will get a clean picture of what Inca world must have been like.
Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa
4:30:00 am transport by touristic bus from your hotel in Cusco to the trail head in Mollepata.(2800m). mules and horses are waiting for us to carry the equipment, the food and personal duffels.
There will be horses to ride if necessary and for emergency purposes.
From this point we start the trek for about 4 hours through a beautiful andean valley passing small communities and lunch in Silca Pampa then we continue to our first camping site in Soraypampa(3800m)
Day 2: Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa - Chaullay
After breakfast we start the trek up hill to Salkantaypampa, walking through the skirts of the Salkantay snow peak then we reach the first pass at Umantay(4500m), we observe other snow peaks nearby, and after that we walk down to Chaullay(3600masl).
Welcome tea and dinner. Second Campsite in Chaullay.
Day 3: Chaullay - Collpapampa - Playa - Santa Teresa
After breakfast we continue our trek downhill to Wiñaypojo, walking through the Valley of Ccollpabamba On the way pass through spectacular scenery sorrounded by snowpeaked mountains; going down the vegetation starts changing with many orchids, begonias and many different varieties of birds, big waterfalls then we reach our third campsite in the town of Santa Teresa.
Welcome tea dinner and camping.
Day 4: La Playa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes.
On this day we continue down hill passing through different plantations like coffee, bananas, yuca,and passion fruit.After Lucmabamba we climb up to Vaqueiro for around three hours, we can appreciate the impressive Machupicchu on the opposite slope of the mountain.
We then descend to the Rio Urubamba. the chances for seeing toucans, Quetzals, hummingbirds and torrent ducks are very good. Lunch at Hidroelectric train station. After lunch we have three more hours to walk to Aguas Calientes. Get accommodation in hostal, then a possibility to go to hot sring pools.Dinner in a restaurant.
Day 5: Machupicchu Full Day - Aguas Calientes.
After an early breakfast we walk up to Machupicchu, two hour guided visit of the archaelogical site and after that a free time to explore Machupicchu by yourslef.
After your visit Machupicchu, bus down to Aguas Calientes.
Afternoon train back to Ollantaitambo and bus to Cusco.
Includes:
- Bus transportation to Mollepata the trail head
- Admision to the trail and Machupicchu.
- Meals: 04 lunches, 04 dinners, 04 breakfasts.
- Camping gear: tents to sleep, dinning tent, cooking tent, mat
- Cooking equipment
- Horses and mules to carry the equipment and your personal things during 3 days.
- English speaking guide
- Return train ticket to Ollantaitambo and then bus to Cusco