4 Days
Daily Tour
16 people
English, Espanol
We leave Cusco (3,400 meters) early in the morning, around 9:00 AM, and go to the village of Mollepata (2,900 meters) for breakfast. There are stores and bathrooms in the village. We get in our car after breakfast and drive for 30 minutes to Challacancha (3,350 meters), where we get ready for the hike. We will load our gear onto the horses and start the hike to Soraypampa, which is 3,850 meters high. It will take about 2.5 to 3 hours. When we get there, we'll set up camp and have lunch while taking pictures of the beautiful canyon views.
In the afternoon, those who wish can take a short 1.5-hour hike to Humantay Lake (4,200 meters), known for its striking turquoise waters and magnificent mountain backdrop. After that, we'll go back to Soraypampa for dinner and a place to sleep.
We start the hardest part of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu after breakfast. The first thing we do is hike through Pampa Salkantay (4,100 meters). After that, we'll turn left and head toward the left side of the Humantay Glacier (4,200 meters), which is next to the Salkantay Glacier. At noon, we'll be at the Salkantay Humantay Pass, which is 4,600 meters (14,763 feet) high and the highest point of our trek. We will look at the glaciers here and then take a break for an hour.
After the break, we'll have lunch at Huayracmachay (4,200 meters) and then walk for about four hours through the Selva Alta (Cloud Forest) until we get to the village of Chaullay (2,900 meters) around 4:00 PM.
You can either keep walking or take a car to our new Majestic Ecolodge (2,900 meters) in the Loreta La Plata region. We'll get there around 5:00 PM. We will eat dinner at the lodge and then sleep in a fancy geodesic dome.
After breakfast, people who want to can explore the area. They can go down to the Salkantay River (2,700 meters) or visit a coffee plantation near our Majestic Ecolodge (2,900 meters). You will learn how to grow, pick, and process coffee here, and then you will get to taste some coffee. We'll go through farms that grow things like coca, coffee, tea, bananas, passion fruit, avocados, and papayas.
We'll go back to the Majestic Ecolodge around 11:00 AM after the visit to relax. The lodge's dining room will serve lunch. We'll leave in the afternoon by car for the Hydroelectric Station, which is 1,900 meters away. It will take about 90 minutes to get there. We will then start walking along the train tracks and the Urubamba River.
We will stop at the Intihuatana archaeological site (2,000 meters) along the way. This site has an old Inca sundial. We will pass through the Cloud Forest, which is known for its wide variety of plants and orchids. From there, we will be able to see Machu Picchu (2,490 meters) and Huayna Picchu (2,693 meters). We'll hike for three hours to get to Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters), where we'll spend the night in a nice hotel. A local restaurant will serve dinner.
We will take a two-hour guided tour of the Inca city of Machu Picchu (2,490 meters) in the morning. We'll see important places like the Royal Rooms, the Temple of the Sun, the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Three Windows, and a few burial sites. After the tour, you'll have some free time to look around the ruins or go to Huayna Picchu (2,693 meters) if you booked this option ahead of time. You could also hike to the Sun Gate (2,720 meters) for free. It's a pretty easy hike that takes about 1.5 hours round trip. Or you could go to the Inca Bridge (2,500 meters), which takes about an hour.
We'll eat lunch at a restaurant nearby. We'll take the train back to Ollantaytambo (2,792 meters) in the afternoon or evening. When you get there, we'll take you by bus to the main square in Cusco, which is 3,400 meters away.
For the trek, it's important to bring comfortable hiking boots, warm clothing for high-altitude conditions, rain gear, a hat and gloves for colder temperatures, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, snacks, personal medications, and a camera. Additionally, consider bringing a small backpack for day hikes and essentials.
The Salkantay Trek is considered challenging due to the high altitudes and steep climbs, especially when crossing the Salkantay Pass. It requires good physical fitness and acclimatization to handle the strenuous parts of the trek.
Meals are generally included during the trek, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided each day. Special dietary needs should be communicated in advance to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made.
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