QUICK OVERVIEW
This trek perfectly combines cultural and natural beauty. We will enjoy the challenge of the ecosystem and the magnificent view of the snow-capped Salkantay (6264m/20551f), considered as the most representative mountain of the range of Vilcabamba.The trek takes us back to the time of the Incas
and makes us aware of the spirits of mountains such as the Tucarhuay or the Humantay which peak is higher than 5000 meters (16404 feet).
Day by Day Itinerary
Altitude: 1950 – 4600m. / 6398 – 15092 f.
High Season: April – November
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Challenge Route: Closed in February
*A minimum of 2 persons is needed for this trek.
1 DAY -CUSCO MOLLEPATA MARCOCASA SORAYPAMPA
After an early rise and a short bus ride, you begin the journey in the small town of Mollepata where you leave 5K with the horses and enjoy a small breakfast. A truck then takes you up quite a ways to begin the first leg of the hike surrounded with a dramatic green landscape. The hike is the first challenge as you acclimatize to the rising elevation. After about two hours of hiking you turn a bend and get your first glance of the powerful giant, Salkantay. After another two hours gazing upon your destination in the distance, you find camp grounds at the base of Salkantay. There you’ll have the option of putting down your things and either resting, or meeting Salkantay’s sibling Umantay. From base camp you can hike a strenuous 1.5 hrs to reach Umantay’s base; its beautiful turquoise crystalline lake. You and your group will spend some time there bathing in its natural beauty until the sun begins to set. You’ll return to base camp to rest up before the last ascencion.
2 DAY-SORAYPAMPA ABRA SALKANTAYPAMPA CHALLWAY
Starting at about 5am, your group sets off on the last ascent to meet the revered Salkantay. After about 2hrs of gradual ascencion you’ll meet your final challenge 20min before reaching the top. After some time of celebration and well-deserved rest, the guide will tell you a little about the history and significance of this sacred site. From there you’ll begin your descent, traversing the changing landscape as you make your way down to the subtropical jungle. After a challenging and difficult descent you’ll find your campground surrounded by tropic landscapes.
3 DAY -CHALLWAY LA PLAYA TO SANTA TERESA
There, you and your new friends can celebrate a day well earned with an ice cold Cusqueña. The third morning you continue on through the jungle, following the river, seeing natural waterfalls, and tasting the wild strawberries along the path. The day ends early as you find your bus that will take you to lunch and that night’s camping grounds. There, you’ll have the option of resting up or taking a trip to the hot springs for an additional fee.
4 DAY-SANTA TERESA HIDROLECTICA AGUAS CALIENTES
That night the guides provide a taste of Inca Tequila and a bonfire to celebrate your successes and your new friendships. The fourth day is slighly less dramatic with an optional bus ride in the morning or a two hour hike towards HidroElectrica. Then you’ll have a short lunch before the last hike to Aguas Calientes. The last stretch you’ll carry all of your gear along the railroad tracks until you reach the base of Machu Picchu. There you’ll spend the night in a hostel and rest up.
5 DAY- AGUAS CALIENTES MACHUPICCHU TO CUSCO
The following morning at around 5am you’ll start your hike up to Machu Picchu either by taking the ancient path of over 1700 steps or by short bus ride. Your guide will give you a brief tour of the ancient site, and you’ll have the rest of the day to explore. That evening you’ll make your descent to Aguas Calientes, you’ll pick up your things and take a train and bus back to Cusco.
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days (Group Departure)Included:
- Transport
- Private transport from your hotel in Cusco to Mollepata
- Transport from La Playa to the hydroelectric station (just for the equipment and everyone’s bags)
- Tourist Train from the hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes
- Tourist Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco or tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
- Hostel with Private Room and Bathroom in Aguas Calientes town (Machupicchu, Continental or similar)
- Entrance to the National park of Salkantay & Machu Picchu
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
- High quality camping equipment (Professional tent, Doite Cima 4, for 2 persons) Mattresses, eating tent with table and chairs, bathroom tent).
- Meals during the excursion (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and tea time/Optional vegetarian)
- Cook and assistant
- Horseman and mules for up to 8kg of a customer’s personal equipment (1)
- Emergency horse
- First-aid kit and oxygen bottle
Not included:
- Breakfast at the 1st day and lunch on the 5th day in Aguas Calientes
- Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes (Optional: $ 4.00)
- Bus going downhill from the Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes where the train station is situated; you can either pay the cost of $ 10.00 for the bus-Service or walk back to Aguas Calientes which will take about an hour.
- Sleeping bag (If you don’t have a sleeping bag, there is the possiblity of renting one)
Notes: (1) From the first to the third day (from Marcocasa to La Playa) we are accompanied by horsemen and mules that will carry all camping equipment and the customer’s private luggage (up to 8 kg). On the fourth day all luggage will be transferred to the hydroelectiric station by car.
(2) Visit to Huayna Picchu: For Huayna Picchu mountain requires to be booked long time in advance however we charge additional $ 15.00 and then we’ll guarantee your entrance for Huayna Picchu as well (This new State law began since the 18th of July, 2011).
(3) Tips for porters, cooks and guides are always welcome. The porters are also very grateful for a small donation, for example clothes or school equipment for their children.
What do I need to bring? • Backpack with rain shelter. • Sleeping back. • Clothing for warm and cold climate like a waterproof jacket. • Rain pants and lightweight pants. • Trekking shoes. • Slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs). • Woolen or synthetic socks and a sweater. • Long- and short-sleeved polo’s/T-Shirts. • Rainponcho and a hat. • Bathing suit (for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes). • Sunscreen, insect repellent, disinfecting alcohol and gel, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, toiletries and toilet paper. • Camera (wrapped in plastic bag), a flash light and batteries. • Some snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruit. • Original passport, original ISIC student card and extra money in soles. • Since the weather can be very cold and moistly, your clothes – once gotten wet – won’t dry at night. So take some clothes to change.
Conditions & Terms:
- Please note that the program deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the ticket entrance to Machupicchu and also for booking the train ticket and hostels. And once a space is purchased it cannot be resold.
- we will not give any refunds if a participant decides to cancel the trip prior to departure or during the trip (except from the entrances to the archaeological sites and the bus/train tickets)
- If we doesn’t confirm the reservation, your payment will be refunded totally.
- All participants have to carry their own back packs, including sleeping bag and mattresses unless they booked an extra porter or the service includes porters, horsemen or mules.
- A participant must declare if he/she has any sickness or medical disorder and must bring his/her own medicines.
- All participants must bring their original passport and, if available, their original student card ´ISIC´.
- It is compulsory that all clients have personal travel insurance. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, loss of effects and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage or injury occurring to the client. we cannot be accounted for any accident or loss of personal belongings the customer caused by his/her own.
- In case force majeure occurs, like impossibility to operate the program or trek due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside we control like: extreme weather conditions, landslides, strikes not allowing operation or putting it at risk, sudden inaccessibility of route, etc. we will propose viable solutions to operate the program within the available dates, or if impossible, will then propose an alternative program. If the alternative program chosen by the client is of lower value than that originally booked then the client is entitled to a refund of the price difference. All costs derived will be at the expense of the client. In case none of these would be feasible, we would refund all the money paid except all the incurred expenses so far.
