SALKANTAY 5D

Have you missed out on doing the Inca Trail? Do not miss out on another great adventure! Come and see Salkantay (The Savage) the second largest mountain in the Cusco region. Here you can enjoy Machu Picchu from a completely different perspective!

Salkantay trek is well known as a trek from the snow to the jungle that’s why the National Geographic rated this trek as one of 25 best hike in the world.

The day you arrive in Cusco, we will meet with you at your hostel/hotel to introduce ourselves and finalize trek payments. It is important that we recieve this payment in advance so we can purchase all food for the trek. The night before the trek, you will have your pre-departure briefing. At this meeting we will discuss the final preparations for the trip and answer any remaining questions

Day 1: Mollepata / Soraypampa

We will pick you up at 5:00am from your hotel and travel by private van to the village of Mollepata in the verdant Apurimac River Valley. After breakfast and getting ready, we will take a three and a half hour walk to Sicllapata. Here we will eat lunch surrounded by beautiful panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay and Salkantay. We will continue our trek towards Soraypamapa (4000m/12750ft) for another 4 hours. This campsite is the highest and coldest campsite of the whole trip.

Day 02: Soraypampa / Qollcapampa

The second day is the longest day of the trek. After an early breakfast, we will start hiking up a moderate climb for three and a half hours until we reach the Salkantay Pass (4600m/9800ft). From this point, we can soak in spectacular views of Salkantay. At the pass you can leave a piece of rock carried from the bottom as a present for the mountain spirit.

We will continue a downhill trek for two hours to Huayracmachay. After a quick rest, we will continue our hike for three and a half hours through the Amazon jungle (do not forget your bugspray!). We will reach our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft) and have dinner. Depending on how quickly the group hikes, other possible campsites are Andenes or Challway.

Day 03: Qollcapampa – The Beach

After breakfast at 5:30am, we will start a 6 hour hike through the tropical jungle. We will cross the Lluskamayo River and a variety of small streams so waterproof shoes are a good idea. We will pass through gorgeous valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls. Your guide will show you naturally growing tropical fruits and native plants and flowers.Then will spend the night in campsite of La Playa (2500m/8350ft). We will also have the option to spend a relaxing afternoon at the hot springs and enjoy the refreshing river.

Day 04: The Beach – Llactapata – Hot Springs

In the morning, we will leave La Playa and start a three hour climb to reach Llactapata (2.700m/8910ft), an incredible Inca fort from which we will enjoy our first view of Machu Picchu! After some pictures and rest, we will descend for two hours to the Hydroelectric Plant, where we will have our final lunch. At about 4pm, we will reach to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night. In Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a celebratory dinner and enjoy the comfort of beds and hot showers at a local hostel. You will also have the option to take advantage of the thermal springs in the evening (10 soles).

Day 05: Machupicchu

We will have two options to arrive to Machu Picchu:
1) we can hike for one and a half hours from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, or
2) we can take a bus to Machu Picchu.

By waking up early, you will witness the magnificent sunrise at this ancient Inca city. At Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours. After the tour, you will have free time to explore this mysterious city by yourself.

When you finish at Machu Picchu, you will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes for lunch where he/she will give you your train ticket back to Cusco.

All our departures are available from March to January. We do not trek in February. We highly recommend you book your tour far in advance because during the high season (May to September) Machu Picchu entrance tickets and train tickets sell out several weeks in advance.

Included

Airport transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Cusco (please specify arrival time and flight number)
Professional guide fluent in English
Private bus to the start of the trail
Machu Picchu entrance fees
Two-people tents with plenty of room for your backpacks
Sleeping mattress
Meals cooked by an experienced chef: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, and snacks!
Delicious food rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking
Vegetarian/special diet options available -Weight Allowance: 5 Kilograms /10 pounds per trekker (weights to be carried by horses)
Horse (to carry the tents and cooking equipments
First aid kit including oxygen bottle
Round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Not included:

Breakfast on the first morning. Some hotels offer an early morning breakfast service. If not, we stop at the town of Mollepata where you will have the chance to buy breakfast.
Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the final day
Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
Sleeping bags. These can be rented in our office for the entire trek (US$ 20) every sleeping bag is washed prior to each use
Tips for the guide, cooks, and wranglers