Responsibility
T. +51 (0)84 234591 This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salkantay mountain (6.271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, passing through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally reach Aguas Calientes on the fourth day. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machupicchu is visited on the last day of the program. This itinerary is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machupicchu.
ITINERARY
* Departure and arrival times are approximated
** Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress
*** ALTERNATIVE OPTION: A hotel room in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu can be booked for you for the third night, as an alternative to the campsite at Puente Ruinas. Please beware that in case of choosing this option, the hotel expenses will be charged as extras, and both the dinner on day 3 and the breakfast on day 4 will not be included in the program. Please check the “Optional services to be hired” section in this program
DIFFICULTY DEGREE OF THIS PROGRAM
Challenging: An acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended
Day 1: CUSCO TOY SOYROCCOCHA
We leave Cusco at 06.00 am in a private transportation and start a scenic bus-ride to our trail starting point at Challacancha. Along the four-hour drive, we cross the town of Limatambo (2100m/6888ft), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the time of the Inca Empire. We leave Limatambo and drive up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River, to reach Mollepata (2800m/9184ft), then Cruzpata (3100m/10168ft) and finally Challacancha, where we meet our wranglers and horses. After a short introduction we start our hike, following the paths of the locals on a soft ascent towards the base of Mt. Salkantay (6271m/20569ft). After lunch in Salkantaypampa, we start our sometimes steep 2 hrs ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4200m/13776ft). This will be a cold night so very warm clothes are essential.
Meals: L, D
Accommodation: Camping
Day 2: SOYROCCOCHA TO COLLPAPAMPA
We depart early after breakfast and start a 1,5-hour ascent, which brings us up to the Salkantay Mountain Pass (4525m/14842ft) where, besides enjoying stunning views of the surrounding glaciers and the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range with the south face of Salkantay towering above us, we may also observe vizcachas and condors in their natural habitat. From this point, we start descending towards a more tropical climate and into the so-called cloud forest. Along the route, we can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, which is approximately 6 meters wide. A long though easy descent along the Salkantay River, brings us late afternoon to our second camp at Qollpapampa (2890m/9479ft), a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camping
Day 3: COLLPAPAMPA TO LA PLAYA
Today we continue our hike with an easy walk along the Santa Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. We pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko and the Andean community of Lucmabamba. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp at the village of La Playa (2155m/7068ft), where we can refresh in the river before dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camping
Day 4: LA PLAYA TO AGUAS CALIENTES
After breakfast, we cross the river and start climbing for 2-3 hours up to El Mirador or Abra Q’elloqasa (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of the Lost City of the Incas, the legendary Machupicchu, from a different angle. We enjoy a last lunch in nature at the lookout point of Llaqtapata (2650m/8692ft) from where we can view both Machupicchu and the Salkantay Mountain and take a good rest, enjoying the added value of the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. A 2-hour descent towards the Aobamba River crossing lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations brings us to the hydroelectric plant of Machupicchu from where we board a train that takes us to Puente Ruinas (short, scenic 30-minutes train ride), a campsite located just at the basement of the Machupicchu Mountain. We camp and dine at this place.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camping
Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHUPICCHU AND CUSCO
We wake up early and board a bus to Machupicchu where we begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. You will then have free time to walk around, climb up the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or visit the Temple of the Moon or the impressive Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall.
Meals: -
Accommodation: Camping
- Pre-departure briefing
- Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to Challacancha (starting point of the trek)
- Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field
- One inflatable sleeping pad per person
- One sleeping bag per person: our sleeping bags are -18ºC-comfort (0ºF), mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips
- One pillow per person
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Kitchen tent
- Toilet tent with biodegradable toilet facilities
- English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)
- Chef and cooking equipment
- Pack animals (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment) – days 1 to 4
- Pack animals to carry personal gear up to a maximum of 9kg per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag) – days 1 to 4
- 1 emergency horse every 6 persons – days 1 to 4
- Wranglers – days 1 to 4
- Accommodation for all our staff
- Meals (04B, 04L, 04D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day).
- Vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost
- Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
- Train ticket from the Hydroelectric power plant to Aguas Calientes (day 4)
- RT Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes (day 5)
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Backpacker, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham service, upon request) (*)
- Transfer train station-hotel in Cusco
(*) Should there be no train tickets available in the direct route Aguas Calientes – Cusco, a train ticket Aguas Calientes – Sacred Valley with an additional private transportation from the Sacred Valley to your hotel in Cusco will be provided. This does not apply for the Hiram Bingham luxury train service
- Breakfast on the first day
- Lunch and dinner on the last day: after the guided tour at Machupicchu, you can enjoy free time to further visit the ruins and choose to have lunch either in Machupicchu or in Aguas Calientes at your own expense. Arrival in Cusco is estimated after nightfall, dinner being at your own expense too
- Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes: a relaxing way to end-up the program while you’re awaiting the return train to Cusco, only 10 minutes from the village center, entrance fee is s/10.00 (Peruvian Soles). Towels can be hired in Aguas Calientes.
- Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish
WE RECOMMEND YOU TO BRING
- A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
- Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
- Sleeping bag (please inform our Reservations Department if you wish to book this extra service at the moment of your booking)
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
- Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Sun block
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
- Handkerchiefs
- Toilet paper
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
- Small towel
- Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Cash in soles and/or US$
- Original passport
- Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
- Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the Inca Trail)
OPTIONAL SERVICE TO BE HIRED
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu instead of camping at Puente Ruinas campsite: please let us know if you wish us to make the hotel booking and, in this case, your requested hotel category and accommodation, and the number of nights you wish us to book.
APPROPIATE CLOTHING FOR THIS HIKE
Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the fourth day (if sunny) and in Machupicchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “We recommend that you bring” list.
CLIMATE
Cusco’s climate is divided into two differentiated seasons: the rainy season, from November to April (the heaviest rainfalls occurring usually between January – March); and the dry season, from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.
Along the Salkantay route, temperatures range from 10-20ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 05-10ºC during the day if not sunny and can drop below freezing at night. In Aguas Calientes/Machupicchu, at lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer though warm clothes are still recommended at night.
Prices per person depend on the group size, the larger the group the lowest the price per person
Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):
- Students: US$ 40.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
- Teenagers: US$ 40.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
- Children: US$ 80.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
Daily departures are available along the year although due to weather conditions, the recommended period for this trek is April to November.
All private service departure dates are adapted to your request.
