Salcantay Trek to Machu Picchu |
code: SALTRE5- Duration: 5 Days / 4 Night
- Activity: Hiking / Trekking, Archaeology
- Transport: land transport, walking, train
- Accommodation: Camping (3 Nights), Hotels (1 Night)
- Treking Grades: Moderate/Demanding ?
- Group Size: Minimum 2, Maximum 12
- Type Service: Shared Group Service ?
Highlights:
Machu Picchu, Salcantay Mountain, amazing mountain scenery, High Mountain passes, quieter trails, local villages and snowcapped mountains, Salcantay alternative Inca Trail
Trekking thought the sacred Mountain of Salcantay
This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salcantay Mountain (6271m/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 afternoon. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu. Salcantay Trek deservingly named one of the 25 Best Treks in the World by National Geographic Travel Magazine.
US$ 595 Starting Price
Price per Person- Single Supplement: US$ 60?
- Additional Services ?
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Day 1 - Cusco / Sayllapata / Soyroccocha
Pick up from the Hotel at 05:00; leaving Cusco by car on the route to Sayllapata 4 ½ hrs, until arriving to Mollepata town, from where we continue on to Sayllapata (3600m/11808ft), where we meet our horsemen and horses. From this point we start the ascent on foot towards Soraypampa (3800m/12464ft), where we take the lunch; following a climbing trail to Salcantaypampa with many level variations and along which we encounter little groups of houses, hike up for around 2 hrs ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha (4200m/13776ft), just next to the impressive glacier of Salcantay. CampingMeal Include: L (box-lunch), DinnerTotal distance 8 km (4, 99 miles)
Estimated walking time 5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point (4200m/13776ft)
Day 2 - Soyroccocha / Collpapampa
Breakfast; we start a 1 ½ hour ascent; we reach the highest point of the trek Huayracmachay Pass (4525m/14846ft). From this point, we start descending towards into the so-called cloud forest. Then descending to the cloud forest along the route, it can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, a long easy descent along the Salcantay River; lunch at Huayracmachay (3850m/12628ft) arriving late afternoon to our second camp at Collpapampa (2890m/9479ft), a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in. CampingTotal distance 12 km (7, 45 miles)
Estimated walking time 6-7 hours
Maximum altitude point (4525m/14846ft)
Day 3 - Collpapampa / Lucmabamba
Breakfast; continue our hike with an easy downhill walk along the Sta. Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. The arid highland landscape begins to transform into a cloud forest filled with trees and bromeliads. Following the Santa Teresa River, we pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko then we pass from La Playa where we have our lunch and finally arrive to Lucmabamba (2100m/6888ft). CampingTotal distance 10 km (6, 21 miles)
Estimated walking time 5-6 hours
Maximum altitude point (2890m/9479ft)
Day 4 - Lucmabamba / Llactapata / Aguas Calientes
Breakfast, walk up to Llactapata (2650m/8692ft) on the way we can see plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado. We enter spectacled-bear territory and we will probably be accompanied by flocks of parrots. Start climbing for 2-3 hrs up to Q’elloqasa Pass (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of Machu Picchu, Salcantay and Llaqtapata archeological site, which have recently been restored; descent towards the Aobamba River crossing lush bamboo forests and more orchards brings us to the Hydroelectric (lunch) from where we board a train that take us to Aguas Calientes (40 minutes train ride). Hotel accommodationTotal distance 7 km (4, 35 miles)
Estimated walking time 4-5 hours
Maximum altitude point (2860m/9381ft)
Day 5 - Machu Picchu full day / Train back to Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu, early transfer to the bus stop for the short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you'll have time to stroll around the Archaeological site at your leisure.
Opportunity to walk (approx 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or climb to the top of Wayna Picchu, with a magnificent view of the whole Sanctuary, return in the afternoon by train to Cusco and transfer to your hotelMeal Include: Breakfast -
US$ 595 per Person (*) - Shared Group Service?
- (*) Price based in sharing tent 2 people and double accommodation with Tourist Class Hotel
Single Supplement: US$ 60?
Ask for our private pricesOptional Services:
- Upgrade the train to Vistadome Class: add US$ 30
- Sleeping bag during the tour ( -10°C): add US$ 30
- Upgrade the Hotel to Superior Tourist Class: add US$ 40
Hotels to use for this trek:
Students: US$ 20 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
Teenagers: US$ 20 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
Children: US$ 40 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
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What is included?
- Pre-departure briefing
- Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure
- Transport to Sayllapata (head of the trek)
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
- English speaking Professional Guide (two guides for groups over 8 persons)
- 4 season tents, 2 people in each 3-people-capacity tent
- Therma-Rest self-inflating mattress
- Chef and cooking equipment
- Dining tent with tables, chairs, kitchen tent and toilet tent
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food)
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
- Horses to carry camping equipment, food, cooking equipment and personal items of the trekkers (maximum of 9 kg/ 19 lbs per person including sleeping bag)
- One emergency horse every 4 trekkers
- Train ticket from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes
- Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Backpacker train back to Cusco (Vistadome Class upon request)
- One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes with Tourist Class Hotel (Superior Tourist Class or First Class upon request)
- Transfer from the train station to your hotel in Cusco
- Sleeping bag (can be hired in our office for US$ 30 for the 5 day trek)
- Tips for the guide, cook and porters
- Domestic airfare to and from Cusco (+/- US$ 290 per person round trip)
- Visa fees (if required)
- Passport & Visa Costs
- Vaccination Costs
- Personal Spending Money
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Airport departure taxes
- Border taxes or fees
- Machu Picchu extensions
- Cusco Add Ons (Hotel and tours)
- Lima Add ons (Hotel and tours)
- Amazon Jungle Trips
- Northern Peru
- Lake Titicaca
- Lima City stop over
- Arequipa extension