TOUR SALKANTAY 5 DAYS

Itinerary summary

DAY 1: CUSCO CITY - SORAYPAMPA - HUMANTAY LAKE

• Pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 04:00 hrs to leave in a tourist bus to Mollepata where we will have our first breakfast.
• Beginning of the trek to the Humantay lake, after that we will descend to Soraypampa where we will spend the night in the campsites in a total hike of 10 km.

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY - CHAULLAY

• We will start the trek very early from our campsite to the highest point of the circuit, the Salkantay pass at 4638 masl, a rocky section hike where we will be able to observe great flora and fauna of the area and at the same time we will be going through different changes of microclimates.
• In this route we will be able to see the snow-capped peaks of Humantay, Pasadillo and Tucarhuay until we arrive to our second resting point in a total hike of 22 km.

DAY 3: CHAULLAY -SAWAYACO - LA PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA - SANTA TERESA

• Beginning of the hike through trails with lots of vegetation between Sawayaco and La Playa through uphill and downhill trails where we will see rivers, waterfalls and coffee, avocado and banana plantations.
• During the visit to Lucmabamba we will visit an organic coffee farm in the area.
• Visit the archaeological site of Llactapata one of the places that belong to the archaeological park of Machupicchu (* in rainy season is not guaranteed the visit of the place because of the ruggedness of the section). in a total walk of 18 km.

DAY 4: HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES

• Beginning of the descent to Hidroelectrica and with the best views of Santa Teresa in the course of the stretch we will see the waterfall of artificial water 250 meters high that generates electricity to all Cusco and also see the Intihuatana the ancient sundial of the Incas.
• The hike will continue until we reach Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night and the next day we will visit Machupicchu.

DAY 5: MACHUPICCHU

• Early departure to hike and see the sunrise at Machupicchu followed by a guided tour for approximately 2 hours and if you reserve the entrance to the Waynapicchu mountain you can access it.
• After the guided tour we will start the descent to be able to take our meals on our own and wait for the train back to Cusco.

The tour includes

• Previous interview before the tour to clear any doubts.
• Transfer from hotel for the tour
• Entrance ticket to Machupicchu.
• Shared tour guide in Spanish and/or English
• Tourist transportation
• Mules of 7 kilos per person
• Return train ticket Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• 1 bus ticket Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu or viceversa
• Camping equipment and cooks
• Lodging in campsites
• Lodging in Aguas Calientes
• Meals 5 breakfasts 4 dinners

The tour does not include

• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Tips
• Entrance to the Salkantay circuit
• Last lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance fee to Waynapicchu mountain
• Sleeping bag
• Travel insurance
• Walking sticks for the trekking

Complete Itinerary

The tour Salkantay 5D/4N to Machupicchu is an alternative to the Inca Trail and is one of the most popular tours in Cusco. A hike through the best way of ancient roads of our ancestors the Incas where you can see snow-capped mountains surrounding the main snow-capped mountain such as Humantay, Pasadillo and Tucarhuay and of course the main snowy mountain which is Salkantay at 4650 masl and see the flora and fauna of the high and low jungle of the entire mountain range of Vilcabamba through rocky trails of a walking level to reach the highest point in the Salkantay pass at 4600 masl a unique experience where we will see animals typical of the area passing through microclimates and reaching the lower jungle area where there are coffee plantations, bananas, avocados, cacao, passion fruit, etc.

An ideal hike for people who like adventure and pure adrenaline, on roads of dizzying valleys of the Cordillera Vilcabamba cataloged within the 25 best hikes in the world where the final destination is the citadel of Machu Picchu and what more important to see the sunrise of the same being the first to access it.

TOUR DESCRIPTION:

The tour to Salkantay 5D/4N has as starting time from 04:00 hrs.

DAY 1: CUSCO CITY - SORAYPAMPA - HUMANTAY LAKE

• The Salkantay tour starts with the pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 04:00 hrs to leave in a tourist bus to the district of Mollepata (2900 masl) which is located 2 hours from Cusco to have the first breakfast of the day before starting the hike, once located in Challacancha we will have the presentation of the whole team that will accompany us on this incredible tour, here we will meet the members of the group before a small introduction and will be given all the guidelines on the tour.
• Beginning of the trek in Challacancha (3550 masl) with destination to Soraypampa where we will have a delicious lunch in one of our camps and then with 100% energy we will start with the ascent to the Humantay lake where we will have an incredible view of the turquoise color of the waters of this lagoon, then we will descend to Soraypampa where they will be waiting for us with a delicious dinner and then rest under the stars, constellations and kites in a more than magical night.
• The entire trek is 10 kilometers in a moderate level hike where the weather is cold, windy and rainy in the rainy season.

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY - CHAULLAY

• The day dawns with the first rays of sun and a delicious coca tea to prepare us with the trek to have a good start and after a nutritious breakfast we will begin with the ascent of difficult level until the pass of Salkantay at 4600 masl by rocky paths through microclimates where we will see more clearly the snowy Salkantay and the snow-capped mountains that surround the snowy as the snowy Humantay, Pasadillo and Tucarhuay and then ascend to the highest point of altitude and take the best pictures at a height more than incredible cloud forest.
• Throughout the trek we will have unique experiences of hiking on high jungle climates where we can see flora and fauna of the area and as we go down the climate will vary as we go down we will see many orchids, ferns, hummingbirds and more wildlife until we reach our resting point where we will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch. After a well-deserved lunch we will continue with the descent through valleys, ravines and rivers until we reach our second overnight point and have a rest under a night of very good food in a quiet area of Chaullay (2900 masl).
• The whole trekking has a distance of 22 kilometers in a difficult level hike where the weather is cold, warm and rainy in the rainy season.

DAY 3: CHAULLAY -SAWAYACO - LA PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA - SANTA TERESA

• The day starts early after a delicious breakfast to be able to make the descent through trails with lots of vegetation this day you will have an incredible hike through areas and excellent experiences that this place offers between the places of Sawayaco and La Playa where the type of walk is uphill and downhill where we can see rivers, waterfalls and many plantations of coffee, avocado, bananas and other fruit trees.
• After a hike we will have a delicious lunch in Lucmabamba (2000 masl) place where the camp for our lunch is located, then continue with the hike and visit an organic coffee farm, ideal for coffee lovers, this farm is the main exporter of coffee to the United States, Europe and part of Asia, it is worth to know this place!
• After that we can visit one of the archaeological sites belonging to the archaeological park of Machupicchu which is Llactapata (2840 meters above sea level) a place that is built on the slope of a plateau and consists of Inca terraces, streets and neighborhoods of social class (* in rainy season is not guaranteed the visit of the place because of the ruggedness of the section). And then spend a quiet night under the tranquility of the place.
• The whole trekking has a distance of 18 kilometers in a moderate level hike where the weather is warm and rainy in rainy season.

DAY 4: HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES

• The hike will begin after breakfast with the descent to reach Hidroelectrica through trails with lots of vegetation and having the best views of Santa Teresa (1550 meters above sea level) and it is here in this path of lots of flora and fauna we will see one of the artificial waterfalls of a fall of more than 250 meters high that generates electricity to all of Cusco.
• In the continuation of the hike we will see the Intihuatana, the solar clock of the Incas that worked with the Intihuatana that is in Machupicchu that was used to measure the time and see the solstices under the refraction of light rays, After an explanation by the guide we will walk along the railway line until we arrive to Aguas Calientes (2040 masl) where we will spend the night in a lodge, upon arrival we can go to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes to replenish for the next most important day of the entire trek where we will know Machupicchu (2430 masl) the purpose of our hike.
• The whole trekking has a distance of 16 kilometers in an easy level hike where the weather is warm and rainy in the rainy season.

DAY 5: MACHUPICCHU

• The most important day of our 5 day trek is the early departure to start the ascent to the citadel of Machupicchu.
• In a maximum ascent hike of 1:30 hrs for this we will leave very early to have the privilege of seeing the sunrise of Machupicchu and after that we will have the guided for a time of approximately 2 hours around the place where you can see the magnificence of this place knowing the most important places of Machupicchu such as the Temple of the Sun. The temple of the 3 Windows, the temple of the Condor, the Intihuatana and other magical places that escode this beautiful place with its beautiful terraces and beautiful finishes throughout the citadel of Machupicchu. If you have the entrance to the mountain of Waynapicchu you can do it after the guided on your own in a steep and narrow ascent on stairs carved in live rock, the ascent will last 30 minutes and you will be at a height of 300 meters in relation to Machupicchu, here in the mountain of Waynapicchu you can see the temple of the moon which is carved in live rock in addition to it you have an incredible view of all Machupicchu where very few people have the joy of being in this place.
• After a unique experience in Machupicchu and with the good energy we will descend to Aguas Calientes and then after the descent we will take our meals on our own and if you want you can shop at the craft market located in the same town.
• After that we will board the train at the time indicated on your ticket to return to the city of Cusco, for this we will let you know where will be the place of transfer by bus and to reach the city of Cusco. Upon arrival we will be waiting for you and then take you to your chosen hotel in the city of Cusco and then we will end the tour to Machupicchu and Waynapicchu mountain.
• (* we have 1 bus ticket available, you can use it for the ascent or descent from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu or vice versa, choose the best for you).

The tour includes

The tour Salkantay 5d/4n includes:

• Previous interview before the tour to clear any doubts.
• Transfer from hotel for the tour
• Entrance ticket to Machupicchu.
• Shared tour guide in Spanish and/or English
• Tourist transportation
• Mules of 7 kilos per person
• Return train ticket Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• 1 bus ticket Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu or viceversa
• Camping equipment and cooks
• Lodging in campsites
• Lodging in Aguas Calientes
• Meals 5 breakfasts 4 dinners

The tour does not include

The tour Salkantay 5d/4n does not include:

• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Tips
• Entrance fee to the Salkantay circuit
• Last lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance fee to Waynapicchu mountain
• Sleeping bag
• Travel insurance
• Walking sticks for the trekking

Recommendations

Recommendations for the tour Salkantay  5d/4n

• Carry your identity card, passport or student card.
• Comfortable shoes
• Bring rain ponchos (October - March).
• Bring extra money
• Light clothing
• Sunglasses and hat
• Mosquito repellent
• Water pills
• Personal medication
• Flashlight

The prices for the tour Salkantay 5d/4n in a shared service are as follows:

• Tour Salkantay 5d/4n national tourist 530 USD
• Tour Salkantay 5d/4n foreign tourist 540 USD

Ask about discounted prices for national and foreign students.