SALKANTAY 6D/5N

1st DAY.- CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – CHALLACANCHA – SORAYPAMPA

You will be picked up at your hotel between 6:30 and 7:00am, where we will direct you to our transportation to leave towards the town of Mollepata, approximately a 3 hour ride located 2,850 meters above sea level, considered the Andean high place. Before the halfway point, we will visit the archaeological site of Tarawasi, the place of the last battle between the Incas and Chancas, then continue and arrive at the town of Mollepata. Here we will have a light breakfast (not included), then travel towards Challacancha, where will get ready to start our hike for the Inca canal to reach our camp. At the camp we will take lunch in Soraypampa. Along the way you can see valleys as well as the first snow-peaked mountain called Humantay. After a short break, we will continue our hike, which is a 3 hour journey by the Inca canal up to Soraypampa at 3,850 meters above sea level.
Our cook will be waiting for us with a lunch to replenish some energy, then after a short break, we will climb about 2 hours to the lagoon of Humantay, where we can appreciate the immensity of the snow-capped peaks, then we will descend towards the camp. We will spend the first night here and enjoy dinner. Usually it is very cold at night here as the camp is located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp
• Maximum Altitude: 3,850 m / 12,600 ft
• Minimum Altitude: 3,658 m/ 11,979 ft
• Hiking Distance: 8 km / 4 miles
• Approximate Hike Duration: 3 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

2nd DAY.- SORAYPAMPA – WAYRACMACHAY

We start this day where we take our breakfast early where we can see the dawn and appreciate the majestic Salktantay, where after a 4 hour ascent we will arrive at the Summit (4,650 m. / 15,255 ft.). It is here where we will have the best views of the area, and we will fund several piles of stones called “apachetas” as we pass through different heights, where we will also visit the Salkantay lagoon. After a brief rest, we will descend for an hour until we reach our lunch spot in Ichupata, then continue onward to our camp in Huayracmachay in the foothills of the majestic Humantay.
After the break, we will continue 4 hours to the camp where we will pass through some native forest and observe the flora and fauna of the zone. When we reach Chaullay we will have dinner and rest in this area.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp
• Maximum Altitude: 4,650 m / 15,255 ft
• Minimum Altitude: 3,906 m/ 12,814 ft
• Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7 miles
• Approximate Hike Duration: 6 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

3RD DAY.- WAYRACMACHAY – COLLPAPAMPA

After having our breakfast, we will leave around 7:30am where it will all be downhill for about 4 hours on some trails with abundant flora and fauna of the region, as well as what are considered to be some of the most beautiful orchids. You will be able to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this place, which is known as ceja de selva (sub-tropical climate), and arrive at the town of Chaullay within 45 minutes. Our camp is located in the village of Collpapampa (2,900 m. / 9,514 ft).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp
• Maximum Altitude: 3,906 m / 12,814 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 2,900 m/ 9,514 ft.
• Hiking Distance: 9 km / 5 miles
• Approximate Hike Duration: 3 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

4TH DAY.- COLLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA

After having an exhausting day, this day is rewarded with a very nice hike and beautiful landscapes, as well as the most beautiful waterfall that there is on the trail. After breakfast, we will have hike about 5 or 6 hours, past valleys along the Santa Teresa river, appreciating some fruit plantations including avocado, bananas and passion fruit.
Our camp will be in Lucmabamba where we will rest and have our lunch to replenish some energy. In the afternoon, In the afternoon we will visit one of the local families, who will show the process of coffee which we will all participate in, and if you are a coffee lover can buy it from this family and thus be able to support them. We will also see some fruit tres that are typical of this region.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp
• Maximum Altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 2,130 m/ 6,988 ft.
• Hiking Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles
• Approximate Hike Duration: 6 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

5th DAY.- LUCMABAMBA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

From approximately 7: 00 a.m. we begin to hike about 7 hours along the Inca Trail to the hydro-electric dam. Enjoy the beautiful landscape along the way, as well as the vast flora and fauna of the sector. After approximately 4 hours of climbing, we reach the peak and then we descend to the archaeological site of Llactapata, where you can see the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. After descending for about two hours we will appreciate the fruit plantations of the Aobamba Valley on the way to the station at the hydroelectric plant. Lunch will be at the dam site, and then we can board the train in the afternoon, which will take us heading to Aguas Calientes, where we overnight at the hotel, dinner and rest.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp
• Maximum Altitude: 3,100 m / 10,170 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 1,800 m/ 5,905 ft.
• Hike Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
• Approximate Hike Duration: 7 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate

6th DAY.- AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO

After having breakfast very early in the hotel, we will direct you to the bus station to ascend to the citadel for a period of approximately 30 minutes in the bus. Afterwards, take a guided tour for approximately 2 hours of the different sectors such as: the agricultural sector, ceremonial fountains, and “inti huatana” or solar clock. After the tour, you will have free time to take photos and taking in some of the other areas. We recommend ascending to Inti Punku, panoramic view of the Citadel. Finally, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes then go to the station and wait for the departure of our train that will take us to the village of Ollantaytambo. We will then be picked up by bus and arrive in the city of Cusco in the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Maximum Altitude: 2,440 m / 8,038 ft
• Minimum Altitude: 2,040 m/ 6,725 ft
• Hiking Distance: 8 km / 4 miles

BEST SEASON

April-November

The best time to visit Apu Salkantay is during the beginning of the winter season, from May to November. Temperatures range between – 5 ° C / 41 ° F and 23 ° C / 73 ° F; with little chance of rain. The maximum height reached will be 4,643 m / 15,233 feet in Abra Salkantay and the minimum of 2,000 m / 6,562 feet in the town of Aguas Calientes.

SEASON TO AVOID

DECEMBER-MARCH

The time from December to March is very rainy and the trail is closed during these months.
Something else…
El Salkantay is also called the magic mountain. It rises out of the Vilcanota mountain range like a surprising place from where you can have a panoramic view of the Citadel of Machu Picchu. It is also the point signaled by a hike that combines a geographical and natural interest of great beauty which includes the numerous archeological vestiges of the Incan era in which you can find the most inhospitable places.
You can plan: The Historic Sanctuary of Machu PICCHU and the Inca Trail.
Discounts:

• Student discount (only with an active green ISIC card) US $20.00
• Under 15 years old pay as a student: US $ 20.00
• Under 7 years old discount: US $ 35.00

AVAILABLE FOR RENT

• Walking Sticks $ 20.00 USD (pair) for the entire trip.
• Sleeping Bag $ 35.00 USD
• Private Tent $ 40.00 USD
• Horse for riding $ 130.00 USD

Huayna Picchu: If you are interested in ascending to this famous mountain of Huayna Picchu, where you can see a beautiful view of the entire citadel of Machupicchu, there is an additional cost of $75.00 per person to be able to buy your entry ticket. These spaces are limited and you must confirm and thus be able to reserve your ticket of entry depending on the availability of spaces that the Ministry of Culture grants.

VistaDomeTrain: Our price includes a return train ticket in the expedition service, but if you want to improve your service to the Vistadome train the price is $55.00 USD per person.