Salkantay Trek & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 6 days

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Lake – Salkantaypampa

This incredible adventure begins at 5am, when your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive in our private van to Soraypampa, which takes 3.5 hours. Along the way, you will enjoy spectacular views of villages such as: Iscuchaca and Limatambo, stunning valleys and snow-capped mountains such as Salkantay. At the trailhead (Soraypampa), we have breakfast and enjoy the amazing views of the glacial mountains Humantay (5,900m/19,356ft) and Salkantay (6,217m/20,396ft). Here you will give your duffel bag to the horsemen, keeping only your small daypack for the trek ahead. We take a 2.5 hour roundtrip hike up to see the turquoise Humantay Lake and later on, we gently ascend to Salkantaypampa, where we will camp. Hot drinks and appetizers will be ready when you get to camp and your tents will already be set up, so you can settle in before dinner. The views on this day are truly breathtaking!

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 13kms/8.1 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: Salkantaypampa – Pampajaponesa

Your guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy in your tent before you get up for breakfast. Today, we continue walking off the beaten track for about 3 hours uphill. We stop for another delicious and hearty lunch along the way. We continue our trek for 3 more hours to reach our campsite, which is approximately 1km away from the snow-capped mountain Salkantay. On the way, we will enjoy the magnificent views of all the surrounding snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and amazing valleys. Again, your appetizers and drinks will be waiting for you at camp. Enjoy the amazing views of the peak of Salkantay towering over you as you have a little rest before dinner.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 14kms/8.7 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3: Pampajaponesa – Sisaypampa

Another hot drink in your sleeping bag will help you brave the cold morning and another hearty breakfast will get you ready for the trek ahead. Our day begins with a slow uphill climb of approximately 4 hours to reach the Incachiriaska Pass at 4,880m/16,010ft. Incachiriaska is a Quechua word which translates to “the place where the Inca cools down.”  Around this area in the rocky crags, lives the Andean Condor, the world’s largest flying bird. From here, the trail levels off downhill and we reach our campsite for the night at Sisaypampa.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 10kms/6.2 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Sisaypampa – Wayllabamba- Km82 – Ollantaytambo

After a delicious breakfast, we start hiking to the end of the valley, which then enters a wider valley called Pampacahua. There, we find anInca Canal that is still in full use by the local farming communities. At the end of the Pampa, we find our first Inca archaeological site named Paucarcancha that we pass by.  Afterwards, we will arrive at Wayllabamba for lunch. After lunch, we walk for 4 more hours to KM 82. From there, you will take our private van towards Ollantaytambo and get dropped off at your hotel.  Later that evening, you will have dinner in Ollantaytambo.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• 2* Accommodation: Veronica View or Tunupa Lodge
• Distance: 9 kms/6 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 5: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – WIÑAY WAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

We start this exciting day early; your guide will leave the hotel with you at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, you will receive your lunch to add to your daypack. Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included). Your hotel can provide you a picnic breakfast to take with you or you can pack your own breakfast.

You get off the train at the famous Km104, where your trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit your first Inca site nearby. The first hour and a half are a gentle upward climb. Along the way, you will stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River. You also pass through several microclimates, including cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end of the hike!

When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to take some time for photos and as you do you will find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. This close to Machu Picchu, you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. Your guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate and answer any questions you have before the short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.

You have lunch at a covered shelter at the Wiñay Wayna campground, which is the last campground for those hiking the Classic Inca Trail. Nearby are outdoor sinks to wash your hands and also restrooms. Take your time enjoying your hearty, gourmet lunch and admiring the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have your first view of Machu Picchu! Though the hour-long walk is a gentle rolling up and down, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca. Once you reach the stairs you will know that you’re almost at the Sun Gate! As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the Inca Trail and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last bit of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

After lunch, you will have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have your first view of Machu Picchu! Though the hour long walk is a gentle rolling up and down, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca. Once you reach the stairs you will know that you’re almost at the Sun Gate! It is a breathtaking view of Machu Picchu, so take some time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 45 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the Inca Trail and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last bit of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals: Box Lunch, Dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
• 3* Accommodations: Hotel Ferre´ Machu Picchu
• Difficulty: Moderate

You will leave your duffel bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes.

DAY 6: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will give you a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel.

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hikes up Huayna Picchu Mountain will have time to enjoy those views on their own. When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Expedition Train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meals:Breakfast

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 2 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by request and bit it has to be done at booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.