SALKANTAY TREK & MACHU PICCHU

Trekking Salakantay 5 days/ 4 Nigths

The Salkantay Mountain (6,271 meters/20,471 feet above sea level), part of the Vilcanota mountain range, was called “Apu” by the Incas and was worshipped as a deity of guidance and protection. Salkantay dominates a great part of the Sacred Valley, and the spectacular Vilcanota Mountains which are the main starting point for this trekking program. The whole area is filled with fantastic natural landscapes and attractive Inca archaeological sites.

Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 5 days:

Begin from: Cusco / Mollepata
End in: Machu Picchu / Cusco
Duration: 05 Days/ 04 Nights
Physical Rating: Moderate/Challenging
Accommodation: Camping service & Mattresses
Difficulty degree of this hike: Moderate/Challenging due to the altitude: we recommend a period of at least 2 days for acclimatization in Cusco or over 3000m/9840ft.

MAP THE SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS

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Program Itinerary: Trekking Salakantay 5 Days.

Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 1: CUSCO / MOLLEPATA / SORAYPAMPA.

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Walking Distance: 10 km / 6.21 mi
Starting Elevation: 3,800 m / 12,467 ft
Highest Elevation: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
Campsite Elevation: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

We’ll leave Cusco at around 4:30am. To 5:00am. Heading to Mollepata village (9570 f.a.s.l.) in our private transportation, were we will arrive approximately at 9:00am for breakfast in a local restaurant. This day we’ll have a beautiful and panoramic trip to Limatambo, during the trip we’ll be able to view the majestic Salkantay Mountain and the Apurimac river valley. Once in Mollepata we will meet our support personnel which will load the camping equipment and food supplies on the horses to start with the hike towards Cruz Pata (10,560 f.a.s.l.), we’ll hike for a 3 hour period through the Andean communities of Cruz Pata and Challa Cancha were we will stop for lunch around 12pm. And after a short break we’ll continue to the Soraypampa village (12705 f.a.s.l.), arriving approximately at 5:30pm. For camping and dinner.

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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 2: SORAYPAMPA / CHALLWAY.

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Walking Distance: 22 km / 13.67 mi
Starting Elevation: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft
Highest Elevation: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
Campsite Elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

After a nice breakfast we’ll start the hardest stage of the trail leaving at 7:00am. We’ll hike through the place called Pampa Salkantay then head to the left side of the Umantay Mountain located near the Salkantay Mountain around 12:00pm. We’ll be at the highest point named Salkantay Umantay Pass (14850 f.a.s.l.), Appreciating spectacular views of the mountains and the impressive Salkantay white peak (20671 f.a.s.l.) just at hands reach, It’s known as the second highest peak in the Cusco region same as the Umantay and Huayanay mountains, after an hour resting we’ll have our lunch in the area known as Huayrac Punku continuing with our trek we’ll hike headed to the camps of Rayanniyoc (9537 f.a.s.l.), or the Chaullay campsite (9636 f.a.s.l.), where we will camp for the night and have dinner ending the second day.

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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 3: CHALLWAY / LA PLAYA.

Difficulty: Moderate
Walking Distance: 18 km / 11.18 mi
Starting Elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Campsite Elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

At 7:00am. After breakfast, we’ll start our hike for 5 hours passing through villages such as Collpabamba also called the cloudy jungle edge where we can appreciate waterfalls, fruit trees, a variety of flora and fauna, coca plantations and birds Here we can appreciate the banana harvest, if we’re lucky we can see the “Rooster of the rocks” (gallito de las rocas), the national bird. Following we’ll have our lunch in Wiñaypoko plus an hour of rest and then continue the hike for approximately 3 hours to arrive to the community named Playa (7755 f.a.s.l.), appreciating a great variety of orchids and camping for the night, dinner.

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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 4: LA PLAYA / AGUAS CALIENTES.

Difficulty: Challenging
Walking Distance: 25 km / 15.53 mi
Starting Elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft
Campsite Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast at 7:30am. We’ll start our hike heading to the archaeological site of Llactapata where we’ll hike through a pass at (9735 f.a.s.l.) here we’ll appreciate some Inca traces. From this place we’ll have a view over the Machupicchu mountains and other peaks of the area, we’ll enjoy free time to rest after which we’ll descend for 2 hours towards the hydroelectric train station (6171 f.a.s.l.), after lunch we’ll leave at 3:20pm. Boarding the train (optional), or continue hiking on the train tracks for another 2 hours to Aguas Calientes village (6600 f.a.s.l.), you can visit the thermal pools (optional) which are veru close to the village, we’ll check–in at the hotel and have dinner in a local restaurant.

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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 5:  AGUAS CALIENTES / MACHUPICCHU / CUSCO.

Difficulty: Easy
Walking Distance: 2 km / 1.3 mi
Starting Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
Accommodation Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Comfortable Hostal
Machu Picchu Site Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
Difficulty of Opcional Activities: Moderate to Challenging / 2-4 hours

This last day after breakfast we’ll board the bus up to the Machu Picchu sanctuary where we’ll arrive in 30 minutes, the guided tour will last around 3 hours, after which we will have time to take pictures or climb to the Huaynapicchu or visit the moon temple or the sun gate. Lunch in Aguas Calientes (optional) and return to Cusco city in a combined transportation train/bus where we will arrive at 8:30pm.

Note A: for students with ISIC card and children up to 7 years old the entrance fee to Machu Picchu will be 50% discount.
Note B: Fares are subject to change due to any readjustment made by (inc) Instituto Nacional de Cultura or Perurail.

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SALAKANTAY TREK INCLUDED:

• Pick up from your hotel transfer to the head of the trail in Mollepata
• Return ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco via Ollantaytambo and connectiong bus Ollantaytambo/Cusco
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• Transfer train station to Hotel.
• Professional guide in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, or Portuguese (according to the group participants request.)
• Meals: 4 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 4 Dinner.
• Camping equipment (tents, kitchen, dinning tent, chairs, tables, mattresses)
• First aid kit
• Emergency oxygen tank
• Cook and assistant cook/waitress
• Horseman and horses in charge of loading and transportation of the camping equipment
• One night lodge in Aguas Calientes.
* All our tour packages are tailor-made according to your needs and specific requirements so, for price information please contact us at any of the following email addresses or booking form.

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SALAKANTAY TREK NOT INCLUDED:

• Breakfast the first day (usually hotels have this service, or you can have breakfast in Mollepata). Lunch & dinner the last day after Machu Picchu tour
• Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes (entrance fee S/. 15.00, clean towels and swimsuits can be rented in the entrance office)
• Sleeping bag (can be rented in our offices).
• Bus up or down from Machu Picchu unless required.
• Extra horse for carrying personal equipment from the first to the 4th day.

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YOU MUST BRING:

• Backpack
• Original passport
• Extra clothing
• Warm clothes
• Well fitted trekking shoes
• Small towel
• Swimsuit
• Plastic poncho
• Canteen or bottle
• Snacks: cookies, sweets, chocolates, energizing bars (optional)
• Camera and extra batteries
• Bug Repellent, Sun screen and hat
• Purifying water pills
• Walking sticks with rubbers endings
• Flashlight

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OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED:

 An extra hotel night in Aguas Calientes can be booked for you at an additional cost depending on the hotel you choose.
• If you wish to visit Machu Picchu again the following day, the additional cost of the entrance fee.
• An extra horse to carry your additional personal items (above the included 9kg) days 1 to 3: A horse can carry up to 20 kg.
• An extra porter to carry your additional personal items (above the included 9kg) days 3 to 5: A porter can carry up to 18 kg, which should be enough for 2 people.
• Vistadome Service train (First Class) instead of the Backpacker one (Tourist train), at an additional cost
• Sleeping Bag rent
* Available discounts: Students: (students require a valid International Student Identity Card and must be below 26 years of age)

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