Itinerary

• Day 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – SOYROQOCHA.
• Day 2: SOYROQOCHA- CHAULLAY.
• Day 3: CHAULLAY – SAHUAYACO (La Playa)- AGUAS CALIENTES.
• Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO.

You didn´t book the classic inca trail in advance, but still want a challenging trek to Machu Picchu. Salkantay is the second largest mountain in the Cusco region. It offers more distance covered, more mountains, more scenery, and a wider variety of landscapes, but still concludes with a visit to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Day 1

CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – SOYROQOCHA.

We will begin the Salkantay Trek early in the morning when we leave Cusco by private van and take the Panamerican Highway through the province of Anta, Cusco’s dairy region. Following steep-sided river canyons, we will descend into the rich and fertile valley of Limatambo before climbing again to the town of Mollepata, where we will stop for breakfast. We will continue on to Soraypampa, at an elevation of (3700m/12,139ft), where we meet our wranglers and pack animals to begin our trek. After an hours walk, we will reach our first stop at Laguna Umantay where we will have lunch. From here, we will continue across Salkantay pampa, just below glacial moraines, before starting a fairly steep section of switchbacks known as the 7 vueltas, which will take us up to (4300m/14,107ft). From this point, the path is almost flat to Soyroccocha, where we will camp just below Salkantay mountain. This campsite offers spectacular views of the glacier and, if the weather is clear, an unparalled view of the southern sky. However, this campsite on the Salkantay trek is at a very high altitude and usually very cold.

Day 2

SOYROQOCHA- CHAULLAY.

After an early breakfast, we will be strong and ready to conquer the Salkantay Pass, at (4600m/15,090ft). As you take in the panoramic view, you will be able to see not only Salkantay, but also the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, Pumasillo, and also the Huayracmachay valley. There is also the option to do some alpine scrambling and to visit a second lake near the base of the Salkantay glacier. From the pass, we start our descent into the valley alongside a stream. As we travel, the vegetation changes from the sparse grasses of the puna and mountain passes to lush cloud-forests, home to butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wide-variety of flora.

Day 3

CHAULLAY – SAHUAYACO (La Playa)- AGUAS CALIENTES.

Today is a more relaxing day on the Salkantay trek. We start with a small descent and then walk along a newly built road. Here we will get a look at rural life in the valley, and, if in season, we can harvest some granadilla, a member of the passion fruit family, or maybe some of the region’s incredible avocados. After a few hours’ walk, we will arrive at the town of Sahuayaco, also known as La Playa. Here we will take a minivan for a 45 minutes ride to the train station in Hidrolectica and catch the train to Aguas Calientes. In town you can visit the hot springs.

Day 4

AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO.

The last day of the Salkantay trek begins early when we will catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, in time to watch the sunrise over the ancient city and the mountains. After enjoying the magnificent views, we will have a two hour walking tour of the city of Machu Picchu. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore the ruins, hike up Huayna Picchu (if you have booked in advance), go to the Temple of the Moon and Inca Bridge, or simply relax and soak in the atmosphere. In the afternoon, after we have celebrated the completion of the Salkantay Trek,  we will return to Aguas Calientes to catch the train to return to Cusco.

Salkantay Trek Includes:

• Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
• Chef
• Horses to carry cooking and camping equipment
• Pick-up from your hotel
• Return transportation by train and bus to Cusco
• 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Afternoon Snacks and 3 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food please let us know.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• 4 man tent for every 2 trekkers
• Oxygen bottle
• First aid kit
• Entrance to Machu Picchu
• Return bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes

Not included in the Salkantay Trek:

tips for the  guides, cook, and wranglers (who work many tours to Machu Picchu) are greatly

Price: US$ 480 per person. Minimun 2 peolpe required Group Size: 2-8 people

Note:

Salkantay Trek services include pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Cusco. This is an additional service that we provide, which sets us apart from other tour providers. For all group bookings of greater than 3 people, we offer you a free city tour or tour of the Sacred Valley. Pachacutec Expeditions, does not have any hidden fees. We includes a porter that will carry your personal belongings in all of our treks, at no additional cost. We will provide you with a duffel bag to put all of your belongings in. The duffel bags easily fit 8 Kilograms /17 pounds per person including your sleeping bags. However, you will still need to carry your day pack with all of your essentials like water, sunscreen, passport, etc We offer a discount of US $20 to students with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and to children under the age of 16 years old. Scanned copies of your ISIC card or child’s passport must be provided at the time of payment of the deposit for the trek in order to qualify for the international discount.

Train for the end of the Salkantay Trek:

We suggest our tourists 6:45 p.m. train. This departure time will allow you to spend more time at Machu Picchu and do more activities like climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, which can be booked additionally. Also, you can walk to the sun gate , the inca bridge, and still have time to enjoy the hot springs or some cervezas after a long trek. The 6:45 p.m. train will arrive in Ollantaytambo train station at 8:20 p.m. and you will be picked up by your driver outside of the train station. The driver will be holding a sign with your name on it so that there will be no confusion. If you do not see the driver initially, just wait for them outside the train station. Once the driver has picked you up, then you will travel for 1 1/2 hours in a van before you arrive back at your hotel/hostel. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 10:00 p.m. Also, we suggest the 2:55 p.m. train for travelers who are planning to leave Cusco city early in the morning the next day to continue with their travel plans. Important: We guarantee these early Expedition departures, as per the itinerary, if you book your tours in 2 months in advance. Otherwise we may be forced to offer the Expedition train that departs at 6:45 p.m. only. There is an option to upgrade your train to the Vistadome train, which is an extra US $35 per person. Please let us your preference at the time of booking.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

If you are thinking of climbing Huayna picchu mountain you must book in advance. Only 400 people can hike Huaynapicchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu, starting around 10:00 a.m. We recomend that you book your tickets in advance to let us know  of your interest in Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu Mountain is an alternative climbing mountain, which also offers fantasic views of the site. We recomend it if huayna Picchu Mountain is overbooked.

Rentals

Hiking poles: US $1o.00 (pair) Sleeping bag US $2o.00 Air Matress US $15.00 For treks that includes accommodation at Aguas Calientes, we will stay in a hotel. In contrast to other companies, we will not be staying in basic shared rooms or sharing showers.