Salkantay to Machu Picchu Trek

At 7:30 a.m. in the morning, we will pick you by private vehicle from your hotel in Cusco for a comprehensive Sacred Valley tour that will end at our exclusive Inca Trail Base Camp. This is the natural and most efficient way to get close to the trail head while getting acclimatized, minimizing road travel, and becoming familiar with Inca trails. We will drive over the “Ccorao” pass above Cusco to descend on a winding road to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here we will hike on Inca trails leading to the magnificent Inca citadel of PISAC: Considered as one of the outstanding Inca remains because of the quality of the stonework and breath-taking location on a mountain saddle overlooking the Sacred Valley. After a 1 ½ hour hike and visit, we will drive down the mountain for a short visit to the colonial town of the same name and their famous Indian handicraft market. Afterwards we will drive following the Urubamba River downstream to the city of Urubamba; here we will visit the local food market and have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we will visit Ollantaytambo, considered the most authentic living Inca town. This town has been continuously inhabited since Inca times until present, conserving its original urban layout and many stone walled homes. A guided walking tour through the extensive ruins and cobblestone paved narrow streets will make you feel like you are travelling back in time. From here, we will travel for 40 minutes on a small, paved road to our beautifully situated permanent Inca Trail Glamping at Km. 82, set on the banks of the Urubamba River, very close to the entrance to the trail. You will experience Glamping in tented huts with bathrooms, solar hot showers, and access to a firewood sauna, all with panoramic views of the snow-capped Mt. Veronica (20,275'). This exclusive Glamping is a wonderful place to relax and prepare for the challenge ahead. You can participate on a traditional offering to Mother Earth before a briefing where your Guide will describe the day-to-day activities of the next few days. A delicious Pachamanca diner (cooked in the ground with hot stones) will be served before you retire for the night. L, D. 

We meet our crew and begin our hike following the river upstream observing peasants working the land bellow the impressive Veronica snow peak, then continue on the trail towards the Silque Canyon. We will ascend by way of narrow canyon following a stream that will gradually get smaller; here we can observe tall granite walls on the sides of the canyon populated by a large variety of orchids and bromeliads, filling the environment with magnificent colors when in bloom. We continue until we reach our camp near the village of “Ancashcocha” and settle for the night.

After a hearty breakfast we begin ascending towards the high Huallanay pass (4,550 meters). At first we take a steep zigzag trail up to where we meet an original Inca trail that will take us smoothly towards the pass. Bellow we will see the beautiful waterfall that feeds into the Ancashcocha glacier lake. The “Huallata” or Andean Geese and Black Ibis are often spotted in this high area. We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the midst of this high mountain beauty; later as we begin descending from the pass we will enjoy beautiful views of high mountains, we will pass by the ruins of Incarajay and further down we reach a small plateau to continue further down to “Paucarcancha” where we camp next to a beautiful set of Inca ruins.

After a hearty breakfast we begin our days trek on a trail that brings us gradually uphill into the Pampaccahuana Valley. We reach a well preserved original Inca water channel in excellent condition and still used for irrigation of potato fields as we enter a spectacular region of high pastures in beautiful alpine country. There is sparse vegetation, as the dry grasslands of the Andean puna zone are all above the tree line. We sometimes see local Quechua people with their herds of alpacas and llamas or working the land in traditional ways using foot plows or tandem bulls to work the land. Tonight we camp at Sisaypampa at 13,776 feet.

This morning we ascend to cross the spectacular 15,900-foot Incachiriasca Pass, a notch next to Salcantay (20,574′) and spectacular views of neighboring Huamantay (19,239’). The pathway at the top of the pass is marked by rock cairns (apachetas) left by local people to honor the mountain Apus (spirits). Up here, we’re close to huge glacial moraines and we enjoy amazing looks at the fabulous icefalls. On occasions we have seen condors soaring in the blue skies overhead or seen the spectacle of avalanches cascading down the glaciers. Our camp is at Salkantaycocha (14,600′), below the Salcantay Pass, which we cross the following morning. From camp we enjoy incredible views of Salcantay as well as Huamantay glaciers.

This morning we go up and over Salcantay Pass (15,700′), and from this alpine paradise of turquoise tarns and glacial moraines, begin our descent into orchid-draped forests and subtropical farm country, quite a contrast in environments. Today’s long hike takes us down through a valley to the small settlement of Colcapampa; where there is hot springs nestled in junction of 3 small rivers forming the Santa Teresa River. Here we camp for the night.

Early rise to catch local transportation* down the Santa Teresa Valley towards the town of Lucma, here we begin our last days hike. We hike steeply uphill on an ancient Inca trail to pass near Inca ruins hidden in the lush forest at Llactapata. From here we will be amply rewarded with a spectacular and panoramic view of legendary Machu Picchu across the valley. We begin descending a steep trail that will take us to the train station just in time to catch the train that will take us on a 20 minute ride to Aguas Calientes. Overnight in small hotel near the hot springs. B, L. Dinner on your own.

Note: The local transportation is not part of our service (It is not Tourism Transportation). It is hired by each person voluntarily and directly at your own risk for the convinience of transfer in the area.

We rise early to reach Machu Picchu in time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise and in depth tour of this Sacred City with an optional hike to Wayna Picchu mountain (depends on availability). After the tour we will have time to enjoy walking around Machu Picchu on your own before we meet for a delicious buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. Later we take the bus down the mountain to catch the afternoon train to Cusco. Arrive in Cusco and transfer to your hotel. B, L. Dinner on your own. END OF OUR SERVICES.

• Any meals not specified after each itinerary day.
• BTG entrance tickets to sites in Cusco and Sacred Valley. (US$ 45.00)
• Optional tipping or gratuities to staff.
• Additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors.
• Expenses such as medical immunizations (if any).
• Travel insurance.
• Other expenses of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, and so on.)
• Trip member must provide sleeping bags and pads.

MODULE “A”: CUSCO CITY
You add hotels and visits of interest in Cusco and surroundings.

Price Includes:
• Transfers in and out in Cusco. (from/to airport)
• City Tour and nearby ruins of Cusco. (BTG not included)
• 2 Hotel nights in Cusco. (One night before and the other one after your trek).

You can choose hotels in 3 levels: (Prices based in double occupancy)
Tourist: US$ 170.00 each person. These are simple 2 and 3 star hotels clean with private bathrooms and hot water. (If less than 4 people add US$50.00) S.S. = US$80
Comfort: US$ 240.00. These are 3 + of 4 star hotels. (If less than 4 people add US$50.00) S.S. = US$ 150.00
Luxury: US$ 500.00. These are 4+ or 5 star hotels. (If less than 4 people add US$100.00) S.S. = US$ 420.00

MODULE “C”: 1D GUIDED VISITS TO MORAY, SALT MINES OF MARAS AND CHINCHERO on your way back to Cusco.
You return back from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo and stay overnight at local hotel, next day travel to Cusco visiting Moray (known as the Inca Agricultural Laboratory), short hike to the Salt mines of Maras and visit the Traditional town of Chinchero with Inca Ruins and Colonial Church.

Price Includes:
• 1 night at hotel in Ollantaytambo.
• Transfer by private vehicle to Cusco.
• Guided visits to Moray, Maras and Chinchero.
• Box Lunch.

You can choose hotels in 2 levels (DWB rooms):
Tourist: US$180.00. These are simple hotels clean with private bathrooms and hot water. (If less than 4 people add US$60.00) S.S.= US$40.00
Comfort: US$240.00 each. These are 3+ or 4 star hotels. (If less than 4 people add US$70.00) S.S.= US$80.00
Luxury: not available.