Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Hike 7D/6N

Your Andean mountain adventure begins at 5am when you are picked up at your hotel and driven to the trailhead at Soraypampa. Along the way, pass through two picturesque indigenous villages called Iscuchaca and Limatambo. Marvel at the spectacular views of stunning valleys and the snow-capped, famous Salkantay Mountain.

On reaching the trailhead in Soraypampa, have a delicious breakfast while admiring the breathtaking views of the mountain glaciers of Humantay (19,356 feet) and Salkantay (20,396 feet). Hike 2.5 hours round-trip to visit the turquoise Humantay Lake. Next, climb to Salkantaypampa, appetizers and hot drinks are ready and waiting, right in front of the majestic glacier! Have time to settle into your tent, which are set up for you, before dinner.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 13kms/8.1 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

The guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy before you get up for breakfast. Today, we will be walking off the beaten track for about 3 hours mostly uphill. Stop to have lunch along the way and continue the trek until we reach the campsite, which is approximately a kilometer away from the snow-capped mountain Salkantay. , Enjoy the magnificent views of all the surrounding snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and amazing valleys. We have afternoon tea and appetizers before dinner.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 14kms/8.7 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

This morning enjoy another hot drink in your sleeping bag before a tasty and hearty breakfast. Our day begins with a slow climb of approximately 4 hours to reach the Incachiriaska Pass (4,880m/16,010ft) which translates to “the place where the Inca cools down.”  In this area lives the Andean Condor, the world’s largest flying bird. The guide will help you keep an eye out, hoping to get a glimpse of this majestic bird. From here, the trail levels off 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

After a delicious breakfast, we say goodbye to our horsemen. From this point, your camping equipment will be carried by the porters.*** We start hiking to a wider valley called Pampacahua. There, we find an Inca Canal that is still in full use by the local farming settlements. At the end of the Pampa, we see our first Inca archeological site called Paucarcancha before arriving at Wayllabamba for lunch. After another hearty and tasty lunch, we start the Classic Inca Trail, walking in the footsteps of the Inca! walk for 3 more hours through the Llullucha Valley to reach the campsite at Llulluchapampa, to enjoy our afternoon tea surrounded by expansive mountain views.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 11kms/6.8 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

***On the Salkantay portion of the trek, camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

Early in the morning, have breakfast then start to climb for about 2 hours following an original Inca path and trek up to the Warmiwañusqa Pass, also called Dead Woman’s Pass, at  4,217m/14,047ft. Here have magnificent views back down the valley where we just ascended. Later descend the Inca Trail down to the Pacaymayu River and have lunch. Afterwards, we climb for 2 hours to the Runcurakay Pass (3,977m/13,127ft).  From this vantage point, we enjoy the unbelievable views of all the surrounding mountains. Then we descend  for 3 more hours to Phuyupatamarca (3,650m/12,047ft), where we spend the night.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 16kms/9.9 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate/Challenge

Today is the most spectacular day of our trek. We have our breakfast early in the morning enjoying the sun rise, Urubamba Canyon, Machu Picchu Mountain and stunning Inca sites.  After that, we descend for 2 hours through the cloud forest to the stunning Inca Ruin of Wiñay Wayna for lunch. Later, we walk for 1 hour to the Sun Gate, where you can enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu and all the surrounding mountains. Afterwards, we walk down to Machu Picchu. We enter the Citadel of Machu Picchu from the top through the “House of the Guardians”where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. After finishing with photos we take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where we have dinner at a restaurant, spend the night in a hotel.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• 3* Accommodation: Hotel Ferre´Machu Picchu
• Distance: 12kms/7.5 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Today is the day, Machu Picchu! After an early breakfast, take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu and witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give a tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of the Machu Picchu Citadel.

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.

Huayna Picchu is an optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which does not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour. 

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, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to the hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. Expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel
• Difficulty: Easy

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 4 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 requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.