Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N

Day 1

Day 1: Cusco / Soraypampa Huayracpunko

One night before your trek, you will get a trekking briefing with your tour guide. Today, we will pick you up from your hotel at 4:00 a.m. You will take a three hour drive to the trail head, Soraypampa (3,800 m), where you will meet your horses and horseman. As son as you arrive, your tour guide and chef will prepared the breakfast, before you begin your trekking, the tour Guide will also introduce all the staff that will be working for you along the trail. Around 8:30 a.m. you will begin the trekking towards Machu Picchu. The first three and a half hours will be both gradual and uphill, until you reach your lunch spot. The views you will see of the Salkantay Valley and the Salkantay Mountain are amazing, Fantastic. Lunch will be at the foot of this impressive mountain. After we enjoy our lunch, we will keep climbing for another hour up to until we reach the highest point of your trek (Salkantay Pass 4,600 m). It is impressive to view two different valleys and the Salkantay mountain. You may also observe some avalanches from the Salkantay Glacier. We will still have two more hours, downhill, to reach to our first campsite, (Wayracammachay 3,850 meters). The downhill part can be slippery, which may require the use of trekking poles. As you are walking down. You will get to enjoy the sunset and the silence of the valleys. The only thing you will be able to hear is the sound of the river. Upon your arrival, our guides and porters will welcome you to your camp. Your tents will be all set up. The only thing you will have to do is relax and enjoy the tea time and dinner.

Walking Distance: 15 km
Trail Head Elevation: 3,800 m
Campsite Elevation: 3.850 m
Weather: Cold, Windy
Trail Conditions: Rocky, dusty and slippery
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 2

Day 2: Wayrampunko / Challway / La Playa/lucmabanba

There will be an early wake up with a hot Coca tea. You will have enough time to pack and enjoy your breakfast as you see the sunrise. After you get ready, you will begin the longest day of your trip towards La Playa. Today, is downhill almost the whole day, with some short uphill parts. The first section will all be downhill. The micro-climate changes from the alpines, to the cloud forest, to the mountain forest, where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the amazing flora and fauna of the mountains. After four hours we will reach our lunch spot. After lunch, it will another four and a half hours on a gradual downhill, until we reach La Playa. This area experiences micro-climate changes from the cloud forest, to the tropical forest, where farmers farm coffee, passion fruit, oranges, avocados. There will be great views of the nature, lush valley and the amazing waterfalls. There may be some black bears around. Upon your arrival, you will have some tea and dinner.

Walking Distance: 18 km
Camp Elevation: 2,400 m
Previous Camp Elevation: 3,800 m
Maximun Altitude Decsended: 1400 m
Trail Condition: Rocky, salty and slippery
Weather: Hot
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3

Day3: La Playa / Llactapata / hydroelectric / Aguas Calientes

After another early breakfast at camp, you will begin the last 45 minutes of gradual, downhill hiking until we reach a portion of the Inca trail, built in 1,300 a.c. This road was built to connect Vilcabamba with Machu Picchu. It’s always special to trek on this historic road. It will be about thee more hours of uphill hiking along the stone, paved, rocky trail until you arrive at the Llactapata Inca site, right in front of Machu Picchu. You will get to enjoy more plantations of coffee, yucca, along the way. Once you arrive at Llactapata, your tour guide will describe the geography of the mountains and continue the history of the Incas. Once you begin hiking again, it will be two and a half hours downhill, until you arrive to hydro-electric station for your last lunch with your chef and porters. They will take the train back that evening to Cusco. After lunch, you will have a small ceremony to say goodbye. At 4:00 p.m.you will get your duffel bag back from your porters and take the train for 45 minutes to Aguas Calientes with your tour guide. He will help you to your hotel for a well-deserved time to relax. If you wish to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, Your tour guide can show you the way. The cost is 10 soles to visit. You will need towel, sandals. That evening, you will enjoy the last Dinner with your tour guide at the local restaurant. You will also receive your last briefing for he following day. Be sure to get some snacks and water for your Machu Picchu day.

Walking Distance: 18 km
Aguas Calientes Village Elevation: 2,000 m
Altitude from Camp to Llactapata Gained: 350 m
Weather: Hot
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Day 4: THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY/MACHUPICCHU! RETURN TO CUSCO

Today is the most important day in your expedition. To get the most out of the day, we encourage every group to have an early breakfast before catching the first buses up to Machu Picchu starting at 05:30 a.m. The hotel will hold your bags for you, until you return from your tour Guide. The bus will take 25 minutes to get to the top. Once you arrive, your tour guide will introduce you to Machu Picchu. You will head directly to a beautiful place to watch the sunrise and to take pictures. Your guide will walk you around the citadel, for two hours, teaching you more of the history and culture of the Incas. At the end of the tour, you will have some time to yourself or, if you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu. (Be Sure to book in advance to get tickets for these), as it sells out and costs $30 per person, Your tour guide will show you where to star this hike, which will take no more than two hours round-trip. You should start heading to the bus line to head back to Aguas Calientes around 3:00 p.m. as your train will typically leave at 4:20 p.m. “Your tour guide will inform you if the train time is earlier”. You take a two hour train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by two hour car ride, back to your hotel for drop off.

Machu Picchu mountain can be climbed instead of Huayna Picchu for $30 per person. This hike is more challenging and takes three hours minimum, round-trip. You always have the opportunity to climb to the Sun Gate for free. This is a much easier walk of two hours, round-trip.

Tour Includes

Private transport from your hotel to the start of the trail.
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
Entrance fee to the Salkantay trail.
Round trip bus ticket in Machu Picchu town.
Train ticket back to Cusco at the end of our journey.
Camping Equipment 4 season tent.
Other camping equipment, a dining tent with table and chairs, and a kitchen tent, manned by a professional cooking staff.
One night hotel in Machupicchu town.
Private bus from the train station to the hotel in Cusco.
Trek Leader, Our leaders are equipped and trained to practice First-Aid, administer oxyg
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Horsemen; horses carry 8 kl / 16 pounds your personal ítems.
Emergency horse, that escort us during the hike time
Duffle bag, to put in your personal things, which will be carried by pack horses.

Tour Does Not Included

Sleeping bags.
Trekking poles,
Extra expenditure during the trek, such as: soda, alcoholic drinks, extra snacks, tickets for the hot Springs in Aguas Calientes.