Luxury Trekking Salkantay

You will be warmly welcomed at Cusco city airport and transferred to your hotel. The archaeological capital of  south america  is a fascinating historic city with a number of megalithic structures from Incas' days, baroque style colonial buildings, mortared pre-inca structures,  etc. It is recommended to take it easy for the first two days so after getting setttled in your hotel, you can stroll through the city of Cusco and sightsee the temple of the sun (Qoricancha), and Cathedral of Cusco in town, and the four nearby inca sites of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara , and Tambomachay located on the outskirts before your luxury hike to Salkantay

The sacred valley of the incas is located north of the capital of Cusco at an average altitude of 2,800mt. The valley was  predominantely inhabited by the incas who constructed astronomical observatries, religious enclosures, farming terraces, living structures, etc. The river of Urubamba crosses the valley and is flanked with picturesque villages and extensive farming lands of maize, potatoes, vegetables,fruits, etc. Due to its mild weather, fertile soil, and abundant water, different food crops have been growing since Incas' days, and they also constructed towns which main ones are Pisac, and  OLlantaytambo, the latter still uses the original inca town plan.

You will get picked up in your hotel and transferred to Mollepata for breakfast and last minute supply purchase.Then, you will rejoin the bus journey to Soraypampa (trailhead). Get ready for the hike by stretching, and then meet the rest of the crew. You will head up to Salkantay pass from the head of the valley. The trail gently ascends the summit offering amazing scenic views of snowy Salkantay. Arriving at the top, you will stop to admire the scenic beauty and learn about honoring the mountains by using coca leaves. Afterwards,  the trail leads down the valley through a paramo ecosystem with rocky slopes and  chinchillas jumping across the area. As you approach Wayraccmachay campsite the trail flattens out to a nice  river valley located at 3,850mt inhabited by potato farmers and sheep famers.

After a nutritious breakfast, the trail continues down through a ecosystem of lush vegetation of huge variety of flora and warmer temperature. the trail keeps gently descending with amazing scenic views of forested hills and snowy Mt Pumasillo (5,991mt/19,656ft, but do not miss to look back Mt Salkantay that still towers behind.The trail continues narrowing through a ecosystem of lush vegetation of huge variety of flora and warmer temperature. After a four hour descent you will reach Collpapampa where we set up our next campsite.

Following breakfast, you will head to the town of La Playa .Hike leisurely the trail adorned with a huge variety of flowers and endemic trees.There are also excellent views of the surrounding scenery as you descend through the forest of  increasingly tall trees and bamboo groves providing bird watching opportunities, and enjoy views of the  chaotic river of Santa Teresa. Campsite at la Playa.

Wake up early today to ascend Qellocqasa pass. as you climb, there are excellent views  of  lush valley cultivated with coffee , avocado, maize, pineapple, etc. The trail slopes up gently offering amazing view of scenic beauty. After a 3 hour hike you  will arrive to  Q'elloqasa pass (vantage point) which overlooks Machu Picchu. You will enjoy exploring the inca site of Llactapata, discovered by american Hiram bingham which exact location got lost covered in vegetation until 2003 when refound . . Then you will hike down to Ahobamba river for 3 hours through bamboo groves, orchards and coffee plantations. After crossing a suspension bridge, you will head to hydroelectric village for lunch. Then, you will walk alongside the railway to puente ruinas campsite near Aguas Calientes town located at the foot of Machu Picchu Inca site.

After an early breakfast, you will go up to Machu Picchu inca site either by bus or foot and enter the site for the best photo opportunities and guided tour. Then, you can explore the site by yourself or climb Mt Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu, in case you have booked them. Afterwards, bus down tyo Machupicchu town to rest and enjoy lunch. Finally, you will board the train to Ollantaytambo and then change for a bus back to Cusco. 

Today, we will say goodbye to you and thank you for choosing our tour company, hoping that you have the most unforgettable memories and you will come back for another adventure with us

• You will be warmly welcomed by our Representative upon your arrival;
• All airport arrival and departure transfers
• Accommodation: Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Cusco (3 nights), Campsites (3 nights), Hotel Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu (1 night);
• Entrance fee to the Sacred Valley, Salkantay Trek, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu citadel;
• Meals: 6x breakfast, 5x lunch, 4x dinner and 3x afternoon hot beverages;
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide;
• Professional chef 
• Horse drikver
• Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 10 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Camping equipment: personal double tents, Therma-a-rest mattress;
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent &cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and propane gas bottle.
• Down Sleeping bag (-5°C);
• Tourist bus up and down to Machu Picchu;
• VISTADOME train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• Private transportation for the Sacred Valley, Salkantay and all transfers.

• Pre & post tour accommodation,
• Domestic flights, International flights and airport departure taxes,
• Meals not mentioned,
• Travel insurance,
• Tips and baggage portage to local staff (please note: it is a custom to tip the trekking staff in Peru; however, it is not obligatory),
• Other extras not specified.

Meal budget: Please allow USD 100-150 for meals not included.

Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single Room" option for this tour, you get a single room for all overnights and a single tent for the Salkantay Trek.

Local flights: It not included in the cost of your tour.

Many people include Peru in their “Things to do” list before they depart the planet, the main reason being to Trek the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, although what most people don’t know is that there are various Inca Trails Trips to Machu Picchu to pick from in the Cusco region. The difference lies in what kind of an experience you want, hiking the Inca trail and how challenging you like your treks.

If you want to say that you’ve hiked the famous hike to Machu Picchu, then the Classic Inca Trail is for you. but usually you will need to book in advance, in case it is fully booked, we recommend other best alternatives:

• Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)
• Short Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 days/4 nights)
• Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days/3 nights)

OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED

• Walking sticks or hiking poles USD 20 for one pair
• Shared porter: Salkantay Trek Machu provides a personal porter plus duffle bag for your belongings/extraequipment at the briefing time the night before of your tour. Foam pad roll mattress, Therma- rest mattress, blanket, pillow and rain poncho is provided to each trekker and need to be carried by your porter. it is more comfortable. *Equipment as sleeping bags, backpacks, duffle bag, pillow, blanket, rain ponchos,water bottles must be organised in advance at the time of your booking or send us an e-mail.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

-The camping equipment returns to Cusco on day 4, please give back  the sleeping bag, and inflatable mattress to the chef or head porter

-Sleeping tent: double occupancy for one person provided for first, second and third night

-Our porters carry your personal belongings up to 5 kilograms per person and you will only be carrying a daypack with camera, water bottle, snacks, wallet, rain poncho (weather is unpredictable). May-October is dry season and November- April is wet season

TIPPING & EXTRA MONEY

It is very important to take EXTRA MONEY around 300-400 soles:

• Tipping your trekking staff is customary at the end of your trek, if you think your tour guide , and rest of the crew did a great job, tipping them is much appreciated, however as a suggestion each hiker can contribute USD 50 per person as collective tip.
• Local people have small shops on the trail so you ca buy more supplies such as water, snack, chocolate, cola etc.
• First breakfast and last lunch are not included
• Emergency money

INCA TRAIL WEATHER

APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR THIS HIKE

RECOMMENDED ITEMS TO BRING