This is the best luxury trekking tour package for the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Focuses on the adventure, enjoy the comfort, be safe and take the time to enjoy outstanding moments in awe-inspiring natural areas, such as alpine, cloud forest, tropical jungle, and inca towns. Upon arriving Completion at the lost city of the Incas Machu Picchu, you will complete the adventure Machu Picchu. This challenge of this trek is rewarded by exploring inca sites, and stone-paved trails. One of the Seven Wonders of the World is a once-in-a-lifetime experience never forgotten!
Salkantay is the name of the snowy mountain which stands at 6270 m, and is situated southwest Machu Picchu. Hiking close to this striking mountain, and down through the valley, you will admire different ecosystems along the way. This memorable trip ends in the lost city of the Incas - MACHU PICCHU.
Our Salkantay Trek luxury includes all the best services for you and at a good price. The Salkantay trek to Machupicchu is one of the most picturesque trips offered in the Cusco region, which will take you near the snowy mountain of Salkantay (6,271 meters), considered by Andean Peruvians as the "spiritual protector". It is the best alternative trek offered to visitors because the famous Classic Inca Trail is usually crowded and spots are limited. The ancient Inca trail forms a vast network of Inca roads. It leads through an alpine area in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes, past a snowy mountain, and deep into the forest that engulfs the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The Salkantay trek is a perfect choice for travelers seeking alternative hikes to Machu Picchu and for those who love adventure and nature.
Day 1: Arrival to Cusco
Day 2: Sacred Valley of the Incas tour
Day 3: start of the hiking-Soraypampa to Wayracmachay
Day 4: Wayracmachay-Collpapampa
Day 5: Collpapampa-La Playa
Day 6: end of the hiking-La Playa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes
Day 7: Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 8: Departure from Cusco
On the first day, there is a hidden place reserved for the most intrepid adventurers. After an extra hour walking, you will enjoy the beautiful blue-coloured glacial lake of Humantay.
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
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:
-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
It is very important to take EXTRA MONEY around 300-400 soles: