8 Day Apu Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Group Service

8 Day Apu Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Group Service

The 8 Day Salkantay Trek is an alternative route to get to Machu Picchu and unlike the Classic Inca Trail, there are no permit limitations. .

Mount 

Salkantay stands at 6,271m, being the 12th highest mountain in Peru.  In quechua Salkantay means ‘Savage’ and it was first successfully climbed in 1952 by a French-American expedition.

Thanks to our well deserve trekking experience we will lead you to achieve the challenge in doing the Salkantay Trek. You will be surrounded by full Andean nature. Passing the snow capped peaks and reach the famous Apacheta Pass at 4,600m /15,088ft and descend into a tropical area passing Andenes and Chaullay on the far side of the mountain.

The breathtaking views throughout the entire Salkantay trek to machu picchu 8 days will lead us to hiking the ancient Machu Picchu, and experience one in a lifetime memory in which we are looking forward to welcome

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cuzco

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
After your arrival, you will then spend the remainder of the day at your leisure while exploring Cusco's nightlife or sampling some of its many restaurants.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: OPEN DAY at leisure

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
Optional: Full day Sacred Valley tour (Highly recommended).

You will be provided breakfast which is included and picked up from your hotel at 8:15am. This will be a full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley, visiting the colorful native marketplace in Pisac. Where you can appreciate the mixture of colors, traditions and have an opportunity to test your bartering skills, interact with the local craftsmen and purchase their hand-made souvenirs. Pisac is located at the entrance of the Sacred Valley. The Valley is approximately 31km/19miles from Cusco and at an altitude of 2,970m/9,700 ft. After Pisac, we will head towards Urubamba, where we will have a delicious lunch buffet at Tunupa restaurant.

Then, we continue through to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied town in the South American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with its canals, have not changed much from the time of the Incan Empire. They preserved their ancestral inheritance and give you a feeling of what it was like to live during those times. The last visit will be the Chinchero marketplace. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow! Its major attraction in tourism, is its colorful Sunday market, which is less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. At the end, we return you to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco around 6:30 pm. The night is free for you to eat in any restaurant of your choosing; although we always have plenty of suggestions should you require them.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: The Salkantay trek adventure begins

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
Mollepata - Soraypampa

On day 3, we pick you up at 5:00am and travel by bus to Mollepata. We will hike for about three hours to Cruzpata, where we will have lunch enjoying panoramic views of the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay (4120m)/(13500ft) and Salkantay (6271m) / (20575ft). Our trek will begin towards Soraypamapa, our first campsite at (4000m)/(12750ft). This is the highest and coldest campsite of the whole trip!
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Mighty Salkantay!!

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
We have breakfast at around 5:30am and begin our hike to the highest pass on this trek at (4650m)/(15200ft), located halfway between two huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From this pass, the view of the two snow-capped mountains is incredible! There is a possibility of snow here. After a rest, we will continue our walk downhill through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch for about 3 hours towards the jungle until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m)/(9800ft). We may reach the other campsites of Challway or Andenes (depending on the pace of the group).
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Cloud Forest.

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
After breakfast (at 6:30am), we start trekking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a series of small brooks and creeks. We shall pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will arrive to our campsite where we will spend the night. The climate is warm in La Playa which is at(2500m)/(8202ft). After a rest, we will go to the hot springs (optional) and enjoy a well-deserved soak in the soothing waters. A real treat after finishing the trek!
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Llactapata – Aguas calientes

Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
We will have breakfast at 6:30am and then head towards Llactapata, a three hour steady climb. Llactapata is an incredible Incan fortress, from which you can see Machu Picchu! After some photos and rest, we will continue on a two-hour downhill hike passing a variety of plantations that produce coca, bananas, and more until we reach the hydroelectric dam for lunch. Then, we will walk a couple of hours until reaching Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night at the hotel.

Optional: In Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the hot springs in the town, (entrance fee is 10 soles).
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Machu Picchu in its all its glory

Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
You will have breakfast and then your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel (approximately 5:40am). You will take the bus up to majestic Machu Picchu to catch the sunrise and begin your walking tour (2 hours) with your guide. After this, you will have time to explore the mysterious city by yourselves. You will meet with your tour guide in Aguas Calientes (by bus or on foot) to have lunch and be given your train tickets back to Cusco. Please, leave enough time so you can catch your train. It is a 20 minute bus ride from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and all buses leave when they are full. You are required to be at the train station in Aguas Calientes, 20 minutes before train departure. In Ollantaytambo, you will have a bus waiting to return to Cusco.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: Bye bye Cusco

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
You will be provided with breakfast in the hotel and we will pick you up and take you to the airport for your flight home.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.