Cusco and Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu | Package of 8 Days Huaynas Expeditions

Cusco and Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu | Package of 8 Days Huaynas Expeditions

We have created an adventure in which you will be able to experience Peru at its best and like never before, Salkantay Trek is an ancient and remote footpath located in the same region as the Inca Trail where massive snowcapped mountains collide with lush tropical rain forests.
In this journey you will trek from 3,900m/12,800ft to 2,100m/6,900ft, traversing across magnificent mountain passes, enjoying enormous and mystical snow-capped peaks, seeing nature in its purest form and exploring more than 15 different ecosystems that we have in this area from beginning to end. Moreover, the chances for ethnic and cultural exchange are ever-present with local natives who still remain closely attached to their heritage and are very willing to share it with open minds

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from airport Cusco - City Tour Cusco

Stop At: City Tour Cusco, Portal de Panes 123, Cusco 08002, Peru
Upon your arrival to the airport in Cusco, a member of Huaynas Expeditions will be there to greet you and take you to our partner lodge, located in the charming historic district of San Blas. The lodge is centrally located and only a few minutes walk from the Plaza de Armas, the beautiful and bustling town center. This morning will be reserved for resting or free time. In the afternoon we will pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 13:20 - 13:50 hrs to begin your City Tour. First, we will visit the main Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas where you will have the opportunity to see a wide range of paintings from Cusco’s School of Art, old writings, and works in gold leaf and embossed silver. Once finished, you will continue on to Koricancha or the ‘’Temple of the Sun’’ to appreciate its architecture and perfect stone constructions only seen in Inca temples of high importance. Continuing on, we will head outside the city to visit the archaeological circuit of 4 sites: Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. At Sacsayhuaman, you will see its famous stones all carefully carved and enormous in size. At Q’enqo, you will learn some more about this archaeological site’s religious importance in the Inca times. At Puca Pucara, you will see an ancient military construction, part of Cusco’s ancient defense system. Lastly, at Tambomachay, you will see a temple dedicated to the Water Cult with fountains that still work in today.

Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging: Tandapata Boutique*** - Cusco

Day 2: Chinchero (Textile Interpretation Center) - Maras - Moray.

Stop At: Salinas de Maras, Carreta a Maras, Maras 08655 Peru
Chinchero: the rainbow village, home of the ruins of the royal palace of the Inka Túpac Inca Yupanqui, a picturesque community located on a high plateau overlooking the many snowcapped peaks of the Cusco region. Here we can admire the well-preserved Inka walls of the main square as well as the many altars. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its interior artwork and imagery. Moving on we will participate in a wonderful introduction and learning experience of the art of Andean textiles; will become acquainted with the wisdom of Andean weavings as maintained since long before Inka times. In the afternoon we will visit Moray, an ancient construction designed for agricultural investigations and studies of different crops in a range of altitudes. Here the many concentric "rings" of terraces produce a fine gradient of micro-climates; the warmth of the lowest central ring slowly dissapates as the rings ascend outward and upward, creating reductions in temperatures until reaching the ground-level norm.
Duration: 6 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lodging: Tandapata Boutique*** - Cusco.

Day 3: First Day Trek: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

Stop At: Salkantay Trekking, Triunfo Street 392 - Office 212 - Centro Artesanal Arte Inka, Main Square of Cusco, Cusco 08002, Peru
We will leave from Cusco approximately between 4:30a.m. and 5:00a.m. A bus will take us to the town of Mollepata (2900 meters above sea level) where we will arrive approximately at 8:00 in the morning, we will stop for last minute supplies, leg-stretching or to use the restrooms. We will continue to our trek starting point, Sayapata. We will meet with our support staff, and they will load the equipment on horses and mules. Around 9:00 a.m., we will begin our walk toward Soraypampa (3850 meters above sea level). During the trip we will have panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay, other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. About 1:00p.m., we will have a Peruvian lunch. After lunch, we will continue hiking toward Humantay Lake for 3 hours aproximately, this is a beautiful lake in the mountains. We will come back to our camp where the tents will be ready for you as well as your dinner.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Second Day Trek: Soraypampa - Challway

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Today, nature will change drastically from dry sceneries to snowy peaks and tropical areas. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start the most difficult part of the trek. We will start the hike around 7:00 in the morning. We will hike to a place called Pampas Salkantay, then go toward the left side of the snowy peaks of Humantay located next to the Apu Salkantay. At midday, we will be on the highest point ( 4600 meters above sea level). We will appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6264 meters above sea level) which is known as the second highest point of the Cusco region. Around 1:00 p.m., we will have our lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. After a trek of approximately 3 hours, we will arrive to our camp in Challway (2920 meters above sea level). Around 7:00p.m., we will recuperate from the trek and eat dinner.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Third Day Trek: Challway - La Playa - Lucmabamba.

Stop At: Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu, Procuradores 362, Cusco 08002, Peru
Around 7:00a.m., we will start our trek and we will enjoy the beautiful sunrise. We will walk for about 5 hours toward Playa Sahuayaco and during this period; we will observe a town called Collpabamba, also called the "Forest Cloudy Brow" where waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to observe the famous bird called the "Cock of the Rocks'.the national bird of peru Once at Playa Sahuayaco lunch. After lunch we are going to hike couples hours more to get at lucmabamba which is our last camp site also the beginning of the inca trail of Llacta pata.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Fourth Day Trek: Lucmabamba - Llactapata -Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes.

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Around 8.00am. we will gradually hike up for about 2 hours to finally get to Llacta Pata a beautiful archeological site which has connections to the Inca sites Machupicchu and Sayacmarka. We will have plenty of time to explore this nice Inca site and will then start our descent to Hydro-Electrica (power plant) which will take us about 1 ½ hours. A pleasant 3 hours walk will bring us to Aguas Calientes where we will stay in a Hotel for the night. After having stored our baggage we will go out and have dinner together in one of the many restaurants.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Lodging: Golden Sunrise*** - Aguas Calientes

Day 7: Fifth Day Trek: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Stop At: Machu Picchu Tours, Washington, DC 20008, USA
This last day starts very early. We will wake you up at around 5.00 am have breakfast and then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. There are two good reasons to be at the entrance of Machu Picchu very early: 1.- It is well worth the effort to get up early as the Inca city is quietest in the early morning and you will have plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the sun rise over Machu Picchu. 2.- Our guide will give you a tour around Machu Picchu telling you about the history of Machu Picchu and the most important temples and altars. Of course he will also take you to the classical view point (sacred Rock Hut), this vantage point offers a terrifc view of the whole inkan city. After that you will have free time to explore the site on your own again or if you still have plenty of energy you should climb Huayna Picchu Mountain. This is the steep mountain dominating the background of Machu Picchu. From the top of Waynapichu you have an absolutely stunning and breathtaking view of the complete Machupicchu area. It takes 1 hour to climb Waynapichu and 1 to 1 ½ hours (depending if you want to make a detour to the great cavern) to return down. Once you feel that you have seen every corner of Machupicchu you will take a bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes to have lunch. Usually we take the bus at around 1:00 pm. The bus ride takes around 25 minutes and your guides will give you the ticket. Make sure that, before you leave Machu Picchu by bus, the guides give you time and location of the restaurant where the group meets in Aguas Calientes. You will get your train and bus tickets back to Cusco in the restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lodging: Tandapata Boutique*** - Cusco

Day 8: Free Walking Tour - Transfer to the Airport (End of the Tour)

Stop At: Free Walking Tour Cusco, Meeting point by KFC, Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08000, Peru
Free morning to relax or free walking tour. The walking tour will visit the following places: -Plaza de Armas / Main Square, which is home to the main cathedral and colonial houses -Plaza Nazarenas / Nazarenas Square -San Blas neighborhood -The twelve angle stone -San Pedro local market In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the airport for your departure to Lima (END OF THE TOUR)
Duration: 4 hours

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