Salkantay to Machu Picchu Luxury trek 5 day

Salkantay to Machu Picchu Luxury trek 5 day

Salcantay means wild mountain and is considered within the Andean religious world as one of the most sacred glaciers from ancient times to the present. National geographic recently named the Salcantay – Machu Picchu hike as the Ultimate Trek to Machu Picchu, rated as one of the 25 best treks in the world. Machu Picchu will be the most magnificent adventure you can imagine! We will provide you with a fully guided tour so that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty and history of Machu Picchu. You also will have the opportunity to hike the two iconic peaks of the citadel (Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain).

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO- MOLLEPATA-HUMANTAY LAGOON-SOYROCOCHA

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
We will leave Cusco very early on the first day, picking you up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. We will travel for 2 hours and 30 minutes in our private vehicle to the town of Mollepata. Here we will enjoy a locally made breakfast in one of the villagers’ homes. You will also have extra time to buy any last-minute items that you may have forgotten. Once we have finished breakfast, we will continue our trip in the vehicle for 1 hour to Soraypampa (3,850 meters – 12,631 feet). This will be the starting point of our trek. On the way we will take a short detour to go to the Humantay lagoon (4,200 meters / 13,779 feet). Humantay lagoon is the most beautiful and colorful lagoon imaginable and is located under the snow of Humantay Mountain (approximately a 3 km round trip). We will continue our gentle walk for 1 hour and 30 minutes and then we will stop for lunch and enjoy the culinary art of our exceptional chef. Once we have finished lunch and taken a nice break, we will proceed to our first camp, Soyrococha (4,492 meters / 14,737 feet), located at the foot of the majestic Salkantay mountain (5,217 meters /16,396 feet).

Meals included:
• Lunch: Meals: breakfast, water, snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
Accommodation included: Camping tents

Day 2: SOYROCOCHA -RAYANNIYONC- QOLLPAPAMPA

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
After experiencing a dazzling night full of constellations, we will wake up and enjoy a hot breakfast before we start our 45-minute walk to the highest point of the day, Salkantay (4,650 meters -/15,367 feet). Here we will breathe the fresh air of the glacier and be filled with pride and exhilaration for having successfully achieved the mountain summit. While we enjoy the dazzling view, your guide will explain the customs and traditions of the stacked stones (apachetas) and their connection with the deity Apu Salkantay (6,217metros / 20,396 feet). From here we will descend a steep incline to the small community of Rayacnioc (3,350 meters / 10,990 feet) where we will have a delicious and restorative lunch. We will continue our adventure down through the valley for 2 hours and 30 minutes until we reach our destination for the second night, Qollpapamapa camp (2,850 meters /9,350 feet).

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meals: breakfast, water, snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
Accommodation included: Camping tents

Day 3: QOLLPAPAMPA - LUCMABAMBA

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
On day 3 after breakfast, we will have a great opportunity to see the humid forest as well as interact with local families who live off the land self-sufficiently and grow their own food such as coffee, avocado, bananas, passion fruit, etc. We will walk through the valley for approximately 6 hours following the flow of the Santa Teresa river to Lucmabamba camp (2,050 meters - 6,725 feet). During this 6-hour trek we will stop for a delicious lunch and you will have an opportunity to explore and taste some of the local people’s delicacies, especially the gourmet coffee of the Andes.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meals: breakfast, water, snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
Accommodation included: Camping tents

Day 4: LUCMABAMBA-LLACTAPATA-HIDRO ELECTRICA-AGUAS CALIENTES

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
After yet another spectacular breakfast, we will continue with the last day of hiking in our adventure and climb a well-preserved Inca road protected by the government. We will cross through the rain forest and see a variety of birds, flora, and fauna before finally reaching the pass of Llactapata. From here, we continue downhill for 15 minutes where we will visit the magnificent archaeological center of Llactapata (2,722 meters /8,930 feet). Llactapata will leave visitors astonished with its surrounding view of the of the citadel of Machu Picchu, its mountains, glaciers, and history which will be explained by your guide. After enjoying the view we will continue descending to the Urubamba Valley and have the last lunch prepared by our chef and his team at the Hidroeléctrica train station (1,800 meters/5,905 feet). After lunch we will say goodbye to our chef and cowboys and express our gratitude as it is said in our mother tongue, SULLPAYQUI and TUPANANCHIS KAMA! From here we will continue our walk following the railway in the opposite direction of the Urubamba River for approximately 3 hours before finally reaching the town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters/6,690 feet). We will check into our hotel in Aguas Calientes and have dinner that night at one of the restaurants in town. Highly recommended!

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Meals: breakfast, water, snack, lunch and dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel **

Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN – MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Being the last day and eager to get to our trekking destination, we will get up very early for breakfast to take one of the first buses that depart at 5:30 am for a ride of 25 minutes to Machu Picchu's citadel. Upon arrival to the citadel we will have a 2-hour guided tour, where we will learn about the history of this spectacular wonder, after which you will have free time to explore and to take more photos. Afterwards, you can climb Waynapicchu mountain in the second shift which is at 10 am (45 minutes approx. to the top) or climb Machu Picchu mountain (1 hour and 30 minutes approx.) based on the availability of spaces left. Once the tour is over, we will take the bus (important to ask the guide for your ticket) back to the town of Aguas Calientes and the train station. We recommend that you have lunch in town before boarding the train (not included in the service). Trains usually depart in the afternoon between 1:30 pm to 6:22 pm (our service is EXPEDITION through Peru Rail Company). The reservation will depend on the available space because it is the only road of transportation to return to one of the stations: Ollantaytambo or Poroy, where our transportation will pick you up to take you to your hotel in Cusco. The journey lasts approximately 4 hours from the train station of Aguas Calientes to the city of Cusco.

Note: According to the rules to climb the mountain HUAYNAPICCHU and because of its popularity, admissions are regulated for 400 people daily in 2 shifts.

- FIRST SHIFT 200 people: 7 to 8 a.m. - SECOND SHIFT 200 people: 10 to 11 a.m. Therefore reservations are recommended with full anticipation to get the tickets on the specific date as well as for the MOUNTAIN of Machu Picchu.


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