Marvelousperu – Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu

Salkantay Trek 4Days/3Nights Domes

Overview

The Salkantay Trek is a well-regarded substitute for the Inca Trail, favored by many for its stunning scenery and peaceful atmosphere. Its remote and challenging nature means it sees far fewer visitors than the Inca Trail. Offering breathtaking vistas and a sense of reverence akin to the Incas’ perspective, this less-traveled path is highly prized. For those seeking an adventurous journey in Peru, the Salkantay Trek presents a compelling option for reaching Machu Picchu.

Highlights

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco from 4:45 am to 5:30 am to go by bus to Mollepata. Begin a spectacular scenic drive through the Anta plains with beautiful and panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay and other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. After two hours drive,we stop in Mollepata to have breakfast (not included)also last minute supplies, leg-stretching or to use the bathrooms, before continuing to cahllacancha. There we will meet with our support staff. They will load the equipment on horses and mules. Around 9:30 a.m. we will star our trek toward Soraypampa (3900 meters above sea level) if we keep a regular pace we will take 4 hours approximately to reach  Soraypampa the first camp site (Cristal domes and huts with avery nice panoramic view),where will have lunch after lunch in the afternoon we visit Humantay lake (4200masl) which takes 3 hours hike back and forth from the camp to see the glacier lake of Humantay. A warm delicious dinner in the evening.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Cristal domes and huts.
Maximum Altitude: 3850 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2850 masl
Distance Travelled: 14km approx

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayramachay – Chaullay

Today early morning we will wake you up with the coca tea. Around 5:00 am, we will have a nutritious breakfast around 6:00 am we will start the hardest day of the whole Salkantay trek; we will be walking up to the highest point of the trek. After 6 kilometers uphill through the magnificent scenery of Rocky Mountains and enjoying the view of Salkantay mount. We reach the top of the trek. 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 mountain of the Cusco region. After 2 hours downhill around 1:00 p.m. we will have our delicious Peruvian lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. Then we continue our hike to Chaullay approximately 3 hours of downhill we will get to our camp in Chaullay = 2900 masl Where we sleep in a very spectacular Indian huts. Around 6: 00 pm we will have dinner to recover energy from the trek.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indian Huts.
Maximum Altitude: 4650 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2920 masl
Distance Travelled: 20km to Chaullay.

Day 3: Chaullay | Collpapampa – La Playa – Aguas Calientes

At 06:00 AM, we will start our trek to the small town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. You will be able to soak up this new, lush landscape during our 6 hours of hiking today! During the hike we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit along the way! We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” where waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, and flora and fauna can be observed. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beautiful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks,” the national bird of Peru! After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will take a transportation to hidroelectrica for 1 hour and half.

Then we Will walk 10 kilometers for 3 hours,on the rail way, to aguas calientes town,night acomodation hotel.

Breakfast,lunch ,dinner included.

Day 4: The Most Important Day – Machu Picchu!

Activity Overview: Touring Machu Picchu with optional hike
Activity Level: Touring: easy, hike: strenuous
Activity Length: 2-3 hour strenuous hike; Machu Picchu is at 7,972’ elevation
Today’s Highlights: Your excitement for our rendezvous at Machu Picchu will rise as we are hiking early in the morning through the forest to reach the site before most other tourists – even the Inca Trail trekkers!! You will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent World Wonder while you enjoy the beautiful sunrise from this once-in-a-lifetime viewpoint. Your group will learn about this mystical place in a two-hour guided tour of the ruins. Afterwards, you can opt to climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have pre-booked tickets) Ask for options.

Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hostel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point open from 06:00 AM until 3:00 PM. We will hike up to Machupicchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!

After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain 60 usd extra (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for 3 hours in total,before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride at 16:22 hrs or 6:20 pm (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A group minivan will be waiting for you,we will drop you back at plaza san francisco in cusco. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!

We have also the option to get back by minivan ,3 hours walking from machupicchu to hidroelectrica,then 6 hours minivan to cusco,we finish in plaza san francisco.

Prices:

By Car: 220 usd

By train: 290 usd

This 2 options means, the whole tour included,only changes ,the way to get back to cusco.

20 usd discount for students.
20 usd discounts for groups.

Only 1 discount student or groups,we dont do 2 discounts services.

Private services 

420 usd per person. minimum 2 people.

Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu mountain 60 usd extra each mountain,ask for availability.

Optional Extras:

  • Extra horse to ride or for any extra backpack.$ 90 usd 3 days.(you can share with other person)
  • Sleeping Bag US$20
  • Walking Pole US$20
  • Inflatable Mattress US$20
  • Single Dome or Hut Supplement US$40
  • Huaynapicchu or machupicchu mountain 60 usd

 

Included

Excluded

Recommendations (Optional Services):

Optional items to take:

From:

$ 220.00