Beauty of Nature: Trek to Sacred Salkantay, including Machu Picchu

Join this adrenaline rush on one of Peru’s signature Andean treks, the Salkantay Trek. Throughout this physically demanding journey you will experience dynamic scenery, remote high mountain passes, and host of archaeological sites. On the last day we arrive at the world famous ruins of Machu Picchu making your efforts over the previous days all that more rewarding.

Mountain trekking in Peru is always an extraordinary experience, offering you spectacular landscapes, adventure and serenity. In addition to the hiking, Machu Picchu is a highlight of this trip, which is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you with lasting memories. Once you’ve finished hiking, Cusco is a great place to rest your muscles and soak up the local culture.

Day 01: Cusco – Salkantaypampa
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in our private bus. Our first stop will be at the Pampa de Anta to visit the Tarawasi Archeological Site, which has a ceremonial altar and one of the finest examples of Incan wall architecture. From here we will pass through the Villa de Mollepata (2,900 meters above sea level) making our way to Sayllapata (3,400 meters above sea level), where we will meet up with the mule drivers and begin our 5 day hike to Machu Picchu. Throughout the first portion of our hike in the mountains we will pass through a variety of ecosystems before we reach Soraypampa (3,800 meters above sea level). We will have a lunch here. After a brief rest, we will continue our hike with an ascent of approximately 5-6 hours until we reach Salkantaypampa (3,800 meters above sea level), which is our first campsite. The entire first day of mountain trekking features wonderful views of snow-capped Salkantay and Humantay and our first campsite is at the foot of the imposing Salkantay Mountain. Meals: L, D.

Day 02: Salkantaypampa – Chaullay
After a healthy breakfast, we climb until reaching the Paso de Salkantay (4,600 meters above sea level), where – depending on the cloud cover – we will enjoy a wonderful view of the spectacular Vilcambamba Mountain range. After a short break we will begin our descent to camp. Around noon, we will have lunch in Huyracmachay, a high plateau where we will have a majestic view of Mount Humantay and then continue our hike downhill towards a high Andean Forest which offers abrupt and fascinating changes of ecosystems. We reach after campsite at Chaullay, a meeting point of the three rivers: Salkantay, Abuela and Totora after 3 hours of mountain hiking. Along the route we will see several Andean bird species, such as condors, falcons, eagles, cara caras, Andean gulls, geese, and others. You will also see some Andean camelids, such as llamas and alpacas. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 03: Chaullay - La Playa
On the third day, we will walk downhill along a path that follows the mountain, where we will encounter different types of vegetation as we pass through a mystical cloud forest and enter the Valley of Santa Teresa. We will go deep into the Santa Teresa Valley passing along the way a beautiful crystalline waterfall. As we continue our descent towards our camp in La Playa (2,100 meters above sea level), we will see some charming coffee plantations and different fruit plants that are typical for the region. This part of the trek offers a special combination of high Andean forest and cloud forest, making this area a very unique climate and ecosystem. After approximately 6 or 7 hours of walking we arrive at our campsite known as “the Beach” or Sahuayaco. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 04: La Playa – Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
We will begin our hike toward Villa de Lucmapampa along an original cobblestone Inca Trail. Along the route, you will see coffee plantations as well as passion fruit, bananas, avocados, and coca leaf plantings. Our virst stop is at the Llactapata Archeological Site (2,700 meters above sea level), which is mostly covered by trees. Here you can see how the tree roots have grown into the original Incan walls and it will give you an idea of how the site was when explorers first found it. From here, you will enjoy a great view of Machu Picchu and the Urubamba Canyon. Leaving Llactapata we will descend to the Hidroeléctrica – a small electrical plant (1,900 meters above sea level), where we will take the train to the small town of Aguas Calientes (2,000 meters above sea level). Here we will spend the night in a hotel. Meals: B, L.

Day 05: Machu Picchu – Cusco
After spending a pleasant night in the small town of Aguas Calientes, we will head to the bus station very early in the morning for a short ride up to Machu Picchu. You will begin the tour with a professional guide for the first two hours. Then you will have free time to explore other parts of Machupicchu. In the afternoon, we will take the train from the small town of Aguas Calientes toward the city of Cusco where you be taken to your hotel. Meals: B.

Normal prices

Prices are per person and in US Dollar. Prices are subject to change around holidays such as Easter, Christmas, New Year and other local festivities.

Fixed departures: March 05 - April 05 - May 05 - June 05, 2013

Prices are per person and in US Dollar. Prices are subject to change around holidays such as Easter, Christmas, New Year and other local festivities.

Price Includes:
• All meals marked as B (breakfast), L (lunch), D (dinner).
• English speaking guide(s) specialized in mountain trekking in Peru.
• Support staff: Cook, assistants, mule skinners: all specialists in mountain trekking
   in Peru.
• All group camping and cooking equipment: Passenger tents based in double
   occupancy. Dinning tent with tables, silverware and chairs. Biodegradable chemical
   toilet tent.
• Machu Picchu entrance fee (s/. 128 or $US 47).
• Bus tickets up and down from/to Aguas Calientes to/from Machu Picchu
   ($US 17).
• Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (alternatively the train goes to
   Ollantaytambo where you will be picked up by private bus transportation to take
   you back to your hotel in Cusco).
• 1 overnight in a 3-star hotel.
• Transfer from train station to hotel.

Price Does Not Include:
• Any meals not specified after each itinerary day.
• Optional tipping of the staff.
• Travel insurance.
• Personal expenses.
• Sleeping bags (sleeping bags can be rented for $6 per day).

Please note: for the tours with promotion price, we spend the night in a nice hostel instead of a hotel.