8-Day Salkantay Trek Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO NAVEL OF THE WORLD – MUSEO INKA Y KORICANCHA

Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
This morning will be reserved for resting or free time. In the afternoon we will visit the Inka Museum, home of thousands of years of Andean culture. Here we will become more familiar with the origens and beginnings of Andean civilizations. Continuing with the tour we will move onto the temple of Koricancha, the famous Sun Temple of Qosqo, that was and still remains the pinaccle of organization, architecture, and religion of Inka civilization.

Durings its construction they had already achieved the greatest advances of their time, and this temple may have been the exact representation of the center, or “Navel of the World” and therefore the center of the world, as dictated by the pre-hispanic Andean cosmovision.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar.

Day 2: FREE DAY (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES)

Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
OPTION 1. – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (EXTRA US$25)

We will pick you up around 2:00pm at the start the tour.

The places to visit are:

Koricancha.

Sacsayhuaman.

Qenqo.

Pukapukara.

Tambomachay.

OPTION 2. – FULL DAY SACRED VALLEY (EXTRA US$50)

We will pick you up around 8:00am

The places we will visit are:

Pisaq

Pisaq Market.

Ollantaytambo.

Chinchero.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar.

Day 3: FIRST DAY TREK: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA (L)(D)

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, 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: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Campsite.

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 Umantay 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
Accommodation included: Campsite.

Day 5: THIRD DAY TREK: CHALLWAY – LA PLAYA – LUCMABAMBA

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, 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
Accommodation included: Campsite.

Day 6: FOURTH DAY TREK: LUCMABAMBA – LLAPTAPATA -HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Around 8.00am. we will gradually hike up for about 2 hours to finally get to Llapta 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 hostal for the night. After having stored our baggage we will go out and have dinner together in one of the many restaurants.
Duration: 7 hours

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

Day 7: FIFTH DAY TREK: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
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 terrific view of the whole Inkan city. After that, 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: Tandapata Boutique Hotel *** or similar.

Day 8: FREE DAY-FLY TO LIMA

Pass By: Cusco 08007, Peru
Free morning to relax, this afternoon transfer to the airport for your departure to Lima.

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