The Great Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail to Machupicchu

After a nice wake up call with hot drinks and breakfast you get ready to start the hike up to the next camp site, along the way nice views of the Salkantay mountain, the sunset is a unique moment appreciated by nature lovers.

Today will be a cold day of hiking, so be sure to have your jacket, warm hat, sunglasses, and gloves in your day pack. At the campsite, you will be welcomed by your porters to enjoy hot drinks and dinner.

Tonight, is the perfect night to spot the constellations and the views of Salkantay peak. This site is the closest camp to Salkantay, so it may be possible to hear some avalanches. However, do not let this scare you since they are not close to us. This campsite is the highest, so it should be a cold night.

Elevation: 3,500 – 4,300 meters
Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
Considered: Moderate to difficult
Weather: Cold

After tea and breakfast, it will be time to embark to the highest pass of the trip, yet rewarding hike. Your guide will lead you up the Inca Chiriasca pass (5,000 meters high), at a steady pace to see the marvelous views of the glacier mountains.

Following, you will start descending. Afterward, we will continue trekking to your lunch spot, where the crew will be waiting with the traditional hot tea and delicious lunch. For the rest of the day, you will walk downhill, through lush green valleys and winding streams, before reaching your campsite, in a little village of 10 families.

Elevation: 4,300 – 5,000 meters, then to 37,500 meters
Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
Considered: Difficult
Weather: Cold

This day will give you a rare glimpse into the past as you wander through hillside paths, used by traditional Peruvian farmers, living the same way since the time of the Incas. Then, you will arrive at the famous Inca ruins, where your tour guide will provide you with some background on the Incas. After the ruins, your tour guide will point out new and different vegetation, as you move into the high, jungle micro-climate.

Finally, you will reach the classic Inca Trail, where your porters will serve you lunch. The afternoon’s hike will be all uphill until we reach our campsite. Be sure you have your camera ready, with fully charged batteries, as you never want to miss this opportunity to capture the magnificent views of the mountains and enchanting natural waterfalls in the cloud forest.

Elevation: 3,750 – 3,000 meters, then to 3,300 meters
Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
Considered: Moderate to difficult

Today will be the longest but most breathtaking day of the Salkantay and Inca Trail Tour, with it including the Inca sites and the cloud forest. After an early breakfast, we will start with a two-hour climb uphill in the Puna area. The Andean Ichu is a dry place with little vegetation, but you can see llamas here. When we reach the peak of Dead Women´s Pass (4,200 meters high), you will have some time to rest and enjoy the glacier peaks and spectacular mountains, nearby. Afterward, we will start descending on the rock-paved trail towards our lunch spot. Along the way, you will be able to observe Orchids and other flowers.

Our campsite today is the most spectacular one of the Inca Trail. Phuyupatamarca

Elevation: 3,300 – 4,200 meters (the pass), 3,600 meters (the lunch) and again, 4,000 meters (the pass), 3,600 meters (the camp)
Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Considered: Chellenging
Weather: You could experiment the four seasons, all in just one day

Today is the most relaxed day of the Salkantay tour. In the morning, you will have views of the surrounding Andes Mountains, and the Pumassillo mountain glacier peaks. There will only be about five hours hiking, including the three Inca ruins on the way to our campsite. The first site are called Phuyupatamarca (cloud level-town) and are two hours from the campsite. It is impressive to observe the lovely platform and houses where the Incan nobles studied astronomy. The second set of ruins are on the hillside among terraces. It was perhaps an Incan agricultural experiment station.

You will also have views of the sacred valley, and the river of Urubamba. Finally, you will reach the last campsite, called Wiñay Wayna (2,600 meters), where you will leave your day packs and walk for five minutes to reach the most beautiful Incan ruins, along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This place is close to a village where you can enjoy the beauty of the water channels, terraces, and temples, and learn about the religious ceremonies that used to occur here.

After lunch we continue our journey to Machu Picchu, getting there by the afternoon, nice views of one of the seven wonders for some minutes.

Then drive down to Aguas Calientes Town, dinner and overnight.

Elevation: 3,800- 2,100 meters
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Considered: Warm and humid

After a recovery night we take the bus to Machupicchu, 30 minutes’ drive and we’ll have around 3 hours guided tour in the site where you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel.

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)
Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there.

Back to Cusco: You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included) and later after the lunch we get on board the Vistadome train to the Ollantaytambo Train Station “Train departure time can vary according train schedule and availability”. In Ollantaytambo Train station you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability and have a extra cost; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.