Day 1 CUSCO - MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA
After picking you up from the hotel located in the city of Cusco, you will travel for 3
hours by bus towards the town of Mollepata,
located at 2,803 meters above sea level. We are going to have time to rest and
from there, you`ll hike uphill for 3 hours to Soraypampa, where the first
campsite is located.
You will have lunch with panoramic views of the
beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay (4,120m / 13500feet) and Salkantay
(6,271m / 20,575feet). Also, this campsite is very special, because it has igloos with skylight in the ceiling
to admire the starry sky during the night.
Later, we
are going to start an uphill hike towards Lake
Humantay. This trekking takes 4-hour total. This is a magical place with
unique views of snow-capped mountains that are reflected in its crystal clear
waters.
The Humantay
Lake is located at 4,200 meters above sea level, and is a perfect natural
place to explore in the middle of the Andes. Back to Soroypampa we are going to enjoy a delicious dinner, and spend the
night.
Walking distance: 8.08 miles
Day 2 SORAYPAMPA – PASO SALKANTAY – COLPAPAMPA
After breakfast, begin hiking for one hour and a
half until reach Salkantay Pampa
located at 4,620 meters, a place that offers panoramic views to the Vilcanota Mountain Range. Salkantay is
a quechua word that means “Wild Mountain”.
You will keep going uphill for 2 hours and a half to
the highest point of the trek known
as Salkantay Pass. It is located at
4,650 meters (15,200 feet) and halfway between two huge mountains; Salkantay Mountain on the right and
Tucarhuay on the left.
In this place you have to be on the ball to spot
the amazing Andean Condor flying
around. The views from this point are awesome, a spectacle that nature offers
between mountains and crystal clear lagoons.
Then, continue downhill through an incredible cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also
known as Huayracmachay. Have lunch and then hike for about 3 hours towards the
jungle to reach the second campsite, Colpapampa
(2,700 meters).
This campsite has a strategic location and it has
igloos with skylight in the ceiling to admire the starry sky during the night.
Dinner and overnight.
Walking distance: 16.16 miles
Day 3 COLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA
After breakfast, start hiking through the upper
jungle and cross the Lluskamayo River through small brooks and creeks. The downhill
path is in rural areas with more population.
The Salkantay
trek to Machu Picchu continues hiking towards the valley of Santa Teresa. The vegetation is around
us. You will pass through farmlands of banana, avocado and passion fruit. Also,
you will see coffee plantations with the best organic coffee of the world. Arriving at the Inca Trail Llactapata we will say goodbye to the horses and the
equestrian staff.
After lunch we will reach the next campsite located
in Lucmabamba at 2,062 meters. This
day you are going to hike like 5 hours. The campsite has igloos with skylight
in the ceiling, so you can watch the starry sky during the night. Dinner and
overnight.
Walking distance: 9.94 miles
Day 4 LUCMABAMBA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES
After breakfast, hike up for 3 hours to Llactapata pass located at 2,736 meters
above sea level. Here, the first panoramic views of Machu Picchu start to
appear in front of us. A well-deserved rest in the archaeological site of
Llactapata will comfort you.
The trail to
Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley
continues for 2 more hours downhill passing coca and banana plantations. Reach
the Hydroelectric dam for lunch and hike for 3 more hours
to reach the town of Aguas Calientes,
where you will spend the night.
After the check in at the hotel, we are going to
enjoy the last dinner together as a small group, with our professional guide.
We will talk about the tour to Machu
Picchu on the last day.
Optional: In Aguas Calientes, you can take
advantage of the hot springs in the town.
Walking distance: 11.81 miles
Day 5 MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Early
morning enjoy breakfast and then take the bus to Machu Picchu. See the
magnificent city as the sun rises. Our professional guide will take you to the Guardian’s
House to explore the citadel for 30 minutes.
The guided tour will take 1 hour, and
later, you can continue the walking tour with the guide for one more hour with
the chance to climb the Huayna Picchu
Mountain (optional), or you can go to the Sun Gate on your own, the arrival
point of Inca Trail, and explore the rest of this place. You have the freedom
to choose how to discover this wonder of the world.
In the
afternoon, you will back to Aguas Calientes by bus and get your train tickets
back to Cusco. After one hour and a half of journey, you will arrive to the train station of Ollantaytambo, and our
transport will take you to the city of Cusco and drop you off at the hotel.