Day 1 CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – CAMPSITE
Departing very
early in the morning from the hotel located in the city of Cusc, we will take a
transport for a 2-hour journey until reach the town of Mollepata, a place to enjoy a short rest and buy what you need.
The Salkantay trekking continues until
reach Challacancha, starting point of a hike
of two hours and a half until reach Soraypampa
at 3,800 meters above sea level. Here, the campsite is made up of igloos with
transparent roofs so you can admire the starry sky during the night.
After
enjoying a lovely picnic, we are going to visit the Humantay Lagoon, starting a trek of one hour and a half one way,
and the same time to come back. You can make a mystical offer to the mountains
with coca leaves to ask protection during the trip.
The Lake
Humantay is located at 4,200 meters above sea level, and it has amazing views
to the Salkantay peaks. Its clear
waters create a unique landscape, and if you are brave you can take a bath
here.
We will back
to the campsite at Soraypampa to rest and enjoy the first dinner together, and
spend the night. Walking distance: 8.08 miles.
Day 2 SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS –
COLLPAPAMPA
This day you
will wake up very early to have breakfast and drink a hot tea, to then start
the most challenging day of the entire tour. The hike starts going uphill for 4
hours until reach the highest point known as Salkantay Pass located at 4,650 meters above sea level.
Be amazed
with amazing landscapes and mountain views surrounded you, and admiring the Vilcanota Mountain Range. Later, we are
going downhill for 3 hours and a half until reach Wayracmachay to enjoy lunch
and have a short rest.
The Salkantay trail continues going
downhill for about 3 hours until reach Collpapampa.
From this point, the Salkantay River becomes Santa Teresa River. Here we are
going to spend the night in igloos with transparent roofs to enjoy the starry
night again. Walking distance: 16.16 miles.
Day 3 COLLPAPAMPA - AGUAS CALIENTES
After
breakfast, you will start a hike going downhill for 5 hours to the beautiful
valley of Santa Teresa along a path
full of vegetation. You will pass through fields of banana crops, passion
fruit, coffee plantations and avocado orchards. During the trail to Machu Picchu, you will admire local flora and fauna such
as condors and different kind of flowers and plants.
Arriving to “La
Playa Village”, you will take a transport that will take you to the train station of hydroelectric plant.
From this point, you can take the train ride to Aguas Calientes for 40 minutes (optional) or you can still be
hiking along the Urubamba River for 3 more hours.
After the
check in at the hotel, we are going to have the last group dinner with the tour guide. Walking distance: 9.94 miles.
Day 4 AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
This is a
special day because you are going to visit Machu Picchu finally. We will wake
up very early in the morning to take the bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu, and from the best point known as Guardian’s
House you will get the most amazing views of this Inca site. Here, we will have guided tour of 1 hour.
Machu Picchu means Old Mountain and is
a jewel of Inca architecture which was built in the 15th century, and was discovered
by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Be amazed with the history of
this wonder of the world and World Heritage.
After the
tour guide at Guardian’s House, you can visit Machu Picchu on your own or
continue exploring the rest of this place with the tour guide for more 1 hour. We are going to walk through this mysterious
Lost City of the Incas until being
near the entrance of Huayna Picchu
mountain (optional). You will have plenty time to walk around this place.
Later in the
afternoon, the train will depart the train station of Aguas Calientes to go
towards Ollantaytambo. Our transport
will be waiting for you to take you to the city
of Cusco, and drop you off at your hotel.