Salkantay Trail

The Salkantay, located a 6271 meters above sea level (60 km from the city of Cusco). Is also called "Wild Mountain" rises in the Cordillera Vilcanota, the point from where you can have a panoramic view of Machu Picchu. Its name comes from the Quechua, "Salqa kay" meaning wild, uncivilized, invincible.

On this trip we will find the beautiful and great Salkantay, we bathe in hot springs from the depths of the earth, wildlife viewing consists of Condors, Deer, Pumas, Llamas and Viscachas and dominant vegetation Ichu, Qeuna, Chachacomo, etc. Geography is difficult and capricious all around this attractive surrounded by deep valleys and gorges, which makes this very interesting and tiring trip.

Duration

5 DÍAS / 4 NOCHES

Departures

Itinerary

DAY

Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

You'll be picked up at your hotel at 5:00am and we'll head in our bus private for the small village of Mollepata. We begin our trip going through the Apurimac River Valley, along paved and unpaved road. On the first day we'll journey about 5 hours through the Rio Blanco Valley, whose icy water falls from the thawed glacial peaks of Salkantay and Humantay.

We'll set up camp in Soraypampa and have a well-earned night's sleep.

Low Point: 2,985m (Mollepata)

High Point: 4,200m (Soraypampa)

Hike Duration: 5 hours

DAY

Soraypampa - Paso Humantay - Chaullay

After a good breakfast we`ll have a hard hiking then ascend to Humantay pass exceeding a height of over 4000 meters above sea level, you`ll can see snow - capped mountain Salkantay. From here we'll have a superb view of Santa Teresa, lakes, and snowy mountain peaks. Afterwards, there's a 45 minute walk downward through the valley to our next campsite, Challhuay.

Low Point: 3,900m (Challhuay)
High Point: 4,800m (Humantay Pass)
Hike Duration: Approx. 7-8 hours

DAY

Chaullay - Playa - Santa Teresa

Very early after a delicious breakfast we continue walking and you can visit the thermal baths (hot spring) enjoy tropical fruit crops as well as observing coffee and other plantations in the region. We will stop during the walk to enjoy lunch and after a short break we continue with the walk to the camp Playa. Where we will enjoy dinner and we can relax pleasantly relaxing by the weather we have.

DAY

Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes

The trip from the Vilcanota River Valley to the hydroelectric plant is about a 2 hour walk along flat ground. From the Hydroelectric Plant we'll trek for four hours until we reach Aguas Calientes. In the evening you'll have free time which you can use to visit the natural hot springs for which Aguas Calientes is named. This night we`ll stay in a hostal basic but clean and comfortable so that you can enjoy a night's rest.

DAY

Aguas Calientes - Machupicchu - Cusco

This day we wake up at 5:00am, have breakfast and we will leave our luggage in hotel to begin our walking to Machupicchu about an hour . We go through a guided tour of about 2 hours and then you will have time to explore the whole site on your own. Approximately one you'll have to return to Aguas Calientes and in the afternoon we will have to take the train to Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo we wait for you and we take the bus to Cusco.