Hike to Apu Salkantay 5D/4N

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Agencies Travel MAMAQUQA . Enjoy the charm of our Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu and with this Tour of 5 days exploring the 7th wonder of the world.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Challacancha – Lake Humantay – Soraypampa

After picking up everyone from their respective places or hotel, we leave Cusco around 5:40 am towards the Challacancha trail 3 hours by car. Through the car windows you can clearly see the snowy white mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay, two colossal gods of the Incas. You’ll also see spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama that fills every direction you look! After the first two hours of driving, we’ll make a quick stop in Mollepata to take advantage of the restroom facilities, souvenir shops, and a short optional breakfast. We will then continue to Challacancha, the starting point of our trek. We will meet with our support staff, and they will organize all the equipment and pack mules. Around 09:30 am, we will start hiking to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 FASL), the first campsite on our trip. The first section of the path takes us through some deep valleys along the side of a mountain. In some parts of the trail, you can still see an old aqueduct that still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. We will travel 7 km (4.35 miles) in 3 hours to Soraypampa, where we will have lunch at the Salkantay base camp. After lunch and a short rest, we will walk to the unforgettable Humantay Lake (4200 masl – 13779 feet). This is a 5 km (3.1 miles) round trip that we will walk in a total of 3 hours. This place is one of the most beautiful places in all of the Andes with incredible blue-green waters that reflect the glaciers of the Apu Humantay mountains. 1.5 hour trek downhill to our camp for the day, soraypampa. Upon arrival at camp, the trekking staff will have your tents set up and your duffel bags ready. They will provide you with warm water for washing, so you can change into something warm. We will have a happy hour with hot chocolate and coffee, followed by dinner. If the weather allows it, you will be able to enjoy the blue sky, along with a brief introduction to the visible Inca constellations.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay Camp.

Your trekking team will wake you up early with a hot drink to help start your day. Hopefully, when you open your tent, you will see the sunrise over the peaks of the glaciers and the clouds, have time to pack and enjoy a good breakfast prepared by your trekking chef.After breakfast, we will start hiking to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15255 FASL). The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent in 3 hours between the base of the rocky valley and the magnificent mountain of Salkantay (6271 MASL – 20574 FASL). When we reach the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snow-capped peaks of the Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”. you have time to enjoy the mountains, take photos and the guide will teach you about the mountain gods and you will also be part of the small Andean ritual for the Apus, the mountain gods. Then start walking for 2 hours towards the lunch spot to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch. After continuing to walk for three more hours to the second camp which is Chaullay where we provide you with the camping equipment, tea time and dinner. If you wish, for ten soles, you can rent a hot shower from the locals and you can also buy some drinks.

DAY 3: Chaullay – Sahuayaco Beach – Santa Teresa Zip Line – Hot Springs.

We wake you up around 4:30am. with a cup of coca tea… you will have time to pack up and enjoy a nice breakfast prepared by your trekking chef After a delicious breakfast you will start on your shortest, but most interesting day of the trek and of course we can’t leave the zip line This will be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. You will have your zip line adventure after lunch (ASK FOR ADDITIONAL PRICE). Today you will experience the most beautiful views along your walk during the walk, we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids and coffee, banana and avocado plantations. You can try the famous passion fruit and granadilla along the way! And much more after 5 hours of walking, you will arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, from where you will take the local transport included in the package for one hour to Santa Teresa, which is the third camp. Once in the camp, you will have a delicious lunch, then there is enough time to prepare for those who want to do it (zip line optional but including the highest zip line in South America today) we will drive 15 minutes uphill to the first cable. We will start the zipline activity with one of the most trusted operators in the area. In total and 01 Tibetan bridge of 120m long. During the execution of the activity, the participant can perform flight maneuvers such as; Regular style, fetal, couple tandem, head down, turns and superman. The average travel speed is 70 km / h.If the client wishes, he can use his camera or camcorder throughout the tour and / or he can also request the photography session that is available in our facilities for an additional cost. At the end of the activity, we will return to our camp. Here you have the option to visit the beautiful hot springs of Colcampayo, which is a 15 minute drive from the camp to the hot springs, you can spend a couple of hours or whatever you want or whatever the group may decide. The hot springs are clean water, natural and open air which makes it a great place to relax, then head back to camp where you will have tea time and a warm dinner and if you wish you can be part of the small celebrations with a campfire.

DAY 4: Santa Teresa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes.

The Llactapata trek is the only original section of the Inca trail along the Salkantay trail that you have the opportunity to do today, and from Llactapata you can see Machu Picchu, there is a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a different angle. As with previous mornings, you will be woken up early by the trek chef with a hot cup of coca tea served in your bed. You will get ready for today’s activities while enjoying your last breakfast prepared by the talented trek chef. We will start the trek early, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a small part of the famous and acclaimed Inca trail! After a 2-hour climb with impressive views of the Santa Teresa valley, we will arrive at the Inca site of Llactapata right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site we will see of the mysterious Lost City of the Incas! It is a very special place to enjoy together and spend time learning a little more about the roots and history of this land. We will be able to see not only the ruins of Machu Picchu from this place, but also Huayna Picchu and the Machu Picchu mountain. We will explore this Inca site with the guide, and he will continue to tell the story of the Incas who used and worshiped this land. Of course, you will have plenty of time to take as many photos as you like to capture these memories and share them with your friends back home! Afterwards, start walking downhill to Hidroelectirca for 2 hours to have a nutritious lunch and rest for a while. Then begins the last part of the trek to Aguas Calientes for 3 more hours along the train track. Once you arrive in the small town, we take you to the hostel where you have time to rest by taking a shower. Around 6:30 p.m., the guide will organize the last dinner in the restaurant in Aguas Calientes after we go to sleep because the next day you have to start very early to go to Machu Picchu.

DAY 5: Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the most important day of the tour, today you will visit one of the seven wonders of the world.The tour will begin very early, to appreciate the sunrise in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.Our day will start with the option to go hiking or take the bus (US$12). If you have chosen the hiking option, you should get up around 4:00 am. to prepare for the trek to the main entrance of Machu Picchu. After taking your breakfast pack, you start walking to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint for 30 minutes, which it is open at 5:00 am, where you must show your passport and your Machu Picchu tickets. After passing the first checkpoint, you will walk all the stairs for an hour to the main gate of Machu Picchu to be there around 6:00 am. Once everyone is at the gate, enter Machu Picchu for the guided tour for 2.5 hours to learn all about The Lost City of the Incas. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore the Inca city of Machu Picchu on your own. The time you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you want to return to Cusco and will also depend on whether you want to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, which you must book in advance.You can take one of two options to return to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu.

OPTION # 01: Return to Cusco by train. Taking the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a minibus for 2 hours to Cusco is a very popular option for visitors, you can visit Machu Picchu longer and have enough time if you plan to do Machu Picchu mountain. , instead of the Huayna Picchu mountain. This hike is more challenging and takes a minimum of 3 hours, round trip (at an additional cost of USD $20 per person). After visiting the Machu Picchu area, you need to return to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train at 18:20 to Ollantambo for 1.5 hours and then drive to Cusco for 2 more hours to reach Cusco Arrival in Cusco it is usually around 10:30 pm

OPTION # 02: Return to Cusco by car. The cheapest way to return to Cusco to return by car is an option that you will have these days. it is less expensive because it avoids taking the usual train to Ollantaytambo (minimum of $60 each way),Take a look and calculate your times before taking one of the 2 options: arrive at Machu Picchu around 6:00 am. for the guided tour for 2.5 hours and then you have free time to explore the site on your own. If you take this option and you are thinking of doing HUAYNAPICCHU, or MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN it is possible, but it will be too tight and rushed because you need to leave Machu Picchu at 11:30 to walk back to Hydroelectric for 3 hours to be at Hydroelectric at 2:30 pm to take a car for 6 hours back to Cusco. If you are considering doing this option and doing one of the mountains, we recommend that you stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return on the sixth day to Cusco by car.

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