SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHUPICCHU 5 DAYS

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa.

For this Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, we pick you up at 4:30 a.m. from your accommodation, then we’ll leave by bus (two and a half hours) to Mollepata Village (2800 m.a.s.l.) in this place you will have time for breakfast,

while we are getting ready our staff to put on the horses (the horses will carry the camping equipment, food supplies, and 06 more kilos per passenger),

then we continue in a car for one extra hour to arrive in Challancancha (3650 m.a.s.l/ 11975 feet), from here we will start to hike 3 hours to arrive in SORAYPAMPA (3920 m.a.s.l./12861 feet).

At this place will be our first camping site, after lunch, we have the option to go up to the upper part of the camping site to see the beautiful HUMANTAY lake with its unparalleled view(4200 meters/13780 feet).

This will be an extra 3 hours hike (up and down), then we’ll go back to our camping site where we’ll spend the first night.

Walking Distance: 12 km (7.46 Miles) – 5 and 1/2 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3600 masl. (11811 ft)
Max. Altitude: 4200 masl. (13779 ft)
Meals provided: Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodation: Andean Hut.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay.

We will get up early to have a consistent breakfast, then we start to hike uphill 3 hours to arrive at the Salkantay Pass (4650 m.a.s.l./15256 feet).

Up there, you will find a beautiful landscape with huge snow-capped mountains like Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo.

Also, we will see a small lake around Soyrococha, then we will continue our route downhill for 3 hours to arrive in Huayracmachay where we will have a well-deserved lunch.

After taking a short rest, we start to descend to the high jungle for 3 hours, the scenery change around this section because we will find more vegetation proper in this area,

Then we arrive in CHAULLAY (2900 m.a.s.l./9514 feet), our second campsite to rest this second night.

Walking Distance: 22 km (14 Miles) – 9 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3920 masl. (12861 ft)
Max. Altitude: 4650 masl. (15256 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Tents (4-season tent), the tent is fixed inside a thatched roof.

Day 3: Chaullay – Playa Sahuayaco – Santa Teresa.

On this 3rd day of Salkantay trekking, after breakfast we will continue the trek, this day we will enter a zone known as EYEBROW OF JUNGLE,

which is like a high jungle, where we will find different plantations of fruits, such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, cocoa, tangerines, plantations of coffee, coca, and other plants.

Also, we will pass for a small waterfall of pure water from the mountains, arriving at SAHUAYACO, low part that is located near the river,

it will be the perfect place to have lunch and take a rest, then we will take you 30 minutes by minibus to arrive at SANTA TERESA (1600 m.a.s.l./5249 f.a.s.l.)(the Passengers can walk, but this hike would be by the bus route).

At this place we will rest this night; after have walked six hours, in the afternoon we will have the option to go to the hot spring “Cocalmayu” to take a bath in the warm and clean water.

To go there, we have to walk 45 minutes, or we have the option to take a minibus – colectivos we can pay 7 or 10 soles, after that we’ll return to the campsite to rest this night.

Walking Distance: 14 km (8 Miles) – 5 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3920 masl. (12861 ft)
Max. Altitude: 2900 masl. (9514 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Tents (4-season tent).

Day 4: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes.

This day, we will continue the trek to arrive in the village of Machu Picchu, the hike will be 5 to 6 hours.

After 3 hours walking we will arrive at hydroelectric, where we will have lunch and then continue our course to the village of Machu Picchu AGUAS CALIENTES (2050 m.a.s.l./6726 f.a.s.l.).

Here will have the afternoon off to rest or also have the option to visit the hot springs, these are located in the upper part of the village.

After dinner, we’ll go to rest early thinking of the tour of the next day, MACHU PICCHU. (NIGHT IN HOSTEL).

(*) In the morning (before hiking) you have the option to go on the ZIP LINE tour, this is pretty fun, it has an extra price.

Walking Distance: 20 km (12.5 Miles) – 6 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 1600 masl. (5249 ft.)
Max. Altitude: 2050 masl. (6726 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Hostel (Private rooms with bathroom).

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes –  Cusco.

On this last day of Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, We’ll get up early in the morning (4:30 a.m.), to start to go up to the archaeological site.

Passengers have the option to take a bus instead of walk, this has an extra price, can be paid there, this is to have the option to see the sunrise up there.

Once you arrive, you will have free time to use the restroom, then we join the group and the guide to get into the Inca Site.

After taking the first pictures our guide will give you information about the history and architecture (this guided tour will last two hours approximately),

then you’ll have free time to walk around and take pictures yourself, also if you want, also, you will have the option to climb up to Waynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain (Optional with an extra cost).

In the afternoon we have to go down again to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have time to have lunch, then we’ll take our train to return to Ollantaytambo.

In this place, our staff will be waiting for you to bring you back by bus to CUSCO (22:30 hrs.). You can ask for an earlier train departure to be back in Cusco before, this has an extra price.

OPTIONAL: Hike to Waynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain, NOTICE To have the classic view that appears on the postcards you don’t need to climb any of these mountains,

these are extra hikes that you have as an option to have panoramic views from the top of the mountains, Waynapicchu, this is a hike of two and a half hours (Up and Down) approximately,

and the Machu Picchu Mountain, this is a hike of three and a half hours (Up and Down) approximately.

Walking Distance: 5 km (3.11 Miles) – 2 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 2050 masl. (6726 ft)
Max. Altitude: 2450 masl. (6726 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast.

Included:

• Briefing: A day before your tour Salkantay trek, we brief you with the most important information about the trek, this will be in our office at 18:30 hrs. We are flexible with this schedule, we understand you would like to enjoy Cusco, so if you are on a tour and arrive after do not worry.
• Pick up at your Hotel: We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco (If it is located around a street where our minibusses can not reach, our guide will go to your hotel and take you to where the bus is.).
• Transport: Transportation for our groups To go from Cusco to Soraypampa, This is provided in a private car only for our group and our staff.
• Camping Equipment: Tents for sleeping (4 seasons) with capacity for 4 people, where only get in 2 people in each (so you have more room inside), Dining and Kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and also camping mattresses.
• Meals: 04 Breakfast, 04 Lunches, 04 Dinners + Wake Up Coca tea in each morning at the campsites (Vegetarian and vegan option with no extra cost)
• Professional Tour Guides: All our staff of guides is in English speaking, well-trained and with a lot of experience in this route and Machu Picchu, they are ready to create a great experience for you and will make you arrive in Machu Picchu safe and sound.
• First aid kit: Our guides carry some basic medication and oxygen for any trouble on the trail.
• Support Staff: Auxiliary Tour Guide when we go more than 13 people, Cook and Assistant (They are specialized in cooking on the mountains), horsemen (they will help to take the horses in the way).
• Horses/Mules: They will carry camping equipment, food supplies, and 06 kilos/13lbs per passenger.
• 01 Night in Accommodation in Aguas Calientes All rooms are with private bathroom and hot shower.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu: We will book and getting ready your ticket for this very important place on all the trail.
• Train Tickets to Return: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (VOYAGER TRAIN – INCARAIL or EXPEDITION TRAIN- PERURAIL) This will be around 18:20 or 19:00 hrs.
• Transportation: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco, this service is provided with minibusses of 15 or 20 people (Renault Master or Sprinter Mercedes-Benz).

Not Included:

• Entrance fee for Huaynapicchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 2 and 1/2 hours from Machu Picchu Citadel, it has an extra cost of US$ 55.00 You have to ask for availability.
• Entrance fee for Machu Picchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 3 and 1/2 hours from has an extra cost of US$ 55.00 You have to ask for availability.
• Bus tickets to go up and down  in Machupicchu: All the group goes walking if you want to take some of those busses you can buy directly in Aguas Calientes (US$ 12.00).
• Sleeping bag: (US$ 20 the rental for the tour).
• Walking sticks: (US$ 20 the rentail for a pair).
• Meals: First breakfast, last lunch, special snacks.
• Travel Insurance.
• Tips: All gratitude is really welcome.

Important:

• US$ 29.00 Off for people who belong to the Andean Community group (Perú, Colombia, Ecuador y Bolivia).
• US$ 25.00 Off for those students with Under graduated student card, (this ID must be made in PVC material, and it must have the next requirements: university information, personal student information, student picture, and expiration date valid only for one year, its year must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu, the discount until 25 years old.), the ISIC cards are not valid anymore.
• Discount of US$ 25.00 for under 18 years old.
• According to the new regulation of Sustainable Use and Tourist Visit for the conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu 2019, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is valid only for a single entry to the park (this means: The passenger enter, walk around, go out and can not re-enter again), usually, all people stay between 4 and 5 hours into Machu Picchu, if you would like to stay a longer time, you must buy another ticket (US$ 50.00 Extra), the park is open until 17:30 hrs.
• Prices are for tours in shared service (group tour), groups of 14 to 18 people per guide, inquire for prices in a private tour.
• We have departures every day.

To start this tour, you have to be at least one day before in Cusco (02 days recommended).

Upgrade:

• Private Transportation to return: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco, US$ 20.00 (Per way, per person); This gives you a pleasant trip without waiting and picking up other people on the group tour.
• Train returning at 16:12 hrs. TRAIN 360° Inca Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 30.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with Taller and wider panoramic windows and an outdoor observatory wagon with bar, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 20:20 hrs.
• Train returning at 16:43 hrs. TRAIN VISTADOME – Peru Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 35.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with panoramic windows located beside and above your seat will bring you close to nature unlike anything you’ve experienced before, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 21:00 hrs.

What you need to take:

• Standard backpack (45 to 50 liters, the idea is you feel very comfortable with what you are carrying).
• Warm clothes (jacket, Thermals, fleece, gloves, scarf, and beanie), this is for the cold nights.
• Waterproof clothes (jacket, pants, and gloves) If you don’t have those, you can buy in Cusco a Rain Poncho, the weather on the mountain is very changeable.
• Comfortable Hiking shoes (waterproof, the better).
• Comfortable clothes as 3 or 4 T-shirts, 2 or 3 pairs of longs pants (leggings works), 3 or 4 pairs of Trekking socks or wool socks, Short (Optional, remember there are mosquitos).
• Sandals (optional, to be chill out at the campsites)
• Shorts, t-shirt, trekking boots, sandals, socks.
• Hat or cap.
• Sunscreen.
• Flashlight.
• Water purification pills.
• Camera or video camera.
• Mosquitos repellent.
• Rain poncho.
• Extra money in soles.

Optional.

• Sunglasses.
• Walking sticks.

TOUR IN SHARED SERVICE

This service in a GROUP TOUR means that you will do the tour with other people, This standard service has 10 to 15 participants, that doesn’t mean you have to get that quantity of people to do the tour, we have confirmed departures every day, so, If you are only one or two people do not worry, you can join some of our groups.

“BEST PRICE PER PERSON: US$ 675.00”

TOUR IN A PRIVATE SERVICE

This service is an exclusive way to make this trip, where the service is very much where the service is much more personalized, prices vary according to the number of people in your group:

2 PEOPLE: US$ 1189 PER PERSON
3 PEOPLE: US$ 959 PER PERSON
4 PEOPLE: US$ 899 PER PERSON
5 PEOPLE: US$ 849 PER PERSON
6 PEOPLE: US$ 799 PER PERSON
7 PEOPLE and +: US$ 775 PER PERSON

STEP 1: SEND YOUR INFORMATION

Complete the booking form down here or send data of all the travelers to info@inkatimetours.com like full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, or a copy of passports, indicating the exact date of travel; Our privacy policies are strict, INKA TIME will use this information exclusively to nominate the reservation tickets, we never share this information with third parties.

STEP 2: MAKE A DEPOSIT

You can book and pay for the tour from our website if you are booking via email, you must choose the best way to pay and make a deposit, for this hike the payment at least is 50%; There are 03 ways to pay: payments via “PayPal“, with debit or credit card Visa or Mastercard (these last two options have an 8% fee), or wire money by Western Union any extra commissions or fees charged must be assumed by the customer; when you send your information you have to specify the payment method you would like to use, then when we mail you back We will send you a request for payment through the platform you chose.

STEP 3: TOUR CONFIRMATION

If you make the reservation on our website the confirmation will be automatic, if you do via email, upon receipt of all passenger(S) data and once we received information of your payment, we will send you your receipt (VOUCHER OF RESERVATION), at this moment your reservation will be guaranteed 100%. (this will be sent at most in the next 8 hours, considering our business hours GMT – 5).

1.- I want the tour but including the ascent to Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, is it possible?

Yes, in this tour you will sleep in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Village) so you can take some of the first buses, the park opens at 6:00 am. Let’s assume you will arrive at 7:00 am.

First, you can climb the Mountain (2 or 3 and 1/2 hours hike) until 10:30 am. Then, you can go out to go to the bathroom or eat something and rest, then you can start the guided tour of the citadel (About 2 hours) until 2:00 pm.

Then you will have free time to continue exploring on your own, the park is open until 5 pm. You will have about 10 hours to be there, the departure of the train to return is at 19:00 hrs.

2.- I arrive in Cusco one day before, do you think I will have problems with the altitude in Machu Picchu?

There are many people who arrive the same way as you; if you have been to other high altitude places before there would be no problem, but we always recommend at least 2 days before to have a good acclimatization.

3.- I am traveling with my family, we have a 16 year old boy and a 55 year old man, will there be much difficulty for them?

In our experience we have had several young people up to 14 years old and adults up to 65 years old, so if they have the physique to do this hike there would be no problem, you just have to take into consideration that you walk a total of 52 kilometers in the 5 days, we do not take professional people, but if you do a tour in private service it would be much more comfortable for you.

4.- I don’t like to give my personal information from my passport, is there any way to book the tour with names only?

We understand your concern, but the data requested is exclusively to fill the data in your tickets, these tickets are electronic tickets, it is like to take a plane, you have to show the ticket and your original passport; our privacy policies are very strict, your information will be in safe hands, we also hate SPAM.

5.- What happens if I have a delay and can’t make the tour?

Unfortunately, all tickets would be purchased and the whole tour would be lost, any change or cancellation of tour, has a penalty, this never happens, but if it will happen we assure you that we will do everything in our hands, we recommend you to see our refund/cancellation policies.

6.- What is the best season to hike the Salkantay Trek to Machu picchu?

The best season to Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is during the dry season, which generally covers the months of May to October. During these months, you will experience more stable weather conditions and less chance of rain, which makes the trek more comfortable and safer. On the other hand, if you don’t like to be surrounded by many people, you can do the tour with low season with more greenery and lushness due to recent rains, which offers spectacular views along the trail. Also, in low season there are more affordable prices.

7.- What is the location of the hot springs of Machu Picchu?

The hot springs of Machu Picchu are located in the upper part of the town, which means that to reach them you must walk, since there is no public transportation in this area. The starting point of your hike will be the Plaza Manco Capac, from where you will continue along Avenida Pachacutec, then continue along Avenida Hermanos Ayar. Continue straight on the road and you will notice the stone sculptures; continue in that direction and eventually you will find the entrance to the thermal baths.

8.- Should I prepare myself physically for the hike?

Yes, it is advisable to prepare yourself physically before doing the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, as it is a bit challenging, as a preparation you can do hiking, cardiovascular and resistance exercises.

9.- Do I need extra money for the trek?

Yes, it is advisable to bring extra money for the Salkantay trek to Machu picchu to cover unforeseen expenses, buy souvenirs or pay for additional services that may arise during the trek. As another tip we recommend you to take cash and preferably soles, since most of the locals only accept soles and not dollars.

10.- Are there restrooms along the hike?

During the Salkantay trek to Machu picchu, restrooms can be found at some campsites and designated areas along the trail. However, the availability of showers may be limited.

11.- What language is the tour guide service in?

The tour guide service is offered in Spanish and English as part of the standard tour. However, if you would like a guide in another language, you can choose to book a private Salkantay Trek to Machu picchu and request the service in the language of your preference, just contact us to make the request!

12.- What is the weather like during the Salkantay Trek to Machu picchu?

The weather during the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu can vary significantly, but in general, you will experience sunny days and pleasant temperatures during the day, with cooler temperatures at night.