Many
countries have mountain ranges with beautiful scenery and
Peru itself is richly blessed in this respect with many other
areas for hiking. However the scenery is only one of the elements
responsible for the magic of the Salcantay & Inca Trail
to Machupicchu Trek 6 days. We join two famous treks in Peru
in one trek. Can there be any walk anywhere in the world with
such a combination of natural beauty, history and sheer mystery
and with such an awe-inspiring destination? The various ruins
along the way serve to heighten the hiker's sense of anticipation
as he or she approaches what would surely find a place in
any new list of archaeological wonders of the world - Machu
Picchu.
Itinerary - Salcantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machupicchu
6 days
Day 01: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa
Bus from Cusco to Mollepata (approx. 3 1/2 hours). On the
way to Mollepata we'll briefly stop off at the ruins of Tarawasi
- an Inca temple with one of the finest examples of Inca polygonal
masonry in a long retaining wall. From Mollepata we continue
one hour more by car until Soraypampa where we'll have our
lunch. Today we'll hike from the pastures village of Soraypampa.
After about 2 hours trekking we'll arrive to our camping place.
Our campsite for the night is at the feet of the most majestic
and impressing mountains of this area such as Salkantay (6264m)
and Humantay (5217m). The campsite is called Salkantaypampa
and it’s situated at 3800meters. We’ll be hiking
about 6 hours in a rather cold climate. (L+D)
Day 02: Salkantaypampa – Paso Salkantay –
Sisay Pampa
The colder morning-temperatures will be excellent to ascend
to the highest and toughest part of this trek, in the snow
over the Salkantay-pass (5200m). This pass is a wonderful
spot for sightseeing because it’s surrounded by majestic
snow-peaks such as Humantay (5217m), Tucarhuay (5450m) and
Soray Hill (5428m). After the pass we’ll be hiking
down until the Sisay pampa (3700m) where we’ll have
our campsite. Our hiking-time will be about 7 hours in a
cold climate. Where we make camp (B+L+D)
Day 03: Sisay Pampa – Canal Inca –
Wayllabamba
We will have to hike down by Incan canals and original paths
in order to enter Wayllabamba (3000m). There we’ll
have our connection over the Inca trail to our campsite
(B+L+D)
Day 04: Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo
We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past
a rushing stream and through enchanted native polylepis
woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly
find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the
high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty
mountain crags as we ascend to the first and highest pass,
Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft). Here we encounter
spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass,
and look back to the sweeping snowpeaks and valleys of the
Huayanay massif. The trail to the floor of the forested
Pacaymayo valley, where we make camp (B+L+D)
Day 05: Pacaymayo – Wiñay Wayna
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small
Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the
landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snowpeaks
of the Pumasillo range. We descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca
(Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas
and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur
overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive
buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues
along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through
a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns.
At the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms
overlook the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level
Town). Pausing to explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone
towers, fountains and stairways that spillins down the mountainside
here, we begin a long descent through ever-changing layers
of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living
granite leads us finally to our camp by the ruins of Wiñay
Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of
the Inca Trail sites. (B+L+D)
Day 06: Wiñaywayna to Machupicchu
Very early we leave camp to reach Inti Punku(Sun Gate) in
time for sunrise. From here we get the first glance of Machu
Picchu between the mountains on its saddle high over the
Urubamba River. We all meet at Machu Picchu at a decided
hour to make the tour of Machu Picchu. We will learn about
the importance – religiously and historically –
of the place, and we will be able to appreciate the fine
architecture of the Incas. After the guided tour you can
go to the top of Wayna Picchu, from where one has a good
overview of the whole area and the full site of Machu Picchu.
Another possibility is to visit the beautiful temple of
the moon. In the afternoon we meet in Aguas Calientes to
take the train back to Cusco. (B).
Free time for meals.
B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
More
Information about the Salcantay & Inca Trail Trek
Prices & Included/Excluded & to bring
Inca Trail Regulations
FAQ
about Salcantay & Inca Trail to Machupicchu
Salcantay
to Machupicchu Trek Map
We strongly recommend that you make your trek booking
as soon as possible. Book early! Permits sell out 3-4 months
prior to departure on popular dates (May - September).
/* CLICK HERE TO BOOK THE SALCANTAY & INCA TRAIL 6 DAYS
2008 */
To book the Salcantay &
Inca Trail to Machupicchu 6 days Trek you have to follow
the same steps as for the Classic Inca Trail 4 days.
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