Highlight:

Machu Picchu, Salcantay Mountain, amazing mountain scenery, High Mountain passes, quieter trails, local villages

 

Begin from: Cusco / Sayllapata

End in: Machu Picchu / Cusco

Duration: 05 Days/ 04 Nights

Physical Rating: Moderate/Challenging

Accommodation: Camping service & Mattresses

 

Difficulty degree of this hike: Moderate/Challenging due to the altitude: we recommend a period of at least 2 days for acclimatization in Cusco or over 3000m/9840ft.

 

Trekking thought the sacred Mountain of Salcantay

This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salkantay Mountain (6271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, passing through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally reach Aguas Calientes on the fourth day. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu is visited on the last day of the program. This itinerary is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.

Day 01 - Cusco / Sayllapata / Soyroccocha

Pick up from the Hotel at 05:00; private transport from to Sayllapata 4 ½ hrs. We cross the town of Limatambo (2100m/6888ft), then drive up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River, to reach Mollepata (2800m/9184ft), from where we continue on to Sayllapata (3600m/11808ft), where we meet our horsemen and horses. From this point we start the ascent on foot towards Soraypampa (3800m/12464ft), following a climbing trail with many level variations and along which we encounter little groups of houses. After lunch in Salkantaypampa, hike up for around 2 hrs ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4200m/13776ft). Camping at this place

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 02 - Soyroccocha / Collpapampa

Early breakfast; we start a 1 ½ hour ascent, we reach the highest point of the trek Abra Huayracmachay (4525m/14846ft). From this point, we start descending towards into the so-called cloud forest. Then descending to the cloud forest along the route, it can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, a long easy descent along the Salkantay River; lunch at Huayracmachay (3,850m/12628ft) arriving late afternoon to our second camp at Collpapampa (2890m/9479ft), a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 03 - Collpapampa / Lucmabamba

Breakfast; continue our hike with an easy downhill walk along the Sta. Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. The arid highland landscape begins to transform into a cloud forest filled with trees and bromeliads. Following the Santa Teresa River, we pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko and finally arrive to Lucmabamba (2,100m/6888ft) campsite.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 - Lucmabamba / Llactapata / Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, walk up to Llactapata on the way we can see plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado, as well as exuberant local flora. We enter spectacled-bear territory and we will probably be accompanied by flocks of parrots as we descend. We cross the river and start climbing for 2-3 hours up to Abra Q’elloqasa (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of Machu Picchu. We enjoy amazing view from Llaqtapata (2650m/8692ft) from where we can view both Machu Picchu and the Salkantay, enjoying the added value of the Llactapata archeological site, which have recently been restored. A 2-hour descent towards the Aobamba River crossing lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations brings us to the Hydroelectric from where we board a train that takes us to Aguas Calientes (40 minutes train ride), where we spend the night in a Hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05 - Visit Machu Picchu full day / Back to Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu, early transfer to the Bus Stop for the short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you'll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure.

Opportunity to walk (approx 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or climb to the top of Wayna Picchu, with a magnificent view of the whole Sanctuary, return in the afternoon by train to Cusco and transfer to your hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

 

* Departure and arrival times are approximated.

Price per person: (Shared Group *)

• US$ 580 per person

(*) Price based in sharing one tent 2 people and with basic hostal double accommodation

 

Fixed departures: Mondays & Fridays

Shared Group Size: Minimum 4 and Maximum 12

 

Private departures: Any date that you want

 

Price per person:

Rates:
Hotel Ctagory	2 people	3-4 people	5-6 people	7-9 people	Up to 10 people
Superior tourist Class	US$ 698	US$ 628	US$ 565	US$ 509	US$ 458
First Class	Add US$ 40 per person
(*) Price based in sharing one tent 2 people and double room in the Hotel

Hotels to use:
City	Superior Tourist Class	First Class
Aguas Calientes	- Presidente -Pequeña Casita	- La Cabaña -Inti Punku

 

Private Group means:

A private service trek is organized just for you with private transport and your own personal guide. We don't add other people to your group. This enables us to provide the best service possible with personal attention and added comfort.

 

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

• Students: US$ 40 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 40 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 80 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

 

Payment Details:

We will require a non-refundable trek deposit of US$ 200 per person payable Sun Gate Tours. The deposit is to be paid by our VISA & MC Payment On-Line.

 

What is included?
Shared Service	Private Service
Pre-departure briefing Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure. Bus to Sayllapata, head of the Trek Entrance fee to Machu Picchu English Speaking Professional Guide (two guides for groups over 8 persons) 4 Season tents, 2 people in each 3-people-capacity tent Sleeping mattresses Chef and cooking equipment Dining tent with tables, chairs and Kitchen tent Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food) Toilet tent Accommodation for all our staff First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle. Pack animals (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment) – days 1 to 4 Pack animals to carry personal gear up to a maximum of 6kg/13lbs per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag) – days 1 to 4 One  emergency horse every 6 persons – days 1 to 4 Train ticket from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Train back to Cusco (Backpacker, Vistadome Class upon request) One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes basic Hostal Transfer from the train station to your hotel.	Private service is organized just for you and your own personal guide. We don't add other people to your group. This enables us to provide the best service possible with personal attention and added comfort. Private service includes all the list from Chart 1 and the following extras: Private transport to Sayllapata, head of the Trek Thermal Rest Mattresses One pillow per person Pack animals to carry personal gear up to a maximum of 10kg/22lbs per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag) –  days 1 to 4 One  emergency horse every 3 persons – days 1 to 4 One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes with Tourist Superior Class Hotels or First Class (upon request)
Not included is: Lunch on the last day: after the guided tour at Machu Picchu Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes US$ 3 Sleeping bags (can be hired in our office for US$ 25 for the trek). Tips for the guide, cook and porters (A good rule of thumb is anywhere from US$ 5-10 dollars per day).

What we recommend that you bring:

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water -sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Cash in soles and/or US$
• Original passport
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)