Wilderness Salkantay Trek + Short Inca Trail-5 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 – CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE – SALKANTAY PAMPA – PAMPA JAPONESA

Your Andean mountain adventure begins at 4:30am when we pick you up from your hotel and begin the 3 hour drive to the Soraypampa trailhead. As we travel along the winding roads in the Andes, you will have views of the villages Iscuchaca and Limatambo, the surrounding valleys and the famous snow-capped Salkantay Mountain.

At the Soraypampa trailhead, we have our delicious and hearty breakfast while enjoying the spectacular views of the Humantay Mountain (5,900m/ 19,356ft) and Salkantay Mountain (6,217m/ 20,396ft) glaciers.

After breakfast, you will give your duffel bags to our horsemen and begin your trekking adventure on the Salkantay trek by hiking up to Humantay Lake. This hike up takes about 1.5 hours and will take you to the base of Humantay Mountain, where you get to take in the beautiful, crystalline-blue waters of the Humantay Lake.

You will be enchanted by the beauty of this glacial lake, tucked away high in the mountains. The hike back down takes us back to the starting point, from where we continue trekking until we arrive at our lunch spot, Salkantaypampa.

Salkantaypampa is located on the base of the Salkantay glacier mountain and has some incredible views of the Mountain. After lunch, you will gradually hike uphill for around 3 hours to the campsite of Pampa Japonesa at 4,250m/13,943ft.

Hot drinks and appetizers will be waiting for you and your tents will already be set up. After dinner, you get to sleep under the star filled night sky at the base of the majestic Salkantay Mountain.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Walking distance: 14km
• Trailhead elevation: 3,800m/12,467ft
• Campsite elevation: 4,250m/13,943ft
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 2 – PAMPA JAPONESA – CONDOR PASS – INCA CANAL – PAUCCARCANCHA

Your guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy in your sleeping bag before you get up for breakfast. Take your time today, stopping to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding glacier peaks and mountains.

From Pampa Japonesa, you will slowly ascend for the next 3 hours until reach the Inca Chiriaska, pass located at 5,100m/16,732 feet. Chiriaska means ‘getting cold’ in Quechua. This place is truly cold at most times of the year, but it has some of the best views of the Salkantay glacier peaks.

After admiring the breathtaking scenery, you will get to enjoy a hot drink before continuing on your trek. The hike from the pass to Sisaypata (our lunch spot) will take around 3.5 hours, but it is all downhill. At Sisaypata, you will enjoy lunch as you appreciate the beauty of the Paltayoc peaks.

After lunch, we continue trekking for another 3 hours downhill to the campsite for the night at Paucarcancha at 3,770m/12,370ft. Your hot drinks and appetizers will be waiting for you once again and your tents will be set up and ready for you to settle in before dinner.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Walking distance: 18km
• Highest point of the trail: 5100m/16,732ft
• Campsite elevation: 3300m/10,827ft
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 3- PAUCARCANCHA – LLACTAPATA – KM 82 – OLLANTAYTAMBO

After another hot mug of tea or coffee in your sleeping bag, followed by breakfast, you will visit the Inca archaeological site of Paucarcancha before continuing on with your trek. Today you get to trek on a section of the Classic Inca Trail which still has the original stone laid down hundreds of years ago.

As you are trekking, you will be enthralled by the stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Plus, you will also get to experience a bit of the famous Inca Trail by visiting the Llactapata Inca archaeological site.

This site is known for having been an Inca village characterized by its houses, water channels, and many farming terraces gently bordering the mountain side. From Llactapata, we will trek for about 1 hour and then stop for another hearty and delicious lunch.

After lunch, you will hike for about another 2 hours until you reach Km 82 where you will meet up with our private van and be transferred to the town of Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, you will enjoy dinner and head to bed ready to tackle the Inca Trail the next morning.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Walking distance: 15km
• Campsite elevation: 3300m/10,827ft
• Trail end elevation: 2700m/8,858
• Aguas Calientes elevation: 2000m/6560ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Accommodations: 2* Veronica View or Tunupa Lodge

DAY 4: CUSCO – 104 kms  – WIÑAYHUAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

We start this exciting day early; your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:30. When you arrive at the train station, you will be given your lunch to add to your daypack.

The train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included). Ask your hotel to provide you a picnic breakfast or pack your own.

We exit the train at the famous KM104, where your trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit your first Inca site just a few steps from the checkpoint.

The first hour and a half are a gentle upward climb. Along the way, you will stop at several outlooks where you have a panoramic view of the Urubamba River. You also pass through several microclimates, including cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any time of the year.

The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill climb with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end of the hike! When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to grab some photos and as you do you will find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level).

These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. This close to Machu Picchu, you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. Your guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate and answer any questions you have before the short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.

You have lunch at a covered shelter at the Wiñay Wayna campground, which is the last campground for those hiking the Classic Inca Trail. Nearby are outdoor sinks to wash your hands and restrooms. Take your time enjoying your hearty, gourmet lunch and admiring the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have your first view of Machu Picchu. Though the hour-long walk is a gentle rolling up and down, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca.

Once you reach the stairs you will know that you’re almost at the Sun Gate! As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos.

The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point.

There are a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the Inca Trail and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last bit of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site, “House of the Guardians”where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. 

You will arrive in the afternoon as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists. This gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots.

Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
• Accommodation: 3* Hotel Ferre Machu Picchu
• Difficulty: Moderate.

*** You will leave your duffel bag at the train station, to be sent directly to Aguas Calientes. You will pick it up at the train station before you check into your hotel.

Day 5 AGUAS CALIENTES- MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss.

Your guide will give you a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hikes up Huayna Picchu will have time to enjoy those views on their own.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater.

You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Meal included: Breakfast

***IMPORTANT:

•  On the 2 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.