Brendan Cunningham Ireland

Garvey Family, USA

Inca Trail and Salcantay Hikes

Salcantay to Machu Picchu trek package, 5 days, 4 nights - from 540.00 USD

Complete private Trail packages, 4 days, 3 nights - from 625.00 USD

Route descriptions:

On all these treks porters or horses/mules carry the main equipment so that trekkers can just carry their day packs with just what you need for the day.

INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU - 4 DAY, 3 NIGHT TREK

DAY 1: START OF THE INCA TRAIL We will pick you up early at the hotel and transfer you to the trailhead at KM 82 by private bus. We will stop en route where we can have breakfast before beginning the trek. The first part of the day is spent walking fairly easily on relatively flat terrain and after around two hours we will pass the archaeological site of PATALLACTA and witness impressive landscapes, flora, fauna and local small villages retaining their ancient Inca traditions, with a certain modern influence of course. The quantity of archaeological sites that we see serve to demonstrate the importance of this valley to the Incas. After lunch we will continue to climb through a semi-tropical valley for around two hours until we arrive at our first camp, Huayllabamba, at (3000 m.) Distance walked today = 10KM

DAY 2: HUAYLLABAMBA - PACAYMAYO We start early after breakfast and begin climbing upto the highest point on the trail. En route we pass through several different climatic and ecological zones as we make our way up to the WARMIWAÑUSCA pass at 4200 m. Many consider this area to be the home of the worlds highest cloud forest with flora and fauna starting at 3800m. After a strenous but lovely walk of approximately 5 hours we finally get to the highest point at the pass of 4200m, From here the views are incredible both sides of the pass. With some luck we may see the flight of a condor or eagle. After a breather at the top its all downhill to our second camp at PACAYMAYU (3500 m.) Distance walked today = 15KM

DAY 3: PACAYMAYO - HUIÑAYHUAINA. From PACAYMAYU the trail climbs steeply up the opposite side of the valley towards the second pass. About halfway up there is a small round stone building, this is the Inca site RUNKURACAY. The building is thought to have been a waypoint for runners, or chaskis, on the trail to MACHU PICCHU. The trail then continues to climb towards the top of the second pass, also called RUNKURACAY, at around 3900m. On the far side of the pass the trail descends into the valley. At this point the trail changes from dirt path to a narrow stone roadway, this is the beginning of the true Inca Trail. This trail leads past a second, larger Inca site, named SAYACMARCA "Town in a Steep Place". SAYACMARCA effectively controls the trail, which passes closely below it. After SAYACMARCA the trail descends to the valley floor and on the far side begins to climb again. The trail represents a considerable feat of engineering, including an 8m tunnel section where the Inca engineers widened a natural fissure in the rock into a tunnel large enough to allow the passage of humans and animals. The trail then leads up to the third pass and, just beyond it, a third Inca site, PHUYUPATAMARCA, "the cloudy place" which it is! This site appears to have had some ritual function; the rectangular structures along one side are baths, which were apparently fed from a spring higher up. The highest bath was reserved for the nobles. Below PHUYUPATAMARCA the trail descends steeply via hundreds of steps, to HUIÑAYHUAYNA, "Forever Young", another Inca site. Here is our third campsite and there is a visitor center nearby where you can get a luke warm shower and drink beer! Distance walked today = 16KM

DAY 4: TO MACHUPICCHU. The final section of the trail, from HUIÑAYHUAYNA to INTIPUNKU, is an easy hike, following a broad level path which winds comfortably through scrub and light jungle where colourful butterflies flutter across the trail. After no more than an hour and a half or so the trail arrives at a narrow flight of stone steps leading upwards into a small stone structure. Welcome to INTIPUNKU, the Gateway of the Sun, and through the rectangular doorway, you can see the ruins of Machupicchu if there is not too much cloud. From INTIPUNKU a pathway leads directly down to MACHU PICCHU. Distance walked today = 4KM

INCLUDED:
Private bus to the trail head, entrance fees to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu entrance fee, camping equipment, waterproof spacious tents (available in single, double or triple), a kitchen tent manned by cooking staff, dining tent and a toilet tent, mattress, camping chairs, camping table. First-aid kit, oxygen, radio communications, sleeping mattress and tent for our porters. Complete meals during trip, (breakfast is provided each day with the following available: milk coffee, tea, coca tea, bread, butter and jam, pancakes, scrambled eggs, salad and oatmeal. Lunch is provided using typical Andean food. Dinner every day which may include chicken, beef, lamb, fish with potatoes and rice, and other similar ingredients. Snacks are provided (fruit, chocolate, candies or sandwiches). Dietary requirements are catered for as are any health issues (which must be advised when booking). We have tea-time, when you first arrive at camp, which includes a buffet of teas, pop corn, and a wake up cup of tea in your tent every morning, professional English-speaking guide, great cook, porters (they carry all the equipment and food), bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town (train station), and return train to Cusco in a tourist class train, plus transfer to your hotel.

NOT INCLUDED:

Sleeping bag (can be rented, please advise)

Your last lunch in AGUAS CALIENTES

THINGS TO BRING
Backpack, sleeping bag (can be rented in CUSCO), rainwear, strong footwear, complete change of clothing, sweater, jacket, (something warm), water bottle and sterilizing tablets maybe, flashlight and batteries, sun block, insect repellent, toilet paper, selection of small snacks, chocolates, dried fruit, camera and film.

SALCANTAY TO MACHUPICCHU - 5 DAY TREK

Experience hiking sone of Peru's most picturesque landscapes around CUSCO. This 5-day trekking trip will take you around the base of the sacred SALCANTAY snow peak (6,271 meters; 20,700 feet), considered by local people to be the "Guardian Spirit of the Jungle". You will have the opportunity to experience remote native communities and the region's ecological biodiversity before reaching MACHU PICCHU. You will need a good dose of adrenaline as you hike up a 4600 meter pass (15,000 feet). The trip is supported with horses to carry the equipment and we provide you with top quality camping equipment and a very balanced and energetic diet. This is a less walked route and you will see less people than on the classic Inca Trail.

DAY 1: CUSCO - SALCANTAYPAMPA

Early morning pick up at your hotel followed by a 4 hours bus ride from CUSCO to MOLLEPATA (2700m.) Before arriving in MOLLEPATA we will stop off at an Inca temple with one of the finest examples of polygonal masonry. In SAYLLAPATA we have a breakfast and start a gentle hike to the trail head in SORAYPAMPA. Lunch will be ready when we arrive because the cook will take our transport to get ahead of us. From this site we continue to slowly hike to the head of the valley where we will find our campsite at SALKANTAYPAMPA (4.000m.) First day not too difficult and allows for acclimatization. Distance walked today = 6KM

DAY 2: SALCANTAYPAMPA - COLLPAPAMPA

After a hearty breakfast we cross to the left bank of a stream and the trail goes steeply uphill and starts a series of zigzags with breathtaking views of SALCANTAY and UMANTAY. After leveling out under SALCANTAY's lateral moraine we drop gently down to the small lake SOYROCOCHA, and then walking up a couple of hours we will reach to the highest pass (4600 m.) From here we have stunning views which serve as compensation for the great effort in reaching the top. We then descend to the site named HUAYRACMACH`AY (3800m.) arriving at HUAYRACPAMPA where we will have lunch. After a good lunch we will drop below the tree line and enter tropical cloud forest where wild orchids, bromelias and other flowers, and also humming birds may be seen. After 4 hours of heading downhill we will arrive in the tiny settlement of COLLPAPAMPA at only 2900m. Here we camp for the night and have dinner. Distance walked today = 16KM

DAY 3: COLLPAPAMPA - LUCMABAMBA

After breakfast the trail continues down the valley into the forest. This day is a paradise for birdwatching as flocks of colourful tropical birds roam the forest, bamboo groves and the spectacular waterfalls. After lunch we cross the river at Santa Teresa to start a flat hike following the train tracks to LUCMABAMBA where we camp. A nice day walking which is not difficult. Distance walked today = 16KM

DAY 4: LUCMABAMBA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES

Leaving early morning we begin our difficult climb to Aobamba pass at 2700 m. After reaching the summit we than have a short descent to the LLAPTAPATA site where you will be able to see Machu Picchu for the first time from a spectacular angle perched above the valley. The walk down to the hydroelectric station is a steep one and then we travel to the village of Aguas Calientes witha 45 minute ride on a local train for a night in a hostel and a well earned shower. Distance walked today = 14KM

DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO

After an early morning breakfast we will take a bus ride up to MACHU PICCHU site, entering early for the best photo opportunities and then spending the rest of the morning visiting and exploring the site, maybe with the time to climb HUAYNAPICCHU before heading down to AGUAS CALIENTES to board the train back to CUSCO.

INCLUDED
As per the Inca Trail above but using horses and horsemen instead of porters.

Plus local train tickets and the hostal for the night in Aguas Calientes

NOT INCLUDED:

Sleeping bag

Last lunch in AGUAS CALIENTES

SUGGESTION OF THINGS TO BRING
Backpack, sleeping bag (can be rented in CUSCO), rainwear, strong footwear, complete change of clothing, sweater, jacket, (something warm), water bottle and sterilizing tablets maybe, flashlight and batteries, sun block, insect repellent, toilet paper, selection of small snacks, chocolates, dried fruit, camera and film.

We are here to answer any questions you may have about trekking with us, just drop us an email to talk to our experts who have walked all these trails many times.

Let us know which route you prefer and discuss the options with us by clicking here.