Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail 6 Days – 5 Nights
23 reviews 
Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail 6 Days – 5 Nights
23 reviews
Overview
This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salcantay 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 town on the fourth day afternoon. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu.This itinerary is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Salcantay Trek deservingly named one of the 25 Best Treks in the World by National Geographic Travel Magazine
Highlights
- The Salkantay (6264m/20551f) is a sacred mountain, and the tallest, most representative peak situated in the Vilcabamba range.
- The scenery in this region is particularly beautiful, and offers wonderful views of the diverse landscape and the tropical forest.
- this journey, we’ll also visit local farmers to learn about their Andean life, customs and traditions this trek perfectly combines cultural and natural beauty.
- This trek ends at the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu, an engineering marvel and icon of the Inca empire.
Trip Details
Starting Altitude: 3600 m / 11,808 feet
Hightes altitude:4,700m /15,420 feet
Type Tour: Hiking, Adventure
Walking Distance: 75 km / 46.60 miles
Difficulty Level: Challenging
Weather: cold, Wendy, rainy, wet, hot. Sometimes temperatura go bellow -10°C
Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Salkantay pampa
Day 2 : Salkantay pampa – Salkantay pass – Sisay Pampa
Day 3: Sisay pampa – Canal of the Inca – Wayllabamba
Day 4: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañusca – Pacaymayu
Day 5: Pacaymayu – Runkurakay – Chaquicocha – Wiñayhuayna
Day 6: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Salkantay pampa
We’ll leave Cusco at 5:45am.aprox. After passing the town Mollepata (3000m/9843f) where we will pay the entrance then we’ll head for Cruz Pata (3400m/11155f), where we’ll meet the rest of our trekking team, and begin hiking into a magnificent valley surrounded by impressive snow-capped mountains, such as the Humantay (5217m/17116f) and the Salkantay (6264m/20551f). Our campsite will be at Salkantay pampa (3900m/12795f).
Transport time: 4 hours
Hiking time: 7 hours
Climate: Moderate and cold during the night
Optional: On the way to Soray Pampa, we strongly recommend making a 2-hour detour to see Humantay Lake and the snow-covered peak of Humantay. You’ll have to ascend from Soray Pampa (3900m/12800F) to Humantay (4220m/12800f).
Day 2 : Salkantay pampa – Salkantay pass – Sisay Pampa
After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey around midmorning and head for the highest mountain pass in the park of Machu Picchu: the Salkantay pass (5200m/17060f).
From there, we’ll have an exceptional view of the snow-capped Salkantay (6264m/20551). Afterwards, we’ll descend to the next campsite, Sisay pampa (3700m/12139f).
Hiking time: 7 -8 hours.
Climate: Moderate and cold during the night
Day 3: Sisay pampa – Canal of the Inca – Wayllabamba
At dawn. our trek leads us to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We’ll pass little creeks and visit several small archeological sites. Our trek today ends at Wayllabamba (3000m/9843f), both our camping site and the starting point for the Classic Inca Trail the next morning.
Climate: Moderate and cold during the night
Hiking time: 5 hours
Day 4: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañusca – Pacaymayu
To maximize your enjoyment of the beautiful panorama and mystical atmosphere, our day starts early in the morning. Our trek takes us to the valleys of Yuncachimpa (3300m/10827f) and Lulluchapampa (3850/12631f) and finally to Warmiwañusca pass (4200m/13780f), which offers an impressive view of the snow-capped Verónica mountain.
After a short break at the summit, we’ll continue hiking down to our campsite Pacaymayu (3500m/11483f).
Hiking time: 7 -8 hours.
Climate: Cold
Day 5: Pacaymayu – Runkurakay – Chaquicocha – Wiñayhuayna
We begin hiking after a delicious breakfast, and the anticipation of enjoying the most beautiful day of the trek. First, we’ll arrive at the archeological site of Runkurakay (3050m/10000f). Perched on a rocky outcrop, this site was supposed to be a “tambo,” a place for storing food and for messengers to rest.
We ascend to a pass at an altitude of 3950m/12960f, before descending to the ruins of Sayacmarca (3600m/11810f), a small city composed of a maze of narrow streets, houses, terraces, and fountains.
The path continues as we go by an Inca tunnel and then walk through a forest, before reaching the last pass, at an altitude of 3700m/12140f.
Below, we’ll see the ruin of Phuyupatamarca, “City Above the Clouds”, which includes an Inca relay station, impressive circular walls and an ingenious system of aqueducts that still supplies the baths with water.
We’ll enjoy a superb view of snow-capped peaks and the Urubamba Valley. Your descent to the other side is under a thick canopy of bamboo.
You’ll also see the extraordinary ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2650m/8694f) on a rocky spur in the heart of the forest and overlooking the Urubamba Valley.
This is our campsite for the night.
Hiking time: 7 -8 hours.
Climate: Moderately cold, warm with mosquitoes
Day 6: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
After our breakfast around 5:00 am, we’ll head – equipped with our flashlights – to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu.
Around 8:00 am, we’ll visit the citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m//7874f) and enjoy its spiritual charm during a guided tour of about two hours. Afterwards, you’ll have time to explore the archeological site on your own.
We’ll leave Aguas Calientes in the afternoon.
Climate: Warm with mosquitoes
Hiking time: 2 hours
Notes Itinerario
- Climb to Wayna Picchu; for the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Wayna Picchu from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and distant.
- Climb Machupicchu Mountaña: is the hights point in Machupicchu where you have the amazing view.
- Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you’ll return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Cusco – train departure to Cusco.
Included
- meeting with the Guide before to start the trek 1 or 2 days in advance.
Private transport from the hotel to Mollepata (Cruz Pata). - Bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town.
- Train from Aguas Calientes – Cusco/to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco.
- Entrance fees to the National Park of Salkantay, the Inca Trail and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
- Camping equipment (professional two-persons tent
s: Doite, model Cima 4, extra light/4kg, Doite, model Kailas 3, extra light/4.5kg and Doite, model Himalaya, extra light/4.5kg; sleeping mats, dining tent equipped with a table and chairs, a sanitary tent). - Meals during the excursion (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks/ vegetarian option available on request).
- Chef and assistant cook.
Horseman, mules and porters for up to 7kg/15lb of personal equipment per person.
Emergency horse during the hike from Salkantay to Wayllabamba.
First-aid kit and oxygen bottle. - Hot water every morning for washing purposes and boiled water to fill your water bottle every day in morning, lunch and dinner time.
No Included
- Sleeping bag (If you don’t have a sleeping bag, you can rent a warm sleeping bag for $25.00 USD per whole tour).
- Last lunch in Aguas Calientes on 6 Day.
- Extras not mentionet in the Program.
- Entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain; add US$ 25
- Sleeping bag rental for the trek add US$ 18
- Walking stick rental for the trek add US$15
- Hotel night after or before trek in Cusco dependo on your request
Recommendations:
Plan ahead:
The Inca Trail is one of the busiest adventure tours in the world, and quotas are limited to 500 people per day, of which only 200 are for tourists and the remaining 300 are for people accompanying travelers (guides , cooks, porters, etc.), so it is very important to plan this tour a few months in advance (between 3 and 6 months in advance). It must also be taken into account that during the month of February the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance work that is carried out there.
Pack your backpack well.
Depending on the path you choose, it can be 2 or 4 days of walking, so every gram counts. Carry only what is strictly necessary and make sure that the backpack you carry is suitable for this type of excursion, because as you go, everything becomes heavier. Watch this video so you know what you should take to the Inca Trail
Wear the correct footwear
For the Inca Trail, or similar treks, it is recommended to wear hiking shoes that have good grip or hiking boots, it is not convenient to wear new shoes, since these cause blisters on the feet. It is also advisable to bring a pair of sandals to rest your feet at night.
Altitude Sickeness
The city of Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,250 meters above sea level, and the height on the Inca Trail reaches up to 4,200 meters above sea level. It is important to acclimatize to the altitude before doing this excursion in order to avoid possible discomfort along the way. Preferably stay in the city of Cusco 2 or 3 days before the excursion
- The combination of the Salkantay trek and the classic Inca trail is important to book months in advance, especially for the high season from May to September. This is due to the legal limit of 500 people permitted per day to start the Inca Trail, including trekkers, guides, cooks and porters.
- from Day 1 – Day 2 (from Cruz Pata to Wayllabamba), we are accompanied by horsemen and mules to carry all camping equipment and one piece of personal luggage of up to 7 kg/15lb per person. From Day 4 – Day 6 (from Wayllabamba to Aguas Calientes), all equipment including the customer’s personal luggage will be carried by porters.
What To Bring
- Backpack with rain cover (30- or 40-liter capacity is sufficient).
- Clothing for both warm and cold climates.
- Trekking shoes/boots.
- Slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs).
- Woolen/synthetic socks and a sweater.
- Long- and short-sleeved T-shirts.
- Rain poncho/waterproof jacket and a hat.
- Bathing suit (for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes).
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, toilet paper, hand cleaner/disinfecting alcohol gel and personal toiletries.
- Camera (with rain protection), a flash light/headlamp and extra batteries.
- Snacks (e.g. chocolate bars and dried fruit)
- Original passport, original ISIC student card (to receive the student discount) and extra money in soles.
- The climate can be very cold and wet, so your wet clothes won’t have enough time to dry. Take extra clothes.
Prices
Private Service
| Number of persons | Price Per person |
Group Service
Terms & Conditions
We require an immediate deposit of $150.00USD for all bookings.
For all tours and treks, the balance must be paid in full up to 48 hours prior to the start of the program. you can pay the balance at your hotel in Cusco, we only accept cash payment. Failure to pay the trek balance will result in tour cancellation.
If you decide to cancel during the briefing 2 days prior to departure, you must pay the full amount of the trek. Wayra Peru Travel, however, will cover the expenses for the hotel and train ticket to visit Machu Picchu. This offer must be confirmed in writing at the briefing.
You may cancel the booking at any time provided that the cancellation is communicated to info@wayraperutravel.com in writing. Cancellation charges will be applied as shown below calculated from the day written notification is received by info@wayraperutravel.com. All reservations cancelled less than 15 days prior to the departure date of the tour are subject to a cancellation fee
The entrance fees are non-transferable, non-reimbursable and the participant cannot change the date of departure.
If the traveler makes the decision to abandon the excursion during the program, no reimbursement will be made and no claim will be accepted. Wayra Peru Travel does not cover the expenses made by the traveler for the hotel and the transport back to Cusco or to Aguas Calientes, as well as a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Also, the traveler will be accompanied by a representative of Wayra Peru Travel back to the train station.
Certain services might be interrupted or even cancelled due to weather conditions, natural disasters or other disturbances. These are out of the control of hotels, service suppliers, Wayra Peru Travel or its partners and therefore, no refund will be given.
To receive the student discount of $20.00USD, we require a copy of a university student card with valid expiration date and picture. It is very important to bring your original student card to validate the discount. In the event that we don’t receive the scanned copy of the student card along with your reservation form, we will process your reservation at the full, adult price.
If Wayra Peru Travel doesn’t confirm the reservation, the deposit will be refunded.
In the case of force majeur, when a trek cannot start or be completed, Wayra Peru Travel will find an alternative route to go to Machu Picchu. If this alternative is of lower value than the originally booked excursion, Wayra Peru Travel will refund the difference.
Period before departure written notification is received. Cancellation fee as a percentage of the holiday price
15-10 days. 50%
9-7 days. 80%
6 days or less. 100%
PAYMENT METHODS
1.- PAYPAL
* We will not be able to book and confirm your tour or trek without the following:
1.- A deposit of $…… . Deposits are made through the PayPal link below.
1 Person $ USD
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2.- Send the money through WESTER UNION
(An easy and cheaper way to send the deposit) https://www.westernunion.com/pe/en/send-money.html Once you confirm your booking of trips, send the deposit through Western Union page or if you have any closer agency of this company , send us the money in US$ in name of :
- Name:
- Paternal name:
- Maternal name:
- ID or DNI:
- Address:
- Telephone number:
- Office of Western Union to be picked: Maruri street N° 310
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