7 Day Inca trail vía Salcantay

Tour Description

• Challenging trek for those who have a reasonable level of fitness
•  Guided by Professional English speaking guide
• Trek through beautiful mountain scenery and meet up with the Inca trail
• Arrive at Machu Picchu for Sunrise
• Meals, bus, transfers, train tickets, entrance fees to Machu Picchu included

Places that are visited

Day 1                   Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa

Day 2                    Soraypampa – Pampajaponesa

Day 3                    Pampajaponesa – Sisaypampa

Day 4                    Sisaypampa – Huayllabamba

Day 5                    Huayllabamba – Pacaymayu

Day 6                    Pacaymayu – Wiñay Wayna

Day 7                    Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Day 1: Cusco (3,350m) – Mollepata (2,909m) – Soraypampa (3,400m)

We drive from Cusco by private bus for approximately 4 hours to Mollepata from where our trek begins. Mollepata is a small village situated in the Apurimac Valley which is well known for its citrus produce. Here we meet up with our wranglers and their mules and horses that will carry our equipment during the trek. (Lunch, Dinner) The trail climbs for approximately 1 hour before reaching Cruzpata, from where we get our first view of the magnificent snow mountain of Humantay (5,917m). We pass many rivers continuing on our trek for about another 3 hours before reaching the small community and picturesque spot of Checchicancha. We stop here to take a break and have our lunch.In the afternoon we continue walking for about 3-4 hours to reach Soraypampa, which is nestled in-between the snow mountains. We camp here overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Soraypampa (3,400m) – Pampajaponesa (4,300m)

We continue walking today on a flat plain for about 3 hours. We stop to take lunch along the way and continue our trek for 3-4 hours. We have magnificent vistas today of the snow mountains. We reach our campsite which is approximately 1km away from the snow mountain, Salkantay. Here at our campsite we find many streams and two glacial lakes. At night we can hear the crashing of the glaciers. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Pampajaponesa (4,300m) – Sisaypampa

Our day begins with a slow uphill climb of approximately 4 hours to reach the Incachiriaska Pass (4,880m) which

translates as ‘the place where the Inca cools down’. Around this area, in the rocky crags, lives the Andean Condor, the world’s largest bird. From here the trail levels off downhill and we reach our campsite for the night at Sisaypampa.(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Sisaypampa – Huayllabamba (3,000m)

We continue to the end of the valley, which then enters a wider valley named Pampacahua, where we find an Inca canal that is still in full use by the local farming settlements. At the end of the pampa we find our first Inca archaeological site named Paucarcancha. We set up our campsite in the village of Huayllabamba where we leave our pack animals behind and relieve our porters for a new crew. We enjoy dinner and rest for the evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Huayllabamba (3,000m) – Pacaymayu (3,600m)

We take our breakfast and afterwards start our climb for about 2 hours to Yunkachimpa, where we take a short break. We then cross over to the Llullucha gorge and pass through a unique forest of Unca trees, a native species, which nowadays is hard to find except in isolated areas. We have now entered the Machupicchu Sanctuary. Once out of the forest we reach Llulluchapampa where we take lunch. We continue walking following an original Inca stone path and trek up to the Warmiwañusqa Pass (4,200m) where we have a magnificent view of our ascent and the trail ahead of us.We descend on a reconstructed Inca Trail down to the Pacaymayu River where we find our campsite for the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Pacaymayu (3,600m) – Wiñay Wayna (2,700m)

Today is one of the longest days on our trek and also one of the most beautiful. We start ascending until we come to Runkuraqay Inca archeological site from where we then continue ascending to Runkuraqay pass (4,000m). From here we walk down to the site at Sayacmarca (approx. 1 hour), a scenic location overlooking the Aobamba Valley on the original Inca Trail. We stop here to take our lunch. We then continue along the trail through marvellous landscapes, viewing Mt. Salkantay and Mt. Pumacsillo. We arrive at Phuyupatamarca ‘the village on the edge of the clouds’ which is our last viewpoint of the valleys and the tops of the snow mountains. From here we start descending down the Inca steps (approx. 3 hours) to our campsite at Wiñay Wayna. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Wiñay Wayna (2,700m) – Machupicchu (2,500m) – Cusco (3,350m)

This is our last day on the Inca Trail. We rise early, have breakfast, and start walking. We navigate a ridge that affords us magnificent vistas of the surrounding cloud forest below. Continuing along the original Inca Trail we arrive at the Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), with a spectacular view of Machupicchu. Our guide will help us understand the importance and functions of all the temples, and the history behind the Incas and the majestic Machupicchu! You can wonder down to Aguas Calientes for lunch where you will find an array of restaurants to choose from. In the afternoon you head back to Cusco by train where we will meet you and transfer you back to your Hotel. (Breakfast)

PRICES (dependent on amount of persons departing)

•  2 Persons :  $ 1,350 per person
• 3 Persons :  $ 1,280 per person
• 4+ Persons :  $ 1,240 per person

STUDENTS/CHILDREN 15YRS OR UNDER – Less $20 per student/child

INCLUDED

•  Pre-departure briefing in our office
• Collection from your hotel in Cusco
• Transportation from Hotel to start of Inca Trail and return
• Professional English speaking Guide (two guides for groups over 8 persons)
• Experienced Cook preparing delicious meals 3x a day
• Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners (we provide generous amounts of nutritious meals and beverages and have vegetarian, gluten, wheat options available at no extra cost)

• Snacks enroute and tea time daily

• Horses to carry your Duffel bags on Salkantay Section of trail
• Boiled water to replenish your supply from Day 1 – Lunch time onwards
• Entrance fee onto Inca Trail and into Machupicchu Sanctuary
• Bus from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes
• Porters to carry the camping equipment, ie tents, tables, chairs, etc.
• Duffel bags to put your luggage into when hiring Personal Porters
• Spacious 4 man tents, but we put only 2 persons per tent
•  Comfortable thermarest sleeping mats (can request delux mat at extra charge)
• Hot water for washing in your tent every day
• Biodegradable soap and hand cleansing gel
• Emergency Oxygen bottle and first aid kit
•  IncaRail or Expedition train ticket for group services / Vistadome for private services

NOT INCLUDED

• Breakfast on the first day and Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes
• Personal Porters to carry luggage:  $80 for a luggage allowance of 7kg. We recommend each person hire a porter. THE WEIGHT ALLOWANCE INCLUDES THE WEIGHT OF YOUR SLEEPING BAG.
• Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes
• Climb up Huayna Picchu Mountain – $ 70 payable in advance for permit
• Gratuities
• Optional to rent
• Horse to ride from Salkantay to Huayllabamba (start of Inca Trail) including horseman – $135 per person
• Sleeping Bags – $50 per bag
• Walking Poles – $18 per pole
•  Inflatable Mattresses – $35 per mattress (if not hiring we provide foam mats free of charge)
• Inflatable Pillows – $14 per pillow
• Single Tents (for persons not happy to share) – $90 per tent
• Gratuities – In Peru it is customary to tip your Porters, Cook and Trail Guide at the end of the trek, although this is entirely at your discretion.
• Guideline:    Porters: approx. Soles 60-80 per porter from group  Cooks: approx. Soles 80-100 per cook from group  Guide: approx. Double of the cooks tip from group
• Personal Insurance – We highly recommend that you take out your own Travel & Medical Insurance before you leave your country!

Interested in climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain?

Please note that you need to reserve permits for Huayna Picchu Mountain in advance as they are subject to availability. There are 400 permits available per day and the cost to add on Huayna Picchu to your program is $ 70 per person. Please note if passengers are not on time for Huayna Picchu they will lose their entrance!

NOTE ABOUT CAMPSITES ON THE INCA TRAIL

Please note that we are not in control of the campsites we are issued with from the Institute of National Culture.  In general your campsite allocation is dependent on how early you book, or rather, how many permits are left.  The first 250 spaces are generally given to Winay Wayna (3rd campsite) and thereafter you will have a longer walk to Machupicchu on the last day and it could mean you do not make it for sunrise.  Do not let this disappoint you as Machupicchu is marvellous in itself!

Note about the Inca Trail: Due to tight regulations on the Inca trail availability is limited on a first in first served basis only. We cannot guarantee your place until we have received your booking and deposit and have processed the request for an Inca Trail ticket. To ensure your space on the trail we advise you book early. However if space is unavailable we offer alternative treks which all include a visit to the ruins Machu Picchu. For more information on the Inca trail regulations and other hikes available in the area please refer to our website