Salkantay & Inca Trail

Day 1

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Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains

Cusco Mollepata Marcocasa Canal Inca Soraypampa Sky Camp

You're about to start a magical adventure that combines the two best routes to walk to Machu Picchu: the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Trail. Our journey begins very early. We'll pick you up from your hotel's door in the city of Cusco at 4:30 a.m. and will take you in our private transport for 2.5 hours to the starting point of the Marccoccasa trek (3,300 masl / 10,826 fasl). There you'll meet all the team that will accompany you while you enjoy a delicious breakfast. You'll start the walk in the middle of fertile green valleys and under the immense Andean mountains' watchful eye. You'll ascend slightly for 3.5 hours to the place where we'll have lunch. After resting for a while, we'll continue on a less inclined terrain that's easier to walk.

Suddenly, as if he had quickly risen to his feet, the huge sacred glacier of Humantay will appear. It's inevitable to feel your heart accelerate in front of its powerful and gigantic presence. Remember that mountains are the main gods for the Andean culture and must be worshiped and respected. The temperature will drop suddenly here, and you'll have to keep warm, so don't forget to take warm clothes in a backpack that you carry with you. Our camp will be a little further in Soraypampa (3,800 masl / 12,467 fasl), where our team will welcome you with exquisite hot drinks. You'll spend the night in the middle of a glacial valley after satisfying your stomach with a fantastic dinner. Take the opportunity to contemplate the night sky's depth and hand over your soul to the stars.Minimum altitude: 2,900 masl / 9,515 fasl

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Moderate
• Walking Distance:  6.8 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3300 m / 10826 ft
• Highest Elevation:  3869 m / 12690 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3869 m / 12690 ft

Day 2

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The Stunning Salkantay Pass and Incredible Views

Soraypampa Humantay Lake Salkantay Pampa Ichupata

We'll wake you up with a hot coca-leaf tea that will help you start the day in the best way. Then you can savor our delicious breakfast. Before leaving, we'll have a short chat with our guide who'll explain these immense mountains' meaning for the Andean culture. With the permission of the sacred glaciers, you'll start a 2-hour walk to a real turquoise gem of the mountains, the famous Humantay Lake born from the glacier's snows of the same name that will appear in front of you closer than ever. Let yourself be enveloped by the brightness of the waters and the tranquillity of the place where ritual ceremonies are still performed in honor of nature.

You'll return to the main path, and then we'll ascend slightly to Salkantay Pampa, where you will enjoy lunch at approximately 1:00 p.m. If you think the beauty of the Humantay Mountain is impressive, get ready to see the face of Apu Salkantay, a huge glacier that's considered one of the main deities in the entire region. After lunch, we'll ascend for 2 hours to Ichupata or Japanese Pampa (4,200 masl / 13,779 fasl). The cold will start to worsen due to the altitude, so don't forget to take warm clothes and gloves with you. As always, we'll welcome you with a cup of hot drink, and then you'll enjoy dinner. Since the camp is in Salkantay Mountain's vicinity, you may hear the thunder of avalanches, but there's nothing to worry about, as these occur in another area. Don't forget that this camp is the highest and that at night the temperature can reach close to 0 C.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Moderate to challenging
• Walking Distance:  8 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3869 m / 12690 ft
• Highest Elevation:  4300 m / 14108 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  4600 m / 15091 ft

Day 3

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Adventure Through the Andean Mountains

Ichupata Inca Chiriasca Pass Inca Channel

You’ll welcome the day with a hot cup of coca tea and prepare to face the most challenging day on the route. You’ll slowly ascend to the Inca Chiriasca pass (5,000 masl / 16,404 fasl) while enjoying the company of the powerful glaciers. Once you reach the top of the open, we will bring you coca tea again to help you withstand the altitude while you contemplate the valleys dotted with crystalline lakes. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to appreciate the flight of the huge condor. From this point you can start the descent or take an optional 30-minute walk to see the glaciers up close. Once you arrive at the place where we’ll have lunch, we will be waiting for you with everything ready. After a short rest, we will continue the descent through beautiful Andean valleys until we reach our camp located in a community made up of just 10 families.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Challenging
• Walking Distance:  8.7 miles

• Starting Elevation:  4600 m / 15091 ft
• Highest Elevation:  5000 m / 13404 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3900 m / 12795 ft

Day 4

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Your Inca Expedition Begins Here

Inca Channel Pauccar Cancha Wayllabamba Ayapata

Today you will have the feeling of having traveled back in time as you share the path of the traditional farmers of Peru who live in complete communion and respect with Mother Earth, or Pachamama, as it has been done since ancient times. Observe their lifestyle and appreciate their tranquillity. Later you’ll arrive at an Inca archaeological site to learn a little about its history and advanced architecture. Your guide will also show you how the vegetation changes as you get closer to the Amazon jungle.

Finally, you’ll enter the classic Inca Trail, where you’ll have lunch. After a short break, you’ll ascend to our camp. Make sure you have your camera ready because you don’t want to miss the opportunity to photograph the impressive mountains and waterfalls that welcome you when entering the cloud forest.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Moderate to challenging
• Walking Distance:  8.6 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3900 m / 12795 ft
• Highest Elevation:  3750 m / 12303 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3600 m / 11829 ft

Day 5

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Retracing Ancient Steps and Visiting Ruins

Ayapata Warmi Wañusca Pass Runcuraccay Chaquicocha

Today is the most demanding day, but also one of the most amazing. We'll visit archaeological sites and enter the mysterious cloud forest. After breakfast, we'll ascend for 2 hours while seeing how the landscape begins to change dramatically. The vegetation will decrease as we reach a higher altitude, and Andean straw or 'ichhu' will begin to appear, which is the main food for the beautiful auquenids that graze peacefully in this area. We will reach 4,200 masl / 13,779 fasl at the Dead Woman's Pass, where you'll have time to rest while you contemplate the glaciers whose perpetual snows resist disappearing due to climate change. Later we'll descend through a cobbled path to the point where we'll have lunch. This part of the trail will be dotted with exotic flowers and orchids. We ask you to help us take care of them, please, as they are in danger of extinction.

If your walk is calm and you manage to connect with nature, you should be accompanied by the magical flight of hummingbirds that are a sign of good luck, according to the Andean culture. After lunch, we'll climb again for 2 hours until we reach a new pass. A little further on, you'll discover the beautiful archaeological site of Runcuraccay.

Although there are many theories and studies about the place, Runcuraccay is said to have been a strategic vantage point to monitor the valley. Take the opportunity to take pictures and feel like you're a bird that can take off from there to surrender to the air currents and fly beside the mountains. After a brief rest and the explanation from our guide, we'll begin to descend for an hour to the place called Yanacocha, where rituals were performed in honor of water's spirit. Little by little, the mist will cover the road as you enter the cloud forest and approach the Sayacmarca archaeological site. There you will be dazzled by the fine work and mastery of Inca architecture. Keep going! There are still 30 more minutes of walking to our camp located in Chaquicocha. You'll feel the embrace of the Amazonian spirit and the energy of life that will surround you in an incredible place to observe local flora and fauna's diversity.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Challenging
• Walking Distance:  9.9 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3600 m / 11829 ft
• Highest Elevation:  4215 m / 13829 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  3650 m / 11975 ft

Day 6

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Explore Incan Ruins and Their History

Chaquicocha Phuyupatamarca Wiñay Wayna

The effort you made yesterday will be rewarded with the most relaxed day on the route today. Before starting the trek, ask permission from the beautiful Pumasillo glacier and fill yourself with its energy. It will only be 5 hours of walking where you will see three impressive archaeological sites before arriving at our next camp. You’ll get to know the Inca complex of Phuyupatamarca or Pueblo Sobre las Nubes. The Inca nobles used this sacred place to communicate with the stars and study astronomy. Later, you’ll see an agricultural experimentation station where you’ll find a series of platforms used to create microclimates and thus boost the production of food in the area.

Finally, you’ll arrive at our last camp located in Wiñay Wayna (2,600 masl / 8,530 fasl), where you can leave your backpacks and walk for 5 minutes to see the most important archaeological site on the route, not counting Machu Picchu, of course. Again the advanced architecture of the Incas will surprise you with its aqueducts and temples. Listen carefully to our guide, who’ll reveal the mysteries of this fascinating place to you

After lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to take a hot shower, and then you need to relax as you’ll have the afternoon free. Enjoy your happy hour and your last dinner before our team of porters says goodbye to you. Thank them warmly for allowing you to have a fantastic adventure comfortably.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation:  Camps
• Difficulty:  Easy
• Walking Distance:  6.2 miles

• Starting Elevation:  3650 m / 11975 ft
• Highest Elevation:  3600 m / 11811 ft
• Campsite Elevation:  2650 m / 8694 ft

Day 7

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Enter the Incredible Incan Fortress: Machu Picchu

SUNGATE (Inti Punku) Machu Picchu

The day has arrived. As soon as you wake up, you'll feel the deep beating of your heart that will be anxious for your visit to one of the most memorable and energetic places in the world: Machu Picchu. We'll wake up much earlier than usual, as darkness is still enveloping everything, and we'll quickly have our breakfast and start a 2-hour walk to the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. As soon as you arrive at Puerta del Sol, you'll see this archaeological gem in the middle of the mountains for the first time in the distance. You'll wonder how the ancient Peruvians were able to build this wonder on almost inaccessible land. The last stretch is approximately 45 minutes. The sun's spectacle at dawn illuminating this ancient site will leave you breathless and shake your soul. You'll have a 2-hour guided tour where you'll gradually discover the secrets of the Inca citadel. Then take advantage of your free time to explore the corners of this energy centre on your own. You'll surely be surprised by how the Inca architects built these immense stone walls in perfect harmony with nature. You'll also notice that some fountains and aqueducts still continue to function after being built more than five centuries ago.

At the exit of the complex, you'll find buses that regularly leave for Aguas Calientes, a hectic miniature metropolis where you'll find many restaurants. Choose the one you want to enjoy your lunch in (food not included in the tour). Remember that you must be at the train station 30 minutes before your departure. The station is usually full of people which can slow you down a lot.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Difficulty:  Easy
• Distance traveled:  3 miles
• Machu Picchu Elevation:  2430 m / 7972 ft

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Ministry of Culture of Peru is the entity in charge of regulating the use of the Inca Trail and issuing entry permits. To access the Inca Trail it’s essential that you have a permit from the Ministry of Culture that matches the information in your passport exactly: name, passport number, nationality, and age. Only officially licensed tourism agencies can secure these permits, which are not transferable under any circumstances. If you want to change the date of your excursion you have to make sure that there are spaces available on the new date and buy a new permit. They are rules of the Government of Peru that we all must follow. If there are no permits available for the date you want, there are other incredible options to walk to Machu Picchu. We’ll be happy to find the perfect excursion for you.

What Is Included?

• High Quality Service & Safety

• Pre-departure briefing

  You will meet your guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. At this time, we will provide you with the duffle bags which will be carried by our horses and porters. The meeting will be at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins.

• Experienced Guide

  All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. Our guides are chosen for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and a desire to share in the experience. They’ll make sure you are safe and happy.

• Camping Equipment

  Cusco Expeditions uses the best equipment to ensure your safety and comfort. Every 2 people will share Eureka Timberline or Mountain Hard Wear tents with capacity for 4 people. In addition, you’ll have a spacious dining tent where you can enjoy your food without problems.

• Medical Kit

  All Cusco Expeditions guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergency situations (altitude sickness, traveller’s diarrhoea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

• Customer Service 24/7

  We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.

• Accommodation

• Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites

  Like our ancestors, we are very considerate of the Pachamama (Mother Earth). Therefore, our campsites and lodges are adapted to the environment to avoid generating negative impacts.

  

  Sky Camp

• Meals

• Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners

  Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets so let us know if you have any special restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner; in addition to hot drinks and snacks. Every morning we’ll give you your snack so you can enjoy it during the walk.

• Water

  From the first lunch to the last breakfast, Cusco Expeditions will provide you with all the water you need. The water is boiled, filtered, and cooled. You must bring your water bottles or a camel bag. We recommend a capacity of 3 litres. You’ll be able to fill your bottles during each meal.

• Wake up tea

  Every morning at the campsite, you will woken up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.

• Tea time daily

  Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite to eat!

• Snacks on the trail daily

  Local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We will give this snack to you at the beginning of each day in your cloth bag.

• One cloth snack bag per person

  To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we will give you a cloth bag for your snacks.

• Products for hygiene

  You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to clean your hands.

• Transportation

• Transport

  - Day 1: You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and will travel by private transportation to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek.

  - Day 7: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.

• Train tickets

  From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo

• Bus Ticket

  Day 7: From Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes

• Cargo Mules

  On days 1,2 and 3, cargo mules carry the all camping equipment and your allowance of personal baggage (7 kgs/15.4 lbs).

• Porters Team or Kallpa Team

  The Porters or Kallpa Team carry all of the personal tents, clothing, and sleeping bags, to extra dining and kitchen tents, food, water, tables, chairs, and a gas bottle stove.

• Permits & Entrance Tickets

• Entrance Ticket for Salkantay Trek

• Permits for Inca Trail

  As soon as we receive your complete information and the deposit that secures your reservation, we’ll buy all the necessary permits (subject to availability). These permits are issued for a specific date and will be in your name. They cannot be changed under any circumstances. Change of passport number is only allowed for renewal reasons. In that case you must bring both your old and new passport.

• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Archeological Site.

• EXTRAS included in our service.

• We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a small sleeping pillow, a foam mattress, a cover to protect your backpack on the road, and a rain poncho.

• Satellite phones

  Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. While all of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. Each Cusco Expeditions guides has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world. You can also use it even if it’s not an emergency.

• Personal Porter

  Is include a personal porter, who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag and personal items(5kl per person). There is no additional fee for this.

What Is Not Included?

• Rental

  All our travellers need a sleeping bag to camp. Inflatable mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional, but highly recommended. If you do not have them, don’t worry, you can rent them with Cusco Expeditions:

  • Sleeping bag: US $ 35.00
  • Inflatable mattress: US $ 35.00
  • Walking poles (pair): US $ 35.00

• Huayna Picchu

  You can climb the famous mountain that’s always seen in the photos, behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill. Going down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The additional cost is US $ 75.00. The permit must be issued at least 1 month in advance due to high demand. To protect your integrity, there may be changes due to weather conditions.

• Day 7: Lunch and Dinner in Aguas Calientes

• Travel Insurance

• Tips for our staff

  Tips are usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the porters and chefs together.

• Additional costs or delays out of control of the management

  Landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.

Additional Items

• Huayna Picchu

• Huayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu and which can be climbed in 45 minutes. Although this excursion is up to you, our guide will take you to the place of entry. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have enough time in advance.

  Obviously, your entry ticket will be purchased to coincide with the dates of your excursion on the Inca Trail. The entrance can be done in two shifts: from 7:00 a.m. at 8:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. at 11:00 a.m. We buy the tickets in the second shift so that our clients can fully enjoy their guided tour of Machu Picchu. Remember the shifts only indicate the time of entry. You can go up and down Huayna Picchu without haste.

  • The ticket for Huayna Picchu costs US $ 75.00 per person.

• Machu Picchu Mountain

• Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers even more incredible views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have time in advance.

  The entrance for the excursion to Machu Picchu Mountain is open only from 9:00 a.m. at 10:00 a.m.

  • The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US $ 75.00 per person.

• Vistadome Train

• All our tours include the Expedition train. This train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:22 p.m. The Vistadome train is a higher category service that offers more comfortable seats, a panoramic design that will allow you to see through the roof, as well as an entertainment show on board. Generally, the Vistadome train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:43 p.m. and goes to the Poroy station that is closest to Cusco. From there, we’ll take you to your hotel in Cusco.

  • You can access this service for US $ 75.00 extra dollars.

• Rental Equipment for Inca Trail

• All our travellers need a sleeping bag to camp(Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner.).

  All our Traveller need an Inflatable mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional, but highly recommended. If you do not have them, don’t worry, you can rent them with Cusco Expeditions:

  • Sleeping bag: US $ 20.00
  • Inflatable mattress: US $ 20.00
  • Walking poles (pair): US $ 20.00