- Soraypampa
- Sky Camp
- Salkantaypampa
- Salkantay Pass
- Chaullay
- Andean Hut
- Machu Picchu
4 Day Trek to Machu Picchu
This shorter alternative to the Salkantay Classic is sure to ‘peak’ your interest as you walk between the towering peaks of Humantay and Salkantay mountain as you make your way to Machu Picchu. This is truly the experience of a lifetime! Did you know that the Salkantay Trek is listed as one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine? Join us, and discover what it means to walk the sacred paths of the Inca.
Exclusive Campsites
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Overview
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Itinerary
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Inclusions
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Before You Go
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Accommodation
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Pricing
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Enquire Now
The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in Cusco and it is undoubtedly the best alternative route to experience the original Inca paths. This trek takes you through many different types of landscapes. You will have the best opportunity to see the typical Andean landscape up to the snowcapped mountains, down to the tropical forests and finally even venture into the dense jungle. If you are thinking to do a hiking trip to Machu Picchu and you want to be off the beaten path, close to the Andean communities and appreciate the beautiful and diverse nature of Peru, the Salkantay Trek is highly recommended.
Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 0
Pre-Departure Briefing
Cusco
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Day 1
Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains
Mollepata Challacancha Soraypampa (Humantay Lake) Sky Camp
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Day 2
The Stunning Salkantay Pass and Descent to the Jungle
Salkantay Pass Wayracmachay Chaullay
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Day 3
The Adventure Continues to Aguas Calientes
La Playa Santa Teresa Hydroelectric Aguas Calientes
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Day 4
Tour of the Incredible Incan Fortress: Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Why Take the Salkantay Trail?
- The Salkantay Trek is listed as one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
- The Salkantay Trek is definitely one of the very best trekking adventures that you will find in Peru and in the continent of South America.
- After the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek is the 2nd most popular trek to Machu Picchu (and a lot less crowded).
- Hiking alongside the magnificent Apu Salkantay and arriving at the ruins of the majestic Machu Picchu is one of the best experiences known to mankind.
- Trekkers can see natural bridges, snowcapped mountains, colorful valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, unique plants, and cloud forest.
- Camping with less people allows you to control your own trip and have the best views of these incredible mountains!
Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains
Mollepata Challacancha Soraypampa (Humantay Lake) Sky Camp
We start the day by picking you up from your hotel at approx 04:00 AM. We will drive for around 4 hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata and ending up at Challancha. Through the windows of the bus you can clearly see the white, snowcapped mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay: two colossal gods of the Incas. You will also see spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama filling every direction you turn your eyes! After the first two hours of driving, we will stop quickly in Mollepata to take advantage of the toilet facilities, souvenir shops, and an optional, short breakfast. We will then continue to Challacancha, the starting point for our trek. We will meet our support staff, and they will organize all of the equipment and cargo mules. Around 09:30 AM, we will begin trekking to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 FASL), the first campsite on our journey.
The first section of the path takes us over a few deep valleys along the side of a mountain. At some parts of the trail, an old aqueduct can still be seen which still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. We will travel 7 km (4.35 miles) in 3 hours to Soraypampa where we will have our lunch at the base camp of Salkantay. After lunch and a short rest, we hike up to the unforgettable Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 ft). This is a 5 km (3.1miles) round-trip which we will walk in a total of 3 hours. This place one of the most beautiful sights in all the Andes with unbelievable blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay. It seems like something out of a dream or fairy tale! Back at our camp, the background of the valley at sunset creates the most peaceful scene with an energy that can only be felt and not described! Because Soraypampa (our camp) is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, the sky is so immensely clear at night that you can truly appreciate the stars, constellations, and even comets shooting across the pitch blackness, uninterrupted by the hustle, bustle, or lights of the city. Take a moment this night to re-center your spirit and consider all the deep things of life in the profound silence and tranquility of Soraypampa!
- Meals: Lunch and Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
- Accommodation: Glass-Topped Sky Camp
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Walking Distance: 4.9 miles
- Starting Elevation: 3350 m / 10990 ft
- Highest Elevation: 4600 m / 15091 ft
- Campsite Elevation: 3920 m / 12861 ft
The Stunning Salkantay Pass and Descent to the Jungle
Salkantaypampa Salkantay Pass Wayracmachay Chaullay Andean Huts
After an early wake-up with the first daylight at 05:30 AM and a quick but energizing breakfast, we will start trekking up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15255 FASL). The distance is a 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent in 3 hours between the rocky valley base and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6271 MASL– 20574 FASL). When we reach the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”. Continuing from this climax of today’s trek, there is a 5 km (3.1 mile) downhill walk to the site for lunch. The walk downwards is on a serpent-shaped, rocky, gravel path which leads to the Huayracmachay lunch campsite. To rest on the way down, there is a perfect valley outlook that is absolutely stunning! In the afternoon after our meal, we will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2 mile) hike completed in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick and magical tropical forest. During this part of the trek, you will notice a dramatic change in landscape and the earth’s energy as we move from Andes to Amazon! This hike is truly beautiful; the hills are decorated with colorful scenery, wildlife, and native plants. The forests are warm and tropical most of the year with temperate climates. At the end of this outstanding hike, we arrive at Chaullay Village (2900 MASL – 9514 FASL) for a much-deserved reward of rest from our long day of trekking! This is our base camp in the jungle as we continue to make our way to Machu Picchu.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
- Accommodation: Wooden Camping CHOZAS
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Walking Distance: 13.7 miles
- Starting Elevation: 3800 m / 12467 ft
- Highest Elevation: 4650 m / 15255 ft
- Campsite Elevation: 2750 m / 9022 ft
The Adventure Continues to Aguas Calientes
Chaullay La Playa Santa Teresa Hydroelectric Aguas Calientes
After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will take local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station.
Here you will have two options:
1) If you are exhausted, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($34.00 extra).
2) If you are still eager to hike, you may walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. There is a nice path next to the tracks through the warm paradise of the cloud forest. This is the same trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost to the outside world!
Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a bit before dinner or walk around this alluring place that has the feel of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it is an especially peaceful place to be. At 7:00 PM, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the overnight stay at our hostel. In your luxury room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Plus snacks)
- Accommodation: Hostel
- Difficulty: Easy
- Walking Distance: 16.8 miles
- Starting Elevation: 2750 m / 9022 ft
- Campsite Elevation: 1600 m / 5249 ft
Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hostel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM. We will hike up to Machupicchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!
After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride between 01:37 PM and 06:20 PM (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 20:00 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
- Touring Level: Easy
- Hike Level: Strenuous
- Activity Duration: 2-5 hours exploring (& optional 2-3 hour strenuous hike)
- Machu Picchu Elevation: 2430 m / 7972 ft
Cusco Expeditions specified the included/non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details. For specific programs, maybe some items are different, please read carefully before booking with us.
What Is Included?
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High Quality Service & Safety
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Pre-departure briefing
You will meet your trekking 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. The meeting will be at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins.
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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.
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Camping Equipment
Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking equipment (all carried by the horses).
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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 emergencies (altitude sickness, traveler’s diarrhea, 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.
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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.
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Accommodation
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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.
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Hostel in Aguas Calientes
The last night of this trek is spent in a hostel in Aguas Calientes with a double or triple room, private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
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Meals
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Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets(Vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost ), so let us know if you have any particular 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.
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Wake up tea
Every morning at the campsite, you will wake 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.
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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!
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Snacks on the trail daily
Every morning we’ll give you your snack to enjoy it during the walk; our tour leader will provide you a Cloth bag with local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We will give this snack to you at the beginning of each day in your cloth bag.
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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.
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Products for hygiene
You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to clean your hands.
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Transportation & Tickets
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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 4: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
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Train Ticket
- Day 4: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
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Cargo Mules
On days 1, 2, and 3, cargo mules carry all the camping equipment and your allowance of personal baggage (7 kgs/15.4 lbs).
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Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entrance Ticket for Salkantay Trek
Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Archeological Site.
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EXTRAS included in our service.
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We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your backpack on the road, and a rain poncho.
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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.
What Is Not Included?
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Rental
All our travellers need a sleeping bag to camp 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
- Walking poles (pair): US $ 20.00
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 $ 30.00. 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.
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Day 4: Last Lunch and Dinner in Aguas Calientes
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Personal clothing and gear
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Travel Insurance
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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.
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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.
We want to make your trip to Peru as amazing and as easy as possible. On this section you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had in one place.
Please read carefully the following information – it will help you with any questions you may have about our services.
Have another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line and we will get back to you asap!
Is it for me?
The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a great alternative for the Inca Trail trek and better suited for more adventurous trekkers who are able to handle higher altitude and longer distances. Ascending to reach the famous Apacheta Pass at 4650 MASL - 15088 FASL is not too strenuous since it is at the beginning of the trek, neither is it very steep, but it does require stamina and a little time in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before beginning the trek.
How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?
It is very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We do recommend that you arrive to Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you become acclimatized and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.
If you have already been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Cusco, we still recommend you have a complete day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.
Here some suggestions for activities to do in the Cusco vicinity before starting your adventure trek:
The Briefing
This meeting will take place the night before the trek’s departure at 5 PM at our office which is located at Triunfo Street 392, Office 212 (second floor). We are 1 block from the Main Square (Plaza de Armas) of Cusco.
What about the balance?
It would be greatly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many cash machines in the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address of ventas@cuscoexpeditions.com
Duffle Bag for Salkantay short Trek 4 Days
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFLE BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7 kg/15.4 lbs. Our horseman will carry your duffle bag for you together with the food and camping gear. It is important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day as the horsemen and horses will always be ahead of the group. During the travel, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, raincoat, camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Usually, a 30 to 50 litre backpack is sufficient.
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Talk to a Destination Expertito
Your dedicated specialist will take the time to understand your preferences and build them into an itinerary to match, working to your budget. He or she will keep perfecting it until you’re completely happy and ready to book.
Private & Exclusive Campsites
Sky Camp
Our incredible Sky Camp is located in front of the impressive mountains Humantay and Salkantay. This campsite allows for the perfect union of sky and earth. It allows you to sleep calmly under a deep, blue sky starred with an exceptional view of the constellations. At the same time, you can enjoy all the comforts of a first-class vacation home.
- Location: Soraypampa
- Altitude: 3900 mts.
- Igloos: 26
- Capacity: 2 people per Igloo
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Andean Huts
Like in the times of our ancestors, our commitment is to our Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (Mountains). Our campsite ANDEAN HUTS is adapted to the natural environment without generating any audiovisual impact, constructed of the elements, surrounded by the mountains and rivers, and under the shine of the stars.
- Location: Chaullay
- Altitude: 2900 mts.
- Andean Huts: 20
- Capacity: 2 people per Andean Hut
- Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner
Jungle Domes
From the comfort of our domes, you can be in intimate contact with the surrounding nature, hearing the wind or the rain or gazing at the stars through the central dome from your comfortable bed. The conceptual design of our domes invites you to see one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world from your window.
- Location: Lucmabamba
- Altitude: 2000 mts.
- Igloos: 16
- Capacity: 2 people per Jungle Dome
- Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner
Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Hotel
We offer a set of well located hostels & hotels with very comfortable and tasteful decorated rooms. You will find them impecable, clean rooms and beds, adequate toilets and showers. A perfect place to rest before the great day!
- Location: Aguas Calientes
- Altitude: 2040 mts.
- Type: Single, Double, Matrimonial
- Meals: Breakfast
The Salkantay Short Trek can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We do not run this trek in February because rainy season & maintenance.
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Group Price
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2020 Land Cost
US$450per person
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Pre-payment
US$200(Required)
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Balance
US$250
- This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Additional Items
There are additional items you can include in this trip. Below is a quick list of prices.
- Huayna Picchu: $30
- Machu Picchu Mountain: $30
- Single Room at Aguas Calientes: $30
Extensions & Offers
There are several extensions you can include to your Salkantay Adventure:
- Rainbow Mountain: $100 $80
- Sacred Valley: $100 $80
- City Tour: $20
Hotel
The alternative treks all end in, or before Aguas Calientes. The last night is spent at a hotel in the village, rather than camping. This 2 star hotel is included in the trek cost, and is based on a shared room. If you would like to upgrade your hotel, or prefer a single room, there will be an additional cost.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information
Student Discount
$20 off person
Student discounts apply to anyone who is 17-years-old or younger. For those booking children 17-years-old or younger, we need a copy of their passport at booking time. Please send all to sales@cuscoexpeditions.com.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Cusco Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Cusco Expeditions Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
We give advice and recommendations that are right for you
Feel free to reach us via email at sales@cuscoexpeditions.com or by calling us directly at +51 947 736 747
Triunfo Street 392, office 212, 2nd floor - Main Square of Cusco, Peru
Monday - Friday
9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!
