Salkantay Trek 07 Days / 06 Nights

Day 1: Cusco –Marccoccasa – Soraypampa

Your Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Tour starts with your Salkantay Trek Tour Guide, Chef, and Porters picking you up from your hotel (Must be located in Cusco) at 4:30 a.m. Drive two and a half hours to the trailhead, Marccoccasa (3,300 meters). Meet your horseman and horses and prepare for the day while enjoying your breakfast. Starting off your trek, take in the views of the Andes, along the way see lush green valleys, and beautiful waterfalls. Today will be moderate hike, but the day will be long. Firstly, there will be a gradual uphill climb lasting about three and a half hours, before arriving at our lunch spot. After lunch, the hike will be less of an incline and more relaxed walk.

The views along the Salkantay Trek change drastically. The trailhead is all green, lush valleys, but in the afternoon, you will be at the foot of Humantay Mountain. Experience a temperature drop from warm to cold. Make sure to have your warm jacket, gloves and hat in your daypack for the cold afternoon. On arrival at the Soraypampa campsite (3,800 meters), your team will welcome you with a warm drink, settle into your tent before a wonderful dinner under the stars.

• Elevation: From 2,900 to 3,800 m
• Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Ichupata

After an early breakfast in Soraypampa, the day begins with a scenic hike to the stunning turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, nestled beneath the majestic Humantay Glacier. While trekking enjoy the amazing views of the high glacier peaks. These peaks are considered to be the highest around Cusco and have great spiritual value to the Andean people. It’s believed that the Incas used to hold celebration ceremonies for the God of water and the Apus (the mountains, that surround this peaceful place.

You will then begin your return to the main trail and continue towards at Salkantay Pampa. From here we will depart the Humantay peaks and hike past higher peaks of Salkantay Mountain (6,215 m). You will arrive here around 1 p.m. and enjoy a chef’s prepared lunch in the middle of the Andes. After lunch, we will have a two hour, steep climb to our second remote campsite, at Ichupata or Pampa Japonesa (4,200 m). Surrounded by towering peaks and silence, Ichupata offers a tranquil place to acclimate and prepare for the high passes of the next day. At the campsite, you will be welcomed by your porters to enjoy hot drinks and dinner. Tonight is the perfect night to spot the constellations and the views of Salkantay peak.

Today will be a cold day of hiking, so be sure to have your jacket, warm hat, sunglasses, and gloves in your day pack. This campsite is the highest, so it should be a cold night, close to zero degrees Celsius.

• Elevation: 3,500 – 4,300 meters
• Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Day 3: Ichupata – Inca Chiriasca Pass – Inca Canal

To prepare for the day ahead a wonderful filling breakfast is waiting for you. After you have had your fill, it is time to embark on the most challenging yet rewarding day of the hike. Your guide will lead you up the Inca Chiriasca pass (5,000 meters), the pace will be steady and there will be marvelous views of the glacial mountains. Once you have reached the top, there will be hot coca tea, views of the valley and lakes below and chances to view birds like condors and falcons.

Continuing on after the Chiriasca Pass, we start to descend, here there is an optional hike to a glacier, a short hike of only 30 minutes. Before, continuing on we trek to our spectacular lunch spot, where your porters will be waiting with the traditional hot tea and delicious lunch. For the rest of the day, walk downhill, through lush green valleys and winding streams, before reaching your campsite, in a little village of 10 families. Tonight share some experiences with the families and dinner before a well-deserved early night after a wonderful day of adventure.

• Elevation: 4,300 – 5,000 meters, then to 37,500 meters
• Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
• Difficulty: Difficult

Day 4: Inca Canal – Pauccar Cancha – Wayllabamba – Ayapata

Another early start, fill up on breakfast before leaving camp. Today you will get a rare glimpse into the past as you wander through hillside tracks, still used today by traditional Peruvian farmers, living the same since the time of the Incas. Later, arrive at some interesting Inca ruins, where your tour guide will provide you with some background on the site and the Incas. After the ruins, noticing the change in your surroundings, the guide will point out new and different vegetation, as you move into the high, jungle micro-climate.

From here on in you will start on the classic Inca Trail, where your porters will serve you lunch. The afternoon’s hike will be all uphill until we reach our campsite at Ayapata. Be sure you have your camera ready, with fully charged batteries, as you never want to miss this opportunity to capture the magnificent views of the mountains and enchanting natural waterfalls in the cloud forest. Tonight, as always, the chef will prepare a wonderful meal to share with your fellow trekkers, share stories of your adventures before retiring to your tent.

• Elevation: 3,750 – 3,000 meters, then to 3,300 meters
• Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Day 5: Ayapata – Warmi Wañusca- Chaquicocha

Be sure to fill up on breakfast as today will be the longest but most breathtaking day of the trek. Today will include Inca ruins, high Andean Pass and cloud forests. Start with a two-hour climb uphill, here you will experience totally different vegetation with Andean Ichu a dry grass, where Llamas will be feeding. At the summit of Dead Women´s Pass (4,200 meters high), you will have time to rest and enjoy the glacier peaks and spectacular mountains, nearby. This is a great spot for taking photos, so have your camera ready. Afterward, descend on the rock-paved trail, enjoy the many different varieties of flowers and orchids that feature along the path. Arrive at a beautiful spot surrounded by the Andes to enjoy lunch, you will be hungry after the morning’s efforts.

After lunch the walk is a wonderful mix of nature, try and spot hummingbirds and other species. Walk slow and take it all in. Here we will begin climbing uphill for two hours to reach the second peak. Halfway through your journey, you will visit the Inca ruins, called Runcu Raccay where your guide will give you a wonderful and informative tour of the site. Runcu Raccay is said to have functioned as a watchtower from its oval shape and position overlooking the valley.

After crossing over the second peak (4,000 meters high), descend for one hour to the lake called Yanaccoha, where the Incas organized ceremonies for the Goodness of water. Arrive at the famous cloud forest and a beautiful Inca ruin called Sayacmarca. Sayacmarca is where you can observe original Inca houses, water fountains, water channels and spectacular views of the valley.

After the ruins, it will take you about 30 more minutes to reach our campsite, called Chaquicocha. Once again, you will have an opportunity to see different types of flora and fauna since you will be in the high jungle. Spend the night in the warmer climates of the jungle, under the stars enjoy your freshly prepared meal.

• Elevation: 3,300 – 4,200 m.s.n.m
• Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
• Difficulty: Difficult

Day 6: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

Today is the most relaxed day of the trek. In the morning, have views of the surrounding Andes Mountains, and the Pumassillo mountain glacier peaks. Be spoilt with only be five hours hiking, including the three wonderful Inca ruins on the way to our campsite. The first Phuyupatamarca (cloud level-town) are two hours from our last campsite. Here observe the platforms and houses where the Incan nobles lived and studied astronomy. The second set of ruins are set on the hillside among the impressive terraces. These are thought to be an Inca agricultural experiment station.

Further on have some spectacular views of the sacred valley, and the river of Urubamba. At last, reach the last campsite, Wiñay Wayna (2,600 meters), here camp will be set up and we can leave our packs. From here walk only 5 minutes to the ruins of Winay Wayna. Considered the most beautiful on the trial, the guide will give a tour and you will have time to enjoy this impressive marvel of Inca engineering. Take the time to enjoy the beauty of the water channels, terraces, and temples, and learn about the religious ceremonies that took place.

At the Winay Wayna Campsite you will have an opportunity to take a cold shower, for the brave, followed by a free afternoon to explore Wiñay Wayna or relax. Later take part in your last happy hour and dinner, topped with a small presentation from your porters to say a final goodbye. They will head back to Cusco the next day, while you continue your journey to Machu Picchu.

• Elevation: 3,600- 2,600 meters
• Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
• Difficulty: Warm and humid

Day 7: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today is the most important day of your Classic Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek. Considered the pinnacle of any tour to Peru, Machu Picchu awaits. Wake up earlier than usual and after breakfast, you will walk two more hours in the dark and pass through the Sun Gate. Experience some spectacular views of the stunning mountains, valleys, rivers, and of course the magical Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.

Trek down to the viewpoint above the citadel, here is a great opportunity to take some group photos and wonderful shots of the ruin from above. Enter Machu Picchu with your guide visit all the important sites, your guide will give you the history. Take in the wonderful terracing where the Inca grew all that was needed to survive, hear about the ceremonial sites, being important for the Inca culture. See the Royal houses and where the general population lived. Feel the spirit of the ancient Inca and be in awe of one of the most spectacular places that you will ever visit in your lifetime.

If you have booked in advance, take the hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for more spectacular views of Machu Picchu.

When you are ready to make your way back to Aguas Calientes, there will be buses that depart regularly. This bus is about 30 minutes. After spending time exploring the quaint little town of Aguas Calientes, you will need to be at the train station 30 minutes before our train departs back to Ollantaytambo and then transport back to Cusco.

Distance: 5 km /3 miles