Salkantay trek Peru 6 days 5Nights:
In just 6 days, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to explore two amazing tourist attractions that seamlessly combine culture and nature. The cultural aspect of your journey involves immersing yourself in our traditions and delving into the history of the Incas. You’ll visit two famous Inca sites, Pisaq Archaeological Site and Ollantaytambo Inca Fortress, both of which are stunning in their own right.
Both of these sites were once thriving Inca villages, featuring religious areas, farming terraces, living houses, storehouses, water channels, and more. When you explore these places, you’ll gain valuable insights into the history of the Incas, which will prepare you for the Salkantay Trek. Both Inca sites also showcase unique Inca architectural styles. For instance, Ollantaytambo boasts the second-largest rocks from Inca times, transported from a distance of about 5 kilometers. It’s truly incredible how they moved these massive rocks to construct their temples.
During your journey through the Sacred Valley, you’ll also visit a local village where you’ll learn about agriculture and local traditions. After a full day exploring the Sacred Valley, you’ll head directly to the Salkantay Trailhead, where you’ll spend the night in our glass cabins. You’ll be all set to start your hike early in the morning, with the goal of reaching the Blue Lagoon around 6:30 am. Here, you can enjoy the sunrise amidst the mountains without the company of other hikers, as most will arrive later, departing from Cusco. Our glass cabins are nestled at the base of the Humantay Glacier peak, just about 1.5 hours from the Blue Lagoon. Following this, you’ll continue the Salkantay Trek en route to Machu Picchu.
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We start our day with a pick up from your hotel at 7:30 to 8:00am. We will visit a local community of Cacacollo where Alpaca Expeditions support local Andean Women, Textiles and Agriculture are the daily work of many families and the economic livelihood for them, the enterprising women will show and teach us the elaboration of Andean textiles, we will also have the option to see the agricultural areas where they grow all kinds of vegetables, after that we continue our journey to Pisac Inca site where you will enjoy the beauty of the site and surounding area, Break for lunch at the local in Lamay. After lunch, will drive along the sacred Valley to get the living Inca city of Ollantaytambo, where we will visit famous inca site and appreciate how important Ollantaytambo was in the time of the Incas and nowadays. Once the tour is over, the guide will take you to the hotel where you will spend the night.
Lunch and Dinner
Included
3 start Hotel in Cusco
The day begins early with a hotel pick-up in Cusco around 4:00 to 4:30 AM. We will head in the direction of the beautiful village of Mollepata, and will have the opportunity to pass through some quaint towns (Anta, Limatambo) and enjoy the view of the valleys and the Andes.
After about 2 hours of driving, we will arrive in Mollepata, which is a nice and calm town and we will stop at a local restaurant for breakfast. From there, we will continue on for another 1 hour to Challacancha, the beginning of our trek. Once we arrive we will have time to get organized and start our hike.
The first part of the trek is a gradual uphill trek which is perfect to warm you up and adjust to the altitude. After about 1.5 hours of transecting the hill, we arrive at Soraypampa where we will be located, or the Glass Cabañas, in the mountains. You will have a freshly prepared lunch from our chef which will give you an opportunity to recharge before the afternoon event.
Your afternoon event is a trek to the amazing Humantay Lagoon, which is about 1.5 hours into the trek. The trail is easy at the beginning, but then starts to incline more as you get close to the lagoon. Once you arrive at the lagoon, you will have time to enjoy the spectacular turquoise lagoon waters highlighting the glacier peak of Humantay at elevation 5960 m. You will be able to enjoy the moment, take a few pictures and relish in the beauty of nature.
Once you have finished at the lagoon, we will trek back to Soraypampa and arrivearound 4:00 PM. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy what you wish, either sit back and relax, explore, or lounge with the views from the Glacier Cabaña.
In the evening, you will join us for a cooking class and we will prepare a traditional Peruvian dish together. Afterword you will enjoy another delicious dinner, and settle down for your first night in the cozy Glass Cabañas under the stars.
Highlights of the Day:
8 km (5.0 miles)
6–7 hours
+500m (1,640ft)
Glass Cabins
Today is the most difficult yet rewarding day of the trek. Get ready for stunning scenery and amazing memories! We will have an early breakfast by our chef at the Glass Cabañas with you at 5:30 a.m. Once you’ve had a warm meal, take the chance to eat more snacks and beverages and then we will make sure to fill our water on our trek to the mighty Salkantay Pass first.
We will start with an uphill climb of moderate incline, and hike on a well-defined trail. After about 2 hours we will arrive at Salkantay Pampa (4,100m / 13,450 ft), a beautiful place to rest with breathtaking views of the Salkantay glacier towering above. At this stop we will take a short break to hydrate and be amazed by the imposing presence of peaks surrounding us to connect with the mighty Salkantay glacier.
After this rest we will climb roughly an hour with a steep incline along zigzagging path. We will arrive at Soyrococha, nestled directly beneath Salkantay peak. At this spectacular spot you will be welcomed by our Chef after hiking about another hour for some much deserved and freshly prepared lunch nestled amongst the glaciers.
Once we have finished lunch, and water refilled, we will continue to climb for approximately one more hour to reach the highlight of the day, the Salkantay pass (4,630m / 15,190 ft) which is the highest point of the entire trek. At the summit we will stop to pay homage to Pachamama (Mother Earth) with a moment of gratitude to be able to see such raw impressive beauty on Earth. The views surrounding us are nothing short of astounding: snow capped peaks and icy ridgelines in all directions, and the vastness of The Andes.
The trail starts to descend from the pass. The first two and half hours are goofy downhill, gradually leaving behind all the alpine scenery, we will reach the green of the valley once again. Here our destination is the tranquil camp at Wayracmachay (3,800m / 12,467 fr) where we will settle into our famous Glass Domes.
From our Dome will have a panoramic view of Humantay and the lower slopes of the Salkantay Glacier. In the evening you will eat your dinner and cozy up under a sky of stars. The dry season here has some of the best night skies you may have ever experienced.
Highlights of the Day:
11 km (6.8 miles)
7–8 hours
-2,530m (-8,300ft)
Glass Domes
From today begins another dramatic change of scenery, as we depart from the high Andes and enter the lush high jungle, filled with warm breezes, vibrant vegetation and exotic wildlife. We will depart early for tea delivered to your room, followed by breakfast to fuel your body after our first days journey. After packing snacks and filling your water bottles, we will commence our hike for the day.
The trail is mostly downhill with beautiful scenery. After about 2 hours of hiking we will reach Rayanpata, which is when the jungle environment starts to creep in. At this point the weather warms, the air thickens with wildflower smells and we are surrounded by tropical vegetation.
We will take a short break to rest, hydrate, snack, and hear and see nature’s sounds surrounding us in the forest.
Then we will continue for another 2-hour hike to Colpapampa (2,950m / 9,678 ft) where our professional cook will be waiting to greet us with a delicious jungle inspired lunch and cold drinks.
This is a beautiful view point, to relax, re-fuel, and prepare for the last leg of our days hike.
After lunch we will continue to hike approximately 4 more hours hiking deeper into the jungle along narrow paths, dropping down further into the jungle seeing waterfalls, orchids, and coffee fields which surrounds our astonishing destination.
Our destination is Loreta, which is home to our unique little hobbit house hidden among the trees and nature, it has an eco-lodge style, designed as the Shire, with hot washing, soft bedding, and situated in a magical forest environment, this is one of the most memorable places to stay the trek. The sound of the jungle will surround you as you rest, refresh, and unwind, this is the perfect place to end the first full day of hiking.
Highlights of the Day:
18 km (11 miles)
7–8 hours
+600m (1,970ft) / -1,000m (-3,280ft)
Hobbit House
Today is dedicated to culture, history, and nature as we enjoy the original paths built by the Incas and will glimpse Machu Picchu from one of the rare and breathtaking viewpoints. We begin at the Hobbit House in Loreta with breakfast, eating amongst a lush canopy of trees with birds calling. After breakfast, we will take a scenic 30-minute drive to Lucmabamba where our hike begins.
From Lucmabamba, we will commence the uphill hike along a well-preserved section of the original Inca Trail that linked the sacred cities of Machu Picchu, Llactapata, and Vilcabamba. It will take us approximately 4 hours of uphill walking, through a forested path abundant with coffee, bananas, and avocado plants. The uphill scenery will place us within the realm of amazing jungle landscapes embedded with ancient stonework.
As we approach the peak of our hike we will finally reach Llactapata (2,700m / 8861ft) an archaeological site that provides an incredible panoramic view of Machu Picchu directly across the valley. Here, your guide will provide a short informative tour, but this less-famous view of the citadel will surely stay with you, especially as you can view the stunning location from the mountains and deep canyons.
After you soak in this incredible view, we will start to descend for approximately 1.5 hours on some relatively flat terrain to Hidroelectrica, where soon the trekking crew will have our final freshly prepared lunch waiting for us. This will be your last meal with the crew who journeyed with you. Here, if you wish to tip them or share some nice words of appreciation, this would be a suitable time to do so.
From Hidroelectrica we will resume our trek by following the railway tracks which lead through the famous Machu Picchu canyon, a much easier walk which will take about 3 hours and is located in a much more diverse ecosystem. Start looking for some of the native orchids and few butterflies and in possibilities the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru. If we are lucky we will also get a glimpse of monkeys or in the distance some spectacled bears.
Though this section is not as rich or as diverse as the previous section, it does provide for an exciting and beautiful approach to the base town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). When we finish our trek you will check into your room, and be ready for your hot shower and resting period. Tomorrow we will start exploring one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu.
Accommodation: Aguas Calientes Hotel– Your hotel in Aguas Calientes will be your final resting place before Machu Picchu. This exceptional hotel will have wifi, hot running showers, and a cozy place to wind down after hiking. Close by are local hot springs that is an entry fee of ten soles. In the evening Alpaca will provide your last dinner meal.
Today is the pinnacle of your Salkantay Trek, as you will be fully immersed in the fabled Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
After an early breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes, we’ll take one of the first buses to the Machu Picchu Citadel. When we arrive, your guide will assist in the entry to the complex (ticket + passport required), and then the fun begins.
Important Tip: Be mindful to book this tour in advance, we strongly recommend 4-5 months so we can get you the most booked route, Circuit 2, which is by far the best for views, and where you’ll be able to enjoy a fully guided tour of the best parts of Machu Picchu!
Your guide will take you first to the upper part of the citadel where it offers the well-known postcard view of Machu Picchu; this is the best place for photographs and videos while you take in the vista of dreamy Peru before the bulk of tourists arrive.
After soaking all of that in we will continue on to the guided tour of the best highlights of the 7 Wonders, where your expert guide will provide us with lots of interesting details about the architecture, history, spirituality and engineering abilities of the Incas.
If you booked the Huayna Picchu Mountain add-on (must be booked beforehand), your guide will direct you to the optional 2-hour hike portion after your guided tour of Machu Picchu. The climb is steep but provides an amazing reality of Machu Picchu from above, and the views of the surrounding mountains and the valley.
Once your time at Machu Picchu is completed, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you will have some free time to explore Aguas Calientes town and/or shop for souvenirs or enjoy a local lunch at a local restaurant (not included).
In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo (we typically will use the 2:55 PM service, but this will be dependent on availability). You will want to be at the station 30 minutes before your rolling departure time.
Once you arrive in Ollantaytambo your private driver will meet you at the train station, and we will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco, with an estimated arrival time of 7:30-8:00 PM.
Alpaca Expeditions is a 100% peruvian, indigenous owned company. Started by Raul Ccolque, a former porter and tour guide, Alpaca Expeditions separates ourselves by our dedication to both our customer and our team. We work very hard to make sure that all our clients needs are taken care of throughout the tour with us. At the same time, we never forget about our brothers and sisters working tirelessly for us to make all of this possible. Responsible and sustainable tourism that gives as much to our community as to our clients.
Everyone on the Alpaca Team is from Cusco region, living the traditions and history they share with you while on one of our tours. Our guides are all graduates of university studying tourism, history and english. Our chefs are trained every February by a professional cooking team learning new meals, adding varieties of entrees for all types of eating. And all our porters are from HUARQUI, HUACAHUASI, PATACANCHA, QUISWARANI, CANCHACANCHA, QUEYUPAY, UMACHURCO and CCACCACCOLLO villages, very often working this job on top of maining their farms back at home. Most of our team has been with us for years, as we have the most loyal, hard working, happy employees in Cusco. We know how lucky we are to have the best team trekking and you will immediately fall in love with all the men and women who call Alpaca Expeditions their home.
Our goal at Alpaca Expeditions is to create the best experience for all of our clients. We create journeys that are to be remembered for a lifetime. Journeys you can be proud of and can share with everybody around you.
In the pursuit to stand out from the rest, Alpaca Expeditions has obtained four ISOs plus our carbon footprint certificate to date. These achievements result from our efforts to implement the internationally-recognized integrated management system. They also represent our commitment to all of our clients and staff of operating sustainability and responsibility in every way possible.
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