SALKANTAY TOUR - THE INCA TRAIL
7 Days / 6 Nights

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Cusco –Marccoccasa – Sorapampa

   Your Inca Trail or Salkantay 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., and you will drive two and a half hours to the trailhead, Marccoccasa (3,300 meters). You will meet your horseman and horses, and have some time to prepare for the day and enjoy your breakfast. You will experience views of the Andes, lush green valleys, and beautiful waterfalls. Today will be moderate in difficulty, but one of the longer days of hiking. There will be a gradual uphill climb lasting about three and a half hours until lunch. After lunch, the hike will be less of an incline and more relaxed walk.

   The views along the Salkantay vs Inca Trail change drastically as you go. The trailhead is all green, lush valleys, but in the afternoon, you will be right at the foot of the Humantay snow-capped mountain. You will also experience a temperature drop from warm to cold. Be sure to have your warm jacket, and gloves in your daypack for the cold afternoon. After arriving at the Soyapamapa campsite (3,800 meters), your team will welcome you and provided warm drinks and dinner.

   Elevation: From 2,900 to 3,800 m
   Walking Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles
   Considered: Moderate
   Weather: Warm to hot 

2. Day 2: Sorapampa – Humantay Lake – Ichupata

   You will be woken up with hot drinks and breakfast to prepare for the Salkantay Tour. After you prepare for the day, we will show you the alpines micro-climate, and amazing views of the high glacier peaks. They are considered to be the highest peaks around Cusco and the father of the other mountains by many Andean people (Apus means God). You will begin a two-hour climb to the most beautiful blue lake, located at the bottom of Humantay glacier mountain. It’s believed that the Incas used to hold celebration ceremonies for the God of water and the Apus, that surround this peaceful place.

   You will then begin your return to the main trail and continue towards your lunch spot at Salkantay Pampa. It will be time to depart from the Humantay peak and enjoy the views of a higher mountain, Salkantay Mountain (6,215 m). You will arrive here around 1 p.m.and enjoy lunch. After lunch, we will have a two hour, steep climb to our second campsite, at Ichupata or Pampa Japonesa (4,200 m). Today will be a cold day of hiking, so be sure to have your jacket, warm hat, sunglasses, and gloves in your day pack. 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. This site is the closest camp to Salkantay, so it may be possible to hear some avalanches. However, do not let this scare you since they are not close to us. 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
   Considered: Moderate to difficult
   Weather: Cold

3. Day 3: Ichupata – Inca Chiriasca Pass – Inca Canal

   After tea and breakfast, it will be time to embark on the most challenging, yet rewarding hike, to date. Your guide will lead you up the Inca Chiriasca pass (5,000 meters high), at a steady pace to see the marvelous views of the glacier mountains. Once you have reached the top, there will be hot coca tea, view of the valley and lakes, and even birds like condors and falcons.

   Following, you will start descending, or you may take an optional hike to a glacier, which only takes 30 minutes. Afterward, we will continue trekking to your lunch spot, where your porters will be waiting with the traditional hot tea and delicious lunch. For the rest of the day, you will walk downhill, through lush green valleys and winding streams, before reaching your campsite, in a little village of 10 families.

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

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

   This day will give you a rare glimpse into the past as you wander through hillside paths, used by traditional Peruvian farmers, living the same way since the time of the Incas. Then, you will arrive at the famous Inca ruins, where your tour guide will provide you with some background on the Incas. After the ruins, your tour guide will point out new and different vegetation, as you move into the high, jungle micro-climate.

   Finally, you will reach the classic Inca Trail, where your porters will serve you lunch. The afternoon’s hike will be all uphill until we reach our campsite. 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.

   Elevation: 3,750 – 3,000 meters, then to 3,300 meters
   Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
   Considered: Moderate to difficult
   Weather: Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon

5. Day 5: Ayapata – Warmi Wañusca- Chaquicocha

   Today will be the longest but most breathtaking day of the Salkantay Tour, with it including the Inca ruins and the cloud forest. After an early breakfast, we will start with a two-hour climb uphill in the Puna area. The Andean Ichu is a dry place with little vegetation, but you can see llamas here. When we reach the peak of Dead Women´s Pass (4,200 meters high), you will have some time to rest and enjoy the glacier peaks and spectacular mountains, nearby. Afterward, we will start descending on the rock-paved trail towards our lunch spot. Along the way, you will be able to observe Orchids and other flowers.

   Please try to walk slow and be cautious of nature. This section is a perfect spot to watch hummingbirds. After lunch, 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.

   This place has been said to function as a watchtower from its oval shape and position overlooking the valley. After crossing over the second peak (4,000 meters high), we will start descending for one hour to the lake called Yanaccoha, where the Incas organized ceremonies for the Goodness of the water. Then, you will arrive at the famous cloud forest and also one of the most beautiful Incan ruins called Sayacmarca. Sayacmarca is where you can observe the original Inca houses, water fountains, water channels, and the most 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.

   Elevation: 3,300 – 4,200 meters (the pass), 3,600 meters (the lunch) and again, 4,000 meters (the pass), 3,600 meters (the camp)
   Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles
   Considered: Difficult
   Weather: You will experience the four seasons, all in just one day

6. Day 6: Chaquicocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna

   Today is the most relaxed day of the Salkantay tour. In the morning, you will have views of the surrounding Andes Mountains, and the Pumassillo mountain glacier peaks. There will only be about five hours hiking, including the three Inca ruins on the way to our campsite. The first ruins are called Phuyupatamarca (cloud level-town) and are two hours from the campsite. It is impressive to observe the lovely platform and houses where the Incan nobles studied astronomy. The second set of ruins are on the hillside among terraces. It was perhaps an Incan agricultural experiment station.

   You will also have views of the sacred valley, and the river of Urubamba. Finally, you will reach the last campsite, called Wiñay Wayna (2,600 meters), where you will leave your day packs and walk for five minutes to reach the most beautiful Incan ruins, along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This place is close to a village where you can enjoy the beauty of the water channels, terraces, and temples, and learn about the religious ceremonies that used to occur here.

   After lunch, you will have an opportunity to take a hot shower, followed by a free afternoon to explore the most beautiful Inca site, Wiñay Wayna. Later in the afternoon will be 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
   Considered: Warm and humid

7. Day 7: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

   Today is the most important day of your Salkantay Tour, as you will wake up earlier than usual. After breakfast, you will walk two more hours to Machu Picchu, where you will pass through the Sun Gate to experience some spectacular views of the stunning mountains, valleys, rivers, and the Incan ruins. Once you arrive, your tour guide will inform you about Machu Picchu for two hours. After, you will have time to explore by yourself. Be sure that you visit all the sacred places like the temples, palaces, and the famous Inca bridge. 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 in the town of Aguas Calientes, you will need to be at the train station 30 minutes before our train departs back to Cusco.

   Walking Distance: 5 km /3 miles

   Note: Before the government enforced the new legislation about protecting the Inca Trail, horses were the main transport to carry equipment from the trail head to Wayllabamba. Since they banned the horses, we have replaced them with out porters (on the Classic Inca Trail). You will have the same tour guide and cook throughout your tour. All meals are prepared on site, so that you will always have fresh food.