Salkantay and Machupicchu 4 days 3 nights
Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – LAGUNA HUMANTAY
Today, your trekking adventure to Machu Picchu finally begins! Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 am. We will drive with the group to Mollepata (approx. 3 hours), where we will have a nutritious breakfast. We will then drive another hour to Challacancha (3,380 meters/ 11,090 feet), the starting point of our hike, passing the Hornada Pata viewpoint, where the valley divides into two (Valle de Mollepata and Challacancha). The beginning of the trail will take us through beautiful valleys. After a three-hour hike, we arrived at our camp in Soraypampa (3,900 meters/12,800 feet) at approximately 1:30 p.m. We will have time to relax and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our cook.
Later, we will finally visit the famous Humantay Lagoon! After 1.5 hours of walking, we will reach the lagoon (4,220 meters/ 13,850 feet) with incredibly blue-green water and the snow-capped peak of Humantay Mountain behind, making it one of the most impressive places in the Andes Mountains. . We will take some time to admire the stunning views and then descend to our camp in Soraypampa. Arriving at approximately 6:00 pm, we will have tea and dinner, and spend the night in our beautiful glass cabins.
Walking distance: 12 km/7.4 miles.
DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA – PASO SALKANTAY – LUCMABAMBA
At 5:00 am we will enjoy a hearty breakfast so that we have plenty of energy for our walk today. Starting our hike from Soraypampa, we will ascend for 4 hours to the highest point of the Salkantay Pass (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet), where we will enjoy stunning views of the snow-capped Andes mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. We will visit two important historical points (Salkantay-Pampa and Soyroq’ocha). Here we will make a ceremonial offering with coca leaves, which is a beautiful Andean tradition with the purpose of showing gratitude towards Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (Mountains). In addition, we will learn a lot about the history and beliefs of the Inca culture.
Passing through the high Andes Mountains, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Huayrac-Pampa for 2 and a half hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet). There we will have lunch and continue our descent for 3 more hours until we reach our camp (2,900 meters / 9,500 feet). We will have tea and a delicious dinner prepared by our cook. Tonight we will sleep in our comfortable domes at the campground.Hiking distance: 22 km/13.47 miles.
DAY 3: LUCMBAMBA – PLAYA SAHUAYACO – HIDROELÉCTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES
After a restful night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast, we begin day 3 of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We begin our 5 ½ hour hike through the Peruvian jungle, passing through many ascents and descents. This part of the walk marks the cloud forest, where we will discover several coffee, banana and avocado plantations, orchids and many natural plants used for medicines. We will arrive at our lunch point to rest a little, and shortly after we will take our transportation to Hidroeléctrica. We will walk about 3 hours to Aguas Calientes. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the town at the foot of the magnificent Wonder of the World. Tonight, we will spend the night in a hotel.
Walking distance: 16 km/10 miles. After lunch: 11 km/7 miles.
DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO
We will wake up very early this morning for our visit to the famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a jewel of Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different neighborhoods, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the American researcher Hiram Bingham. We will have a guided tour to see and learn about the site of Machu Picchu, a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour, you will have free time to take photos and discover this magical place for yourself.
For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, they will do so at their designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group: 9am to 11am).
In the afternoon, we will return to Aguas Calientes. We will have some time for lunch (not included), which is the perfect opportunity to explore local restaurants. Then we took the train to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 2:55 p.m. On the way back, we can enjoy the incredible landscape of the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival at the train station, our transfer staff will pick us up and drop us off at Plaza Regocijo in Cusco.
Include
- Pick up from your hotels
- Transportation to Mollepata.
- Meals (3B, 3L, 3D).
- Camping equipment: Tents and mattress.
- Horses or mules that carry our camping equipment, meals and part of your backpack.
- Professional English speaking guide.
- Vegetarian food option.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs, kitchen tent.
- Kitchen and kitchen equipment.
- First aid kit that includes an emergency oxygen bottle.
- Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance to the Sanctuary of Machupicchu
- Transportation from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (by train or train + bus)
Not Include
- Sleeping bag
- First breakfast and lunch in Aguas Calientes.
Recommendations
- A backpack.
- Raincoat or rain poncho.
- Good trekking shoes.
- Outerwear: jacket, thermal clothing
- Flashlight
- Camera, films and batteries.
- Hat or cap.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Insect repellent.
- Snacks: energy bars, chocolate, candy, etc.
- Water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams or rivers along the route.
- Swimsuit (if you intend to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Cash in soles and/or US dollars.
- Original passport
- Optional: walking sticks
Important note for your transfer
- Please send us your flight arrival details (TIME / AIRLINE / FLIGHT #: / DATE) once you book your flights, for your airport waiting service. You must send this information at least 5 days in advance.
- We need this information in order to provide you with a free and guaranteed transfer service, our staff awaits you upon arrival with a sign with your names at the airport, a detail of LIZ`S EXPLORER.
Gallery
Duration
4 days 3 nights
Difficulty
Difficult
Tour type
Trekking
Group
16 persons