Explore and enjoy it with your Private guide. Best Private guide Salkantay trek!!
Trekking thought the sacred Mountain of Salkantay with a private guide: This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salcantay Mountain to Machupicchu, one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, passing through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally reach Aguas Calientes on the fourth day afternoon. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu is visited on the last day of the program. This itinerary is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Salcantay Trek deservingly named one of the 25 Best Treks in the World by National Geographic Travel Magazine.
Private Guide offers This trek that combines ecological zones with exuberant and diversity vegetation, flora such as orchids, trees, plant of banana, coffee papayand coca plant and fauna with numerous species of insects,reptiles,birds and mammals, the most representative of these area the spectacled bears( tremarctus ornatus), the trail goes over the high passes (4600 m),grasslands with unforgettable views of the magnificent mountains such us Salkantay mountain (6271m) part of the Vilcabamba mountain range through the cloud forests and finally into the subtropical vegetation arriving on the final day to Machu Picchu.
Level of difficulty (low, medium, high): medium-high
Required fitness level (low, medium, high):medium-high
DAY 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE
Pick up time from your hotel is at 05:00am. A 2 hour drive in our private transport through some scenic villages (Anta, Ancahuasi, and Limatambo) will bring us to Mollepata (2800m). We stop there for about 30 minutes to have breakfast and to buy any last minute snacks and drinks. It will take us another 40 minutes with our transport to get to Marcoqasa (3200m) which is the start of the trail. This first section of the trail is by the old water channel from the Inca time and it is relatively easy and serves as a good training for the following day. On the way to the first camp site we will be able to admire impressive Mt.Humantay (5900m). We will keep our eyes out for Andean Condor often visible in this area. It will take us about 4 hours to reach the first base camp Soraypampa (3900m), one of the most beautiful base camps in the region. You will enjoy a terrific view of the second highest mountain in the Cusco region, Salkantay (6271m). After our lunch and a little nap we will hike for about 1 1/2 hours on the slopes from Soraypampa camp to lake Humantay (4200m). The lake is fed by the hanging glaciers of Mt.Humantay (5900m). Once we enjoyed the amazing views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, we return to our camp to have our tea and dinner.
Trekking distance: 13 Km approx.
Estimated time: 7-8 hours (including lunch)
Maximum altitude: 3900m
Campsite altitude: 3900m
DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA-SALKANTAY PASS-WAYRAQMACHAY- CHAULLAY
We will set off very early in the morning after breakfast. Leaving our campsite we hike up to Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay peak across Salkantay peak, then we head towards the terminal moraine from here the trail begins to ascend to Soyrococha (4400m). We will enjoy a spectacular mountain landscape and vast grassy plains. It will take us 3 hours to get there. From there our waypoint will be the highest pass on this trek – Salkantay (4600m). At the pass we stop to enjoy the views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba mountain range in every direction. The glaciated south face of Salkantay emerging in fron of us. The trail winds its way through the landscape downhill to Wayraqmachay (3919m) where we are going to have lunch. The remaining part of today’s hike is an easy 3 hours hike downhill through beautiful vegetation to camp Chaullay(2950m) where we are going to spend our second night.
Trekking distance: 18 Km approx.
Estimated time: 8-9 hours (including lunch)
Maximum altitude: 4600m
Campsite altitude: 2950m
DAY 3: CHAULLAY- COLLPAPAMPA-WINAYPOQO-PLAYA-LUCMABAMBA
After a good sleep we get up early in the morning to have breakfast. We continue our hike with an easy walk along the Santa Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit plants, banana, avocado and coffee plantation. We pass the waterfalls to get to Winaypoqo, where we are going to have a rest to have a snack. It will take us 3 hours to get there. Then we continue another 3 hours to La Playa (2050m). La Playa is a small village with basic facilities, and finally our third camp at Lucmabamba (2050m). On the way we can see the exuberant local flora and fauna.
Trekking distance: 12 Km approx.
Estimated time: 5-6 hours (including lunch)
Maximum altitude: 2950m
Campsite altitude: 2050m
DAY 4: LA PLAYA- LLAPTAPATA- HIDROELECTRICA -AGUAS CALIENTES
We start this day with an ascend of about 2-3 hours up to El Mirador or Abra Qelloqasa(2860m). From where we have exceptional views of Machu Picchu from the southeast. Finally we get to LLapta Pata a beautiful archeological site which has connections to the Inca site Machu Picchu and Sayacmarka. We will have plenty of time to explore this nice Inca site, then we will start to descend for about 2 hours towards the Aobamba River crossing lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantation bring us to the Hidroelectrica (power plant). We serve lunch here. Then a pleasant 3 hours walk will bring us to Aguas Calientes where we will stay in the hotel for the night. After having stored our baggage we will have free time for a shower or to go to the hot springs. Later we go out and have dinner to together in one of the restaurant.
Trekking distance: 22 Km approx.
Estimated time: 8-9 hours (including lunch)
Maximum altitude: 2860m
Aguas Calientes: 2040m
DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO
This last day starts very early, we will wake up you at around 04:30am, have breakfast and then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. It is well worth the effort to get up early as the Inca City is quietest in the early morning and you will have plenty of time to take photos and enjoyed the sun rise over Machu Picchu. Of course our guide will take you to the classic spot to take your post card pictures. This vantage point offers a terrific view of the whole complex, and then our guide will give you a tour around Machu Picchu telling you about the history of Machu Picchu and the most important buildings. After that you will have a free time to explore the site on your own. Once you feel that you have seen every corner of Machu Picchu you will take a bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes to have lunch. Usually we take the bus at around 13:00pm. The bus ride takes 25 minutes and your guide will give you your bus tickets. Make sure that before you leave Machu Picchu by bus, the guide gives you the time and location of the meeting place in Aguas Calientes, where you will get your train tickets back to Cusco.
Service included:
Transportation: Private van from Cusco to start of the trek (Marcoqasa). Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Private van from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco- Hotel.
Accommodation: Hostal in Aguas Calientes on the 4th night (based on 2 people sharing one room)
All meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners. Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruits, chicken, fish, meat, rice, pasta and hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is very effective against altitude sickness. Tea time every afternoon (tea, coffee, biscuits and popcorn). Every morning and afternoon warm water to clean yourself up. We can also provide vegetarian meals and special diets. Just let us know in advance or during the briefing on the evening before the trekking.
Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish). Always 2 guides for 8 people.
Horsemen and horses to carry the tents, food, cooking equipment and your personal equipment such as mattress, sleeping bag and clothing to change. A maximum of 8 kilos (including the sleeping bag) per person. An emergency horse in case someone needs help and is not able to continue walking.
Camping equipment. 2 people will always share a spacious 4 people dome igloo tent with plenty of space for your backpacks. Blow mattress, chemical toilet, cooking equipment, dining tent, kitchen tent, first aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
Entrance fees to Machupicchu.
Transfer from the train station to your hotel in Cusco.
Service not included:
First breakfast at Mollepata (day one)
Last lunch at Aguas Calientes (day five)
Sleeping bag (25 US$ to rent)
Tips and extra spending
Ticket for Wayna Picchu. If you would like to climb Wayna Picchu please tell us for which group (07:00 or 10:00) in the remarks field while booking. Additional cost would be USD 15 and be paid at the briefing.