Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail 7D/6N

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lagoon.
• Day 2 : Soraypampa – Pampajaponesa
• Day 3 : Pampajaponesa – Sisaypampa
• Day 4 : Sisaypampa – Huayllabamba
• Day 5 : Huayllabamba – Pacaymayo
• Day 6 : Pacaymayo – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna
• Day 7 : Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco

DAY 1 – CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAGOON

The Salkantay tour starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 2.5 hour drive through the lush valley of the Apurímac River, until we reach the mountain town of Mollepata at 2,803 m / 9,200 ft. Here you will stop for a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant in the town square, before continuing on to the start of the hike.

After breakfast, you will be transported a further 30 minutes up the valley to the start of the hike at Marco Qasa. From here you’ll say goodbye to your driver and follow your guide along the mountain trail for 4-hours until you reach the campsite at Soraypampa at 3,850 m / 12,631ft.

After a freshly prepared lunch, made by our personal chef, you will leave your belongings at camp and ascend up the mountain trail for 1-hour until you reach the turquoise waters of Humantay Lagoon at 4,180 m / 13,714 ft. On a clear day, the glacial waters of the lake reflect the breathtaking snow-capped peak of the Humantay mountain that towers above. Once you have soaked up your moment with Humantay, your guide will lead you back down the valley to enjoy a hot cup of coca tea at the camp in Soraypampa.

In the evening, the chef will prepare dinner at camp, whilst you enjoy the beautiful stars of the southern sky and embrace the energy of the surrounding Andes mountains. And when you are ready, you will return to your comfortable yurt for the night to sleep.

DAY 2 – SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAYPAMPA – PAMPAJAPONESA

Day 2 will begin with breakfast at the Soraypampa camp, prepared fresh by our personal chef.

With only 5-hours of hiking ahead of you, day 2 will be a welcome warm up for the days to come. Beginning with a leisurely walk to Salkantaypampa, located at the foot of its namesake, the majestic peak of Salkantay. From there you’ll bear right and follow the trail for a further 90 minutes up the mountainside until you reach camp at Pampajaponesa at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft.

Here you will be treated to a freshly prepared lunch made by our personal chef, and an afternoon free to relax or explore. If you have adjusted to the altitude well and fancy an afternoon stroll, you are welcome to leave your belongings at camp and head off along the 40 minute trail to the nearby shores of Salkantay lake.

Accommodation for the night will be in your tent beneath the stars, under the shadow of the snow-capped peak of Salkantay.

DAY 3 – PAMPAJAPONESA – SISAYPAMPA – CANAL DEL INCA

Day 3 of the Inca Trail begins with breakfast at camp, followed by a challenging ascent to the Inca Chiriaska Pass at 5,100 m / 16,730 ft. The trail zigzags up the mountainside along a well worn path, but will be a test of your strength thanks to the low oxygen at high altitude, and the bitter chill of the thin morning air. Typically the climb takes 2.5 hours to reach the summit, but the breathtaking view of Humantay and Salkantay will have you smiling as you reach the highest point of the 7 day trail.

The 90 minute descent down the opposing side of the pass will reward you with a well earned lunch & rest in Sisaypampa. Afterwards continuing steeply down the valley to the campsite in Canal del Inca at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft. At camp you’ll find herds of resident alpacas, and the ruins of an Inca canal once used as an irrigation channel from the waters of Salkantay Mountain.

After a 16 km hike over rough terrain, you will sleep well in your tent tonight at the camp Canal del Inca.

DAY 4 – CANAL DEL INCA – PAUCARCANCHA – HUAYLLABAMBA

On day 4 of the Inca Trail, the surrounding ecology begins to change as you leave behind the treeless highlands of the glacial mountains and journey down into lush green wooded valleys.

The mornings’ trail will follow the stream from the Inca canal down to the archaeological site of Paucarcancha, an ancient surveillance post and religious centre of the Incas at 3,133 m / 10,278 ft.  Here you can explore the ruins and rest for a while during your lunch break.

After entering into the Machu Picchu National Park, we will continue along the valley of the Cusichaca River, through a subtropical humid forest, full of local flora such as bromeliads, orchids and ferns. A further 1-hour down the trail awaits the first campsite of the traditional Classic Inca Trail, Huayllabamba at 2,950 m / 9,648 ft.

DAY 5 – HUAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSCA PASS – PACAYMAYO

After taking breakfast at camp, we will resume our Inca trail to Machu Picchu tour, and slowly ascend for 9km until we reach the Warmiwañusca Pass or ‘Dead Womans Pass’ at 4,215 m / 13,828 ft. The trail will take you through beautiful forests of Queñua (Polylepis tarapacana) and reward you with a glorious view of the Vilcabamba mountain range at the summit.

The final 3km of the day will be a descent down the mountain, through majestic cloud forests and humid microclimates. After completing the most challenging day of the Inca Trail, you’ll be relieved to arrive at camp in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3,620 m / 11,876 ft. This camp offers you an experience of a lifetime of sleeping above the clouds.

DAY 6 – PACAYMAYO – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAYWAYNA

After taking breakfast at camp, you’ll begin the penultimate day of the Inca trail by ascending to the Runkurakay pass, passing by the Inca ruins of Runkuracay at 3,750 m / 12,303 ft. During the period of the Incas, this site was once an important resting place for the Chasquis, the Inca messengers or couriers, that facilitated their ancient ‘postal service’.

Ascending further up the trail, you’ll arrive at the highest point of the day, atop the Runkurakay pass at 3,950 m / 12,960 ft. The breathtaking views from the summit of Runkurakay are said to rival those of the previous day upon the Warmiwañusca Pass.

The next leg is a descent to the Sayaqmarka ruins, ‘Inaccessible Town’ in Quechua 3,600 m / 11,811 ft. This complex was once home to celestial scholars and an astronomical observatory.

After Sayacmarca, the surrounding vegetation begins to change as you enter the tropical Amazon rainforest. 30 minutes down the trail you will stop for lunch in ChaquiCocha.

Continuing along the trail, you’ll pass by two Inca tunnels carved out of granite rock in the mountainside. The tunnels give way to the third archaeological site of the day Phuyupatamarca, ‘The city above the clouds’. At an altitude of 3665 m / 12,024 ft, these ruins are often clouded in jungle mist and are home to ritual baths and fountains which still function in the wet season.

The final stretch of the trail is a descent down 2,000 Inca stone steps, until you arrive at camp, bordering the impressive archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna, ‘Forever Young’ in Quechua. At 2,650 m / 8,694 ft, the complex it situated upon the steep slopes of the hillside, amongst 40 levels of agricultural stepped terraces, overlooking the Urubamba River. Built by the Emperor Pachacutec in the 15th century, it is one of the most famous sites within the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, and was once an important venue for agriculture, religion and administration.

After completing the longest day of the Inca trail, you are welcome to explore the Inca ruins, take a dip in a nearby waterfall or put your feet up at camp whilst enjoying a hearty dinner.

DAY 7 – WIÑAYWAYNA –  INTI PUNKU – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

With the promise of Machu Picchu on the horizon, you will be woken early at 4am to take breakfast and say goodbye and thank you to the porters and chef. Your wonderful team will be heading back to Cusco with their equipment this morning, leaving you to cross the finish line with only your tour guide.

The final checkpoint of the trail opens at 5:30am, after which you will endure one last climb up the trail to the Inti Punku Sun Gate. After hauling yourself up the steep stone steps, you will be greeted by the most breathtaking, panoramic view of Machu Picchu. At 2,720 m / 8,923 ft, the sun gate is strategically located to welcome noble visitors of the Inca citadel, acting as a control gate for its elite visitors. Aswell as offering one of the most stunning views of the sanctuary of Machu Picchu and its mountains from above, the sacred site is also famed for framing the sunrise during the winter solstice in June.

With a camera full of photos of that unforgettable view, you’ll follow the trail onward to Machu Picchu. Descending for 45 mins to the gates of the Lost city of the Incas at 2,490 m / 8,169 ft.

Once you’ve entered the citadel, you’ll have a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu. Throughout which your guide will take you on a journey through the rich history of the Inca city, leading you along its famous sites to the legendary panoramic viewpoint. From there you’ll be best poised for the perfect view of Machu Picchu & the iconic bucket list photos you’ve been waiting for.

As you soak up your surroundings, you’ll be guided through the ancient Inca streets to such landmarks as the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the iconic stepped terraces. As well as having time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you’ve regrouped with your guide, you’ll descend by bus to Aguas Calientes, where you can treat yourself to a well earned lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants. After lunch, you’ll board a train back to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll be met by your guide and private transport who will take you back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time 8pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 10pm.*