APU SALKANTAY TREK & MACHU PICCHU

Trekking Apu Salakantay 4 days 3 Nigths

This express version of the Salcantay Trek is available for trekkers short on time. You will arrive to Machu Picchu via train from Hidroelectrica. The hardest part is on Day 2 due to our ascending at 4600 m/15090 ft to the Salcantay Pass to Machu Picchu.

Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 5days:

Starting point : Cusco

Ending point : Cusco

Duration : 4 days 

Trip style : Active

Activities : Archaeological, Cultural, Ecological, Hiking and Camping

SCHEDULE: Trekking Salakantay 4 Days.

Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA (L)(D)

We will leave from Cusco approximately between 4:30a.m. and 5:00a.m. A local bus will take us to the town of Mollepata (2900 meters above sea level) where we will arrive approximately at 8:00 in the morning, we will stop for last minute supplies, leg-stretching or to use the restrooms, before starting the Salcantay tour. During the trip we will have panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay, other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. We will meet with our support staff, and they will load the equipment on horses and mules. Around 9:00 a.m., we will begin our walk toward Sayllapata (3200 meters above sea level). About 1:00p.m., we will have a Peruvian lunch. After lunch, we will continue hiking toward the Soraypampa villages (3850 meters above sea level). Around 5:30 in the afternoon we will arrive to our camp where the tents will be ready for you as well as your dinner.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 2: SORAYPAMPA - CHALLWAY (B)(L)(D).

Today, nature will change drastically from dry sceneries to snowy peaks and tropical areas. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start the most difficult part of the trek. We will start the hike around 7:00 in the morning. We will hike to a place called Pampas Salkantay, then go toward the left side of the snowy peaks of Umantay located next to the Apu Salkantay. At midday, we will be on the highest point ( 4600 meters above sea level). We will appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6264 meters above sea level) which is known as the second highest point of the Cusco region. Around 1:00 p.m., we will have our lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. After a trek of approximately 3 hours, we will arrive to our camp in Challway (2920 meters above sea level). Around 7:00p.m., we will recuperate from the trek and eat dinner.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 3: CHALLWAY – LA PLAYA - AGUAS CALIENTES (B)(L)(D).

Around 5:00a.m., we will start our trek and we will enjoy the beautiful sunrise. We will walk for about 5 hours toward Playa Sahuayaco and during this period; we will observe a town called Collpabamba, also called the “Forest Cloudy Brow” where waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to observe the famous bird called the “Cock of the Rocks'. Once at Playa Sahuayaco, we will take a local bus to drive us to the hydroelectric train station. At around 1:30p.m., we will have our lunch at the hydroelectric. We will take a train from the hydroelectric to the town of Aguas Calientes (2000 meters above sea level). Here, you have the option of going to the thermal hot springs. We will have dinner at 7:00p.m. and accommodation at the hotel or hostel of your choice.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

Apu Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (B)

Today, you will start early at around 4:30a.m. and walk up to Machu Picchu and to the Sun Gate. In Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour for about two hours and after that you will be free to explore the Citadel and take pictures, or if you desire, ascent toward the Huaynapicchu Mountain. At 2:26p.m. or 6:03p.m. (depending on availability), you will be taking a train to Ollantaytambo and from there; a bus will drive you to your hotel in Cusco.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

APU SALAKANTAY TREK INCLUDED:

• Hotel Night in Aguas Calientes
• Weight Allowance: 8 Kilograms per trekker (weights to be carried by horses)
• Transportation to head of Salkantay trail.
• English/Spanish speaker professional guide
• Personal pad (double foam)
• Tents
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Horses (to carry the tents, toilet and cooking equipment)
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
• Guided visit to Machu Picchu.
• Bus ticket Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
• Backpacker train ticket hidroelectrica/aguas calientes/ollantaytambo (you can upgrade to Vistadome)
• Transfer Ollantaytambo train station to hotel
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Vegetarian food available on request with no extra charge.
• First Aid equipment
• Complimentary transfer Airport/Hotel upon arrival in Cusco (please specify arrival time and flight number)
• Personal Travel Advisor assigend for you to customize the rest of your Peru Trip.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

APU SALAKANTAY TREK NOT INCLUDED:

• Breakfast the first day (usually hotels have this service, or you can have breakfast in Mollepata). Lunch & dinner the last day after Machu Picchu tour
• Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes (entrance fee S/. 15.00, clean towels and swimsuits can be rented in the entrance office)
• Sleeping bag (can be rented in our offices).
• Bus up or down from Machu Picchu unless required.
• Extra horse for carrying personal equipment from the first to the 3th day.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

YOU MUST BRING:

• Backpack
• Original passport
• Extra clothing
• Warm clothes
• Well fitted trekking shoes
• Small towel
• Swimsuit
• Plastic poncho
• Canteen or bottle
• Snacks: cookies, sweets, chocolates, energizing bars (optional)
• Camera and extra batteries
• Bug Repellent, Sun screen and hat
• Purifying water pills
• Walking sticks with rubbers endings
• Flashlight

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED:

An extra hotel night in Aguas Calientes can be booked for you at an additional cost depending on the hotel you choose.
• If you wish to visit Machu Picchu again the following day, the additional cost of the entrance fee.
• An extra horse to carry your additional personal items (above the included 8kg) days 1 to 3: A horse can carry up to 20 kg.
• An extra porter to carry your additional personal items (above the included 8kg) days 3 to 4: A porter can carry up to 18 kg, which should be enough for 2 people.
• Vistadome Service train (First Class) instead of the Backpacker one (Tourist train), at an additional cost
• Sleeping Bag rent

† Vistadome train upgrade : USD 60.00
† Additional horse : USD 95.00

* Available discounts: Students: (students require a valid International Student Identity Card and must be below 26 years of age)

STUDENT DISCOUNT : USD 30.00 off of group service price
To qualify for STUDENT Discount, you MUST email us a scanned copy of your ISIC STUDENT card immediately to .

(B)=Breakfast ; (L)=Lunch ; (D)=Dinner

NOTE: We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes. We will endeavour to confirm final hotel bookings as soon as possible.

Peru Tour Operator: Classical Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top

INCA TRAIL AVAILABILITY SPACES 2011 - 2012

The information shown on this website shows the real-time availability of Inca Trail trek permits by INC (Instituto Nacional de Cultura). . The trek permits are required for the classic Inca Trail 4 days , the shorter Inca Trail 2 days and the Salkantay / Inca Trail trek 7 days. Alternative treks such as Lares Valley, Ausangate, Choquequirao, and the Inca Trail via Santa Teresa do not require trek permits. The government issues a maximum of 500 trek permits for each day. Since trekking staff are also included within this limit of 500 persons this means that, on average, about 200 trek permits are allocated to tourists and about 300 allocated to guides, cooks and porters.

How to use this data base: First you will realise that the information given on the above mentioned website is in Spanish! The data base is mainly used by the trekking agencies in Cusco to decide when they need to close their groups and buy the trek permits. However you don't need to know much Spanish in order to check how many trek permits are still available on the date that you want to do the trek.

Please, notice that: The Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance; so this month is not available.

Hiking the Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu 2days

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Cuzco - Peru 

Trekking the Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu 2days

This is the short version of the famous and stunning Inca Trail, for those who have less time available but do not want to loose this unique trek. We start at km. 104 and we walk till the ruins of Wiñahuayna. After a visit to the ruins, we go to Inti punku from where we will have a fabulous view over the Lost City of the Incas. From here we take the bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes where we will stay for the night. Next day we depart very early, with the first bus, to visit Machu Picchu, at 2,650 kms above sea level. Around 3:30 we take the train back to Cusco.