Información útil
- Altitud
- 2100 masl = 6890 feet
- Tamaño del grupo
- Maximo 10 Paxs
- Dificultad
- Media
Description
The Salcantay trek is one of the most popular trekking routes that takes you from Cusco to Machu Picchu, offering breathtaking panoramic views of glaciers, mountains and cloud forests. This Salcantay trek to the wonder of the world Machu Picchu, is an exciting adventure that will take you to the most splendid landscapes.
You will visit the beautiful turquoise lagoon Humantay and the imposing mountain Salcantay for its fascinating cloud forest. This trek will take you through majestic Andean landscapes, and you will immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Peruvian Andes crossing diverse landscapes ranging from subtropical zones to high altitudes with spectacular views.
The best time to undertake the Salcantay trail is during the dry season, which runs from May to September.
Itinerary
DAY 01: CUSCO – HUMANTAY LAGOON – SORAYPAMPA
Today you will have an early start and we will pick you up from your hotel around 4:30 AM. You will travel in our transportation until you reach the village of Mollepata where you will have an exquisite breakfast with a view of the snow-capped mountain of Salcantay and surrounded by beautiful mountains. Then we will continue to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek. Before starting our adventure, you will meet the muleteers and the chef.
You will also see a variety of flora and fauna. Upon returning to camp, you will enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner. We will start with our 3-hour hike that will take us to our first camp Soraypampa (3900 masl). Where we will have lunch with panoramic views of the snowy Humantay. After lunch we ascend to the Humantay lagoon (4200 masl). This spectacular turquoise lagoon and its impressive natural environment, surrounded by imposing mountains.
SUMMARY OF DAY 01:
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Lodging: crystal igloo camp
- Difficulty level: moderate
- Walking distance: 10 kilometers
- Estimated trekking time: 5 to 6 hours
- Elevation of campsite: 4000 meters above sea level
- Weather forecast: cold and windy nights are expected during the dry season (May to August), with temperatures that can drop to -5 degrees Celsius.
- Additional note: This day serves as a training and preparation period. It is ideal for acclimatization in anticipation of day 02, which poses the most important challenge of the entire trek.
DAY 02: SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAULLAY
This day you will wake up and see the Salcantay Apu right in front of you. Afterwards, you will have a nutritious breakfast and recharge your energy to start our hike to the Salcantay pass which is located at 4630 masl, our first resting point and enjoy the views.
We will then descend to Huayraqmachay where we will have a delicious lunch.
After a revitalizing lunch, we will continue through a spectacular cloud forest until we reach our second camp Chaullay.
SUMMARY OF DAY 02:
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Lodging: Andean cabins
- Difficulty level: Challenging
- Maximum altitude: 4,700 meters at the Salcantay pass.
- Walking distance: 22 kilometers (approximately 14 miles)
- Estimated trekking time: 9 to 10 hours
- Altitude for camping: 2,900 meters (8,000 feet)
- Weather forecast: Warm and hot at lower elevations.
- Additional note: Day 02 is the most difficult of the entire trek. However, you will have all day to complete it and reach Campsite 02. It is also the most beautiful day due to the breathtaking views of the mountains and Salcantay.
DAY 03: CHAULLAY – SAHUAYACO BEACH – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES
This beautiful day you will wake up with bird songs. Then we will have a delicious breakfast to start our hike, during this tour we will make a quieter walk, with more downhills than uphill’s. While we immerse ourselves in the lush landscape of beautiful waterfalls, orchids and various plantations: coffee, banana and avocado etc.
We arrive at the beach where we will have a tasty lunch. After lunch we take the transportation to Hydroelectric for approximately 40 minutes. From Hydroelectric we start walking to the town of Machu Picchu or Aguas Calientes, the walk is 2 hours, we spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
SUMMARY OF DAY 03:
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Lodging: Hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes
- Difficulty level: Day hike
- Walking distance: Approximately 25 kilometers (about 15 miles)
- Estimated trekking time: 9 to 10 hours
- Altitude of the base town of Aguas Calientes: 2,000 meters (6,562 feet)
- Weather forecast: Warm, hot and tropical weather conditions are expected.
- Additional note: On the third day, you will experience a 5-hour morning hike, a refreshing lunch break, a 1.5-hour drive and a 3-hour afternoon hike. The day concludes with a comfortable hotel stay in Aguas Calientes, preparing you for the Machu Picchu adventure that awaits.
DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU – RETURN TO CUSCO
Today will be the most important day of your excursion, you have to make the most of the day. That is why it is recommended to have breakfast very early, to be able to get on one of the first buses that will take us to Machu Picchu (from 5:30 am).
The hotel will store your luggage while you are in Machu Picchu, and in this way, you will only be asked to carry a backpack with all the essentials, the bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.
Once in Machu Picchu, your guide will lead you to a strategic point from where you will be able to observe the Inca architecture of Machu Picchu, you will be directed to a well sought after place from where you will observe the sunrise (depending on the weather). There you will be able to take your postcard photo of Machu Picchu.
Then you will start the guided tour of the main sectors of the citadel, for a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Throughout this guided tour, you will learn a little more about the history and culture of the Inca empire.
At the end of the tour, you will have some more free time so you can continue with the photographic shots and explore what you have left to visit, or if you are willing to walk Huayna Picchu (you must book in advance, as they are sold out and has 60 USD per person), your guide will show you where to start this walk, which will take no more than 2 hours round trip.
INCLUSIONS
Below, we detail what is included in the 4 day Salcantay to Machu Picchu trek.
INCLUDES
INCLUDES
- Pick up from your hotel
- A briefing about the trek with your guide the day before
- Private transportation to Challacancha
- Availability of meals according to your preference
- First camp crystal igloo, second camp Andean cabins, third camp capsules and the fourth night hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Bilingual and certified tour guide
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu up and down.
NOT INCLUDED:
- First breakfast
- Entrance fee to Humantay lagoon 20 soles
- Horses
- Sleeping bag
- Walking sticks
- Entrance fees to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountains
RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Original passport
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- T-shirts and trekking pants
- Hiking shoes
- Sunscreen / sunglasses
- Personal belongings
- Personal medications
- Caps or hats
- Gloves
- Insect repellent
- Camera with extra batteries
- Extra money, especially in soles
