8-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Day 1: Arrival at the airport – Cusco City Tour. Pick up will be from the airport of Cusco upon your arrival and transfer to your centrally located hotel, check-in and free time to relax in the morning (recomended to book morning flights to Cusco). In the afternoon, you’ll start a walking tour with your tour guide, visiting the most remarkable places in Cusco: Explore the plaza de Armas, marvel at the priceless paintings in The Cathedral, visit the 12 angled stone, and discover the temple of the sun at Koricancha. The second part is by car, 10 minutes drive to Sacsayhuaman, and enjoy the views from the upper of Cusco, then visit the labyrinth of Quenqo, the temple of the water at Tambomachay, and the red fortress at Pucapucara. On the way back to your hotel, if you still have time, visit the large white statue of Christ perched up the hill overlooking the city of Cusco. Duration: Half-day. Meals: Not Included. Entrance Ticket: Included. Accommodation: Munay Wasi Hotel or Similar

Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero. After Breakfast in your hotel, The tour guide will collect you from the hotel at 8:00 a.m and drive across the mountains to the Sacred Valley. On the way, you’ll stop at Awanacancha alapca farm, here you can see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, guanacos, and learn the difference between them. Then continue to Mirador of Taray, a lookout point with spectacular views of the Sacred Valley, the eastern mountain range of the Andes, and the Urubamba River.Later, you’ll head to the Pisaq archeological site, a very well preserved Inca settlement built on top of the mountain. Explore impressive agricultural terraces, the thousands of tombs, palaces, houses surrounded by enormous walls, and the beautiful vistas of the Sacred Valley. After exploring, You´ll drive to Pisaq town to visit the handicraft market, very famous because of the local artisans produce their own textiles and sell it directly to the tourist. After bargaining in the market, you’ll drive for 1 hour to lunch at a local restaurant in Urubamba, you’ll have a variety of dishes prepared with fresh products from the area. After enjoying a delicious lunch you’ll drive and discover the fortress of Ollantaytambo, walk along the narrow Inca streets in the town and head back to Cusco, on the way you’ll visit Chinchero, explore the well preserve Inca site, visit the colonial church built over the Inca Palaces, and finally visit the textile center to learn the art of Andean textiles. Drop off at your hotel around 6.00 pm. Duration: Full-day. Meals: Buffet Lunch. Entrance Ticket: Included. Accommodation: Munay Wasi Hotel or Similar

Day 3: Cusco – Humantay Lake – SalkantayPampa. Leave from your hotel in Cusco around 4:30 am in our exclusive van and drive to Soraypampa (3900m) – arriving approximately at 8:30 am. After breakfast, you’ll start the trek To Machu Picchu. First, you’ll hike 2 hours up to Humantay Lake, located at 4200 meters, this turquoise water lagoon is visited by hundreds of visitors every day, arriving first and enjoying the amazing views with fewer people. After exploring the lake, you’ll begin another 2 hours down Back to Soraypampa where your trekking chef will be waiting with a delicious lunch. Then, continue along the Salkantay Valley, following the meandering streams up to Salkantaypampa, the first campsite at the base of Salkantay Mountain located at 4000 meters. Upon arrival, you’ll find the tents ready, warm water to wash, tea time, dinner, and go to sleep in the comfortable million-star tents. Campsite Altitude: 4000 m/13123 ft. Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles. Duration: 6 hours. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea time, and dinner. Accommodation: Camping under million stars. Considered: Moderate

Day 4: SalkantayPampa -Hayrajpunku – Collpapampa. Wake in your tent with a hot cup of coffee or tea and the spectacular view of the mountains, you’ll have time to pack and get ready for the day, after breakfast, start with the most difficult part of the trek, a 2-hours ascent to the highest point of the Salkantay Trek, The Salkantay Pass ( 4630 m / 15190 ft), once reaching the top, take some time to explore and enjoy the amazing vistas of the snow-capped peak. Then, continue a 2-hour descend to Hayrajpunku, here your amazing chef will be waiting with another amazing meal. After enjoying the well-earned lunch, continue descending for 3 hours until arriving at the second Campsite near the village of Collpapampa located at 2770m (9087ft). Along the way, you’ll see a variety of flora, fauna, and experience the fastest change in temperature that causes a drastic change in the landscape from clod snowy peaks to green tropical areas. Campsite Altitude: 2770 mt / 9087 ft. Highest altitude: 4630 m /15190 ft. Distance: 18 km/ 11.1 miles. Duration: 9 hours. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea, and dinner. Accommodation: Camping next to a village. Considered: Challenging

Day 5: Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata. After breakfast around 7:00 AM, begin the 3-hour trek along the Salkantay Valley, following the white water river coming down from the high mountains like Salkantay, a verdant area home to several waterfalls, orchids, flowers, coffee farms, and small villages. Lunch is among avocado trees at Lucmabamba, you’ll arrive right on time to participate in a PACHAMNACA, a traditional underground barbecue with hot stones, we put all kinds of meat, vegetable, and even fruits then bury underground, while waiting for the special meal, you’ll visit Wilbert’s organic coffee farm, learn the harvesting process, and make your own cup of espresso. After the Pachamanca feast, you’ll continue the second part of the day, following an ancient Inca trail for 3 hours up to Llaqtapata archeological site, this is a unique Inca site located right in front of Machu Picchu, where you’ll catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. Spent the night with your tents overlooking the citadel. Campsite Altitude: 2,750 m / 9022ft. Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles. Duration of hike: 8 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: Camping in front of Machu Picchu. Difficulty: Moderate

Day 6: Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes. Wake up early, open your tent and you’ll see Machu Picchu, if the weather allows you’ll have the most beautiful sunrise over Machu Picchu, spend time relaxing, and getting ready for the final and last day of hiking to Aguas Calientes. The first part is a 2 hour downhill to Hidroelectrica Station, where you’ll get a box lunch to reenergize and say goodbye to our trekking team. Then, you’ll continue to Intiwatana (sundial rock). visited by Hiram Bingham during the 1911 expeditions, this carefully carved rock is perfectly aligned with the Sundial at Machu Picchu during the winter solstice. Continue a pleasant 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. This part of the hike is full of history not only because you’ll be walking around Machu Picchu but also because it was used by American Explorer, Hiram Bingham III during the 1911 expedition that led to the discovery of Machu Picchu. You’ll be able to visit the Mandor gardens, this is the exact place where Hiram Bingham arrived in 1911, he met a farmer named Arteaga, and eventually discover Machu Picchu thanks to this farmer. Due to the rich flora and fauna, you’ll be able to see different species of birds and flowers. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, check-in in a hotel and enjoy a relaxing shower. Dinner at Local restaurant. Aguas Calientes: 2,000 m/ 6561 ft. Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles. Duration: 6 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: 3-star hotel. Difficulty: Moderate

Day 7: Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Cusco. On the last day and most important day, wake up early, have breakfast in the hotel and catch the first buses to Machu Picchu, the hotel will store the heavy bags for you and you’ll go very light to get the best of the day. Upon arrival to the checkpoint, you need to show the original passport and the entrance ticket that we will provide, once inside you’ll start with an optional hike to Sungate of Inca Bridge, then, explore the most important places with your tour guide, plazas, temples, palaces, and learn about the history of this amazing place. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore by yourself or climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional and different from Machu Picchu citadel). Once you finish visiting Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included) and take the Vistadome panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo and then private van back to Cusco. Drop off at your hotel around 7.30 pm. Duration of the tour: 3 – 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), others not included. Difficulty: Easy

Day 8: Depart Cusco. After breakfast, transfer to the airport or bus terminal according to your schedule