8 Day - Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - Group Service

Peru is a lovely country. If you are passionate about nature tourism a route full of adventures awaits you in search of the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

We offer you a fantastic 8 day tour that starts from Cusco to Machu Picchu and goes through natural monuments of great beauty such as the Apu Salkantay among many others.


Peru and its hidden treasures


The hidden treasures of Peru are many. It is a cradle of the Inca Empire and the rich past of this civilization is still evident in cultural and architectural heritage that is preserved up to this day.

We are talking about one of the countries with the greatest biological diversity worldwide. A country of extremes in which you can climb its high peaks of the Andes, visit an extreme desert along the coast or venture into the lush Amazon jungle.


The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu


The main Inca remains are located in the south where you will find the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. It is included in the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. This ancient Andean town is located at about 2,500 meters above the sea level. Arriving here is an adventure that you can be a part of.


FULL TOUR ITINERARY


Day 1: Arrival to Cuzco

After your arrival you will have the day off to spend it at as you may while you explore the nightlife of Cusco or try our local dishes in some of its many restaurants.


Day 2: OPEN DAY for leisure

Optional: A full day tour to Valle Sagrado (highly recommended).

This will full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley will let you visit the colorful native market of Pisac. You will appreciate the mixture of colors, traditions and have an opportunity to learn about their bartering skills, interact with local artisans and buy their handmade souvenirs.

We will visit Pisac, the entrance to the Sacred Valley. After Pisac, we will head towards Urubamba, where we will have a delicious buffet lunch at the Tunupa restaurant. Then we will continue to Ollantaytambo, the oldest occupied city of the South American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with its canals, have not changed much since the Inca Empire.

The last site to visit will be the Chinchero market. It is believed that Chinchero is the birthplace of the rainbow! Its main tourist attraction is the colorful Sunday market, which is less tourism oriented than the Pisac market. At the end of the day we will return to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco around 6:30 pm. The evening will be free.


Day 3: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

We will pick you up at 5 am to travel by bus to Mollepata. Then we will go on a 3 hour hike to Cruzpata, where we will have lunch with panoramic views of the beautiful snowy mountains of Humantay (4120 m / 13500 ft) and Salkantay (6271 m / 20575 ft). We will begin our second part of the walk heading towards our first camp in Soraypampa, observing the beautiful landscape on the way. Soraypampa will be the highest and coldest campsite of our trip with a height of 4000 m / 12750 ft.


Day 4: The massive SALKANTAY

We will have breakfast around 5:30 am and begin our hike to the highest stage of the route. It is located at 4650 meters / 15200 feet and is halfway between two huge mountains, those of Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the two snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a high chance of seeing snow up here.

After a break we will continue downhill through a spectacular Cloud Forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will walk for about three hours to the jungle until we will reach our second camp - Colcapampa (3000m / 9800ft).


Day 5: the Cloud Forest

After breakfast at 6:30 am, we will start walking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River through a series of small streams. We will pass through valleys and enjoy wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will camp in La Playa (2500 m / 8202 ft) characterized by the warm climate. After a break, we will go to the hot springs and enjoy a well-deserved bath in the calm waters. A real treat after finishing the walk! (Optional).


Day 6: Llactapata - Puente Ruinas - The Village of Aguas Calientes

On day four we will have breakfast at 6:30 am and then depart to Llactapata (a three hour climb). Llactapata is an incredible Inca fortress from which we will see Machu Picchu! After taking some photos and a short break, we will continue a two hour hike through a variety of plantations that produce cocoa and bananas, until we will reach the hydroelectric dam for lunch. Then we will continue a couple of hours more to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night.

Optional: in Aguas Calientes, you can take the chance and bath in the hot springs of the city. The entrance fee is 10 soles.


Day 7: Arrival to Machu Picchu

We will have breakfast at 5:00 am and then we will take a bus to Machu Picchu at approximately 5:30 am, to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun rises. The bus trip will take approximately 20 minutes.

You will be accompanied by a guide for a walking tour of approximately two hours. After the tour you can explore the mysterious city. If you still have energy, you can also ascend to Huayna Picchu (2720m / 8890ft). It takes 45 minutes to get to the top.

On the way back, in Aguas Calientes (which can be reached by bus or on foot) we will have a delicious lunch and you will receive your train tickets to get back to Cusco.



Day 8: Bye bye Cusco

Once you have breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.


It is a great experience to travel through a wild territory and enjoy amazing landscapes such as Machu Picchu.