SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU 3D/2N

SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU

DAY 1: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAULLAY – SANTA TERESA

In Salkantay Trek + Machupicchu, your Tour Guide picks you up from your hotel at 5 am (approx.). Then, you board a private vehicle bringing you to the village of Mollepata (2,900 m/9,514 ft), which takes 2 and half an hour. The village is known for its friendly people and temperate climate. Upon arrival, you are served breakfast at “La Casa Salkantay “, a tourist restaurant. Afterwards, you continue the ride for an hour until reaching Soraypampa (3,850 m/12,631 ft), a trailhead of the Salkantay Trek + Machu Picchu 3D/2N.

There, you start trekking for approximately 3 hours appreciating the natural beauty of the snow-capped mountain of Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 ft). You climb up to the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m/15,190 ft), which is the highest point of the whole route. After a short rest, you begin descending for 2 hours until you get to Wayramachay, where our Cook awaits you with lunch. Then, you keep hiking for the next 3 hours till Chaullay (2,800 m/9,186 ft) experiencing the climate change from mountainous landscape to a high jungle scenery with a variety of orchids and birds.

In Chaullay, our vehicle collects you to take you to the town of Santa Teresa (1,550 m/5,085 ft), a place of our campsite and first overnight. Before you go to sleep, you are given dinner. Optional: you can visit the thermal baths “Cocalmayo” near Santa Teresa in the evening (entrance ticket not included in the trek’s price).

Maximum altitude: 4,630 metres/ 15,190 feet
Minimum altitude: 1,550 metres / 5,085 feet
Duration of the bike: 8 hours
Trekking distance: 13 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Weather:  Cold to warm

DAY 2: SANTA TERESA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

At 6 am, after breakfast, you start trekking for about 2 hours (9 km) till you get to the railway station called Hidroelectrica (a hydroelectric plant). During the trail, you can admire immense vegetation and a variety of birds. At Hidroelectrica, you are given a short rest before you hike again, this time following tracks leading to Aguas Calientes (9 km).

After 3 hours of hiking, you arrive in Aguas Calientes (2,040 m/6,693 ft), a small town below Machu Picchu. You settle at a hotel where you can enjoy a refreshing shower before having lunch. In the afternoon, you get some free time so that you can explore Aguas Calientes on your own and/or visit the local thermal baths (not included in the trek´s price). At night, you are served dinner and then overnight in the hotel.

Maximum altitude: 2,040 metres / 6,693 feet
Minimum altitude: 1,550 metres / 5,085 feet
Duration of the bike:  5 hours
Trekking distance: 18 km
Difficulty: Easy
Weather:  Humid-warm

DAY 3: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO

At 5:30 am. At 6:30 am, the Guide will pick you up to board the first bus. He takes it uphill following a zigzag path until he reaches the door of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary (2,430 m / 7,972 ft). First of all, he must go through a checkpoint (don’t forget your passport or you won’t be allowed to enter!). Second, you are offered a 4-hour private guided tour while the Guide explains every known detail of his history.

Third, he shows the architectural ensembles of greatest interest found in the so-called “Royal Tomb”. Also, explore the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Central Temple, the Priests’ Mansion, the sunken place. You can see springs formed in water channels and many stairs. All made entirely of stone.

In addition, there are rocks that are used for high ritual purposes. The most important of which is “Inti Watana” or the Solar Clock. After the guided part, you are given free time to explore the citadel on your own. You can also visit the Inca Bridge or the Temple of the Moon if you climb the Wayna Picchu. When you decide, you use a bus ticket to descend back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch (not included). Later, you will board a train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue by private vehicle back to Cusco. In the end, we take you back to your hotel.

Maximum altitude: 2,430 metres / 7,972 feet
Minimum altitude: 2,040 metres / 6,693 feet
Duration of the trek: N/A
Trekking distance: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Weather:  Humid-warm

SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU

DAY 1: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAULLAY – SANTA TERESA

• 5 am – a pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
• Transportation by private vehicle to Mollepata (2 and half an hour).
• American breakfast is served in the restaurant “La Casa Salkantay” at the village of Mollepata.
• Transport to Soraypampa (1 hour approx) – a trailhead.
• 3-hour climb-up to the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m/15,190 ft) – the highest point of the Salkantay Trek + Machu Picchu 3D/2N.
• 2-hour descend to Wayracmachay.
• Lunch at Wayracmachay.
• 3-hour hike till Chaullay.
• Car ride from Chaullay to Santa Teresa (1 hour).
• Camping in Santa Teresa.
• Optinal: a visit to the thermal baths “Cocalmayo” near Santa Teresa in the evening.
• Dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: SANTA TERESA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

• 6 am – breakfast.
• 2-hour hike from Santa Teresa to “Hidroelectrica” (Hydroelectric plant) – a railway station.
• 3-hour hike along the tracks from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes – a small town below Machu Picchu.
• Accommodation in a hotel.
• Lunch at Aguas Calientes.
• Afternoon rest, visit the town and/or the local thermal baths (not included in the trek´s price).
• Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

DAY 3 SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO

• 5:30 am – early breakfast at the hotel.
• 6:30 am – a pick-up by your Tour Guide from the hotel.
• Transport to Machu Picchu.
• Passing through a checkpoint of Machu Picchu.
• Private guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• Time off enabling you to enjoy Machu Picchu on your own, visit the Inca Bridge and/or hike to Wayna Picchu/Machu Picchu Mountain to take some panoramic photos of this New Wonder of the World (please see the section Optional).
• When you feel ready, use a shuttle bus ticket to bring you back down to Aguas Calientes.
• Lunch (not included in the tour).
• Train ride to Ollantaytambo (2 hours).
• Transport back to the city of Cusco (approx. an hour).
• Transfer to your hotel.
• End of service of the Salkantay Trek 3D/2N.

OPTIONAL:

• Climb to the Machu Picchu Mountain, a mountain situated above the Inca citadal accessible by a 1.5-hour climb. Here you are able to take those postcard-like photos of Machu Picchu. It costs USD 15 extra. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 1 month in advance due to a limited number of tickets!
• Wayna Picchu – a mountain situated above the Inca citadal accessible by a 45-minute climb. It serves to take some panoramic photos of Machu Picchu. It is an extra USD 25. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 3 months in advance due to a limited number of entrances!

SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU INCLUDES:

• Pre-trek briefing.
• Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
• Private transport to the trailhead at Soraypampa.
• A professional English-speaking Tour Guide.
• Guide Assistant (for groups of over 10 participants).
• Mules to carry camping and kitchen equipment.
• Muleteer.
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• 1 night in a campsite – the 1st night.
• 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes (below Machu Picchu) – the 2nd night.
• Camping and kitchen equipment (a dining tent, a kitchen tent, kitchen utensils, tables, seats, a toilet tent).
• Personal tents (a quad tent for two persons).
• Blankets.
• Pillows.
• Mattresses.
• Walking sticks.
• Duffel bags.
• First aid kit and a bottle of oxygen.
• Two-way radio.
• A personal biodegradable toilet soap.
• Boiled water every morning and afternoon for washing and to fill your water bottle.
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 2x lunch, 2x dinner, hot beverages during main meals, snacks – a vegetarian option available upon request.
• Private guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• 2 tickets for a shuttle bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes.
• Return train to Ollantaytambo.
• Private transport between Ollantaytambo and Cusco.
• Drop off at your hotel in Cusco.

SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU NOT INCLUDE:

• Sleeping bag (you can rent it from X Travel Peru for USD 10).
• Lunch on day 3 (in Aguas Calientes).
• Beverages (apart from the main meals).
• Extra mule (to carry up to 20 kg of your belongings – extra USD 28/day).
• Climb to Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (see the Optional section please).
• Entrance ticket to the thermal baths “Cocalmayo” near Santa Teresa (10 Soles).
• Entrance fee to the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes (10 Soles).
• Tips to local staff.
• Pocket money.
• Accommodation in Cusco.
• Any flight.
• Travel insurance.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE  SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU TOUR?

• Original passport!!! (Please note: It will be checked at the gateway! If you fail to bring it, you will not be allowed to enter!)
• Necessary stuff for a 3-day trek (We recommend you to take up to 7 kg of your belongings which might be carried by an extra mule.);
• Sleeping bag (you can rent it from us if you do not have any);
• Personal medicines (if applicable);
• Small backpack;
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a sweater, long trousers (particularly for the cold nights);
• Light clothes such as shorts and a T-shirt (for sunny and warm days);
• Sufficient number of socks and underwear;
• Rainy coat or poncho (especially, from November to April);
• Trekking shoes;
• Sandals;
• Camera;
• Extra batteries and/or power bank;
• Binocular (if you like);
• Flashlight;
• A peak/hat;
• Sunglasses;
• Sun protection cream;
• Insect repellent;
• Toiletries;
• Towel;
• Toilet paper;
• Swimsuit (in case you like to visit the thermal baths);
• Bottled water;
• Canteen;
• Matches;
• Knife;
• Water purification tablets (optional);
• Pocket money (to buy some souvenirs or refreshment).

SALKANTAY TREK + MACHUPICCHU

The price depends on the number of participants, accommodation availability, travel dates and other preferences. Please inquire about a personalized price.