We will enjoy this most popular alternative hikking tour, in a shorter time. We will go through different micro climates, each with a drastically different landscape and stunning views. In this hike all the way to Salkantay we will pass to 4,650 meters of height, and to see the impressive by the snowy one of the Andes.
The night before your tour, you will receive a briefing of the walk in charge of your tour guide. In the morning we will pick you up early at 4 in the morning. We will drive for three hours until the beginning of the road, called Soraypampa (3,800 m), where we will meet his horses and his Arrieros. Your cook will cook breakfast to start the tour. We will also introduce you to all the staff that will work for you along the way.
At 8:30 am in the morning we will begin our expedition towards Machu Picchu. The climb will be gradual for three hours, until you arrive at your lunch spot. The views you will see from the Salkantay Valley and the Salkantay Mountain are incredible. Lunch will be at the foot of this impressive mountain. After enjoying our delicious lunch, we will continue climbing for another hour until reaching the highest point of your walk (Paso Salkantay 4,650 m).
We will have breathtaking views of two different valleys and the Salkantay mountain. We can also see some avalanches of the Salkantay Glacier. We will still have another two hours, downhill, to reach our first camp, called (Wayracammachay 3,800 meters). The downhill portion can be a bit slippery, which may require the use of trekking poles. You will enjoy the sunset and the silence of the valleys. The only thing you can hear is the sound of the river. Upon arrival, our guides and porters will welcome you to their camp. Your shops will all be ready. All you have to do is relax and enjoy tea and dinner.
Walking Distance: 15 km Trail Head Elevation: 3,800 m Maximun Altitude Gained: 850 m Campsite Elevation: 3.800 m Weather: Cold Trail Conditions: Rocky, dusty and slippery (required: trekking shoes) Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We’ll start the day with hot tea. We will have enough time to pack and enjoy a delicious breakfast as we watch the sunrise. After we prepare, you will begin the longest day of your trip to La Playa. Today, it is downhill almost all day, with some short uphill parts. The first section will be all downhill. Micro climate changes from alpine, cloud forest, mountain forest, where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking flora and fauna of the mountains.
After 04 four hours we will arrive at the place of lunch. After lunch, you will spend another four and a half hours gradually descending until you reach La Playa. This area experiences micro-climate changes from cloud forest to tropical forest, where farmers grow coffee, oranges, avocados and more. There will be excellent views of the lush valley and the incredible falls. We will be able to observe some bears in the place. Upon arrival, we will enjoy some tea and dinner.
Walking Distance: 18 km Camp Elevation: 2,400 m Previous Camp Elevation: 3,800 m Maximun Altitude Decsended: 1400 m Trail Condition: Rocky, salty and slippery Weather: Warm to really hot (mosquitoes) Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast early in the camp, we will begin the last 45 minutes of gradual trekking and descending until reaching a portion of the Inca Trail, built at 1,300 a.m. This road was built to connect Vilcabamba with Machu Picchu. It is always special to walk on this historic road. From here the trek is uphill along a stone path to the Llactapata Inca site, just in front of Machu Picchu. You can enjoy more coffee and yucca plantations, along the way. Once you arrive in Llactapata, your guide will describe the geography of the mountains and tell the story of the Incas.
We will return to our hike which will be two and a half hours downhill until we reach the famous hydroelectric station for your last lunch with your cook and porters. We will take the train back to Cusco that night. After lunch, you will have a small ceremony to say goodbye. At 4 p.m., here you will have the bag that the porters took, we will take the train for 45 minutes to Aguas Calientes with your tour guide. He will take you to your hotel for a well deserved relaxation time. If you want to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, we will be able to indicate the way. The cost of entry to the hot springs is 10 soles. You will need a towel. That evening you will enjoy the last dinner with your guide at a local restaurant. You will also receive your latest information for the following day. Be sure to get some snacks and water for your Machu Picchu day.
Walking Distance: 14 km Aguas Calientes Village Elevation: 2,000 m Altitude from Camp to Llactapata Gained: 350 m Weather: Hot Train Conditions: Some sections are slippery
We will start the day very early at 4:30 in the morning, followed by breakfast at 5 am in the hotel. We will take our bus to Machu Picchu. It will be about 25 minutes from Machu Picchu that opens at 6 in the morning. Please be sure to bring your original passport to show the Rangers (you can get a Machu Picchu stamp on your passport). Your guide will take you to the best places in Machu Picchu and enjoy the sunrise (depending on the weather). Then you will have a guided tour of about two and a half hours, where you can explore Machu Picchu with your tour guide. You will also have free time to explore the site on your own. If you have booked, Huayna Picchu will upload it at this time. The climb to Huayna Picchu is an hour and a half, but if you do not reserve for this mountain, you still have the option to climb to the Puerta del Sol (an hour and a half) or the Inca Bridge (45 minutes). In the afternoon, you must take a bus to the city to enjoy your lunch. You will take an afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will be waiting for you to transfer you back to Cusco. We will drop you off at your hotel.
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