Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

At 6:00 AM we'll pick you up from your selected hotel. We'll leave by our private transport to Mollepata (2800 meters). We will enjoy a beautiful scenic journey through Limatambo, stopping for panoramic views of the Apurimac Valley, where you can have a breakfast in a typical restaurant. After that we'll drive 1hour to our trailhead at Sayllapata (3 200 meters), where we'll meet our "arrieros" (horsemen) and trek staff. For 2 1/2 hrs, we will hike through traditional Andean communities like Cruzpata, Challacancha, and Soraypampa (3750 meters), before stopping for lunch. After another 4 hours, we'll arrive at our first campsite at Soyrococha (4200 meters).

On the second day we'll ascend to the highest point of our trek, Salkantay Pass (4600 meters). From this point we can appreciate the special views of Salkantay Mountain, a stunning snow-capped peak (6271 meters). We will have 3 hours of walking with spectacular views of the mountains Humantay and Huayanay, small lakes and moraines before arriving at our lunch site, Huayraqmachay (3700 meters). Then we'll descend for 3 1/2 hrs to our second campsite, Colpabamba (2600 meters).

On the third day, the group will have 4 hours of easy, downhill hiking. We will be introduced to a high jungle location called Ceja de Selva, where coffee, coca and fruits plantations can be observed. There will be time to shower in a waterfall, take amazing pictures, and with luck we can observe the famous Peruvian National Bird "Gallito de las Rocas". We will stop at La Playa (2250 meters) for lunch and then enjoy a free afternoon.

After breakfast at 6:00 AM, we will take local transportation for 20 minutes to Lucmabamba. From there we start our fourth day's hike, climbing for almost 3 1/2 hours to a recently discovered Incan place called Llactapata (2,700 meters), or 'high town' in Quechua. From there we have the first view of Machu Picchu, free time to enjoy the scenery, and then we descend to Hidroelectrica Train Station (Km 116), where we will have a delicious lunch. We continue walking for two hours more to Aguas Calientes (2,000 meters), where we will spend the night in a hotel.

We will take an early walk or bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu for a 2-hour guided tour, plenty of additional free time to explore, and an optional climb to the mountain Huayna Picchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Sun Gate. After that, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. We have time for lunch and wait for the train to comeback. Transfer to the hotel.