Salkantay Trek Via Inca Trail 4 Days And 3 Nights, Cusco

This is a very unique version of the Classic Salkantay Trek. The first two days follow one of the common Salkantay trails, but on the 3rd day we depart the Salkantay trails to enjoy a less trodden path that connects with the Inca Trail. You even get the opportunity to walk a portion of the Inca Trail on the 3rd day.

The Salkantay Trek is named for Mount Salkantay (20,574 feet). This Mountain is higher than any mountain in North America. On the Salkantay trek you will see gorgeous blue lakes, stunning glaciers and rain forest. The last portion of this particular trek has the ecosystem more typical of the Inca Trail with lush green vegetation and inca ruins. This trek is a great blend of the two very popular hikes, with an incomparable variety of flora and fauna.

The trek includes 2 nights of camping and 1 night in a B&B in Aguas Calientes.

Inclusions & Exclusions

✔ Tour guide

✔ Emergency oxygen bottle, medical kit and emergency satellite radio

✔ Lunch

✔ Dinner

✔ Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)

✔ Breakfast

✖ Sleeping bag

✖ Trekking Poles

✖ Tips for the crew (guides, porters, cooks, wranglers)

✖ Round trip bus tickets

Departure & Return

Departure: ,

Return: End right where it started.

View Map

Itinerary

Cusco – Soraypampa – Ichupata

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Action Peru Treks Day 1: We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and have a beautiful scenic drive of 3 hours duration to Mollepata. At Mollepata we will have breakfast at one of the local houses. During this portion of the drive we will have our first views of Salkantay and Humantay Mountains. At this point we will arrive at Soraypampa (12,467 ft), the trailhead for the Salkantay trek, and meet our support staff, who will pack everything for the trek and load the equipment onto horses. The first thing we will do is hike up to Umantay Lake. After enjoying the beauty, we will hike back down to Soraypampa and begin the trek. The hike today is uphill from Soraypampa to Ichupata (14,104 ft) in the upper valley. This is a 5 to 6 hour hike. Along the way we will pass Salkantaypampa, which is our lunch spot. Ichupata is our camp for the night. When we arrive, we will settle in, have a hearty dinner.

Ichupata – Incachiriasca – Pampacahuana

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Paucarcancha Ruins Day 2: After breakfast, we will begin the 3 to 4 hour steep climb to towards the Incachiriasca pass (15,908 ft), the highest of the entire route. We will have amazing views of Salkantay and glacial moraines during this portion. We will pause at the top of the pass to take pictures and enjoy the views. We will then descend towards our lunch spot at Sisaypampa, a flat area from which one can observe the neighboring Salkantay Valleys. This is a place where we might see Andean condors. After lunch we continue towards the Pampacahuana community (12,136 ft), located next to an original Inca canal. This is our camp for the night.

Pampacahuana – Paucarcancha – Huayllabamba – KM 82 – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

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Aguas Calientes Day 3: Today we change pace as we join the Classic Inca Trail. We begin by hiking downill for 2 hours from Pampacahuana to Paucarcancha (10,276 ft)). We will visit the Inca site of the same name. After the tour we will hike downhill for 5 hours until we reach Km 82, which is the start of the classic Inca trail. Along the way we will be able to see the Inca site of Llactapata. This is the first site on the Classic Inca Trail. Our chef will make us a delicious lunch at Kilometer 82. After lunch we will be picked up by our private van at Km 82 and transported to Ollantaytambo (9,158 ft) where we will catch the luxury train to Aguas Calientes. When you reach Aguas Calientes you will check in to your hotel room. The natural hot springs in town are a great place to relax if there is time before dinner. Dinner will be at the finest restaurant.

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

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Day 4: You will have breakfast at your hotel before we take a bus to Machu Picchu. Once there you will be given a 2 hour walking tour of the site. After the tour, you will have some free time to explore Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes you will board the train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo you will travel by private van to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel.

Additional info

• Service animals allowed

• Specialized infant seats are available

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

• Not recommended for pregnant travelers

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

• What to bring:

• Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)

• Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)

• Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)

• Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)

• Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended

• Head lamp

• Sunglasses

• Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)

• Binoculars

• Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents (can be rented from us)

• Insect repellant (minimum 30% DEET)

• Be aware that due the newest regulations of Machu Picchu as of January 1st, 2019, your entry time to visit Machu Picchu on day 4 of the trek will start at 8 AM. Therefore, there is no way to be at Machu Picchu for sunrise, but this entry time will maximize your time to visit Machu Picchu and hike up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (subject to availability)

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