We have created an adventure in which you can enjoy Peru on its best like never before. The Salkantay Trek is an ancient and remote trail located in the same region as the Inca Trail, where the huge snow-capped mountains collide with a lush rainforest.
Discover Machu Picchu and the South of Peru in this 8 Day Salkantay Trek, which will show you the best of nature and culture alike. Our professional staff will be with you all the way while you are experiencing Peruvian culture in all its intensity. This is the adventure of a lifetime and you should not miss out on discovering new cultures and seeing one of the most famous attractions in the world.
Cusco is the centre of Inca history and home to some of the most important archeological sites of Peru. Exploring them with a guide will make this period of history come alive to you. During the Cusco City Tour we will visit the beautiful cathedral on the main square (la Plaza de Armas) and the Temple of the Sun, and then head for the city outskirts by car to visit the 4 main Inca ruins including Sacsayhuaman. From here, you will have some of the most beautiful views of Cusco, so don’t forget to bring your camera!
Chinchero – Ollantaytambo – Urubamba – Pisaq
Our bus will pick you up from your hotel at 9 a.m., and first we will drive along the paved road to the village of Chinchero. You will appreciate its Inca temple complex and the Colonial church that was built on top of it. We’ll also visit a weaving demonstration and learn about the handwoven textiles this place is so famous for. The fabrics are completely natural, dyed with plants from the region and the patterns are woven by heart. If you like, you can support this unique handicraft by buying some handwoven textiles; prices are usually very reasonable as the competition is fierce. Then, we’ll continue our trip to the town of Ollantaytambo, the only Inca city that is still inhabited. There, we will visit the impressive archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo with its temples, its tambo and cemetry embedded in the hills of the Sacred Valley. We will continue our tour to Urubamba, where we will have lunch in a cozy, local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will pass through the villages of Yucay, Calca, Lamay and Ccoya. We can observe a beautiful flora and fauna during the trip that lasts approximately 45 minutes, until we reach the city of Pisaq, located 32 km from the city of Cusco. In Pisaq you can do some souvenir shopping at the craft market, if you like. The Craft Market of Pisaq has some typical pottery crafts and is famous for its jewelry –mostly made of 950 silver and precious stones from the region. After enjoying some shopping, we’ll go back to the city of Cusco around 6:30 p.m., so you can take an early rest and prepare for the next day’s most awaited Inca Trail.
At 5:00 in the morning pick-up from the hotel. We will get on our way in our tour bus passing by villages in the Andean highlands. At approximately 9 a.m. we will arrive at Mollepata, where we’ll have a delicious breakfast. At this point, our walk will begin until we get to Tres Cruces (three crosses), where we will have lunch enjoying a spectacular view of the Limatambo Valley. After lunch, we will continue our walk towards Markokasa and Choquekiclla. Here, we can see the Apus (mountains) Salkantay and Humantay. At approximately 4:30 p.m. we will arrive at Soraypampa (3.500 masl or 20,671 feet), where we will camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)
Altitude of the camp: meters
Difficulty: considered a/an day
This day we will pass by the foot of the Snowy Salkantay; we will see the enchanting landscape right below us. In a place called Paso Salkantay we will have an Inka Ceremony, during which we will ask for permission to pass Salkantay and have a fabulous and unforgettable trip. This ceremony is known as Jaywarikuy (pago a la Pachamama or payment to Mother Earth). We will have lunch at Huayrac and after lunch, we’ll start descending towards Challhuay. Following the course of the river Salkantay, we’ll have the opportunity to admire the most beautiful Andean landscapes. There, we will camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)
Altitude of the camp: 2.900 meters above sea level
Difficulty: considered a day
The Salkantay trail is already becoming a steady road and we will have the opportunity to enjoy the landscape that is hidden in this part of the country. The high Andean jungle makes our trip unforgettable, as we will be able to enjoy numerous species of flowers – such as orchids and ferns- and birds of different colors. We’ll have the opportunity to taste some fresh fruit like passion fruit, oranges and bananas, as well. After lunch in the Beach sector, we will leave for Santa Teresa, where we will camp. In the afternoon we’ll get a chance to enjoy the thermal baths.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)
Altitude of the camp: meters
Difficulty: considered a day
We will start our trip today passing by a beautiful waterfall as we arrrive at Hidroeléctrica. After lunch, we’ll continue our hike to the village of Machu Picchu. On our way, we go through Mandor and pass by its waterfall. Mandor is well known for its botanical gardens showing beautiful, colorful flowers. At Machupicchu Pueblo we will spend the night in a comfortable Hotel. If you like, you can bring a visit to the hot springs of the town tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)
Altitude of the camp: meters
Difficulty: considered a day
At 6:00 a.m., after an early breakfast, we will take the bus to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. In this way, we will be one of the first groups getting inside the Inka city, which will allow us to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. We will have a guided tour of approximately 2 hours visiting the most important sites of Machu Picchu. After the tour, you can explore the mysterious city on your own. There is an opportunity to climb the Huayana Picchu mountain as well (to be booked in advance at a cost of USD 15,-). In good time, we will descend from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes to board our train back to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.
Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)
Altitude of the camp: meters
Difficulty: considered a day
This is your last morning in Cusco. At the scheduled time, usually after breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to the airport, where you can take your flight back to Lima. We hope you enjoyed your stay with us and wish you a safe journey.