Salkantay to Machu Picchu
Schedule 5 Days / 4 Nights
We leave Cusco on a bus through the Anta plateau. This is the spot where the legendary Inca Pachacutec defeated the Chanca tribe thus starting the expansion of the Inca Empire. We continue up to Huillque pass with the panoramic view of the east side of the Vilcabamba Mountain range. Then we will continue our way down towards the warm Limatambo valley with rich agricultural farming fields, along the way we will also see local villagers working and possibly interact with them. The route continues towards the highlands with its very interesting and colorful surroundings, until we finally glimpse the mountain Soray glacier with 5,950mt. (19,420ft). After crisscrossing several streams and passing through some dense bush areas, we reach the immense Pampa Soray the trailhead is 3,800mt.(12,460ft) high, after lunch our hike will take us to the base of the south face of Salkantay mountain one of the Incas sacred mountains, then we’ll climb up on the southwest side of the sacred mountain moraine to the high pass called portachuelo, campsite very close to the high pass with a beautiful view of the Apu (god) Salkantay whitepeak.
DAY 2: Abra Huayracmachay – Qollpapampa.
Our first campsite is located near to the rocky area and we may see a glimpse of a vizcacha, a unique type of gray Andean rabbit and perhaps see the Andean Condor, the world’s largest flying bird. And a very important one, we’ll head towards the high pass 4,750mt. (15,580ft) high. And don’t forget to carry a small rock all the way from Soraypampa Valley, since according to the Inca tradition, travelers must deposit one on an “apacheta” (a pyramid of rocks) at the pass as an offering to the “apus” (mountain spirits). Now the route descends towards the Amazon basin and the Andean valley of Huayracmacchay, the trail continues along the left bank of the Sunchuccata River. On the way down toward Rayanpata we’ll observe how the landscape changes from arid highlands to tropical jungle. Further down, we'll see where the streams meet to form the Santa Teresa River. We continue along the valley through the Collpapampa community 2,900mt. (9,530ft). Campsite for the night.
DAY 3: Qollpapampa – Playa
The trail continues along the left bank of the Santa Teresa River. And as we loose altitude the weather warms up but remains at a comfortable temperature, along the valley we’ll see another rich agricultural valley with typical crops of the area and still surviving the Inca social organization system in the same manner, the “ayni” system which is a cooperative system designed to share construction and farming work, finally we arrive to the village called Playa where we can interact with locals and have a good chance to interact with locals playing soccer or volleyball. Campsite.
DAY 4: Playa – Machu Picchu This day we'll say goodbye to our horse driver and his horses. We'll start our last gradual climb toward the Llactapata pass, where on the other side of the pass is an Inca site in the middle of the dense forest with an spectacular panoramic view of the outline of MachuPicchu. Then we descend into the rich tropical Aobamba valley with its fields of oranges, paltas (avocados), bananas, granadillas (passion fruit), coffee and sugar cane. We’ll arrive on time to catch the train for a 30 minutes ride to Machu Picchu. We’ll stay for the night at a comfortable lodge in Aguas Calientes village which is just below the Inca city, if you like, a late afternoon dip in the outdoor hot springs a few meters of the town, is a real treat.
DAY 5: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Very early in the morning, we’ll board the bus up to the Inca city of Machu Picchu to enjoy a guided tour of this enigmatic site. After the tour there will be time to wander around and appreciate the beauty and mystery of Machu Picchu. Later on, you may choose to climb Wayna Picchu 2,600 mt. (8,850 ft), the jutting peak overlooking the area. Around mid afternoon we’ll board the bus back to the train station for the return trip to Cusco. The track runs along the Urubamba river valley, the route taken by Hiram Bingham in 1911 when he re-discovered Machu Picchu. On the arrival to Cusco we’ll transfer you to your hotel.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Included during the trek:
Not included:
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DAY 1
Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Abra Huayracmachay.
