Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Tour 6D/5N

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay lake – Ichupata.

• Hiking distance: 10 km/6 miles (5-6 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 4.400 meters above sea level
• Considered: Moderate to difficult
• Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
• Weather: Cold and windy

We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 am. then will be driven for three hours to Soraypampa. This is the starting point our epic Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail. After a yummy outdoor breakfast, we’ll hike uphill for 2 hours to the Humantay lake; this section will be surrounded by andean grassland, purple flowers and the pretty Humantay snow-capped mountain. Once on the top, our guide we’ll give us the best suggestions to have amazing views of Humantay lake, let’s take our time and connect with nature. Our tour guide will also share interesting facts about the glaciers and coloration of the lake. After taking memorable photos, we’ll hike downhill for 45 minutes to Soraypampa. Then we hike 1 hour uphill to our lunch spot.

Our porter team will be waiting us, with a cold fruit juice and a delicious buffet lunch.
After a break, we’ll hike 2 hours uphill to our first Salkantay Trek basecamp; along the way will have a stunning view of red-orange colored mountains and the imposing Salkantay snow peak. Upon our arrival to our camp, our tents will be already set up; let’s rest after our first incredible day in the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail.

At night we will have a tea time meeting, while our guide is telling us interesting tales and we are interacting in between all participants, later we will have a varied buffet dinner. The Ichupata camp is located at the foot of the Salkantay, this gives us a unique opportunity to observe Inca constellations and stars of the southern hemisphere, from a quiet and privileged position.

** Day highlights on the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail Tour: the paradisiacal humantay lake and stargazing over the Salkantay glacier from a privileged place.

First day map of the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail

Day 2: Ichupata – Incachiriaska Pass – Inca canal.

• Hiking distance: 16 km/10 miles (8-9 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 3.600 meters above sea level
• Considered: Moderate to difficult
• Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
• Weather: Cold and windy

Our guide will wake us up with a hot cup of chocolate and after a few minutes he will bring us a container of warm water to wash our faces and get up in a better mood. After getting ready, we will taste a nutritious Andean breakfast, since today we will reach the highest point of our trip on the Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail. We will hike uphill for 3 hours to the Incachiriasca pass. This mountain pass has one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the Salkantay Trek; From this place we will see the entire chain of snowy mountains of Vilcabamba, in addition to having a privileged view of the snowy Salkantay and two blue lagoons. If we are lucky we can also see the largest flying bird in the world, the majestic Andean condor.

After tasting a hot coffee and a sandwich, we will descend for 3 hours to our lunch camp. The next 3-hour stretch to our camp will be along a relatively flat trail, surrounded by rocky outcrops where many Andean chinchillas, known locally as vizcachas, live. Upon our arrival at our camp, our tents will be ready, so we can rest after a challenging day on the Salkantay Trek. Our porters will give us a bucket of warm water, a towel and liquid soap so we can clean up a bit. At night we will enjoy a tea time and a tasty buffet dinner.

** Highlights of the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail Tour: the 360-degree view of the snowy Salkantay and the Vilcabamba mountain range, in addition to seeing the majestic Andean condor.

Map of the second day of the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail

Day 3: Inca Canal – Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa.

• Hiking distance: 16 km/10 miles (7-8 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 3.700 meters above sea level
• Considered: Moderate to difficult
• Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
• Weather: Cold and windy

After a tasty breakfast, we will visit a local house in the village of Pampacahua, here we will learn a lot about the traditions and lifestyle of the people of the Andes. We are gradually leaving the beautiful Salkantay trek and we hike downhill for 3 hours through a path full of medicinal plants such as: the muña, the marku, the achupalla, the chilca among others. We will arrive at the Inca ruin of Paucarcancha, from where we officially enter the classic Inca trail. Paucarcancha is a small but strategic Inca town, currently it is well preserved by the park rangers of the Cusco Ministry of Culture. From here we will hike for 40 minutes to the town of Wayllabamba.

Upon our arrival, our expert trek cook will be waiting for us with a cold apple juice and a varied buffet lunch. After about 30 minutes of digestion, we will ascend for 3 hours through a cobbled Inca trail until our campsite in Llulluchapampa. In this section we will have the illusion of entering the Amazon jungle, it is due to the special microclimate found here, which we call the dwarf forest of the mountains. Our camp is located in the alpine forest of the Andes and from this point you can already see dead woman´s pass.

** The highlight of the day: We leave the beautiful landscapes of our trip on the Salkantay Trek and enter the Inca Trail and its amazing landscapes and imposing Inca ruins.

Third day map of the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail

Day 4: Llulluchapampa – Death Woman’s Pass – Phuyupatamarca.

• Hiking distance: 10 km/6 miles (7-8 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 3.750 meters above sea level
• Considered: Moderate to difficult
• Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
• Weather: Cold and windy

This 4th day of our amazing 6-day Salkantay Inca trail journey, will start with hot chocolate mug coming to your tents to wake you up. This is the day we going to hike from the Andean foothills to the Amazonian cloud forest. After a delicious breakfast, we’ll hike uphill on a cobblestone path to the famous dead woman’s pass. This 2-hour hike will show us nice views of rugged mountains and the Wayllabamba valley. Once on the summit, we will celebrate our conquest with a Pachamama offering (mother earth ceremony) and with great photos you guide will take of you and your loved ones. Then we start descending for 2 hours to Pacaymayo valley, where we have lunch. Along the way will observe flowers of different colors and their inseparable friends, the endemic hummingbirds of the Inca trail. Upon our arrival to lunch spot, our support team will give us a cold apple juice and a delicious buffet lunch.

After a 30 minute rest, will hike uphill for 2 hours to the Runcuracay pass, which is second pass of the Classic Inca Trail; before arriving to the second summit, we’ll stop in half way to explore an Inca ruin of Runcuracay. According archaeological evidences, this building may have been a trail-lodge and a kind of a watchtower in this part of the Inca trail. From Runcuracay mountain pass we will have an extraordinary panoramic view of the cloud forest and the Pumasillo snow-capped mountain. Then we descend for 1 hour to Sayacmarca, which is a huge Inca town perched on the top of a hill. In Sayacmarca there is an Inca balcony, from where we will contemplate a beautiful view of the Aobamba cloud forest.

Finally, we will hike the last stretch of the day. The last 2-hour section is considered by previous hikers as a jewel; due its wonderful scenic views and endemic birds and orchids of the Inca trail. Upon arrival to Puyupatamarca, which is the name of the 3^rd pass on the Inca trail and our campsite, you will astonish by an incredible view of the Machu Picchu region and the Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon, we will spend a memorable time contemplating the Puyupatamarca Inca ruin with a perfect sunset over the Salkantay peak (the second highest peak in Cusco).

** What an incredible day in our Salkantay Inca trail tour; we will explore stunning Inca ruins and contemplate dazzling views of the Andes, the cloud forest and snow-capped mountains.

Map of the 5th day of the Salkantay Inca trail

Day 5: Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna – Aguas Calientes.

• Hiking distance: 15 km/8.3 miles (6-7 hours)
• Hotel altitude: 2.000 meters above sea level
• Considered: Moderate to difficult
• Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
• Weather: Cold and windy

The most amazing day of this 6-day experience in the Salkantay Inca trail Andes. We’ll have a delicious outdoor breakfast, observing a marvelous sunrise over the Machu Picchu mountain and the Salkantay snow-capped mountain. Then we hike 10 minutes downhill to visit the Inca ruins of Puyupatamarca, an outstanding Inca settlement perched in the middle of two mountains and right in front of the Machu Picchu mountain. From this point we descend for 3 hours through a path paved completely in stones. In this section of the trail we have a lot of chances to spot colorful birds such as: cock of the rocks, Andean motmots, Andean guans, toucans, trogons and tanagers. Intipata Inca ruin is a series of 50 farming terraces perched on the slope of a mountain. According to previous hikers, Intipata has one of the best views of the Machu Picchu Inca trail.

From here, we hike 40 minutes to Wiñaywayna to enjoy our last lunch prepared by our chef. After lunch, we hike 5 minutes to Wiñaywayna known as Mini Machu Picchu. Following with our 6-day tour in Inca lands; we’ll hike for 1 hour and 30 minutes to the Sun Gate, a strategic point from where we have a first glimpse of the Machu Picchu citadel. Then we hike downhill for 45 minutes to arrive to the main Machu Picchu overlooks. We will have all the afternoon to contemplate a memorable sunset in Machu Picchu and without that many people. Also from this spot we take our postcard photos of Machu Picchu. After having enjoyed the first views of the lost city of the Incas, we’ll board a bus for half an hour to Aguas Calientes. Once here, your guide will drop you of at your hotel, coordinate dinner time and plan the visit to the Inca citadel the next day.

** ! Yes¡ This awesome 6-day hike, will give us the chance to visit Machu Picchu citadel twice.

Sixth day map of the Salkantay Inca trail

Day 6: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

• Meals Included: Breakfast Only

In order to get well rested and have plenty of time to enjoy the views, pictures and guided tour at Machu Picchu; we suggest you to wake up by 5:00 in the morning, get ready, pack the essentials and take the bus from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu citadel. This will be a ride of 30 minutes until reaching the Inca citadel at 6:15 am. more or less. Thus, you will have the chance to see the sunrise on this magnificent location. Your guide will give enough time to take pictures into the most beautiful spots of the Inca citadel, share information about this amazing Incan masterpiece and display you the most impressive details of Machu Picchu.

Then we take the bus back at more or less 12:00 pm. Down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy without rush our lunch. This lunch is optional and not included. At lunch, your guide will deliver out train tickets, so if you opt to skip this; please arrange to get these train tickets before leaving your tour guide at Machu Picchu citadel. Unless you requested for an upgraded train, we will book the Expedition class train departing Aguas Calientes at 3:20 p.m. or 4:22 p.m. This will be a 2-hour drive to Ollantaytambo or 4 hours to Poroy (this is based on which train you board). At Ollantaytambo or Poroy, our IncaGo Expedition driver will meet you and drive you back to Cusco, then we drop you off at the door of your hotel or the closest possible if there is not car access until your accommodation. You will arrive to your hotel in Cusco around 6:30 pm.

Map of the visit to Machu Picchu and the return to Cusco