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Salkantay & Inca Trail To Machupicchu
11 Days/ 10 Nights
This fantastic hike combines two of the most spectacular trekking routes in the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary. An extraordinary altitudinal range (6,271 to 1,725 m) makes the sanctuary one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with ten distinct life zones. Our adventure begins on the slopes of Mt. Salkantay with its glaciers, lagoons and 5000 meter pass, home to the majestic condors and andean chinchillas.This adventure a breathtaking experience!
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Detailed Itinerary
1st day: LIMA - CUSCO (Free Day)
Flight Lima-Cusco, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Free day for acclimatizing (3300 m) and optional visits. Afternoon briefing regarding the tour and for those interested a demonstration of how to prepare the typical Peruvian cocktail: Pisco Sour. Overnight in Cusco.
2nd day: CUSCO (Sacsayhuaman)
Today we visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, once the Inca "House of the Sun", with temples, palaces and important astronomical observatories. Many of the stones which form the walls weigh up to 200 tons and were placed with incredible precision. In the late afternoon we visit the Centre of Native Art to enjoy typical music and dances of the region. Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast.
3rd day: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - MARCOCCASA
A panoramic bus ride of about 3 hours brings us in the morning to the village of Mollepata where we meet up with our wranglers. From here we start up gently climbing rural paths, through the crops of the locals towards Marcoccasa (3450 m). After lunch we continue hiking for another hour uphill to our first camp at Hornadapata (3500 m) from where we have some fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
4th day: MARCOCCASA - SALKANTAY PAMPA
After breakfast a short ascent to the Pakiswaraka Ridge (3665 m), from where we continue on an easy path towards the water canal built by the community (3760 m). From this point we can enjoy beautiful views into the valley and towards the majestic Mt. Humantay. We continue on a nice flat path along the canal into the valley until lunchtime. In the afternoon we have another 1-2 hours of gentle climbing to our camp at Salkantay Pampa (3900 m) right below Apu Salkantay, offering some breathtaking views of this spectacular mountain (prepare for a cold night).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. |
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THE PROGRAM INCLUDES:
* Transportation: 2 national flights Lima-Cusco-Lima
* Accommodations:
4 nights hotel (double rooms) and 6 nights camping (double tents)
*Tours: As mentioned incl. transport, bilingual guide and entrance fees Hike Salkantay & Inca Trail: Private transport Cusco-Mollepata, bilingual guide, cook, wranglers, pack mules and saddle horses, Quechua porters (for Inca Trail section), camping equipment (double-, dining-, kitchen- and toilet-tents, mats, etc.), bus tickets Machupicchu (roundtrip), train ticket Aguas Calientes-Cusco and transfers Cusco
* Included Meals:
All breakfasts, 1 lunch and full board on Salkantay & Inca Trail hike
NOT INCLUDED: International flights, airport taxes, entrance fees national park & Machupicchu Sanctuary, sleeping bags, not mentioned or optional tours/meals and extra services such as tips.
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5th day: SALKANTAY PAMPA - ACCOBAMBA
In the morning we start refreshed for our climb, passing glaciers and lakes on the way up to the Salkantay Pass (5000 m and highest point of our hike). From the summit we descend for appr. 3 hours into the valley where we camp at Accobamba, beside an Inca canal. This is a famous alpaca breeding region and with luck we may observe large flocks of these beautiful animals in their natural habitat. Weather permitting we will have the most spectacular views of Mt. Salkantay above us.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
6th day: ACCOBAMBA-HUAYLLABAMBA
Today we leave the cold heights of Salkantay behind us and descend into warmer regions, following the Inca canal and later the Cusichaca creek, passing local farms. We stop at the restored archaeological group of Paucarcancha for lunch, with time to explore the site and rest. Here we say goodbye to our wranglers and meet up with the Quechuan porters who will accompany us for the rest of our adventure. A short hike brings us mid afternoon to the start of the Inca Trail at the village of Huayllabamba where we camp for the night (3000 m).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
7th day: HUAYLLABAMBA-PACASMAYO
After an early breakfast we start our long and steep climb up to the second pass at Warmiwañusca (4200 m). The ascent leads through different ecological levels that offer a variety of orchids and birds (many endemic to the area).
From the summit we can view the second pass, the ruins of Runcuracay and our camp down in the valley which we will reach after a 2 hour descent. On a clear day the camp offers fantastic views towards the glaciers of Mount Veronica.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
8th day: PACASMAYO - PHUYUPATAMARCA
Today is the most diverse day of our adventure. We start in the morning with the climb up to the third pass at Runcuracay (3900 m) with fantastic views of the Vilcabamba Range with its glaciers, weather permitting. A 2 hour descent brings us to the fascinating archaeological site of Sayacmarca. After exploring this beautiful construction we continue - now on original Inca stone paths - through high cloud forest with its lush vegetation, offering glimpses of waterfalls, valleys, canyons and the glaciers of Salkantay. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp on the fourth and last high pass of Phuyupatamarca (3600 m) from where we will get our first glimpse of Machupicchu. Weather permitting we will have the most spectacular views of the surrounding snow peaks and far way down the Urubamba River.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
9th day: PHUYUPATAMARCA - MACHUPICCHU - AGUAS CALIENTES
After breakfast we say goodbye to our Quechuan porters and start the long and steep descent (over Inca staircases) towards the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna, considered one of the most beautiful sites in the area due to its location and architecture. We visit this magnificent site and enjoy lunch in fantastic surroundings before we continue our hike through high cloud forest with its diverse flora and fauna towards the famous Sungate or Intipunku. From here we can enjoy the first and best view of the Lost City of the Incas: legendary Machupicchu (2400 m). A short walk brings us down to the entrance from where we continue by bus to the village of Aguas Calientes. Here we can choose to relax in the natural hot springs and stay overnight in a comfortable hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.
10th day: MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO
After an early breakfast we take the first bus up to Machupicchu to enjoy sunrise in this magical place before other tourists arrive from Cusco. We enjoy this enigma in a guided tour and will have enough free time to explore the site individually or do some hikes before we descend to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Train ride back to Cusco, transfer to the hotel and overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast.
11th day: CUSCO-LIMA
Transfer Htl-Apt. for national flight Cusco-Lima and international connections.
Meals included: Breakfast. |
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