Salkantay - Santa Teresa - Machu Picchu 5d/4n

highlights

The mountains of the Cordillera Vilcabamba rise to form a ragged chain between the regions' two great rivers; the Urubamba and the Apurimac. Along the cordillera's northern side, massive snow peaks collide with lush tropical rain forests.

Located northwest of Cusco, Nevado de Salkantay, the cordillera's tallest peak, is at the eastern end of the chain and rises to 6271 meters above sea level. The name Salkantay means 'Savage Mountain' which may refer to the swirling clouds that rise up from the jungle lowlands and engulf the peak.

The Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek normally takes 5 days and has become popular with trekkers wanting to combine a quieter less trodden route with a visit to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. For the first 4 days you will be surrounded with magnificent scenery and rarely see other groups of trekkers. On the fifth day you will enjoy and arrive early on day Machupicchu with all its magnificient .

itinerary

DAY 1 - CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA (10 km / 16 miles)
We will leave Cusco at 5:00 a.m in our own private bus, and drive to Mollepata. Along the four and a half hour drive, we can see the town of Limatambo (2100 masl), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the time of the Inca Empire. We will leave Limatambo and drive up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac river, to reach Mollepata (2800 masl) where we will have our breakfast. Hereafter we arrange the equipment on horses. After our breakfast we will start the ascent on foot towards Cruzpata (3100 masl) along a slight climb where we will appreciate various plants, native birds, the Apurimac river canyon (which is one of the deepest in Peru), and a communitarian irrigation canal. In Cruzpata we will have our lunch, we will depart at around 1:30 p.m in the direction of Soraypampa along a climbing trail with many level variations and along which we will see little groups of houses, flora, small wild birds and spectacular
views of the Humantay snow peak (5902 masl). After approximately 4 hours of walking, we will arrive at our campsite in Soraypampa (3900 masl). From here we can appreciate the majestic Apu Salcantay (6271 masl).

DAY 2 - SORAYPAMPA - COLLPAPAMPA. (20 KM / 32 MILES)
After an early breakfast we start trekking from Soraypampa approx 7:30 a.m we continue our hike hiking the peruvian highland, for 3 hours to start our ascent of the Apacheta pass 4,650 mts. initiating a slight climb that crosses through puna (dry, high area with little vegetation).
From this point we can appreciate the spectacular views of the Mountain Salkantay, a stunning snow capped mountain (6,264 m) the second highest peak in Cuzco’s region, and also the mountains Humantay and Huayanay, white river, small lakes and moraines.
At our lunch spot after a five-hour walk, from the Apacheta Pass dowhill to lunch in Huayracpunku, and then a further 2-3 hours downhill walk to Camp in Chaullay 2,920 m.

DAY 3 COLLPAPAMPA - SANTA TERESA.(15 KM / 24 MILES)
Wake up with a lovely mountain scenery and a good morning tea. We will start the trek 07:00 AM. 3 hours easy hiking to Uscamayuc, where we will be introduced to a high Jungle niche called "Ceja de Selva", we will see different kind of plants, fruits, flowers, birds ect. here coca and banana crops can be observed, time to shower in a waterfall, take amazing pictures, with luck we can observe the famous Peruvian National Bird "Gallito de las Rocas" stop at Wiñaypoq’o for lunch and free time to rest. At the end of the day we will see passion fruit fields.
The hike will last approximately 9 hours; the campsite is at the community named "La Playa "(2400 masl). from here we will take a small car by aproximately 45 minutes to Santa Teresa village where is the hot spring (optional hot spring bath) and also we will spend a night here.

DAY 4 SANTA TERESA - MACHUPICCHU TOWN. (10 km/ 16 miles)
After of our delicious breakfast we are going to walk for approximately around 8:30 a.m we begin our trek to the village Colpani, we follow this rising trail, from which we will see plantations of coffee, banana, passion fruit and a lovely view of the Santa Teresa Valley. We follow along the riverside of Vilcanota River until arrive to the waterfall and take natural shawer.
From here we will catch a small car where will take us until Hidroelectrica (25 minutes), from this place we can observe the back of Machupicchu Santuary, where we have the last lunch with all staff. from here we will continue walking until arrive to Machupicchu Town around 5:15 p.m then we will stay in a hostal the last night.

DAY 05: MACHUPICCHU TOWN - MACHUPICCHU.
We are going up to the Archeological site of Machupicchu and we will explore the citadel today at leisure and enjoy the ancient city in the tranquil morning hours, where we begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours.
After the explanation of the guide you can climb up the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or we can visit the Temple of the Moon or the fabulous Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the Machupicchu Town where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive about 9:00 p.m

PRIVATE SERVICE
Group Size: Depends on the client
Departure: Depends on the client

SHARED SERVICE
Group Size: 2 - 16 people
Fixed departure: daily

what is included

• Transfer from your hotel
• Private transportation from: Cusco – Mollepata - Mollepata (starting point of the trek)
• Tourist train Service: Machupicchu town - Ollantaytambo
• Private transportation to return from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
• Entrance to the hot springs in Santa teresa
• Bus ticket: Machupicchu town - Machu Picchu – Machupicchu town
• Local bus: Playa – Santa teresa
• Hotel: private bathroom, hot water in Machupicchu town (4th night)
• Professional English and Spanish speaking guide and a assistant for over 10 people
• Cook: In charge of meal preparation
• Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks, sleeping bags and mattresses (Max. 10 kilos / 21 lbs per person)
• Meals: 4 Breakfasts/5 Lunches/4 Dinners/3 Snacks and afternoon tea
• Equipment: tents (2 people in each, 4-person-capacity), sleeping pad, dinner tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, first aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle

what is not included

• Breakfast the 1st day, usually hotels offer this service
• Sleeping bag (US$ 4.00 Sleeping bag rental-10°C per day )
• tips for your crew guides cooks, horse herders $20-25 approx ( Tips are optional also are a great gesture of esteem to them )
• Appropriate clothing along this hike Hiking pants and T-shirts are commonly used during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required along the route. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

important

What we recommend that you bring

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
  
• Rain jacket and rain poncho
  
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
  
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
  
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
  
• Sleeping bag (please inform our Reservations Department if you wish to book this extra service at the moment of your booking)
  
• Sleeping pad: will be provided by us but is to be carried by you
  
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
  
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
  
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
  
• Sun block
  
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
  

Biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection

• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
  
• Swimsuit (if you wish to take a bath in the hot springs)
  
• Cash in soles and/or US$
  

• walking sticks or poles
  
• An extra horse to carry your personal items: Peruvian Soles s/46.50 per day. A horse can carry up to 20 kg