PRIVATE SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL 7 DAYS

We will pick you up between 4:30 am and 5:00 am to finally start our hiking adventure. After an approximately 2-hours drive, we will stop in Mollepata for a delicious breakfast, and then continue our journey to Challacancha (3800 m/12457 ft), which is the starting point of our hike. We will hike for about 3 hours towards the Soraypampa base camp, located at 3,900 meters (12,800 ft.) above sea level, and enjoy a nutritious lunch. We will then head towards the famous Humantay lagoon (4,220 m/ 13,850 ft) and admire the incredible views along the 1.5 hour walk. The landscapes are exuberant and full of colors according to the season of the year. You will be able to enjoy the green valleys full of vegetation and incredible sceneries offered by the Humantay and Salkantay Andes mountains, while our local guide will share his knowledge about the history and interesting facts. Besides, you will have enough time to explore this unique place on your own. We will descend to our base camp in Soraypampa where we will enjoy a hot cup of coca tea, and have a freshly prepared dinner by our cooks.

At around 7:00 am we will enjoy a delicious breakfast, so we have a lot of energy for our hike today. Starting from the Soraypampa camp, we will finally begin our ascent towards the Salkantay pass and admire the incredible panoramic view of the Salkantay lagoon. Our team of cooks will welcome you close to this wonderful place with a delicious lunch. Later, we will descend to the IIchupata camp (4,500 m/14,764 ft), have a hot cup of coca tea and a nutritious dinner.

After a large breakfast we will begin our hike, which is taking us to the Incachiriasca pass with fascinating glaciers at an altitude of 5,100 m (16,732 ft). After reaching the top, we will be able to enjoy the breathtaking views, and have time to take beautiful photos. We then begin to descend to a wonderful place where we will stop for our lunch break. In the afternoon, we will continue our hike to the Inca canal, where our cooking team will be waiting with a hot cup of coca tea and a delicious dinner.

Today we will start at 5:00 am with breakfast and then continue our hiking adventure to the archaeological site of Paucarcancha where our professional guide will share the history and purpose of this ancient Inca site. We will finally arrive at the famous Inca trail and have our lunch break there, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. After a refreshing rest, our hike continues to the Ayapata camp. We will appreciate the natural environment and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by our cooks.

This day starts with a very nutritious breakfast, since today is one of the most impressive days during this hike. We will first ascend the Warmi Huañusca Pass at 4,215 meters above sea level (13,829 ft), where we will enjoy spectacular views of the nearby high Andes mountains. We will begin to descend towards our lunch place and observe the unique flora and fauna on the way.

After lunch and a refreshing rest, we will start climbing up for two hours until we reach the second highest pass of our walk. We will visit the archeological site of Runcu Raccay which, due to its unusual shape of semicircular enclosures, is considered a jewel of Inca architecture.

After crossing the second pass at 3,950 meters above sea level (12,959 ft), we will begin to descend to the ancient Inca ruins of Sayacmarca, where you can see the original Inca houses, water sources, water channels and the most breathtaking views of the whole valley. We will then continue our hike for 30 minutes until we reach our Chaquicocha camp and have a delicious dinner.

The first Inca archaeological site that we will visit today will be Phuyupatamarca. Afterwards, we will continue to the second archaeological site named Intipata (2,800m/ 9,186 ft), which is a construction of agricultural experimentation platforms. From here we will enjoy the spectacular views of the sacred valley of the Incas. We will then go to our Wiñay Wayna camp at 2,650 meters (8,694 ft), enjoy a refreshing lunch and after a well-deserved rest, we will then visit the archaeological remains of Wiñay Wayna.

Today we will wake up a little earlier than usual. After breakfast, a two-hour hike awaits us until we reach Machu Picchu. We will go up to the famous Puerta del Sol from where we will appreciate the first views of the Machu Picchu citadel and the valleys that surround this historic sanctuary. After another hour of walking, we will finally explore the lost city of the Incas, where we will have a guided tour to discover the secrets of this impressive monument left by this ancient Inca civilization. Later, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes by shuttle bus, which takes us around 30 minutes. After spending some time discovering the small alleys of the local town at the bottom of Machu Picchu, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 14:55 pm. During the 2-hours train ride, we will admire the wonderful landscapes of the valley. Upon arrival in the village of Ollantaytambo, our transportation will take you back to Cusco, where you will arrive at around 19:30 pm.

ACCOMMODATION

• On night 1 (Soraypampa), you stay in our amazing 2 people glass cabins, and on the other nights, you will stay in our comfortable tents.

MEALS:

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (7x breakfast, 7x lunch, 6x dinner).
• Professional cook and cooking equipment. Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to freshly prepare your meals.
• A hot cup of Coca Tea every morning.
• Boiled water provided for drinking water at the campsites (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle).
• Meals can be accommodated for any dietary requirements, such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have certain preferences, so we can plan ahead.

TRANSPORT:

• Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of your trek.
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.

LOCAL GUIDES & EQUIPMENT

• English/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 12.
• Porters, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. 
• Sleeping bag is included.
• Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be between 5:00-7:30 pm at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
• All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit with them, as well as an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies. 
• We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 5kg per person).

MEALS

• Dinner on the last day.
• Does not include boiled water for walks. Please take enough water with you. Along the trekking route, you can buy more water bottles.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Additional entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. You can choose to add one of them to your trekking itinerary for $60.00 per person. Please let us know in advance, so we can check the availability.

OTHER

• Trekking poles not included (additional $20.00).
• Tips for your guide, cook and the staff.
• Shuttle bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes (you can either walk this route or take the bus up for $12.00 per person).
• National or international flights.
• Travel Insurance.
• Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.

If you are a student, you may be eligible for a $20 USD discount. However, you must meet the Peruvian government requirements, as the discount is applied to the cost of your Machu Picchu ticket and is not something that we are able to negotiate.

To be able to receive the discount, please sent us after your booking a photo of both sides of your student card, and another photo of your passport. We can help you check if all the requirements are fulfilled. It must be an original student ID, given from the university in PVC material and include university information, personal student information, student picture, expiration date valid only for one year, and must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu. 

You also need to bring your original student card with you the day you visit Machu Picchu. You will also need to bring the card with you and verify it at the Machu Picchu checkpoint.

Please check if your student card includes the following requirements:

• One personal daypack (a 30 to 50 L backpack is sufficient). Before your trek we will give you one extra duffle bag from our office to carry your extra clothes and personal items (max. 5kg).
• Reusable water bottle
• Small coins in Peruvian Soles (Bathrooms are free at the campsites but cost 1 Sol along the route. Keep small change on hand too for water bottles, snacks, and toilet paper.)
• Rain jacket or rain poncho
• Strong footwear (Waterproof trekking boots recommended.)
• Sleeping bag (also available for rent)
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Enough clothes for the whole period of the trek (two long-sleeve trekking shirts, two short-sleeve shirts, leggings or trekking pants, shorts, four pairs of underwear, sweatpants for the night, three pairs of hiking socks, a rain poncho, an insulated jacket, gloves, beanie, a hat with a brim, hiking boots, bathing suit and small towel (if you plan to visit the hot springs), and sandals to rest your feet at the campsites.
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Additional snacks (remember that we supply you with plenty of food already.)
• Original passport (mandatory for entrance to Machu Picchu.)

The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experiencee is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving to Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.

Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to eat healthy food, drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves, drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.

The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional add-ons that you can choose to purchase besides the Machu Picchu visit that is already included in this trek. You can visit one of these mountains after your Machu Picchu visit to see the Inca Citadel from the top.

Please send us an email asking about availability. Then, if available, you can select which mountain you would like to climb when you make your reservation online. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are an additional 60 USD.

What is Huayna Picchu Mountain?

Huayna Picchu Mountain is home to the Temple of the Moon and is the famous mountain peak seen behind the ruins in all the classic photos of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is an approximately 45 minute climb with more ruins at the top and offers an incredible view of the Machu Picchu ruins. The visit to Huayna Picchu takes approximately 2 hours. Huayna Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.

What is Machu Picchu Mountain?

Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional hike within Machu Picchu that offers a much higher view of the ruins and overlooks the entire valley. Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.

The Inca Trail is more crowded than the Salkantay Trek because it is an original trail of the Incas and one of the most famous hikes in the world, attracting thousands of trekkers every year. It is the only trek that leads directly to Machu Picchu, but is therefore a lot more expensive than the Salkantay Trek.

On the Salkantay Trek you will spend the last night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu the next day. During the Inca Trail you will discover ancient Inca ruins, whereas the Salkantay offers more wildlife and high mountain sceneries. Many trekkers consider the Salkantay Trek to be a bit more strenuous than the Inca Trail because the general altitude is higher.

In this 7 Days Trek we are combining the best of both the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail. Feel free to contact us for more questions!

Congratulations, adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure. The day before your departuer at 6:00 pm, please stop by our office at

392 Triunfo St. Office 218, Cusco

to receive a briefing. Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify last questions you may have.

In general, Salkantay is known for its unpredictable weather, so please come prepared for both warm and cold temperatures, and rainy and dry conditions. We have two main seasons in the Andes Moutnains, the rainy season (November-March) and the dry season (April-October).

During the rainy, warmer season temperatures average around 15°C / 60°F during the day and 5°C / 40°F at night. However, with a high chance of rain and wind at the Salkantay Pass, these temperatures may feel a lot colder to you.

During the dry season the weather is sunny and clear, and on average 20° C / 70 °F during the day but much colder at night, around -3 °C / 26 °F.

Also, after the second day, as we descend into the Peruvian Amazon basin, the weather changes to a more humid and warmer climate – these humid temperatures are consistent throughout the year.

We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes with rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.

We have a lot of vegetarian travellers and our cooks have some great options for them to enjoy their meals. We can cater for or all other types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.

Prior hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides are trained to assist hikers of all fitness levels and all trekking experience levels so you will never be left behind. Most important of all is to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.

Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge.

The minimum group size is 4 people and the maximum group size is 15 people. There will be an assistant guide for groups over 12.

Please feel free to read our Terms & Conditions and let us know in case you have any questions regarding our cancellation policy.