Salkantay Hike

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY Salkantay Hike

• Day 1: Arrival to Lima & Overnight in Lima

  Our representative will meet you at Lima airport to take you to your hotel. You will have time to relax and freshen up. *An extra day in Lima can be added upon request, as well as additional activities.

• Day 2: Fly to Cusco, City Tour & Overnight in Cusco (B)

  You will be transferred to the airport for the short domestic flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, located at 11,100 feet above sea level. You will be met upon arrival by one of our representatives. You will have the remainder of the morning to rest and freshen up. It is best to take it easy this morning to let your body adjust to the altitude. Both lunch and dinner are on your own on this day. After lunch, you will set out on a grand tour of Cusco, the former capital of the once-vast Inca Empire. We visit Cusco’s impressive Plaza de Armas and both the Spanish cathedral and Incan temple of the sun, Qoricancha. After the first part of the tour, we visit the archeological site above the city that were considered an essential part of the ancient capital. We start from Sacsayhuaman, where Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is held during the Summer Solstice, Tambomachay, the Temple of the Sacred Waters, which is a marvel of hydraulic engineering and Q´enqo where we will see the remains of a ceremonial site used for fertility rites and for celebrations of the solstice and equinox.

• Day 3: Free Day in Cusco & Overnight in Cusco (B)

  You will have the unique experience of enjoying the wonders of Cusco at your leisure. This will be your chance to explore at your own pace the wonderful local markets, shops and cafés, or if you prefer, use the day for rest and relax before your Salkantay Hike adventure. In the evening you will be met at your hotel by one of our representatives, and you will receive an informational briefing regarding the Salkantay Hike. Take this opportunity to ask anything you might be wondering about the trail to your guide. * If you prefer to relax on your first day in Cuzco, you could use this day to do your city Tour.

• Day 4: Salkantay Hike: Cusco, Sayllapta, Soyrococha & Overnight at the camp (B, L, S, D)

  After an early wake up call, you will depart from your hotel in Cusco directly to the village of “Mollepata”, whereyou will enjoy a healthy and energetic breakfast to get ready for the hike. We will then load horses with our equipment to begin the Trek to “Cruz Pata” where youwill have a light lunch. After thelunch, you will continue with  the hike and reach “Soraypampa” at 12631 ft (3850 m) in the late afternoon/early evening. At this point we will set up the first campsite and  the day end with a delicious and restorative dinner.

• Day 5: Salkantay Hike: Soyrococha, Huayraqmachay, Colpapampa & Overnight at the camp (B, L, S, D)

  Shortly after breakfast you will begin the most difficult part of the trek, walking through the site known as “Pampa Salcantay”. On this portion of the trek, the route will take you through the left side of the “Umantay” glacier, and you continue on this scenic route passing beside the Salcantay glacier. Around noon we will be at the highest point: Salcantay Umantay at 14763 ft (4500 m). Here you will have time to enjoy the view of the Salcantay glaciers in all their natural beauty. After an hour of rest, we will have lunch in the area called “Huayrac Pampa”, which is a great spot to feel merged with nature. After lunch we will continue walking down for 4 hours to “Chaullay”, located at 9514 ft (2900 m) where we set the camp for the second night, and end our eventful day with a nice dinner.

• Day 6: Salkantay Hike: Colpapampa, Playa & Overnight at the camp (B, L, S, D)

  After an early breakfast we will embark on a 5-hour walk through the village called “Collpabamba”, located in the rainforest area. You will have the chance to see waterfalls and a wide variety of plants and flowers before arriving to the area called “La Playa”, where we will break for a well-deserved lunch. After lunch, we continue on our trek where walking for about 2 hours until we get to the camping area at “Santa Teresa” at 5413 ft (1650 m). It is here that you will be able to go to the thermal baths and freshen up. After the thermal bath we set up camp for the night and have dinner.

• Day 7: Salkantay Hike: Playa, Hidroelectrica & Overnight in Aguas Calientes (B, L, S, D)

  Shortly after breakfast we will begin a one-hour walk to the “Oroya” (hanging cables system to cross the river). After crossing the river, we walk for about one more hour to get to the Hydroelelectric Central train station, where we rest and have lunch. In the afternoon we will take the train to Aguas Calientes where you will be picked up and tranferred to your hotel for a nice dinner.

• Day 8: Salkantay Hike Machu Picchu/ Cusco (B)

  After breakfast you will enjoy a guided tour of the citadel of Machu Picchu lasting about 2 hours and 30 minutes. You will visit the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries. You will also have free time to stroll around the citadel or to hike the Huaynapicchu. Lunch today will be at a local restaurant on your own. In the afternoon you will catch your train back to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be met and accompanied back to your hotel in Cusco in order to rest after your amazing experience. * If you are interested in hiking the Huaynapicchu, please see note below.

• Day 9: Flight back to Lima & Flight Back Home (B)

  Your journey to Peru comes to an end as you are transferred to the Cusco airport for the domestic flight back to Lima. Flight time will depend on the time of your international flight back home. * While in Lima, we highly recommend adding culinary activities such as cooking classes and tasting dinners in the best restaurants of Latin America. For more information, please view our website: taste-of-peru.com
  and ask our travel specialists on our culinary activities. An extra day in Lima can be added upon request.

IMPORTANT:

As price depends on each passenger choices, please contact us to send you an updated price based on your specific request. Please send us the following information and we will respond within 24 hours with your updated price.

• Number of people in your party
• Level of accommodation (3 Superior,4,5*). Please see options
• Private or Group Tour
• Train choice. Please see options
• Adding options: if you like to add day tours, extra days, meals, etc
• Need domestic or international flights?
• Have a special request (ie: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)
   

About Hiking the Trail: 
Participants need to be in good physical health and condition. It is good for travelers who are in condition to hike up to seven hours, with breaks in a single day to enjoy the Inca Trail. To fully enjoy an Inca Trail adventure, we advise passengers to get into an exercise program for their own safety and enjoyment. If a passenger suffers from any medical condition, we advise him/her to consult a physician prior to joining an Inca Trail Expedition. Drinking lots of liquids is a must. 

About What to Pack for trekking in Peru: 
Remember to take your original passport on the Inca trail because without it you will not be able to do the hiking. Take only the necessary items for the 4 day trek (8-12 Kilos), the rest of your luggage can be left at your hotel in Cusco (most of hotels has a storage where to keep it until your return). Bring a personal sleeping bag, warm Jacket or sweater, rain gear (specially from November to April), T-shirts, shorts, long pants, layers. Back pack, Day pack, trekking shoes, sandals, Sun hat, wool hat, sunglasses, Water bottle, flash light, Insect repellent /Sunscreen, Water Purification Tablets (optional), Hand Towel, toilet paper. Extra US$50 changed in soles for any emergency and for tipping the porters.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

About Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets 

As the popularity of Machu Picchu has increased in the last few years, and in order to preserve the ancient paths of Machu Picchu, the Peruvian Culture Ministry has restricted the number of people that could enter Machu Picchu to a maximum number of 3,267 people per day. This means that, once all the tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will be available. Also, please note that to avoid a secondary market for these tickets, all tickets are issued with the name of the passenger, his/her passport number, nationality and date of birth. Therefore, tickets are non refundable and non transferable. Also the tour to Llaqta or Inka city of Machupicchu should last up to 4 hours, visitors will be divided into 2 turns: from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. pursuant to Art. 16 of the Regulations.

About Huayna Picchu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huayna Picchu are no longer free. They are now US$ 12.00 per person. There are two scheduled visits per day, with a limit of 200 people per visit (total of 400 per day). If you are interested in hiking Huaynapichu, we will need you to let us know at the same time you book your trip since Huaynapichu tickets need to be purchased in conjunction with Machu Picchu tickets.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

TYPE OF TOURS

All of our tours are offered in both Group and Private services; however, as we like to maintain control of the quality of our tours, even our group tours include PRIVATE transfers.  This is important, as when you get picked up; you will go directly to your hotel without having to drive around the city to drop off other people in their hotels.  Transportation is just for you. 

MIXED GROUP/PRIVATE
Destinations Tours: Private Transfers + Group Cultural Tours 
Special Interest Tours: Private Transfers + Private Special Interest Activities + Group Cultural Tours

All PRIVATE
Destinations Tours: Private Transfers + Private Cultural Tours 
Special Interest Tours: Private Transfers + Private Special interest Activities + Private Cultural Tours 

ACCOMMODATIONS

We offer all level of accommodations.  When creating an itinerary it would be important to know which your preferred level of accommodation is.  Please be sure that at all levels our recommended hotels offer great service and nice comfortable rooms. Our team has personally tried all our recommended hotels. 

MODERATE 
3-star Superior: These are 3-star that should really be considered has 4-star Hotels. Nice location, great rooms and charming decoration. Excellent service, with restaurant, room service, business centre, laundry, etc. Buffet breakfast. Best value. Perect for someone looking for an inexpensive option and still have some superior services. 
4-star Hotels: Good location, very nice rooms, great decoration and excellent service. This hotel includes more services such as room service, business center, laundry, spas, more room features, etc. Some have gourmet restaurants. Buffet breakfast. Perfect for someone looking for some luxury and special services and do not need a 5-star option.

LUXURY 
4-star Suites: Some 4-star hotels have suites that offer the same room features of a 5-star option. Perfect for someone looking to upgrade from a 4-star standard room and get more space and features. 
5-star Hotel: What you usually imagine a 5-star hotel is. Great location, luxury accommodations and excellent service. Gourmet restaurants, spas, room service, business center, etc. Perfect for someone looking for a 5-star service but do not need the 5-star Deluxe option. 
5-star Deluxe: These 5-star deluxe hotels offer ultimate luxury with outstanding service, luxurious rooms with deluxe room features and “you ask-you will get” concierge service. Properties have privileged locations or particular history behind it. Gourmet restaurants and spas. Ideal for the luxurious traveler.
 

TRAINS

Expedition: The least expensive tourist train, recently renovated offers nice seats and good train service. 
Vistadome: A higher category of train service, with panoramic roof windows. It offers a snack and fashion show. 
Hiram Bingham: Luxury train which offers lunch, tea-time and dinner service. 
Andean Explorer: Train service from Cusco to Puno or Puno to Cusco. Departs only on certain days of the week, depending on the season. 

FLIGHTS

LOCAL AIRLINES

Peruvian Airlines: Peruvian owned airline that offer the least expensive prices but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same. 
Star Peru: Peruvian owned airline. It flyes to many destinations and offers good value prices, but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 

Taca Airlines: Central American owned airline that offers great service but few frequencies to Cusco. It is moderately expensive. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists. 
Latam Peru: Chilean owned airline.  It offers great service and many frequencies to Cusco (almost 13 flights per day).  Prices are the highest on the market. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists.

DOMESTIC TICKETS 

Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US $ 350.00 per person. This is an example price, since prices depends on the airline, date and time of booking. 

DOMESTIC TICKETS (PARA LOS TOURS DE GALAPAGOS)

Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US $350.00 per person. This is an example price, since prices depend on the airline, date and time of booking. 
Quito/Galapagos/Quito: From US $421.00 per person. This is an example price, since prices depend on the airline, date and time of booking.