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 - Soraypampa - Humantay Lake – Salkantaypampa & Overnight at the lodge (B, L, S, D)

  Start the Salkantay Trek with an early pick-up from your hotel’s door at 5:30 am and drive for 3 hours to the trailhead – arriving approximately at 8:30 am. You will enjoy the first breakfast prepared by your chef, then meet the team of porters and horsemen to start the Salkantay treck. The first part starts with a 3-hour gentle hike to Soraypampa (3600 m/11811 ft) following an ancient aqueduct used since the Incas. Lunch is served at Soraypampa, where our chef will prepare delicious meals using fresh local products. After lunch, you will continue with a 2-hour hike up until you reach the stunning glacial lake of Humantay (4200 m/13779 ft). Once at the lake, you can explore and relax, enjoying this spectacular turquoise lake’s beautiful views. Then continue for 2 more hours to the first campsite at the base of Salkantay Mountain. Along the way, you will see various flora and fauna. The campsite is at Salkantay Pampa (3900 m/12795 ft). This basecamp offers an unobstructed view of Salkantay Mountain and the sky at night. Get ready for dinner, stargaze, and sleep under a million stars.

• Day 5: Salkantay Hike: Salkantaypampa – Wayracmachay – Collpapampa & Overnight at the camp (B, L, S, D)

  Wake up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent, admiring the spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains. After breakfast, you will start the ascent for 2 hours to the Salkantay Trek’s highest point at 4630 m (15190 ft). Once on top, you will take some time to explore and enjoy the area and even visit a beautiful lake at the base of Salkantay Mountain. Next, it’s another 3-hour downhill hike to the lunch place at Wayracmachay (3800 m/12467 ft). After a well-earned lunch, you will get ready for the day’s final stretch, 3-more hours of downhill from the highland, where the air is dry and cold, into the lush cloud forest, where the weather is warm and humid. For sure, this is one of the fastest changes in temperature and landscape that you will experience. The campsite is next to the village of Collpapampa at 2770m (9087 ft). 

• Salkantay Hike: Collpampa – Llucmabamba & Overnight at the camp (B, L, S, D)

  Enjoy a leisurely time in the village while admiring the view of the mountains you left behind. After breakfast, you will prepare for the most beautiful day of the treck to the legendary citadel of Machu Picchu, hiking along narrow paths, following the river, passing wooden bridges, waterfalls, granadilla, and banana plantations, until you arrive at Lucmabamba (2000 m/6561 ft) for lunch. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, especially perfect for those who are coffee lovers. Even if you are not a fan of a cup of coffee, the smell in the air is delicious. This is the main agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia, and all of Europe. You will also visit avocado and orange plantations. After dinner, of course, you will go to bed for the night in  our camps,  While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with mother earth. 

• Day 7: Salkantay Hike: Llucmabamba – Hydroelectric - & Overnight in Aguas Calientes (B, L, S, D)

  You’ll be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking. After breakfast, it’s an easy 2-hour downhill to the hydroelectric station. You will have the last brunch with the trekking chef, say goodbye to them, and hike the final stretch of the Salkantay Trek to Aguas Calientes. The last part is a 3-hour hike along the railway, following the Urubamba river upstream. This trek section is steeped in history as you will stop at Mandor Botanical Gardens, visited by Hiram Bingham, who found a farmer named Arteaga living in the area. You will visit Arteaga’s farm, home to various endemic birds such as the Rupicola Peruviana (locally known as the cock–of–the-rock), parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, and orchids. Once in Aguas Calientes, your guide will take you to your hotel, where you can shower and visit the city or the hot springs. You will have dinner in a local restaurant as you plan the next and most important day of the Salkantay Trek. 

• Day 8: Salkantay Hike: Explore Machupicchu – Return to Cusco (B)

  Today is the most important day of the Salkantay Trek. It is visiting one of the world’s new seven wonders,  Wake up early, have breakfast in the hotel, and take the first buses to catch the sunrise in Machu Picchu. Your tour guide will take you to the most famous temples, palaces, and plazas and explain the mysteries of this spectacular Inca city perched on this impossible mountain peak. The guided tour takes about 3 hours, and you will have time to explore the magical citadel or climb Huayna Picchu or Montaña (Machu Picchu Mountain). After finishing the citadel tour or your hike, you must take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch, collect your belongings from the hotel, and take the train to return to Ollantaytambo and our private van to Cusco. 

• 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 (3,4,5*). 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 (7 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 of 2023, due to the increase and popularity of Machupicchu and in order to preserve the ancient paths, the government has implemented new regulations to control the crowds. The maximum number of visitors allow per day is 4004. This means that, once all the tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will be available. Tickets are now issued with specifics entry time and routes, and visitors are required to enter at the time stated on their tickets and show their passport or ID used to issue them. Visitors can stay up to 4 hours to reduce crowds. When you leave the site you cannot re-enter on the same ticket, and it is mandatory to be accompanied by a licensed guide. Tickets are not refundable and non-transferable.

About Huayna Picchu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huaynapicchu are no longer free, Accessing comes with specific rules and a separate ticket from Machupicchu’s general entry. Only 200 visitors are allowed per day divided in 4 time slots (7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM).  The average time allowed to complete the hike is about 3 hours. The minimum age for entry is 12 years and you must register at the entry and exit control points. The price of the ticket is slightly more than Machupicchu and get sold out quickly. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Other train options available upon request: Vistadome and Hiram Bingham
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip
• Expert leadership / guides & support personnel
• Accommodations: 1 night in Lima, 3 nights in Cuzco, 1 night in Aguas Calientes, 3nights Camping,
• Meals as noted (B = Breakfast, S = Snack, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Plentiful, nutritious meals during the trail (Vegetarian option available). We can add any meals upon request
• Land excursions as noted including entrance fees (BTG, Cathedral, Qoricancha, MachuPicchu and Salkantay)
• Private Transportation: Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport, Cusco Airport/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Salkantay
• Star Point (Soraypampa), Salkantaypampa, Collpapampa, Train Station/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Cusco Airport)
• Cook (In charge of meal preparation)
• Muleteers and mules to carry camping equipment and food
• 1 extra horse in case of emergency
• Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your stuff carried by horses
• Sleeping bags
• Dinner tent, special biodegradable bathroom tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first Aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

• Airport taxes: Local (USD$ 5.00 – 6.00) and International (USD$ 31.00) departure tax of payable in local currency by each passenger at Lima
• International Airport upon departure (if applicable)
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• Tipping & Gratuities (Guides USD$ 10.00 per person per day / Drivers USD$ 5.00 per person per day)  
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)
• Visas. Please be advised that some citizens other than Canadians and US may need visa to travel to Peru. Please advise us of your nationality to help you or check with the Peruvian Consulate
• Feather sleeping bag USD$ 6.00 per day
• Synthetic sleeping bag USD$ 5.00 per day
• Extra Horse (10 kilos) USD$ 115.00

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.

STANDARD
Hostels: Even though we can consider hostels in your itinerary, for travelers on a budget, we make sure to include a private room with private bathroom. We do not work with shared rooms. Hostels we work with have great location and service to travelers and include breakfast.
 3-star: Basic 3-star hotels with nice comfortable rooms. Perfect for travelers that prefer a less expensive option, but do not feel comfortable with a hostel. Buffet breakfast included. All hotels we work with are very well located and have 24-hour front desk service.

MODERATE                                                                                                                                                                                    
3-star Superior: These are 3-star that should really be considered as 4-star Hotels. Nice location, great rooms and charming decoration. Excellent service, with restaurant, room service, business center, laundry, etc. Buffet breakfast. Best value. Perfect for someone looking for an inexpensive option and still having 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.            Vistadome Observatory: An upgrade from the regular Vistadome. This category of train has an observation car for a 360 view and an open-air balcony. Also, a bar car for drinks (at extra cost) and a show on board. It also offers a snack and fashion show.
Hiram Bingham: Luxury train which offers VIP service, includes a traditional welcome show, gourmet brunch, live music, tea-time at the Sanctuary Lodge a Belmond Hotel, entrance tickets to Machupicchu, and dinner service. This category of train has a Dining car, observation car and bar car.  

FLIGHTS

DOMESTIC AIRLINES
Latam: It offers great service and many frequencies to Cusco (almost 13 flights per day).  Prices are the highest on the market, but it is the most reliable airline.
Sky Airlines: Low-cost airline is an alternative for domestic flights. It flies to many destinations within Peru and offers good value prices. However, it has few frequencies and makes a lot of changes and cancellations of flights, especially in bad weather.
Jet SMART Airline: Low-cost airline. It flies to many destinations within Peru and South America. It has more frequencies than Sky to and from Cusco, but it usually has changes and cancellations, especially in bad weather.

Lima/Cusco/Lima:                                                                                                                                                                         
From US$185.00 per person. This is an example price, based on Full category; including selection of seat, 1 backpack, 1 carryon of 10kg. and 1 cheeked bag of 23kg. Other categories: Basic, Light (less expensive options) and Premium Economy category (fully refundable with more room for legs and middle seat blocked). Price will vary, depending on the date, time and category booked.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Depending where you are coming from, Lima is serviced by all major Airlines.  A few airlines offer non-stop services from major cities such as Miami, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal.                     

From USA: American, Latam, Delta, United, Spirit, Avianca, Copa
From Canada: Air Canada, Air Transat, America, Latam, Delta, United, Copa, Aero Mexico