SALCANTAY

This is an alternative to the traditional Inca Trail to Machupicchu since the inca trail has serious limitations.

 

ITINERARY

 

DAY 1: CUSCO - SAYLLAPATA-SOYROCOCHA.

At 6:00 AM we'll pick you up from your selected hotel. We'll leave by car to Mollepata 2800 meters height,  beautiful scenic journey through Limatambo, and stops for panoramic views, where you can have a breakfast in a typical restaurant. After, we'll drive for 1hr until our trailhead called Sayllapata ( 3 200 meters a.s.l.), there we'll meet our arrieros “horsemen“ and trek staff, 2 1/2 hrs hiking through traditional Andean communities: Cruzpata, Challacancha, unspoiled Andean villages to Soraypampa (3750 meters). Then after 4 hours will arrive to our first campsite , Soyrococha ( 4 200 meters a.s.l.)

DAY 2: SOYROCOCHA - HUAYRAQMACHAY – COLPAPAMPA.

We'll ascent to the highest point of our trek, Salkantay Pass 4600 meters a.s.l. from this point we can appreciate the special views of the Mountain Salkantay, a stunning snow capped mountain (6271 mts), 3 hours walking with spectacular views of the mountains Humantay and Huayanay, small lakes and moraines. Huayraqmachay (3700 mts). Then we'll go down for 3 1/2 hrs until our second campsite, Colpabamba ( 2600 mts).

 

DAY 3: COLPAPAMPA – PLAYA

We´ll walk for 4 hrs, downhill easy hike, we will be introduced to a high Jungle niche called Ceja de Selva where coffee, coca and fruits plantations 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 ".

 

DAY 4: PLAYA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES.

After a short journey by bus ( 1hr ) we'll arrive to Santa Teresa bridge, where we'll meet our porters, after 15 minutes of walking we'll use untypical transport called Oroya, after that the group wok for 2 hours until Hydroelectric, where we'll take the train at 3:20 pm arriving after 1 hour to “Aguas Calientes” ( 2 000 mts)

Accommodation in a Hostel in the town of Aguas Calientes.

 

DAY 5 MACHUPICCHU / CUSCO.

Early walk or bus to the Citadel of Machupicchu, guided tour for 3 hours and plenty of free time to explore more, optional time to Climb the mountain Huayna Picchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Sun gate, after that you have to take the bus to go down to Aguas Calientes and at approx 16:00 hrs we are taking our return train to Cusco arriving around 9:00 pm to Cusco City.