Salkantay + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 7 Days

DAY 1: By car:Cusco - Soraypampa - Lodge del Cielo campsite

Return to the Lodge.
Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours 
Walk and Terrain: Walk, canter, on open roads, some steep ascending trails.

Highlights: Humantay Lake trek
 “Smooth trekking day” Acclimatization day. 
Overnight at Soraypampa Lodge del Cielo “Sky Lodge” at 3,869 m/12,690 ft.
About Our Lodge del Cielo base in Soraypampa: This camp site is located 10 minutes away walking from the village of Soraypampa, this will give you a huge advantage to have a 360 panoramic view of the Humantay glacier, also it is a perfect place, away from the crowd and where we can appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Andean Valley. 
Note: On the evening before this day there will be a briefing with your guide in Cusco. After an early breakfast at your hotel, we are picked up starting at 6:00 am at your Cusco hotel by ITEP guide and vehicle “Pick up time can vary and will be confirmed only on the day of your briefing”. 

We will pick you up from your hotel and travel by bus to the town of Mollepata. Along the way, we will pass through the picturesque towns of Pampa de Anta (Izcuchaca, Zurite, and Ancahuasi). Our journey will take us into the Limatambo Valley, and then toward Mollepata, where we will begin our adventure trek. At Mollepata, we will complete the arrangements for our trek and then hike to our first camp at Soraypampa.

Here in Soraypampa is going to be the first campsite Lodge del Cielo “sky lodge”. After Lunch time, our excursion will take us to the Humantay Lake, which is fed by glaciers far above on the slopes of the impressive Mt. Humantay. 
Our 4-hour walk is necessary in order to reach the lake, but the view is well worth   and those brave enough can go for a swim! Performed by our local Tour Guide, in full view of the awe-inspiring Mt. Salkantay, tops off this unique experience.

DAY 2: Soraypampa - Pampa Japonesa

Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Time: Approximately 7 hours (including picnic lunch in the route), and 2 hours for the lunch time.

We start our day, after enjoying a delicious breakfast, starting very early in the morning with the directions to Choqueckilla, meanwhile we start descending, you are going to enjoy the landscape and the stunning snow peak of Salkantay.
Our camp site is located in the lower part of the snowy pick of Salkantay with an elevation of 4.000 meters / 13.123 feet.
You’ll enjoy views of the mountainous landscape of Vilcabamba, where we are going to enjoy a rewarding lunch. After 7 hours walking through the stunning areas to finally reach our camp site.
This day is not easy but you will enjoy the beauty of the land cape surrounded by snow peaks and some representative fauna of the place all the time, having the explanations of your tour Guide.   A local man can make this trail in just 3 hours. But we’re going to do it in 9 hours approx. including the Lunch time.

DAY 3: Pampa Japonesa - Sisaypampa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Tim: Approximately 8 hours
Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails

The third day is far and away the hardest day of the trek. It’s long, it’s cold, and you have to make your way over the 4,650 mts – 15,256 fts Salkantay Pass. Nonetheless, waking up at sunrise amidst the sprawling grasslands of Sisaypampa, the sun illuminating the 6264 mts or 20551.18 fts Andean peaks springing up from behind you makes for an energizing and mesmerizing start to the day.

We will wake up with a cup of hot coca tea because this day is going to be quite cold as soon as the breakfast is ready you will enjoy a delicious breakfast to warm up and start our third day walking. With a fairly steep ascent of straits, this trail with constant ascents and rocky structures through place named Inka Chiriasca pass (5,200 meters high) the trek will last for around 3 to 4 hours approximately, with a constant walking pass.

The climb to the pass takes anywhere from 3-4 hours, and it is a fairly steep grind of narrow switchbacks and steady uphills until the rock structures of the pass finally come into view. Unless hiking in June or July the trail should most likely be devoid of any snow or ice, although hail, sleet, ice, and rain are possible at any time of the year.

Though the air is thin and the trail is steep, anyone who is fairly physically fit and acclimated to the altitude can make it over the pass. We had, and probably we´ll have 60-something year old people in our group and they made it over the pass just fine. Our group carry extra oxygen, Also you can ride a horse and let them catch a ride over the pass.

To appreciate the imposing Andean topography with incredible views   of mountains, glaciers and mountain ranges of the valley, lakes and some Flora and fauna of this region.
Well, once you cross the pass of Inca Chiriasca, as a reward you will have the beauty of the landscape of this region.
Going ahead with the walk you will began descending along the route with 1,700 meters or 5577 feet, arriving to our camp site you can have a rest and enjoy a rewarding lunch.

DAY 4: Sisaypampa to Huayllabamba: 14 Km (8.6 miles) Moderate Day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Tim: Approximately 8 hours
Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails  
 

Today you will begin the trekking for 4 hours descending through the Inca Channel that will lead us to the archaeological center of Paucarcancha.
Continuing with the trek you are going to visit the archaeological place named Paucarcancha   then you will get into the valley of Cusichaca, where you are going to enjoy the lunch and meet with the support staff (the porters), from this point you are going to get into Inka trail and finally this is the fort camp site where you are having overnight.

DAY 5: Huayllabamba - Pacaymayu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Time: Approximately 8hours
Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails and stairs 

At around 5:00 - 5:30 am after you wake up, the breakfast will be ready; today we will start our trekking with a steep ascent towards the highest pass named Abra Warmi Huañusca also known as dead Woman's Pass at 4200 masl. From this place you are going to begin the descent To the Pacaymayu camp site (3550 meters).

On the way down of the pass we will be able to see lots of hummingbirds and other birds. Also, we will have time to appreciate an incredible variety of native plants such as the Polylepis or Q'ueuña trees which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at 3650 meters.

We will reach the campsite of Pacaymayo; you should feel proud of reaching the top! Of the pass which is very high, after resting at this place you will enjoy a lunch.

DAY 6: Pacaymayu- Phuyupatamarca - Winayhuayna.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Tim:  Approximately 8.30 hours
Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails 
 

In our opinion, this is the most impressive day! We will wake up for breakfast around 6am and start the day with a gentle climb to visit the archaeological site of Phuyupatamarca (meaning Town in the Clouds) and to reach the third highest point on the trail at 3680 meters). From this place you will be able to have amazing views of the mountains and canyons, the surrounding area is spectacular.

The Inca site, Phuyupatamarca is located a few minutes walk from the third pass after visiting this we’ll continue walking (3000 steps!) through the cloud forest and the impressive agricultural Inca.

We’ll arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2680 meters). Today we will  walk only for about 4 to 5 hours and have arrived to camp by lunch time! A short distance.
This campsite is the Inca site with the same name, Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Even if you are tired after your day’s trek; don’t miss out on visiting the most impressive sites on the trail.

DAY 7: Winayhuayna - Machu Picchu - Cusco.

Back to Cusco: You will descend to Machu Picchu town by bus (included) and later board the Expedition train by 4:22pm to the Ollantaytambo Train Station where you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco arriving around 8:30pm.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Moderate

At around 4:00 am it´s time to wake up, have breakfast and start day 7 on the Inca trail to get to Machu Picchu on time. This is the final part of your journey; we will go at 6:00 am to reach Inti Punku or The Sun Gate. At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel is in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. The reality of what the Inca people must have encountered on their taxing journey to this expansive temple of Machu Picchu. At this point, we walk downhill towards the Machu Picchu Citadel. (2400m/7872 ft.) After walking 40 minutes, we will enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”.

From there we will proceed to the control point where we register and leave our belongings. Your professional guide will direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made from stone. Machu Picchu is considered as the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. Once the guided tour is over, you will have free time to explore the site on your own.

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price).
• Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there.
• Other optional activities in Machu Picchu Town includes a visit to the new local museum or bathe in the hot springs.

*** Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.
*** We take ITEP Eco Travel clients in our vans / cars – We do not use public transport.