Explore the Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu
The Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu goes through the most majestic places in the Andes of Cusco. It is a trek that few visitors go to. The highest mountain during the expedition is Salkantay, (6,271 m / 20,574 ft).
This Sacred Mountain is higher than any mountain in North America. On this hike, you will see beautiful blue lakes, impressive glaciers, cloud forest with green vegetation, and many archaeological ruins. This hike is a great combination of the two very popular hikes, with an incomparable variety of flora and fauna. So anyone who knows anything about Peru knows about the Inca Trail, and with good reason. It is an amazing way to get to Machu Picchu, while making the most of what this ancient trail has to offer: fascinating Inca ruins, cloud forests, subtropical jungle, not to mention the incredible llamas and alpacas you will find along the way and the local flora. you will be amazed.
Trip Highlights
- Discover the best wild landscapes of the Andes of Peru, with beautiful glaciers, turquoise lagoons, and waterfalls.
- Explore the best preserved Inca trail to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
- Share your experiences with local people who still live in nearby villages practicing their customs and organic farming.
- Disconnect from the city and live an atmosphere of harmony and full of peace, adorned by the beautiful sunsets.
- Taste one of the best cuisines in the world, Peru is the best place where you can savor the most exotic dishes and gourmets that are prepared by our expert chefs.
- Enrich your knowledge of one of the most advanced civilizations in architecture, astronomy and engineering of pre-Columbian America, the Incas.
- Bird watching on the Inca Trail is very special, it is something unique. Since then, very few places in the world can generate these emotions.
- The great variety of colors and shapes that we see. Certainly, they create experiences that captivate all those who take a break to enjoy the richness of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Inclusions of this tour
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – HUMANTAY LAKE – ICHUPATA
We start the day picking you up at your hotel at 05:00 a.m. Through the bus windows, you can clearly see the white and snowy mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay. You will also see a spectacular landscape of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama that will fill every direction you look. After the first two hours of driving, we will stop at Mollepata to take advantage of the bathrooms, the souvenir shops and an optional short breakfast. Then we will continue to Soraypampa, the starting point of our walk. We will meet with our support staff, who will organize all the equipment and cargo mules. Around 09:30 am, we will begin the trekking to Lake Humantay (3850 meters – 12631 feet) After enjoying the views in Humantay, we go to the campsite in Soraypampa for lunch, then we will start the trekking to Salkantay Pampa and finally Ichupata, where we will sleep Tonight it’s going to be very cold. Our expert chefs will surprise us with delicious hot dishes.
Accommodation: Confortable Camping Tents
Included Activities:
- Salkantay Trek – Challacancha trail to Soraypampa, Photo stop viewpoint
- Salkantay Trek – Humantay lake, Photo stop viewpoint
Meals Included:
- Lunch, Dinner
Camping Tents
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: ICHUPATA – PAMPA JAPONESA - PAMPACAHUANA
After an early wake up and hearty breakfast, we start on a gentle uphill to Incachiriasca pass (4850 m/15908 ft) the highest point of the trek, we enjoy the views of this imposing mountain in front of our eyes , the mountain of Salkantay is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”. As we ascend, we will make stops along the way to enjoy the outstanding mountain scenery of the Vilcabamba range, then we will descend towards our lunch spot at Sisay Pampa, a flat area from which one can observe the neighboring Salkantay Valleys. After lunch, we will gradually continue descending to our campsite in Pampacahuana community (3,700 m / 12,136 ft), located next to an original Inca canal. This is our camp for the night.
Accommodation: Confortable Camping tents
Included Activities:
- Salkantay Trek – Inca Chiriaska Pass, Photo stop viewpoint
- Salkantay Trek – Pampacahuana Valley, Photo stop viewpoint
Meals Included:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping Tents
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: PAUCARCANCHA - HUAYLLABAMBA - AYAPATA - LLULLUCHAPAMPA
After saying goodbye to our muleteers who have accompanied us along the Salkantay route, we continue with the descent to the Paucarcancha valley, where we will visit an Inca ruins, which was used as the main control point for travelers to Machu Picchu. Following our journey we will arrive at the town of Huayllabamba, which is one of the last towns on the Inca Trail network, and traditional agriculture is still practiced, of potatoes and corn. This is the point at which the two routes join, and from where the mythical Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will begin, for two hours you walk along a steep path through the mountains of the Queuñas and Chachacomos forests. We will have lunch at the site of Ayapata, with an incredible view of the Huayllabamba valley, and the Wayanay mountain.
After a rest we continue with our walk to the Llulluchapampa camp (4,000 masl). In this camp we will be the only ones who will spend the night and we will enjoy a magical Andean sky full of stars and constellations.
Accommodation: Comfortable Inca trail camping tents
Included Activities:
- Inca Trail Hike – Ayapata, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Mountain forest of Queuñas and Uncas
- Inca Trail Hike – Llullupampa, Viewpoint photo stop
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping Tents
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: DEATH WOMAN PASS – SAYACMARCA – CHAQUICOCHA
Today, we will reach the highest point on the Inca Trail (pass of the dead woman) (Warmiwañusca) (4,200 Meters – 13,776 feet). Upon reaching the pass we will stop for a short break to enjoy the views before leaving again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It is another hour and a half by the side of the valley to our lunch spot and the opportunity to fill our water bottles. After lunch, we begin to ascend again to the second step of the walk. After a descent of two hours, we will arrive at the Valley of Pacaymayo (3,600 meters / 11,808 feet) where we will have lunch. Then we will continue to the second pass (Runkurakay) (3,970 meters / 13,022 feet), stopping halfway to visit the impressive archaeological site of Runkurakay. Passing the pass, we descend to Lake Yanacocha and enter the Cloud Forest to reach the ruins of Inca Sayacmarca (3,624 Meters / 11,887 Feet). Our campsite is located in Chaquicocha (3,400 meters / 11,154 feet).
Accommodation: Comfortable Inca trail camping tents
Included Activities:
- Inca Trail Hike – Warniwañusqa Pass, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Pacaymayu valley, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Runkurakay, Archeological Site
- Inca Trail Hike – Runkurakay Pass, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Sayacmarka, Archeological Site
- Inca Trail Hike – Chaquiqocha, Viewpoint photo stop
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cmping Tents
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: CHAQUICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAY WAYNA
Today, we will take an easy climb in the morning to the last pass with its Incan ruins of the same name (Phuyupatamarca, 3700 Meters / 12136 Feets). Here, we will also have remarkable views of the Urubamba River Valley. Afterward, we go into the rain forest. We will walk downhill for 3 hours. During this stretch of the trail we will visit Inti Pata. Along this path you will take the most beautiful pictures of the entire Inca trail. After Inti Pata it is a further 30 minutes to our campsite we descend to the Wiñaywayna campsite (2650 Meter / 8692 Feets) and visit the archeological site there after lunch.
Accommodation: Comfortable Inca trail camping tents
Included Activities:
- Inca Trail Hike – Phuyupatamarka, Archeological Site
- Inca Trail Hike – Intipata Terraces, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Wiñaywayna, Archeological Site
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping Tents
SALKANTAY & INCA TRAIL HIKE: WIÑAY WAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
This day the tour in Machu Picchu will take place early in the morning, after getting ready at the hotel, we will take the bus at 5:30 am. After a trip along the road surrounded by vegetation and impressive views of the Putukusi mountain, we will arrive at the access point for the sacred sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
First, before passing the control, those who wish to use the toilets will be able to do so. Since there are no bathrooms inside Machu Picchu, if you are going to go outside once inside, unfortunately you will not be able to re-enter.
Our visit to the wonder of Machu Picchu will be through circuit number 2, since it is one of the most complete. On this tour you will be able to go up to the famous guardian’s house from where the postcard photo of Machu Picchu will be taken, then you will pass through the main gate, the ceremonial plaza, the Inca’s house, the ceremonial fountains, you will see the temple of the sun, but not up close; You can also access the pyramid where the sundial is located.
Continuing with the circuit you will arrive at the sector of the sacred rock, and finally you will visit the urban area where the royal houses of the Inca nobles were, and also the room of mirrors. After 3 hours of travel we will retire with our guide, and once outside you can have a drink or food. Because inside the complex is prohibited.
Then you can take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have enough time to have your lunch. At 2:30 p.m. it will be the time of the return train to the Ollantaytambo station, where your return transportation to Cusco awaits you, arriving at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Included Activities:
- Inca Trail Hike – Sun Gate, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Guardian’s House, Viewpoint photo stop
- Inca Trail Hike – Exploring the citadel of Machu Picchu
- Inca Trail Hike – Train ride along the Vilcanota river
Meals Included: Breakfast
Best season to travel
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and November, when the weather is dry and bright, with more frequent rainfall occurring between November and April.
Salkantay Trek & Inka Trail hike to Machu Picchu 6 Days
Price $ USD 1350 PP or Reserve now with $ USD 200 PPChoose your preferred departure date to proceed
A unique adventure in Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu 6 Days
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Essential Trip Information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
View Essential Trip InformationInca Trail Tours
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Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Sacred Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu 5 Days
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