Day one of the Salkantay Trail

Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel (the day before you have a Briefing with the guide and during the Briefing we will let you know what time exactly you will be picked up). Then we drive in about 2 and a half to 3 hours to the town of Mollepata located at an altitude of 2803 meters. From this point it is already possible to see the mountain Salkantay far in the background as well as one of the deepest canyons in the world called the Apurimac Canyon. In Mollepata it is possible to buy water and snacks and it is possible to have breakfast if desired (exclusive). In Mollepata we meet the other participants for our five-day trek as well as the cook and our staff who will accompany the pack mules. After this we start with the trek and we walk at a leisurely pace to Sayllapata. The route to Sayllapata is over rocky terrain and along rivers and streams. From Mollepata it is a climb of about 4 hours until we reach Sayllapata (3200 m.). Upon arrival in Sayllapata, our cook is already waiting for lunch. After lunch we walk for about two to two and a half hours until we arrive in Soraypampa (3875 m.). Here we briefly visit the town and then we walk on briefly until we arrive at the camping site of the first day.

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Included: Lunch, dinner

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Day two of the Salkantay Trail
 

Today we get up early (05:30) and start with the most difficult part of the five-day Salkantay Trek, where we walk to the highest point of the trek, namely the Salkantay Pass. It is about 3 hours of walking until we reach the top. This pass is located is at 4600 meters altitude and here we have a spectacular view on the right the mountain Salkantay (6271 m.) and on the left the mountain Humantay (5473 m.) and which we will both see up close. The mountains are literally towering above us and it is a spectacular sight. After this we descend to a lower place to have lunch called Huayracmachay which is located at an altitude of 3600 meters. It is a zigzagging descent over rocky terrain, however, with a beautiful view of the green valley that one can already see below. After lunch in Huayracmachay we walk on for about 3 hours on wider paths and we see the vegetation and landscape change drastically as we gradually transition from Andes with its mountains to the green mountains in the transition area from mountains to rainforest. In this green valley, the climate is much warmer and more pleasant than the cold and thin air of the Andes. After the beautiful descent we finally arrive in Chaullay where we will set up our camp and spend the night.

 

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

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Day three of the Salkantay Trail

Today we get up at about 06:00 and walk in about six hours to La Playa through the Santa Teresa Valley. The landscape is completely different from the first two days and the vegetation, flora and fauna is increasingly characteristic of a subtropical rainforest climate. During today's walk we see, for example, rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids and plantations with coffee beans, bananas and avocados. With a bit of luck we also see the National Peruvian bird, namely the Cock of the Rock ('Rupicola / 'red rock cock') with its striking red head and bright colors. We also visit a coffee plantation, and it is possible to drink fresh coffee at the local farmers. After this we walk on to La Playa where we will also spend the night. 

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day four of the Salkantay Trail

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Also today we get up early again and we will walk a part on an old Inca Trail, just like with the classic four-day Ica Trail. After about two hours of hiking and light climbing through the Santa Teresa Valley, we arrive at an impressive inca ruin called Llactapata. Just like Machu Picchu, this site was (re)discovered by Hirham Bingham in 1912 and during the classic four-day Inca Trail one passes this site on day one. From this place we see Machu Picchu and the mountain Huayna Picchu in the background. It is one of the few places where one can see Machu Picchu from a lower part. Then we walk further over slightly descending terrain towards Santa Teresa where we will have lunch. After lunch we say goodbye to our cook and the escorts of the donkeys. From Santa Teresa it is then about an hour and a half walk to the train station of Hidroelectrica and from there in two and a half to three hours, walking along the track, to Aguas Calientes. For those who are too tired, there is the possibility to go by taxi from Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica (excluding - extra $3) and by train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (exclusive - extra $39). Arrival in Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Here we will spend the night in a very simple hostel (an upgrade is possible for those who want a little more comfort after 3 nights)

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Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day five of the Salkantay Trail - Machu Picchu

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Today we get up early and after breakfast we hike in about an hour and a half on an old Inca Trail to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu. Here you have a tour of about two hours with a guide and then you are free to walk around yourself. Then you walk back down and take the train back to Ollantaytambo and from Ollantaytambo by van back to Cusco. You will be dropped off in Cusco on the main square Regocijo. From there on foot or by taxi (not included) back to your hotel.