Salcantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru
Trip Background
Come explore one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu the KMG way! Our 10 day nine night Machu Picchu excursion takes you off the beaten path and away from the typical crowds. Don't get herded into the masses on a cookie cutter vacation! Come trek the less traveled Salkantay route as opposed to the crowded Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu. This route takes us through the Peruvian jungle and under glaciated peaks not sean from the more traveled Inca trail. See Peru the way is was meant to be explored, with KMG!
The KMG Difference
All trips have one of KMG's expert AMGA trained or certified guides as well as a local Peruvian guide.
Round trip flights from Lima to Cuscu and back. You will be met at customs by your American KMG guide!
- Virtually all meals are included. Don't worry about hassling with figuring out where to eat. We know and go to the good spots!
- 3 star or better hotels. 1 Night in Lima, 4 Nights in Cusco & 1 Night in Aguas Calientes. Double occupancy
- All of our transports and tours are private. You will never just be "herded with the masses" on a KMG trip!
- We use porters and horses to carry the majority of your equipment, making your trek that much more enjoyable!
- If the altitude proves to be to much, you can hire a horse to ride for the day!
- KMG has an U.S. emergency room doctor on call 24/7 via satalite phone for emergencies.
- Our July trip is the driest time of year, providing us with the best weather window.
Salkantay Trek itinerary
Day 1 LIMA (D): Arive in Lima. Upon your arrival, your KMG guide will meet you just outside of customs at the Lima International airport and take you to our hotel located in Miraflores. The remainder of the day will be spent relaxing and exploring Lima. We will go out for a welcome dinner at one of LIma's world famous restaurants. You will spend the night at our hotel.
Day 2 LIMA to CUSCO (B, D): In the morning, we will drive to the airport to catch our early flight to Cusco. Our KMG gudie will be with you the entire way! Our private shuttle will transport us from the airport to our hotel in downtown Cusco, blocks from the main square. You will have the remainder of the day to relax or walk around downtown. Will will have dinner on Cusco's main square. You will have the opportunity to try Peru's delicacies, alpaca or guini pig! The night will be spent at our hotel. This first night in Cusco is critical to help with acclimatization!
Day 3 CUSCO (B): At 2:00 PM, we will start our guided city tours. These will include a visit to the Cathedral, the Temple of Qoricancha, and the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. Our tours will begin to enlighten you about the ancient Inca culture as well as some aspects of the conquest of the Inca's Empire and the colony. Before dinner, we will have a briefing about the Salkatay trek. We will spend the night at your hotel.
Day 4 Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas – Cusco (B, L): At about 8:30AM, we will get picked up by our private shuttle to begin a guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This tour will let you observe an amazing view of the Urubamba River and the Sacred valley. We will also visit the world famous Pisac Market, the largest open air market in South America! After lunch we will travel to the Andean town of Ollantaytambo where we will have a guided tour of some incredible Inca ruins. Some say these ruins are the best preserved outside of Machu Picchu itself! We will back in Cusco by about 7:00p.m.
Day 5 CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SALLAYPATA - SORAYPAMPA (About 10 hrs - 15 miles) (B, L, D):
Today we get an early start! At 5:00 AM our private transport will pick us up from the hotel. A three-hour drive will take us through beautiful Peruvian landscapes until we arrive at the Andean town of Mollepata at 9180 feet above sea level. Here we will enjoy a wonderful breakfast before beginning our trek through the Peruvian jungle!. After receiving a snack food for the day, we will start our journey, observing the Salkantay Nevado. We will take numerous rest stops along the way before having lunch in Sallaypata, at about 11152 feet above sea level.
By mid afternoon we will arrive at our camp, Soraypampa, at 12464 feet above sea level. This is our highest camp. From here we will have incredible views of the snow capped glaciated peaks of the Salkantay. If time permits, we might even get a chance to head up to the toe of a glacier! After tea and dinner we will go outside to observe a sky completely full of stars unlike anywhere else in the world. This will be the coldest night with temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Day 6 : SORAYPAMPA - CHALLWAY (About 8:00 hrs - 28 km) (B, L, (D): After our early breakfast we will start the longest day of the trek. Within just a few hours we we will reach our high point for the trek, at over 15,000 ft! Horses will be available to ride, if the trekking at altitude proves to be to much (additional fees apply) It's all down hill from here! Another hour and a half trek will take us to lunch located at approximately 12,530 feet above sea level. During the hike after lunch you will have one grand view after another of the majestic mountains, the towering forests, and the creeks that are the origin of the White River. Another two and a half hours of hiking and we will arrive at camp Challway, located at 9512 feet deep in the Peruvian jungle. Tea will be served upon our arrival followed shortly by dinner. What a day!
Day 7 : CHALLWAY - LA PLAYA – SANTA TERESA (About 4:30 hrs - 22Km) (B, L, D) After breakfast at about 6:30 a.m. you will start your amazingly colorful hike along the White and Santa Teresa Rivers, coming to a resting point, Qiñaypoco, 8036 feet above sea level. Here you will be able to try passion fruit straight from the trees. Another two and a half hours of hiking through a few coffee plantations will take you to the small native community of La Playa, where lunch will be served. From this point you will be driven to Santa Teresa where you will have the opportunity of enjoying of the hot springs. Dinner will be served at your campsite.
Day 8 : SANTA TERESA - LLACTAPATA - HYDROELECTRIC - AGUAS CALIENTES (About 6 hrs. – 17 Kms) (B), (L), (D): Today, breakfast will be served at 5:30a.m. Our private transport will take us to the Mac Llactapata entrance in about an hour. We will be hiking Inca stairs in a few sections through coffee plantations. OUr shuttle wwe will arrive at the ruins of Llactapata, 8890 feet above sea level. From here we will get our first views of Machu Picchu! Roughly three more hours will take us to the Santa Teresa River and then to the hydroelectric, where you will eat lunch. We will then board the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night in a hotel
Day 9 : AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - AGUAS CALIENTES - CUSCO (B, L, D): Today we will tour Machu Picchu (7875 feet above sea level ). We will board a bus at 6:30a.m for a short ride to the gates. Our private guided tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours. After that you will have time to explore on your own before heading back to Aguas Callentes. We will board the afternoon train departing for Cusco
Day 10 : Cusco - Lima (B): Today, we will pick you up from your hotel and we will drive you to the airport of Cusco in order to take a plane to Lima.
Cost Includes
- Weight allowance: Our horses for the trek can carry up to 17 pounds or 8 kilograms of your personal belongings. If you would like to hire a private horse to carry additional gear, please let us know in advance and we will arrange it. Additional fees apply.
- In and out transfers to and from Lima and Cusco (Private transportation)
- Round trip flights from Lima to Cusco
- 1 Night in Lima hotel, 4 Nights in Cusco hotel & 1 Night in Aguas Calientes hotel. Double occupancy
- Cusco City Tour with private English speaking guide
- Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour with private English speaking guide
- Private transportation from Cusco to Mollepata, where the treks begins
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (9B, 5L, 4D)
- Snacks for the trek
- Local cooks and cooking equipment
- 3 nights sleeping in 4 seasons tents - 2 people per tent
- Dining and cooking tents, including portable chairs and table
- Round trip train ticket from the Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes and back
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Two-hour guided tour upon your arrival in Machu Picchu with private English speaking guide
- Round trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
- Emergency oxygen bottle
- First aid equipment including altitude drugs
Cost DOES NOT Include
- Airfare to and from Lima, Peru from your home location
- Items of personal nature
- Individual travel costs, delays, etc.
- Excess baggage fees
- Personal Clothing and equipment
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal snacks outside of the trek
- Hotels before and after trip
- Recommended Travel/trip cancelation insurance
- Guide/ Staff gratuity
Prerequisites:
- General good fitness
- Ability to hike up to 10 hours over uneven terrain
- Abillity to hike for up to 12 miles over uneven terrain
- Willingness for adventure!
- Desire to see amazing cultural
- Be comfortable carrying a 20 lbs pack
Registration:
- To secure your spot on this trip you will need to fill out our expedition registration packets. A 50% deposit is required.
