Salkantay 7 Days/6 Nights
It is possible to connect one of this region´s most venerated Sacred Mountains, with our Modern World´s Wonder, in a 7 day program, giving you the opportunity to hike around the APU SALKANTAY and get to MACHUPICCHU, along part of the Incan Trail.
Indeed, it is one of the most beautiful and demanding high mountain hikes, we have on offer, as it combines 5 different ecosystems, in which we´ll have a chance to observe how rivers are born from the Sacred Mountains, as well as the changes in the landscape, from the Andean barren plains, to the cloud forest, full of orchids and birds that will astonish us. At the end of the hike, the Inti Punku or Sun´s Gate will appear, giving us a privileged view of Machupicchu.
DAY 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA
We´ll leave Cusco very early, heading towards the North and stopping in the village of Mollepata, from which we´ll get onto the uphill road to Challacancha (3,670 m.a.s.l.) which will be our hike´s starting point. In half an hour, we´ll walk up to the irrigation canal that will take us to Soraypampa, where we´ll have lunch, and afterwards, we´ll ascend to the turquoise colored Umantaycocha Lagoon which is formed by Mount Umantay´s glacier, at 4,140 m.a.s.l. After having enjoyed the view a bit and taken pictures of the place, we´ll descend to our campsite, situated above 3,780 m.a.s.l., where we´ll spend the night, with a privileged view of the Apu Salkantay.
DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA – SISAYPAMPA
Today, we´ll ascend to the Inka Chiriasca Mountain Pass, at 5,000 m. of altitude, and will have a chance to observe the glaciar formation of the snow-capped Mount Salkantay, the highest, most sacred and venerated mountain in the whole region of Machupicchu. This Apu is known to be the Andean “Untamable God” that brings life and fertility to its land. After 4 hours of ascension, we´ll get to the highest point on our journey, and from there, we´ll head towards the East, to the Sisaypampa Valley, where we´ll spend the night.
DAY 3: SISAYPAMPA – PAUCARCANCHA
This time, we´ll hike downhill from Sisaypampa´s Andean barren plain, to the Quechua zone of Paucarcancha, where the Royal Path that came from Cusco, across the mountains, connected with that which comes from the Sacred Valley, also known as the Incan Trail. Today, we´ll see how corn grows and how the climate changes, due to the difference in altitude. In addition, we´ll see an impressive Incan aqueduct, and will spend the night at 3,300 m.a.s.l., next to a tambo that will make us understand how well organized the Incan road system was.
DAY 4: PAUCARCANCHA – PACAYMAYO
The day´s uphill hike will take us to the Huarmi Huañuska Mountain Pass , at 4,220 m. of altitude. On the way, we´ll see an unca tree (Native trees) forest and will have an impressive view of Mount Huayanay. Then, we´ll rest to have lunch in Llulluchapata, over 3,770 m.a.s.l., and from there, we´ll get prepared for the final ascension to the mountain pass, from which we´ll contemplate the edge of the cloud forest, with the transition between the ecological levels and the path that will take us to our campsite, located above 3,600 m. of altitude, in Pacaymayo.
DAY 5: PACAYMAYO – PHUYUPATAMARCA
HToday, we´ll hike on part of the famous Incan Trail that will keep many a surprise in store for us. To start with, we´ll realize how diverse that region of the Eastern Andes is, with its great variety of orchids and birds, from eagles to hummingbirds, and we´ll walk on part of the Sacred Path, along which we´ll appreciate Incan archaeological complexes, such as Runkurakay, Sayaqmarka and Phuyupatamarka or High Place among the Clouds, in quechua, where we´ll camp with a privileged view of the APU SALKANTAY and of the Urubamba Mountain Range, bathing in one of the trip´s most beautiful late afternoons.
DAY 6: PHUYUPATAMARKA – MACHUPICCHU
This morning, we´ll awaken with a spectacular view, and will descend 1,000 meters through the cloud forest, to see how the Incas used and adapted themselves to one of the world´s roughest geographical terrain. Furthermore, we´ll see how the Architectural Compound of Inti Pata was erected, and will rest in Huiñay Huayna, a great palace nestled in the mountain, spectacular and worthy of being the preambule of one of the Modern World´s Wonders; Machupicchu. We´ll get to the Inti Punku or Sun´s Gate, between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon, to continue our hike towards the main entrance of the Incan City of Machupicchu, where we´ll board the bus that will take us to our hotel, in Aguas Calientes.
DAY 7: MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO
We´ll start the day early with a succulent breakfast, after which we´ll board the bus that will take us, in a half hour, to Machupicchu, where our guide will show us the Incan City in its true dimension, while we´ll appreciate the harmony still present between that master work of architecture and engineering, erected by the Incas, and one of the world´s most bio-diverse places, surrounded by sacred natural elements, such as the Willkamayu River which was the Incas´ Sacred River and the great Apus that protect this Wonder of the Modern World.
Once the guided visit over, we´ll have a chance to explore the new findings made in the Incan city, and, perhaps will we attempt escalading Mount Machupicchu, a very special place, from which we´ll be able to appreciate the magnificence of the scenery and understand why the Incas built that city there, in the middle of the mountains. In the afternoon, we´ll take the train back to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Cusco, where our adventure will get to its end.
INCLUDES:
- Entrance fee to the Salkantay Park and Historical Sanctuary of Machupicchu.
- Transportation to the hike´s starting point.
- Professional guide service.
- Support team (Cook, muleteers and porters).
- Meals during the hike: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners.
- Return train to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Return bus to Cusco.
