DAY 1: CUSCO - CHALLACANCHA- SORAYPAMPA (HUMANTAY LAKE)

Your Guide will pass by your hotel between 5am and 5:30am in our private car that will take you to the community of Mollepata, approximately 2.5 hrs traveling time. In Mollepata, my family will be waiting for you in the restaurant “La Casona” where you will meet the founder of “Refugios Salkantay”- Mercedes Sotelo, and where you will have the option to have some breakfast if your hotel didn’t provide you breakfast in Cusco. (Optional). After breakfast, we will take you in our van to Challacancha, which is approximately 1 hour away.

Start of the hike:

We will start the hike to our first lodge in Soraypampa which is approximately 2 hours away. The first section of the hike will take us through deep valleys and around the base of the mountain. On the way, we will see an ancient aqueduct that still provides water to the lower valleys and agricultural areas (7 kilometers - 4,35 miles). On arrival, there will be a hot coca tea waiting for you and you will be shown to your private room, with a private bathroom.

Once you have settled in, we will prepare a delicious and nutritious local dish for lunch. Anyone who has any special dietary requirements or preferences will be catered for. After a hearty lunch, we will have a brief acclimatization hike to the spectacular Tukarhuay lagoon. With an impressive backdrop of the Tukarhuay glacier, more commonly known as the Humantay glacier. From here we will also have amazing views of the Salkantay glacier, one of the most sacred mountains in Inca mythology. (The “Apu” Salkantay) reaching a massive height of 6200 meters / 20.341 feet). This excursion will take approximately 3 hours and will help you acclimatize for the rest of the hike. When we return to the lodge, there will be an aperitif waiting for us, followed by a delicious dinner.

• Total walking distance: 12km / 7.45 miles.

• Starting elevation: 3,380 metres / 11,089 feet.

• Highest elevation (Humantay Lake): 4,300 metres /14,107 feet.

• OVERNIGHT: Refugios Salkantay: 3,850 metres /12,631 feet.

• Approximate night-time (outside) temperature at the lodge: 0 - 5°C.

• Dificulty level: Moderate

• Approximately 5 hours.

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY PASS – LUCMABAMBA FAMILY HOME.

5:00 am will be your wake-up call and we will bring you a coca tea. At 5:30 am, a delicious breakfast will be waiting for you in our dining room. The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent in 3 hours between the rocky valley base and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6274 m– 20574 FASL). When we reach the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo mountains. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”.

If you are tired or suffering from any altitude symptoms, please do not worry, there will always be a muleteer close by who carries a first aid kit and has an emergency horse that you can ride if need be.

Once we arrive at the highest pass, we will then start the descent of approximately 2 hours, downhill. The route is rocky and gravely with incredible views over the valley until we reach the village of “Huayracmachay”, where a delicious lunch awaits us. Our house in Huayracmachay is equipped with a heater and hammocks for a well-earned break)!

In the afternoon after lunch, you will continue hiking and we will reach the high jungle area of Amazonas also known as the cloud forest. This is approximately a 10 km, downhill walk. (6.2 miles) and will take about 3 hours. This is a wide trail passing through a highly vegetative area with lots of tree cover. It is an incredibly beautiful part of the trail with lots of flora and fauna and with panoramic views, extensive wildlife, with native plants and flowers. These forests for most of the year are quite warm and tropical with higher temperatures at certain times of the year. We will then arrive at the village of CHALWAY (2,900 metros / 9,514 feet). On arrival, our private car will be waiting to take us to Lucmabamba, about a 1 hour’s drive. Here we will now have dropped in elevation and be in the high jungle region and we will head to our lodge for the night and meet our local family. You will have a private room, and a private bathroom with hot and cold showers. You will also enjoy a traditional dinner before resting for the evening.

• Total walking distance: 22km /13.67 miles.

• Starting elevation: 3850m /12631 feet.

• Max elevation: 4660m / 15,288 feet.

• OVERNIGHT: Lucmabamba Lodge: 2400 metres / 7874 feet.

• We include an emergency horse if altitude sickness affects you or if you are tired during the most difficult section (Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass)

• Approximately 8-9 hours

• Difficulty: Challenging

• Weather: Cold

DAY 3:LUCMABAMBA (FAMILY HOME) - LLACTAPATA INCA TRAIL- LLACTAPATA (LODGE IN FRONT OF MACHU PICCHU)

You will enjoy a traditional breakfast made from local products. Our car will then collect us and will take us on a half an hour journey through coffee plantations and local fruit plantations, to take us to the best hot springs in the region of Cusco (Cocalmayo), where we will relax for a couple of hours. We will then visit the coffee farms which belong to the Refugios Salkantay family. The coffee from this region is considered one of the best in the world. If you are a coffee lover this will be a phenomenal experience for you! You will sample the recently prepared coffee made from the freshest, toasted and ground coffee beans. We will then pass through the banana, granadilla, yucca, and avocado plantations. At the end of the visit you will enjoy a local lunch made from the products that you, yourself have picked …an unforgettable experience!

After lunch we will continue on our way, hiking to Llactapata, along an original Inca trail for about 2-3 hours. En route, we will visit the Inca site of Llactapata, where we will see incredible views of the Santa Teresa valley. At the Llactapata pass, we will reach the family home of the Sra. Susana, Sr. Pedro, and their son Elio will welcome you and show you to your rooms.

From your room with a purpose-built glass roof, you will be able to see Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of the Machu Picchu mountain and the Huayna Picchu mountain. At dinner time, we will make a bonfire and enjoy a well-earned glass of wine (an incredible experience!).

• Distance walked: 8. km / 4.97 miles.

• Starting elevation: 2400 metros / 7874 feet.

• OVERNIGHT: Llactapata Lodge: 2700 metres / 8858 feet.

• Weather: During the day time hot and humid, and chilly at night.

• Difficulty: Easy.

• Visit the hot springs of Cocalmayo.

• Coffee experience.

• Approximately 4 hours.

DAY 4: LLACTAPATA (GLASS ROOF) - HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES

You will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. If it is cloudy, please don’t worry, at some point, the sky will clear and you will enjoy your first views of Machu Picchu.

A delicious breakfast will be waiting for us and after breakfast, we will continue with our guide, on our descent, arriving at the Inca site of Llactapata… just in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site on the way to the mysterious lost city of the Incas! After the visit to the Llactapata ruins, we will continue our hike on a descent of about 2 hours. On this part of the descent, we will have a continuous view of Machu Picchu until we reach the hydroelectric train station, where we will have lunch. One of the most impressive sights in the area is the natural waterfall, which generates electricity for the whole of the Cusco region! Here we will cross the river on an impressive hanging bridge.

After lunch, we will head towards the “Intiwatana” or sundial, a famous, ancient rock that was used as a clock during Inca times. According to history, this “Intiwatana” worked in conjunction with the famous sundial inside the site of Machu Picchu. The people used these 2 stones to estimate the times of the Winter solstice, which is when the new agricultural cycle began, a very important time of the year for the Incas. After we have visited this Inca site, we will arrive at the train tracks that head to the town of Aguas Calientes. Here we will have 2 options:

1, If you are tired, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($ 31.00 USD extra).

2) If you are still raring to go and ready to hike, we can walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, which will take about 3 hours. Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, you can go to your hotel to enjoy a refreshing hot shower.

• Walking Distance: 14 km

• Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 metres

• Weather: Hot

• Accommodations: Hotel La cabaña (or similar)

• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU – RETURN TO CUSCO

The best day yet! The entrance time for Machu Picchu is 6 a.m. until 5p.m.

We will have an early breakfast, to make the most of the day. Your guide will come to your hotel to take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu, which takes about 30 minutes. Once you enter Machu Picchu, you may visit the principal viewpoint. Here you may take your idyllic, postcard photos of Machu Picchu. After seeing the sunrise (weather permitting), we will start our guided tour which will take about 2.5 hours. You will visit the most important sites and temples inside the archaeological site. During your tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Incas and the Inca empire. At the end of the tour, you will have some time to take photos, or if you have reserved the permit to climb Huayna Picchu/Machu Picchu mountain, to climb your respective mountain.

These permits need to be reserved ahead of time and cost $70 USD per person). If you haven’t reserved a mountain climb, you can hike to the Sun gate (1.5 hours approximately) or even to the Inca Bridge (45mins). We suggest that you return to Aguas Calientes 2 hours before your trains departure time. The train is approximately a 2-hour journey, to arrive at Ollantaytambo. Here, our car will be waiting at the exit of the train station. The journey back to Cusco takes approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic, and we will drop you off at your hotel.

The citadel of Machu Picchu has many steps and uphill climbs

• Approximately 4 hours

• Machu Picchu: Easy to moderate

Please note: Huayna Picchu tickets are subject to availability.

Please ask your Refugios Salkantay specialist for details upon booking.

Machu Picchu Mountain may be hiked as well, instead of Huayna Picchu Mountain. This hike is more challenging and takes four hours minimum, round-trip (at an extra cost of USD $70 per person.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE:

1. Entrance fee to Salkantay Trail

2. Pre-trek briefing: You will meet with the guide for your trek and the rest of the group in our office for an orientation meeting. You will also be given duffle bags, 1 Duffle bag: to carry your personal items ( up to 7 kilos / 15 pounds) which will be carried by horses on the trek. We will meet at 7:00 pm the night before the trek.

3. Transport from your hotel in Cusco to challacancha on day 1 and from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco at the end of the trek on day 5.

4. A bi-lingual guide (Spanish and English), From day 1 to day 5.

5. Rooms in private cabins: Soraypampa, Lucmabamba, Llactapata, Aguas Calientes.

   We have double rooms, twin rooms, and triple rooms.

6. The last night you will stay in Aguas Calientes in a 3-star hotel.

7. Wake up with tea!: Each morning at the lodge we will awake you with a hot cup of coca tea which our staff will bring to your room.

8. Transport of your personal items, by pack horse/mules or porters for all of the trek.

9. Guided tour of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary including entrance fee.

10. Afternoon Tea Happy Hour: Each afternoon, 1 hour before our dinner, your hosts and families will serve popcorn, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, and some different types of tea, hot water, etc. This is because, after a hard day hiking, you will arrive quite hungry and tired.

11. Daily snacks - Days 1, 2 y 3. Our snacks consist of local fruits, cookies, chocolate, sweets, etc. We will give you these snacks the at the start of each trekking day and should last most of the day (Vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost)

12. All meals except breakfast on day 1 and dinner on day 4.

13. Hygenic Products: All of our lodges have fresh towels for hands and face and body.

14. Hot water in all of our lodges

15. First Aid kit: Our crew always carries an extensive first Aid kit including an oxygen tank in case of any emergencies.

16. Hygenic Products: All of our lodges have fresh towels for hands and face and body.

17. Train tickets : From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (tren expeditions)

18. We also provide a natural walking stick for the hike at no extra cost- one stick per person.

19. Satellite Phones: Every guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us anywhere in the world. our guides are trained for most of the issues clients have on the mountain, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend.

20. Coffee tour

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE:

1. Last Day: Dinner in Aguas Calientes.

2. Personal clothing and gear

3. Travel Insurance

4. Alcoholic drinks and energy drinks are NOT included.

WHAT TO BRING:

1. A change of clothes for each day – please be prepared for every type of weather from cold and hot, to wet and dry.

2. Rain gear (waterproof jacket and trousers) or a rain poncho. You can buy a rain poncho almost everywhere but best to do so in Mollepata for around $1.50 usd.

3. Good walking boots, preferably with ankle support and waterproof. Spare, dry socks are a necessity.

4. Sandals to allow your feet to rest.

5. Headlamp and batteries (Very Important) Extra spare batteries – *PLEASE DISPOSE OF IN SPECIAL RECYCLING FACILITIES

6. HATS! A hat to protect you from the cold, protect against the sun, and the rain.

7. Sunblock.

8. After sun /hydration creams.

9. Insect Repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although there is no recorded malaria in the area, bites can be itchy.

10. Snacks: cookies, energy bars, chocolate, dry fruits, trail mix, etc.

11. We recommend bringing water sterilization tablets if you want to drink water, which you can collect along the way. Your own basic medical kit /first aid kit, which you may need along the route – with any prescription medication, plasters/band-aids, painkillers, anti-diarrhea tablets, etc.

12. Swimsuit (if you want to enjoy the thermal springs).

13. Cash! – Enough for snacks, tips, souvenirs, - bring in small denominations - no large notes.

14. Original Passport and student cards.

15. Please bear in mind that knives or anything with a sharp metal point will be confiscated in Machu Picchu.

AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS: (THESE ARE NOT ACCUMULATIVE)

1. Students: $ 30.00 (Students need to bring a valid ISIC student card. (Please take into account that Youth student travel cards are not valid!)

   Adolescents: $ 20.00 (up to 15years old, a Passport copy is required).

   Children: $ 45.00 (up to 10 years old, Passport copy is required for all stages of the reservation).

THE SALKANTAY TREK CAN LEAVE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, FROM MARCH THROUGH DECEMBER. WE DO NOT RUN THIS TREK IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

If you are alone, don't worry, check our availability and our dates to be able to join one of our already confirmed groups.

GROUP TOUR:

$650 per person

A group tour means that it is open for other trekkers to join you. This means that your group will have varying hiking and fitness abilities. All our guides are experts on how to keep the trek moving and happy no matter how fast you hike.

PRIVATE TOUR:

Private tours are available and priced by party size.

2 Trekkers: $950 per person

3 Trekkers: $895 per person

4 Trekkers: $850 per person

5 Trekkers: $745 per person

6 Trekkers: $690 per person

7 or more Trekkers: $650 per person

* All our tours are priced in US dollars.

STUDENT DISCOUNT:

$25 off per person

Student discounts apply to anyone who has a valid UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD at the time of the trek or who is 17-years-old or younger. For those using a university student card to receive the discount, we need to see a copy of the card at the booking. For those booking children 17-years-old or younger, we need a copy of their passport at booking time. Please send all to info@refugiossalkantay.com

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

There are several optional upgrades you can include on this trip. Below is a quick list of prices, but check our Overview section for more details.

Huayna Picchu: $70 per person.

Montaña Machu Picchu: $70 per person.

NIGHT 1: Refugios Soray

PHOTOS