The Salkantay trek is one of the most unique and outstanding hikes that we offer around Cusco region, is one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, with 6.271mtrs, 20569ft. This trek is perfect for you who wish to become personally integrated with nature in a changing ecosystem from one day to the next. You will hike through a sweeping, landscape, snow-capped mountains to the cloud forest, where you will enjoy the biodiversity of flora and fauna, following this wonderful ancient path, you will be hiking past these beautiful and mysterious archaeological sites, And finally arriving at the lost city of the Incas Machu Picchu or the new seven wonders of the world. Every trip is conducted by professional tour leaders, that make your trip a lifelong experience.
Our crew lead by your guide, will pick you up early morning from your hotel for a private transfer to the start point trek, which it will take around three and a half hours. Along this drive, we will pass through farm villages like an Izcuchaca in Anta Province. We will continue driving into Limatambo Valley, very well known for its avocado plantation to Mollepata where will stop to have a quiet optional breakfast and then toward Soraypampa 3900 m /12,084ft. This is our starting point of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu amazing place overlooking Salkantay and Humantay snowed-capped mountains, we will start our ascend to Humantay Lagoon considered nowadays one of the most beautiful nature and turquoise color lakes located at the base of the Humantay glacier. After having free time, we will come back to Soraypampa to have lunch. After lunch, we will continue our hike for two hours to get to our basecamp Salkantaypampa 4000 m/12,720ft is a Unique camp without crowded people and a very nice place to see the stars during the nighttime as well as see the sunset and sunrise of the Salkantay glacier. Distance:10.00k.m., Time: 5 to 6 hours, altitude: from 3900 to 4000 meters above sea level.
Today, after a lovely breakfast, we leave the main Salkantay trail, We take the path to the right side of the mountain, and the ascent will last us five hours, passing through the pampa japonesa to the Inca chiriaska pass 5000 meters, 15900ts. This is the highest point that we get on the whole trek, where we have a 360° view of Salkantay and Humantay snowed-capped mountains also beautiful turquoise lagoons located under the Salkantay mountain, after resting and enjoying the spectacular views, we start descending a stony path for three hours to our camp Sisaypampa. In between today’s hike, we will stop for lunch, our guide will coordinate with our trekking crew a very nice spot. Altitude: 4100mtrs to Sisaypampa 4000mtrs. Distance: 16 km, Time: 8 to 9 hours.
Today we will have a lovely breakfast with amazing views of Salkantay mountain, then we will start our descent for five hours along this hike we will pass through a small local community of Pampaccawa (canal Inca) mainly they are cow and horse farmers also you notice the changes of the ecosystem from the high Andes to a lush green forest to Paucarcancha 3000 meters. Paucarcancha is a small, beautiful archeological site located in the original Inca Trail and considered a resting place for travelers back in the Inca time. Then we will continue our hike up and down to km 82. During this hike, we will see the Llaptapata archeological site and a stunning view of Urubamba River. From k2 we will take a short drive to Ollantaytambo train station where we take a train to Aguas Calientes town to the Hotel. The altitude of Aguas Calientes town 2000 M. Distance:18 km, Time: 8 hours.
After Breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel for a short bus journey to the entrance of Machu Picchu, today you will explore this magical Inca city and enjoy learning about it was built and discovered for 3 hours. You will then have free time to wander around and if you got a Ticket for Wayna Picchu you can climb. Note. There are just 400 visitors allowed per day. You have to book in advance the entrance with us to ensure your permit In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes. From here we take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy depending on the space and private transportation back to your Hotel Cusco.
The Cusco Region mainly presents two seasons, the rainy season, from November to April, with the heaviest rainfalls usually occurring between January, February, and March, and the dry season from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.
Along the Inca Trail, the temperature ranges from 15-20°c during the day if it’s sunny, to 10-28°c during the day if not sunny, or 05-15°c at night in the first two campsites. At Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu, at a lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer, though warm clothes are still recommended at night.
There are benefits and drawbacks to visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu during each season. The dry season is usually crowded at all the sites, and especially on the Inca Trail, you need to ensure your permit at least six months in advance.
The rainy season can be a very pleasant time for you who are looking to do cultural tours or for you who will design your vacations without trekking, including visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu with fewer people.
The altitude of Cusco city: 3400 meters
The population of Cusco: 1,300,000
With the new regulations of the Peruvian government, the Machu Picchu entrance tickets go on sale from 6.00 am to 3.00 pm.
With the new regulations from the Peruvian government, the Wayna Picchu tickets go on sale from 7.00 am until 10:00 to 11:000 am. The hike Will take 45 minutes up and 30 minutes down all the way. The step is not recommendable for people who have vertigo.
Note: It’s essential to book in advance to ensure your entrance tickets to the sites.
The hike will take you 1.45 hrs and 1:00 hrs down. The tickets go on sale in two windows of time from 6 to 7 a.m., and the second group is from 8 to 9 a.m. Takes longer, but it’s more beautiful.
It is the biggest problem in South America, not just in Peru. It can affect us on our tour treks. Roads are often blocked as well as trains stop their operations. Usually, the advice is two weeks in advance to prevent do not affect too much any of this country’s problems on our tours. In the worst-case, Private Machu Picchu Will let you know to cancel the tours or treks. Your health and safety are our top priorities.
Cusco has an airport, mostly for domestic flights from inside the country. Our international airport is Jorge Chavez in Lima.
LATAM Airlines is the biggest company that operates in Peru and has connections all over the world. It is the only airline that doesn’t have too many cancellations in the weather conditions here in Cusco. The time flight from Lima to Cusco is one hour. You can always connect your flights to Puno, Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado Jungle, Iquitos, or the north of Peru, in our extension tours.
There is always a bus option from Lima to Cusco. The time will take you 22 hours.
Peruvian cuisine is recognized for its biodiversity of products and continues conquering the whole world. Peruvian food is being awarded internationally for owning the most delicious food in the world.
The Cusco Region has unique gastronomy for the use of local products like potatoes, quinoa, corn, a variety of vegetables, and its exotic fruits, plus guinea pig and alpaca meat. Your travel expert will recommend restaurants that you can visit here in Peru and Cusco.
On our treks, we provide you with delicious food. You just need to make sure to let us know your dietary restrictions before departure on our treks, as well as our chefs are well-experienced in cooking in the mountains.
An extra hotel night in Aguas Calientes can be booked for you at an additional cost depending on the Hotel you choose. Please note that the additional entrance fee cost is not included if you wish to revisit Machu Picchu the following day.
Massage sessions: us$50 per 1-hour session. Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco.
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We took the 5 day/4 night Inca Trail Trek with Private Machu Picchu, and added an extra day in Machu Picchu Pueblo for birding ...
