click here to enquire or book this holiday

Country: peru
Locations: Cusco,mollepata,sayllapata,soraypampa,salkantay pampa,salkantay pass,huayraqmachay,andenes,chaullay,colpapampa,la playa,santa teresa,hydroelectric,aguas calientes,machupicchu
Price: see below  note: All Taxes are included special discounts:
Note :10% DISCOUNT FOR GROUPS OF 6 PEOPLE OR MORE AND IF YOU ARE 8 PEOPLE ONE PAYS 50% ONLY....
SAE: 5% on full program price (valid South American Explorers Club membership card required). This discount may not be applicable in case a promotional price is offered http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home
•Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings).
•Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings).
students discounts: US$ 20.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC )and must be below 26 years of age. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid).

SALKANTAY INFO-SALKANTAY MAP-SALKANTAY FLORA-SALKANTAY FAUNA-SALKANTAY VIA LLACTAPATA-SALKANTAY TO INKA TRAIL-SALKANTAY 5/D-SALKANTAY 4/D

This salcantay trek Was Recently Named among the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
SALCANTAY TREK / SALKANTAY TRAIL ALTERNATIVE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU (4D / 3N) 

A remote and ancient footpath in the same region of the Inca trail, but less traveled and offering more spectacular views. This route provides a magnificent wilderness alternative for those who wish to escape the more congested trekking routes.
On the trail, we pass through an amazing progression of ecological zones, from sparsely vegetated alpine meadows flanking two spectacular 20,000' glaciered peaks, down through subtropical forest into the Inca salkantay Trail. We arrive later to the "Lost City of the Incas¨, Machu Picchu.
This lovely and varied hike (about 50km) is the "soft option" from Soray since the pass is lower (though still a tough 4,750m (15,580ft) and then is mostly downhill through forested valleys, above deep ravines, ending at 1,500m.
The trek on the second day from Soray goes steeply uphill for half an hour, then comes to a series of zigzags (Siete Culebras is the local name of this stretch). At the top of the seventh switchback the terrain levels out under Salkantay lateral moraine, and drops gently down to the small laguna Soirococha. The pass you see above is, alas, a false one; the main pass is a little further on, but the view of Salkantay looming above you more than compensates for the effort. The real pass at 4,750m is reached after 3-4 hours from the moraine, and is marked by a pile of stones , "well know as Apacheta by the locals", which grows daily as each traveler adds his pebble to thank the APUS for a safe trip.
Then the trail descends to the left -hand side of the valley, becoming indistinct in swampy areas. And then comes a place named Huayrajmachay "eye of the wind", from here we will have a great chance to see the beautiful Pyramid-shape of Humantay behind as you drop below the tree line, know as LA CEJA DE SELVA ("Eyebrow of the Jungle"), and walk through groves of bamboo with many orchids and other flowers and lots of hummingbirds, spectacular waterfalls, a small hot spring at Collpapampa the right place to lock out for the parakeets that abound in this area as well. And then we go to take a local bus in order to get Santa Teresa where we will enjoy the hot springs which is 45 minutes from this town .and then will see Machupicchu and waynapichu mountains and then the last day will see finally the Incan city of Machu picchu.

FIRST DAY : MOLLEPATA TREK - CRUZPATA - SAYLLAPATA - SORAYPAMPA
We pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 to 5:00am.and then we go to the bus station and we drive for about 3 hours to Mollepata. As soon as we are at mollepata while you have breakfast the cook and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we start hiking the first 3 hours will be a little bit uphill to get Cruzpata where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salcantay; 6271m/20575ft) - just the start! We will begin our trek towards Soraypampa, our first campsite (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) we will be very close to the second highest snow capped -mountain of Salkantay.

SECOND DAY: SORAYPAMPA SALKANTAY PAMPA - SOYROCOCHA - HUAYRACMACHAY - CHAULLAY OR COLLPAPAMPA (SAVAGE SALCANTAY MOUNTAIN )
After having breakfast we start walking about 5:30 am ,because this day will be the longest day the first 4 hours is uphill to get highest point of the trail (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here.
After a rest, we will continue our walk (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the start of the jungle until we reach our second campsite, chaullay or Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft).

THIRD DAY: CHAULLAY - LA PLAYA - LLACTAPATA - SANTA TERESA (CLOUD FOREST)
After breakfast, at 6.30am, we start walking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of little brooks to reach La Playa walking about 6 hours. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits ,plants and as soon as we are at la playa place horses will go back to Mollepata so we take a local bus to drive one hour to get HYDROLECTRIC TRAIN STATION where take the local train 1 hour to get aguas calientes where we sleep in a hostel Option of camping at Puente ruinas place below machu picchu city

FOURTH DAY: AGUAS CALIENTES - PUENTE RUINAS - MACHU PICCHU!!!
We wake up early morning about 4 am to then to 4:30 to have the breakfast and leave to walk up to Machupicchu which takes one and half hours up to machupicchu but there is another option to catch the first bus which leaves 5:30 to Machupicchu (25-minutes long) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun is rising.
A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your Guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top.
You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (it can be reached by bus or on foot) to be given your train tickets back to Cusco or ollantaytambo. The first train usually leaves at 15.55 and we will arrive back in Cusco at about 20.20.or the second train which leaves 4:20 and goes to Ollantaytambo where someone will be waiting for you with your guide's name who will take you to take a bus to Cusco.
If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes town can be arranged. (Please let us know if you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.
 

INCLUDES:

• Pre-departure briefing
• Professional English speaking salkantay trek tour guide
• Collection from your hotel (we pick you up where you are staying from) from 4:30 to 5:00 am
• Bus to Mollepata transportation ( trailhead) molle pata
•local transportation from la playa to hydroelectric train station and local train from hydroelectric to aguas calientes town.
• Tourist train (cerrojo-backpacker ) back to Ollantaytambo and then bus to Cusco)
• Entrance fee to Machu picchu
• Food: *3 breakfasts,3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks (hot drinks, biscuits and popcorn) and 3 dinners
• We have 4 people tents for 2-people so there will be plenty of space to set up your backpacks
• Camping equipment (tent, cooking and eating tents. Chairs and tables )
• FOAM Sleeping mattresses
• Cook who is charge of making the food, Horseman , mules or porters (they just carry cooking stuff and camping equipment ) plus 7 kilos for your personal belongings.
• 1 emergency horse to ride every 3 persons - days 1 to 2
• 1 night accommodation in a hostel Aguas Calientes • Oxygen balloon for any emergency
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• Transfer train station-hotel in Cusco
• First Aid kit and Free Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our Aymaras expeditions office.
• *Vegetarian/special diet options available

• NOTE: entrance fee for salkantay trek 2009 (129 soles) INC (National Institue of Culture) introduced a 129 peruvian soles entry fee to the Salkantay trek. click to see the cost of the entry of salkantay trek

NOTE: Train included in all tours is the Cerrojo-backpacker (to Ollantaytambo) Train times will only be confirmed once full amount of tour is paid. The earliest train you could take is the 12:26 and being the 9:20pm the last train. Aymaras expeditions will organize the transport back to Cusco (by taxi or by bus).
Please Note: train times are subject to change depending on Peru rail click here to see timestable and availability.If organized in advance, the train can be upgraded to Vistadome (larger windows than the backpaker cerrojo train to ollantaytambo ) for an increased price.of US$ 30 let us know please.

( click to see details)  BACKPACKER  –  VISTADOME

DOESN'T INCLUDE:

• Breakfast on the first day at mollepata and lunch on the last day in machu picchu or Aguas Calientes
• Entrance to the hot springs water ( Santa Teresa (10 soles ) Aguas Calientes(10 soles )
• Sleeping bag (goose down) -15ºC-extreme it can be hired from us US$20 for all trek mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 25 trips
• Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu (optional) US$14 round trip
( one way US$7 and you can Buy it at the Aguas Calientes bus station)

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING :

• Original passport (and Student card (ISIC) green card). Note ( you have to bring your student card to machu picchu because you are going to be required to show at the control point .
• Travel Insurance card is essential
• Sleeping bag (not included) hiking water proof boots (with ankle protectors )
• Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Sun hat and gloves
• T-shirts
• Comfortable trousers
• Rain pants
• Bathing suit (for hot springs in Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes)
• Sun protection cream ( factor 35 recommended ) sun is strong
• Insect Repellent ( for mosquitos )
• Water bottle.
• Water purification tablets (Micropur recommended)
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Camera and films
• Torch with spare batteries (flashlight) we recommend headlights
• Extra contribution suggested money for tipping horseman, cook and guide. and for any emergency.

Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO BRING :

• Short pants , Plaster and bandages
• Walking poles (with rubber tips) they can also be hired from us.

HOW TO BOOK AND SEND YOUR TREK DEPOSIT (Click here and read carefully what you must do)