9-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Upon your arrival Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ), your guide will greet you and take you to our partner lodge, located in the charming historic district of San Blas. The lodge is centrally located and only a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas, the beautiful and bustling town center. This day will be reserved for resting to adapt to the altitude, approximately 3,400 meters, or 11,000 feet, above sea level. You will meet the other members of your expedition at 5:00pm.

Home of the ruins of the royal palace of the Inka Tupac Inca Yupanqui, Chinchero is a picturesque community located on a high plateau overlooking the many snowcapped peaks of the Andes. Here we can admire the well-preserved Inca walls of the main square as well as the numerous altars. We'll also visit the beautiful colonial church, unique for its interior artwork and imagery. Moving on we'll be formally introduced to the art of Andean textiles; and become acquainted with the technique of Andean weaving, a tradition passed down since long before Inca times. Traditional food will be prepared for lunch here. In the afternoon we'll visit Moray, an ancient construction designed for agricultural investigations and studies of different crops in a range of altitudes. Here the many concentric terraces produce a fine gradient of micro-climates; the warmth of the lowest central ring slowly dissipates as the rings ascend outward and upward, creating reductions in temperatures until reaching the ground-level norm. From there we'll continue on to the living town of Ollantaytambo, returning to Cusco in the late afternoon.

We'll leave Cusco between 4:30am and 5:00am. A bus will take us to the town of Mollepata, arriving at around 8:00am. We'll stop for last-minute supplies and a bathroom break, then continue on to the trailhead at Sayapata. We'll meet with our support staff, who will load the equipment on horses and mules. Around 9:00am we'll begin the hike to Soraypampa, 3850 meters, or 12,631 feet, above sea level. During the hike you'll see panoramas of the majestic Salkantay, other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. We'll stop for a Peruvian lunch at around 1:00pm. After lunch, we'll continue hiking another three hours to Humantay Lake, later returning to camp where dinner and your tents will be ready and waiting.

After a nutritious breakfast, we'll start the most difficult part of the trek. We begin around 7:00am, and hike to a place called Pampas Salkantay, then follow a trail to the left side of the snowy peaks of Umantay next to the Apu Salkantay. At midday, we will reach the highest point at 4600 meters, or 15,092 feet, above sea level. Get ready for some spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing summit of the Salkantay, the the highest peak in the Willkapampa mountain range. Around 1:00pm, we'll have our lunch in the area called Huayracmachay. After a trek of approximately three hours, we'll arrive at our camp in Challway, 2920 meters (9,580 feet) above sea level. Around 7:00pm, we will recuperate with the help of a hearty dinner.

We'll break camp at 7:00am and walk for about five hours toward Playa Sahuayaco, passing through a town called Collpabamba, where waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds can be observed. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru. After lunch at Playa Sahuayaco, we'll hike a few more hours, ultimately arriving at Lucmabamba, where you will spend the night with a local coffee farming family.

In the morning we'll drive for two hours toward the Hydroelectric station, then hike another three hours to Aguas Calientes (6,693ft/2040m), stopping halfway for lunch. You'll have time to check into your room for a shower and some rest before a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant.

We'll wake you up at around 5:00am have breakfast, then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. There are two good reasons to be at the entrance of Machu Picchu early: The Inca city is quietest in the early morning and you will have plenty of time to take photos of the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Our guide will give you a tour of Machu Picchu and tell you about the history of Machu Picchu and its most important temples and altars. He will also take you to the classic view point, affording a terrific view of the whole Inca city. After that you'll have time to explore the site on your own. If you still have the energy you should climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (trail fee not included). This is the steep mountain dominating the background of Machu Picchu. Usually we take the bus back to the village of Aguas Calientes at around 1:00pm. The bus ride takes around 25 minutes and the fare is included in your package. Before you leave Machu Picchu make sure you ask the guide when and where the group will meet in Aguas Calientes. You will get your train and bus tickets back to Cusco at the restaurant in Aguas Calientes.

Free day to explore the old capital of the Inca Empire, the legendary navel of the world: Colonial churches, mutiple parks and squares, and colonial mansions built atop perfectly constructed original Inca walls. Artesian stores full of souvenirs of all kinds - weavings, jewelry, stonework and more! And of course, local restaurants with the very best Andean cuisine!

The morning is your to relax and unwind. If you're feeling up to it, you might want to join the optional (and free) walking tour visiting the following places: - Plaza de Armas - Plaza Nazarenas - San Blas neighborhood - The twelve-angle stone - San Pedro local market A driver will be available in the afternoon to drive you to the airport.