Salkantay Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights

Antara Travel Agency has designed with a great care and dedication this program, one day before the trip the Antara guide will be at your hotel to inform you about the excursion of adventure, for this new experience you need being acclimated to the altitude in Cusco city, at least one or two days are enough, due to the level of difficulty change each day. In these day you will tour the city and the Sacred Valley of the Incas and /or any other activity.

Called the other Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, it is other option of adventure a 73 kilometers (45.3 miles) of route. You need a good physical condition; due to the route is almost long and the path is rugged, but some paths are easy to walk. In the route we will climb one of the highest points of Salkantay, to descend through the cloudy forest close to the jungle region. Unlike to traditional Inca Trail, there is not lot of people, we will appreciate the mountains with lush vegetation, gorges, rivers and thermal waters to relax after the physical effort for trek. You also can appreciate the temperature changes during the climbs and downs in the huge mountains through the trip of Salkantay. In the highest points we can enjoy with some snow in the route (4,650 m.a.s.l. / 15,200 ft.). finally, the last day a guide visit to Machu Picchu.

Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa

Very early in the morning we leave from Cusco in a bus, passing through the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo, until after 3 hours we arrive at Mollepata (2,800 m.a.s.l. / 9,186 ft.). After breakfast we will go to Challacancha mountain to begin our trek. Though two and a half hours we will appreciate Andean vegetation and small plains. We can observe valleys, mountains and snowcapped mountains as the Humantay (5,217 m.a.s.l. / 17,116 ft.), and the Salkantay (6,264 m.a.s.l. / 20,551 ft.). We continue hiking through green and beautiful scenery until Soraypampa (3,700 m.a.sl. / 12,139 ft.) where we eat dinner and spend our first night. Optionally, we offer an extra two-hour walk (round trip) to the turquoise lagoon of Humantay (4,100 m.a.sl. / 13,451 ft). Its waters come from Humantay.

Day 1, 24.03 kilometers in 8 hours (including the lagoon).

Day 02: Soraypampa – Chaullay

After breakfast we begin the hike. During the first four hours we walk in ascend the pass Pampas of Salkantay from where you can take some impacting pictures of closer snow mountains. We will arrive to the Abra Salkantay (4,629 m / 15,187 ft., altitude) the highest point of the route. The Guide will perform a traditional ritual: the construction of apacheta (pile of stones) and the payment to the earth as gratitude to sacred Inca gods. After four hours in descend we will arrive to Wayramachay (4,000 m / 13,123 ft.) for lunch. In this point the Andean landscape has more vegetation. After three hours we will arrive to the camp in terraces known as Chaullay (2900 m / 9,514 ft.). Finally, overnight and dinner at campsite.

Day 2, 24 kilometers (14.9 miles) in 10 hours.

Day 03: Chaullay – Santa Teresa

We begin with an invigorating breakfast. We have to walk five hours, and we can see changes in landscapes. From Andean mountains to the high forest and the fertile forest brow. We will pass through Andean community of Arranyanniyoc, a living culture example. We will cross streams, and fresh waterfalls. After, we will appreciate diverse orchids which will captive your sense. We will lunch at the Playa campsite (2,060 m / 6,758 ft.) known as Sawayaco. Once recovered our energies we will continues in descent during one and a half hour to Santa Teresa (1,400 m / 4,593 ft.) in hearth of jungle brow area. Optionally, a walk to thermal water of Cocalmayo (it is no included). You can relax and swimming surrounded by sub-tropical environment of Peruvian jungle.

Day 03, 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) in 5 hours

Day 04: Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes

We begin the day with the breakfast and then begin hiking through jungle, it is a semi-tropical humid climate. We will see a variety of agricultural products as coffee, coca plant and fruit trees. During the hike we can see Machu Picchu and Huana Picchu. After, we will descend to the old Hydroelectric Central from where we hike until we will take the bus to Agua Calientes town, where after dinner we go to hotel. An optional activity, in the fourth day you can have an adventure zipline in the mountains of jungle (it is not included in the tour). Jump with a rope and cross the other mountain side! We are full equipped, so it will be an enjoy and safe experience.

Day 05: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

We eat a very early breakfast in the hotel and then immediately leave by bus the small town to ascend Machu Picchu. We will visit the impressive citadel of Machu Picchu, we will have a guided tour of the urban and agricultural zones, the ceremonial plazas, the sacred sites, the Intihuatana or solar clock and the many terraces that form this incredible complex. We will take the bus to pick up the luggage and go to the train station to back to Cusco.

List of thing you need in your backpack (maximum 7 kg / 15.4 pounds).

• Sleeping bag
• Flashlight, Hand torch
• Repellent
• Sunscreen
• Toilet roll
• Plastic bags (to protect cameras and for garbage)
• Purifying Water Pills
• Waterproof jacket
• 4 shirts
• 1 long trousers
• 1 short trousers
• Several pairs of stockings
• Underwear
• Rain poncho
• Slippers or sandals to rest your feet in the camp
• A hat or cap
• Personal medicines

Clothes for return to your country

• Short Sleeve shirt
• Long Sleeve T-Shirt
• Heavy jacket
• Long trousers (short is better)
• Thick socks
• A pair of shoes for mountain trekking
• Hand-held backpack with camera, documents, water bottle
• Small denomination money (soles).