SALKANTAY TREK LOW PRICE  5D / 4N

At 5:00 am we will enjoy a large breakfast so that we have a lot of energy for our hike today. Starting our trek from Soraypampa, we will ascent for 3 hours to the highest point of Abra Salkantay, where we enjoy breathtaking views of the snow capped high Andes Mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet). Passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Huarachmachhay for 3 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet). There, we will have lunch and then continue our descent for 3 more hours until we reach our campsite in Collpapampa. We will have tea and a delicious dinner prepared by our cook. Tonight we will sleep in our comfortable domes at the campsite.

Hiking Distance: 22 km/13.47 miles

After a rejuvenating night’s sleep, we start day 3 of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We begin our 5 ½ hours hike through the Peruvian jungle, passing over many ascents and descents. This part of the trek marks the cloud forest, where we will discover several coffee plantations, orchids and many natural plants used for medicines. We will arrive at our lunch point to rest a little. Here you have the option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included). We will return to our campsite at 6.00 pm for tea and a freshly prepared dinner.

Hiking Distance: 14 km/8.7 miles

Today, we will enjoy the sunrise in a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. We will have a nutricious breakfast and get ready for the next part of our trekking adventure: we will finally hike along a part of the original Inca Trail! We will walk up along the Inca Trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley. After a 2.5 ascent, we will arrive at the Inca archaelogical site of Llactapata. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the history of this place. Besides, we will get the chance to get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. We will go downhill for lunch and then continue our hike to Hidroeléctrica. You can choose to walk to Aguas Calientes for around 3 hours, or opt to board a train for $38.00 extra. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the village on the bottom of the magnificent Wonder of the World. Tonight, we will be staying at a hotel overnight.

Hiking Distance: 18 km/13.7 miles

This is the day you’ve been waiting for, ending up in one of the new Seven Wonders of the World Machupicchu, archaeological site.

We’ll  get up early in the morning around  4.30 a.m. to get  packed breakfast, then we will start to walk up to Machupicchu , it takes 1:30 minutes  aprox.; 30 minutes walking down to Puente Ruinas checkpoint where you will have to show your original passports +Machupicchu tickets and Student ID in case if you are students. After crossing Puente Ruinas, you will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 am.

The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way you’ll only need to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu because there isn’t allow to take big bag packs inside Machupicchu; There is  bus ride option  from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu  it takes approximately 30 minutes (12 USD ).

Once in Machu Picchu your guide will take you directly to the best panoramic view point to take the classic Machupichu’s picture then your local guide will show you around the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour you’ll learn more about the history and culture of this amazing Andean paradise.

After the guiding tour you will explore Machupicchu by yourselves You may hike Waynapicchu mountain it takes 2 hours or Machupicchu mountain which takes 3 hours (must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $60 per person) your guide will show you where to begin this hike. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depends on how you are going back to Cusco (train or car).

SALKANTAY BY TRAIN: Taking this option you are going to stay long time in Machupicchu citadel because train is leaving around 2.55 p.m. if you are planning to climb the extra Waynapicchu or Machupicchu mountains we recommended to take it this option definitely, because you will need it extra hours to do it; The return train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you right by the station’s exit door. They’ll be ready to bring you back to Cusco by car. The car ride to Cusco will be approximately 2 hours and will have you dropped off near to the main square in Cusco that evening around 7.00 p.m.

SALKANTAY BY CAR: Taking this option you are going to have less time to explore Machupicchu citadel and if you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will be very tight on time. Going back to Cusco by car you will need to leave Machu Picchu by 10:30 a.m. max.  and take the 3-hour walk back to Hidroelectrica by the rail tracks because there is not car road , in Hidro you will meet the car at 2:00 pm; This car option  is a longer trip which takes 6 hours aprox.  until Cusco city

If you are considering this option and planning to hike Waynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain, we recommend you  to stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco by car on the 6th day so that you can fully enjoy the experience.