Salcantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu / 7-Day Trek

Lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

The journey for this Salcantay and Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, begins with an early transfer from your hotel to travel through the Andes, being able to appreciate the white snowcapped mountains of Salcantay and Humantay, both of them, sacred mountains for the Incas as well as an spectacular scenery of the higher areas and the lower valleys with colorful landscapes, until reaching Mollepata village (9,514f/2,900m) where you can gear up on last minute supplies or anything you may have forgotten back in town (water, rain poncho, bug spray, etc.). You will then continue to Challacancha (12,139f/3700m) where you will meet your horsemen and start the hike.

During this first day you will walk on the road that runs all the way to Soraypampa (12,631f/3850m). After having lunch, you will begin to hike up to Humantay Lake (13,779f/4,200m). This hike will be approximately 3 hours (3.1 m/5 km) and will take you to the skirts of Humantay Mountain where the beautiful, crystalline-blue waters of the Humantay Lake lay. After breathing in the beauty of such magical place, you will begin making your way back down until to the camp site of Soraypampa to enjoy the in a very clear sky the milky way.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Maximun altitude: 13,779ft/4,200m
Minimun altitude: 9,514ft/2,900m
Walking distance: 7.45ml/12km
Approximate walking time:  6 to 7 hours

Breakfast, lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

Today you will have a spectacular journey that will begin with a hot coca tea provided by your cook and a delicious breakfast to then start a gentle ascent to Salkantaypampa 13530f/4124m, as you enjoy the views of the second highest mountain in Cusco region.   As you ascend some stops will be made to simply enjoy the beauty of the mountain scenery of the Vilcabamba range. After lunch you will gradually ascend to Pampa Japonesa campsite 15255f/4650m with undeniably imposing views of the Andean topography.

Maximun altitude: 15,256 ft/4,650m
Minimun altitude: 12631ft/3850m
Walking distance: 8.07m/13km
Approximate walking time: 6 hours

Breakfast, lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

As every morning you will wake up with hot coca tea, and this morning won’t be the exception, right away you will have your breakfast, enjoying the beautiful sunrise at the summit of Salcantay mountain. After that, you will meander uphill until reaching the Incachiriaska Pass 16174fd/4930m which translates to “the place where the Inca cools down”.  The majestic Condor (the world’s largest flying bird) lives in this area, so with any luck you might catch a glimpse of them in flight.  Once having crossed the pass it is the start of a long downhill hike where the valley narrows and the river becomes a canal, not before lunch in Sisaypampa, where the Andean rodent of the heights (Chinchilla) will probably come into sight.  You will finally arrive at your campsite in the Inca Canal.  During the whole day you will be able to fully appreciate and take in the imposing Andean landscape.

Maximun altitude: 16174ft/4930m
Minimun altitude: 12303ft/3750m
Walking distance: 14km/8.69 ml
Approximate walking time: 6 to 7 hours

Breakfast, lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

Today after the usual coca tea and enjoying your hot breakfast you start another great day walking through a wider valley called Pampacahua, where you will see the remains of ancient Inca canals that are still used by the local farming settlements.  Later on you will arrive to Paucarcancha small archeological remain from the Inca times, then you will have a short hike to get Wayllabamba (9842f/3000m) where you join the traditional Inca Trail and you will meet up with your quechua porters for the next days and you will say goodbye to your muleteers and horses as they are not allowed into the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  You will then keep heading through an abrupt ascent but scenic tourt to the fourth campsite of this trek, Llulluchapampa (12795ft/3900m).

Maximun altitude: 12795ft/3900m
Minimun altitude: 9842ft/3000m
Walking distance: 14km/8.69 ml
Approximate walking time: 6 to 7 hours

Breakfast, lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

This day will start with a lot of energy after a hot drink to wake up and a healthy breakfast. After a few kilometers, you will begin the ascent to Warmihuañusca or also called Dead Woman’s Pass (13779f/4200m) where you will arrive after almost 4 hours. After a short rest at the summit, you will start the long descent down a steep path from where it is possible to see the route that leads to the spectacular ruins of Runkurakay, while observing different ecosystems ranging from the dry puna to the high jungle. At the end of the gorge, you will stop at Pacaymayo (3350m / 10990p), the place of your second camp.

Maximun altitude: 13779f/4200m
Minimun altitude: 10990f/3350m
Walking distance: 7.10km/4.40ml
Approximate walking time: 6 hours

Breakfast, lunch, dinner (snack and afternoon tea)

A while after leaving Pacaymayo and following a zigzagging but short ascent (1 hour approx.) you will reach the circular ruins of Runkurakay (12139f/3700m) just surrounded by forests and steep hills.

After the visit to these ruins and a short rest, continue ascending to the pass of Runkurakay (12631f/3850m) to then start the descent and you will realize that from this point the Inca Trail is in excellent condition. Then, you will reach the steps that climb the ruins of Sayacmarca (11745f/3580m) from where the path begins to enter the jungle, the trail crosses the “Dry Lake” and the “Tunnel”, a natural cavity produced by a landslide but adapted by the Incas. This great Inca Trail continues through mountains covered with moss and fern and, after crossing a small pass, you will reach the Ceremonial Center of the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (11811f/3600m) an Inca construction with truncated pyramid structure, consisting of eight fountains liturgical at different levels and an extensive work of terraces and from where you have a spectacular view of the most impressive snowcapped mountains, to finally reach the spectacular archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna (8723f/2650m) with its hundreds of platforms and more than 3000 steps carved in the rock, the second most important after Machu Picchu, and where his last camp will be settled.

NOTE: Some itineraries can have Phuyupatamarca as the last campsite as this is determined by the government agency that controls the Inca road network, we will inform you accordingly

Maximun altitude: 12631ft/3850m
Minimun altitude: 8723ft/2650m
Walking distance: 9.94ml/16km
Approximate walking time: 8 hours

IMPORTANT NOTES!

• If you do want to see the beautiful scenery and ancient buildings of Machu Picchu, book your trip early. The Peruvian Government has placed a limit on the number of people allowed to hike the trails of the citadel per day and entrances tend to book up quickly.
• For those who want to hike the Huayna Picchu mountain reservations has to be made well in advance, as the local authorities just allow 400 persons per day in two shifts of 200 persons each one (there is an additional to pay for this entrance)