This was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken thanks to Puma Expeditions!! My husband and I traveled with a group of 9 total on our trip to Cusco, our main guide Jorge was excellent leader for the group! It was a trip filled with education and exploration. Our guide for our 2 days Machu Picchu adventure was Miguel. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the Inca history.
Thanks to everyone at Puma Expeditions for the trip of a lifetime!!
- Transportation to and from: Cusco - Sayllapata Poroy train station - Cusco Hotel
- Vistadome train Service: Aguas Calientes - Poroy train station
- Entrance fee: Machu Picchu
- Bus ticket: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
- Local bus: Playa - Santa Teresa
- Hotel: Double accommodation in Aguas Calientes (4th day)
- Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide; 2 guides for groups over 12 people
- Cook: In charge of meal preparation
- Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks, sleeping bags and mattresses (Max. 8 kilos / 17 lbs per person)
- Emergency Horse: Just in case someone needs help
- Meals:4 Breakfasts/4 Lunches/4 Dinners/Snacks and afternoon tea
- Equipment: tents (2 people in each 3-person-capacity), sleeping pad, dinner tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first aid kit, including
- Emergency oxygen bottle.
DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Breakfast the 1st day, usually hotels offer this service
- Sleeping bag (it can rent in Cusco City)
- Santa Teresa Hot springs ($8.00), this is optional
- Tips (Optional)
Due to New government regulations for the Inca’s Trails it will be 100% prohibited to take plastic water bottles. To avoid any disappointment at the check points along the Inca Trail and in the Machu Picchu citadel.
Aluminum water bottles for sale in Cusco 15 Soles (USD5.00)
There are differences between the Inca Trail and Salkantay 5 Days in terms of the number of people and permits permitted. On the other hand, the permits to Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu, which have a daily cap of 400 permits each split into two shifts, are part of your trek. Booking at least three or four months in advance is advised to guarantee tickets to Huaynapicchu, especially during the peak season (May to September). Salkantay 5D is only available for reservations from April through November; the rest of the year is closed because of area maintenance projects and the rainy season.
Student Discount: $20 (Requires University Student Card to qualify - you must NOT be older than 25 years old). (you will need to show the real University card upon your arrival here in Cusco and in Machu Picchu)
Under 18's Discount $20
Important: Prices Include mules to carry up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings.
IMPORTANT: Price is based on a DOUBLE room accommodation.
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey on the trek that National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine ranked as "one of the 25 best treks in the world."Not only is the Salkantay trek much more pleasurable than the overbooked Inca Trail, but it's also far more exclusive, less touristic, and offers our participants a much richer cultural experience. The Apu Salkantay peak, which rises to a height of 20,574 feet (6,271 meters) in the Willkapampa Mountain Range, was once part of the Incan trade route for potatoes and coca. was formerly a stop on the Incan trade route for coca and potatoes, located in the Willkapampa Mountain Range.
The Quechua word sallqa, which means "savage," "uncivilized," or "wild," is the source of Salkantay's name. The Inca believed that this deity governed the weather and fertility in the area west of Cusco. As a result, the mountain is known as "savage mountain."
Clothing:
Fleece pants or tights
Mid weight thermal underwear tops and bottom, synthetic or wool
Hiking pants
Hiking shorts
Long-sleeve shirts
T-shirts
Underwear and casual socks
Hiking socks
Liner socks, synthetic
Swimming suit
Clothing accessories:
Cap
Fleece hat
Bandana
Footwear
Sturdy hiking boots, waterproof, lightweight, broken-in, aggressive tread
Travel Accessories:
Bottle of water or Camelback
1 roll of toilet paper
Sunglasses and retainer strap
Sun block and lip balm
Toiletry kit
Small Washcloth
Personal first-aid kit
Hand sanitizer gel
Insect repellent
Several Ziploc plastic bags
Extra:
Money for drinks, tips and souvenirs
Travel Accessories:
Bottle of water or Camelback
1 roll of toilet paper
Sunglasses and retainer strap
Sun block and lip balm
Toiletry kit
Small Washcloth
Personal first-aid kit
Hand sanitizer gel
Insect repellent
Several Ziploc plastic bags
Extra:
Money for drinks, tips and souvenirs
SALKANTAY SANTA TERESA TO MACHU PICCHU
5 Days Salkantay Trail Pilgrimage to Machu Picchu
DAY 01 CUSCO/ SORAYPAMPA/ SOYROCOCHA
The transfer will pick you up in a private van early in the morning from the hotel and drive you to Soraypampa, where your trek begins. The trip there takes about four hours. We will pass through several charming Andean towns en route to Killarumiyuc, also referred to as "The Incan Astronomy Birthplace" and the site of the Agricultural Calendar. After a delectable breakfast, we'll head to Mollepata, also known as the "Little Town," where we'll stop for a short while to explore the town's streets and buy a few supplies for the hike. Once another hour and a half of traversing valleys encircled by imposing peaks and frosty summits, we will reach Soraypampa. Where we will see in the distance th Apu Salkantay.
We will encounter locals en route to our campsite and get insight into their customs, which place a high value on agriculture and livestock and explain why they continue to do so today. As we proceed, we will approach Grand Salkantay, also referred to as "The Andes Guardian," one of the most significant mountains in Peru's south. After that, we'll continue climbing up a winding trail until we reach Soyrococha Lake, where we'll spend the night.
DAY 02 SOYROCOCHA/ COLLPAPAMPA
Upon awakening to a view of the surrounding mountains and lake, we will eat a hearty breakfast before beginning our leisurely ascent towards the trail's highest point, which should take about one and a half hours. Salkantay Pass (4,600 meters above sea level). We will have a beautiful view of the Andes from here, including its mountain ranges, glaciers, lakes, and brooks. As you experience the genuine magic and energy of the Andes, you'll feel more like you're in heaven and have a deeper connection with the natural world.
We will gently descend the mountain until we reach Huayracmachay (4,000 m.a.s.l.), leaving the Salkantay behind, following a well-earned rest. We will reach our lunch stop in two hours. Later on, we'll descend through the "Andenes" region, which is the highest area of the jungle (3,800 m.a.s.l.) We will be able to witness abundant flora, a bamboo forest, and a wide range of native flowers, such as bromeliads and wild orchids. The second campsite, Collpapampa (2,950 m.a.s.l. ), will soon be accessible.
DAY 03 COLLPAPAMPA/ LUCMABAMBA
We will gently descend the mountain until we reach Huayracmachay (4,000 m.a.s.l.), leaving the Salkantay behind, following a well-earned rest. We will reach our lunch stop in two hours. Later on, we'll descend through the "Andenes" region, which is the highest area of the jungle (3,800 m.a.s.l.) We will be able to witness abundant flora, a bamboo forest, and a wide range of native flowers, such as bromeliads and wild orchids. The second campsite, Collpapampa (2,950 m.a.s.l. ), will soon be accessible.
Optional: The thermal springs in Santa Teresa are optional if you want to go to the Lucmabamba campsite. To access the hot springs and take advantage of the thermo-medicine from the Valley, a bus trip is required.
DAY 04 LUCMABAMBA/ HIDROELÉCTRICA/ AGUAS CALIENTES
We will begin our hike along the original Inca Trail following a delectable breakfast. After two hours of arduous climbing, we will reach the archaeological site of Llactapata (2,749 m.a.s.l. ), which is named after an elevated town or place in Quechua. This is where we will eventually be able to see the Urubamba River winding through the valley, the Machu Picchu citadel on the right, Huayna Picchu on the left, and a section of the original Inca Trail. Following a quick break, we will descend for three hours along a narrow, slick trail until we reach the valley (hydroelectric building). From here, we'll ride the train to Aguas Calientes and check into a hotel for the night.
Perhaps you would like to visit the Aguas Calientes Hot Springs in the evening.
DAY 05 AGUAS CALIENTES/ MACHUPICCHU/ CUSCO
We're going to catch the first bus to Machu Picchu after breakfast in order to arrive in time to witness the breathtaking sunrise there. The two or three hours that the guided tour inside the citadel will last. Following the guided tour, we will hike Huayna Picchu, a mountain with a breathtaking view (Optional; additional cost). From there, we will take in Machu Picchu's grandeur, the surrounding scenery, and the ethereal peace of the Inca city that has been lost. We'll take the bus back to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. You could have lunch once you're in the city, and we'll take the train back later in the day.
Our transfer will be waiting to drive you back to your hotel in Cusco in a private van.
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