PROGRAM OF SALKANTAY TREK 3D TOUR TO MACHU PICCHU
DAY 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY PASS - CHAULLAY - SANTA TERESA
Your Tour Guide picks you up from your hotel at 5 am (approx.). Then, you board a private vehicle bringing you to the village of Mollepata (2,900 m/9,514 ft), which takes 2 and half an hour. The village is known for its friendly people and a temperate climate. Upon arrival, you are served breakfast at "Mollechayoq House ", a tourist restaurant. Afterwards, you continue the ride for an hour until reaching Soraypampa (3,850 m/12,631 ft), a trailhead of the Salkantay.
There, you start trekking for approximately 3 hours appreciating the natural beauty of the snow-capped mountain of Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 ft). You climb up to the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m/15,190 ft), which is the highest point of the whole route. After a short rest, you begin descending for 2 hours until you get to Wayramachay, where our Cook awaits you with lunch. Then, you keep hiking for next 3 hours till Chaullay (2,800 m/9,186 ft) experiencing the climate change from mountainous landscape to a high jungle scenery with a variety of orchids and birds.
In Chaullay, our vehicle collects you to take you to the town of Santa Teresa (1,550 m/5,085 ft), a place of our campsite and first overnight. Before you go to sleep, you are given dinner. Optional: you can visit the thermal baths "Cocalmayo" near Santa Teresa in the evening (entrance ticket not included in the trek's price).
DAY 2: SANTA TERESA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES
At 6 am, after breakfast, the walk begins for approximately 2 hours (9 km) until reaching the railway station called Hidroelectrica. During the tour you can admire immense vegetation and a great variety of birds. At Hydroelectric, we will have a short break before walking again, this time following the train lines that lead to Aguas Calientes (9 km).
After a 3-hour hike, you arrive at Aguas Calientes (2,040 m/6,693ft), a small town very close to Machu Picchu. You settle in a hotel where you can settle in before going to lunch. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore Aguas Calientes on your own and/or visit the local hot springs (not included in the tour). In the evening, have dinner and then spend the night at the hotel.
DAY 3: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
You have breakfast very early, at 5:30 am. At 6:30 am, the Guide picks you up afterwards to take you to a bus stop where you board the first shuttle bus. It brings you uphill until it reaches the gateway of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (2,430 m/7,972 ft). First off, you need to pass through a checkpoint (do not forget your passport, or you will not be allowed to enter!). Also, you are given a 3 or 4 hours private guided tour while the Guide explains you each known detail of its history.
Then, he/she shows you around architectural collections of a greater interest which are situated in the so-called “Royal Tomb”. It is located very close to the gateway. Also, you explore the Temple of the Sun (a round structured tower), the Temple of the Three Windows, the Central Temple, the Mansion of the Priests, the sunken place. You can see there are lots of springs formed in water channels and many stairways. All entirely made of stone.
Further, there are rocks used for high ritual purposes. The most important of which is “Inti Watana” or the Solar Clock. After the guided part, you are given time off in order to explore the citadel on your own. You may also visit the Inca Bridge or the Moon Temple if you climb up Wayna Picchu or take some panoramic pictures from Machu Picchu Mountain (see the Optional). When you decide, you use a bus ticket (that the Guide has given you previously) to descend back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch (not included). Later on, you board a train returning to Ollantaytambo. Finally, you continue by private vehicle back to Cusco, and end our service.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE SALKANTAY TOUR
- Climb to the Machu Picchu Mountain, a mountain situated above the Inca citadel accessible by a 1.5 hour climb. Here you are able to take those postcard-like photos of Machu Picchu. It costs USD 15 extra. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 1 month in advance due to limited number of tickets
- Wayna Picchu - a mountain situated above the Inca citadel accessible by 45 minute climb. It serves to take some panoramic photos of Machu Picchu. It is extra USD 25. Please note that the booking needs to be done at least 3 months in advance due to limited number of entrances.
Distance to travel: approximately 50 km
Walking time: From 20 to 35 hours including rest and stop for lunch.
Maximum Height: (4,540 m.a.s.l.).
Difficulty: Moderate and downhill.
Temperature: Cold, with winds in the afternoon, semi-warm.
Tour duration: Tour 3 days and 2 nights.
Type of tours: Hike, Adventure, Archaeological and Landscape.
Travel period: All the time.
Trip frequency: Every day of the year.
Please ask for a personalized quote, The price is customized depending on the final accommodation options, travel dates and other preferences.
