Code: XA-12
Road: Closed
Altitude: 1950-4600 meters
High Season: April to November
Duration: 05 days and 04 nights
This trek will combine perfectly the cultural and a natural attraction where we'll be able to enjoy fully of the magnificent sights over Salkantay snow-peak It's the domain of the Apu The Mountain Gods that watch over Machu Picchu . This road will lead us straight back to Inca-times, accompanied by Apu Salkantay and Apu Humantay.
Not only will we be amazed by the enormous variety of plants and flowers on this trek, it is also the natural habitat of three important spiritual and symbolical animals in the Andean culture The snake represents the world below, the puma that represents the earthly world and of course the condor, the largest bird of prey in the world, representing the heavenly world.
We will also be able to appreciate meeting with local people that continue to live and work their lands the ancestral way. They hold on to their ancient traditions and wear typical clothes that seem to be out of time.
Passing by Llactapata we'll continue on the famous Inca Trail that will lead us through a giant garden filled with an incredible amount of different orchids.
The river that slingers through the landscape and that is known by the Incas as Willcamayu will lead us through a gigantic garden with an incredible amount of orchids until the majestic Inca ruins of Machu Picchu (2400m) A historical and religious capital, an agricultural and astronomic center floating in the sky, hidden by clouds Mystical and wonderful.
PROGRAM :
First Day-Cusco-Mollepata (Cruz Pata)-Soraypampa
We take our transport early in the morning in the north-western direction of Cusco (3350m), crossing the pampas of Anta, coming upon indigenous villages and arriving at Mollepata (3000m). The horsemen and horses are waiting for us here and after meeting with them we'll be ready to start our trek along this Inca trail.
On the trail, halfway Cruz pata (3400m) we're able to enjoy some of the finest landscapes of this area. A few hours later we enter the deepest part of this valley named Soraypampa (3700m) which is our campsite at the feet of some majestic snow-peaks such as Salkantay (6264m), Humantay (5473m) and Tucarhuay (5450m).
Our transport time lasts about 4 hours.
Our trekking time lasts about 7 hours in a cold climate. Breakfast, lunch and diner are included.
Second Day-Soraypampa-Salkantay Pass-Arrayan pata
In the morning we hike the toughest part going up to the highest part of this trek, the Salkantay Pass (4600m), from where we start hiking down while enjoying the sight over the high Andean plateaus and the entrances of the high jungle (yunga). Arrayan pata (3450m) is our campsite for the night.
Our trekking time lasts about 8 hours in a cold and warm climate. Breakfast, lunch and diner are included.
Third Day-Arrayán pata-Collpapampa - Wiñaypoco-La Playa
Today we hike down towards the fraction between Humantay and Santa Teresa, arriving at populated areas such as Collpapampa (2900m), Wiñaypoco (2650m) and little time after at our campsite in La Playa (The Beach at 2110m).
Our trekking time lasts about 7 hours in a warm climate during the day with mosquitoes and a cold climate at night. Breakfast, lunch and diner are included.
Fourth Day-La Playa-Llactapata-Aguas Calientes
We start hiking very early in the morning, taking the connection on the famous Inca Trail towards the archeological complex of Llactapata (2650m) and then down from there to the hydro-electrical station (1950m), very near of where we take the train for just a short ride to Aguas Calientes (2050m), the little tourist cal town beneath the amazing Inca capital of Machu Picchu, where we spend the night.
Our trekking time lasts about 6 hours in a warm climate with mosquitoes. Breakfast, lunch and diner are included.
Fifth Day-Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu ruins-Cusco
We leave very early in the morning taking the bus for a ten minutes drive up to the ruins of this Inca capital of agriculture, astronomy and Inca religion, in order to be able to enjoy this wonderful city before there are too many people in it.
A few moments later we enter this untouched Inca-sanctuary to have a guided tour with a professional guide. After this tour that lasts for about two hours you have plenty of time to wonder around the ruins by yourself And for the bravest among us there is always the ascension to Huayna Picchu or the nearby Temple of the Moon. We all meet afterwards to go down to Aguas Calientes (2050m) where we take our train back to Cusco .
The climate in Machu Picchu is rather warm with some mosquitoes.
Our breakfast is included.
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