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Peru: Mt. Salkantay to Machu Picchu

On this page: Overview | Itinerary | Pricing

Overview

The 8-day Mt Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek provides the hiker with a longer trek than usual AND includes the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Starting at Mollepata, the first 5 days are climbing over passes in the spectacular area around the peak of Salkantay, second highest in the Cusco area. When you join the Inca Trail, you leave the burros and muleteer and meet the porters, who will be with you on the Inca Trail. Your guide and cook stay with you for the entire trek! You will need Inca Trail permits for this trek!

Groups to Join (set departures):

Join Joe Koehly and Backwoods Adventures in 2010!

koehlyJoe Koehly is an experienced guide and group leader, who is taking a group to Peru from September 11 to 25, 2010. You will be hiking the Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek with Joe and a local Peruvian guide! If you would like to join this group, please contact us and we will put you in touch with Joe. This is an awesome trekking experience that you will not want to miss! It is particularly good for one or two individuals who want to have a group leader with them for the entire trip!

Detailed Itinerary for the 8-day trek

MAP OF SALKANTAY TREK >>

Premium/Deluxe Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

For those who enjoy trekking and definitely want to hike the longer Salkantay and Inca Trail trek, BUT prefer some of the finer amenities, we have added a "deluxe" option. This is the same 8-day/7-night itinerary but the trek services and the hotel accommodations are upgraded for your added comfort. There are no lodges for this route! On this trek you won't mind sleeping on cots... after a warm shower and massage!

NOTE: the Inca Trail is closed every February for cleaning, however, Machu Picchu remains open.

Salkantay

INCA TRAIL PHOTOS >>

Itinerary for the 8-day trek

Cusco

DAY 1: Cusco / Tomacaya / Tocobamba

By vehicle and with a guide, the journey begins in Cusco; we drive over Tika-Tika pass with the first views of Mt. Salkantay and Humantay on the horizon, and then across the plateau of Anta (Antapampa), the "Breadbasket of Cusco", an area important for the production of grains and cattle. The road then crosses Limatambo pass with amazing views of both the mountains and a panorama of the lush agricultural valley below. A visit to the ruins of Tarawasi, with its long asymmetric Inca stone wall, is a must before leaving Limatambo. The drive continues up a side-valley to the farming village of Tomacaya and the trailhead. From Tomacaya there are great views of the Limatambo Valley and down the Apurimac Valley towards Curawasi. A short hike uphill ends at Tocobamba (3400m/11,152 ft) where camp is set up near a small stream. (Hiking time: 2 hours; Distance: 4km) (BLD)

DAY 2: Tocobamba / Tinkoc / Collpa

Upon leaving the campsite the trail ascends toward Muyuhorko Pass (3,950 m/12,956 ft). This four-hour hike to the pass ends with a lunch break and tour of a pre-Inca ceremonial site. From here there is an astounding circumspective view of Mt. Salkantay, Humantay, Yanantay and Palcay and beyond Ausangate, Ninaparayoc and Qoylluritiy as well as the Pampa de Anta and the Pass of Huilki. Over Muyuhorko pass the trail descends to the Tinkoc River and Collpa (3500m/11,480 ft), where the next camp located. (Hiking time: 6 hours; Distance: 11 km) (BLD)

Campsite

DAY 3: Collpa / Tocto / Sisaypampa

The hike continues up the Tinkoc Valley to the confluence of another river, (3,800m/12,464 ft) then up the left fork and up to Tocto Pass (4,900m/16,072 ft). This long slow ascent uphill finally reaches the Pass with breathtaking views of Mt. Salkantay, Yanahorco and Palcay directly opposite and views of the Pampaccahua valley and our Sisaypampa campsite below at 4,200m/13,690 ft. The decent, steep at first, drops to the valley floor for an easier hike down the valley. At the campsite there is a dominating view of the eastern face of the mountains. (Hiking time: 8 hours; Distance: 12 km) (BLD)

Camping

DAY 4: Sisaypampa / Pampacahua / Paucarcancha

The trail continues to the end of the valley, turns north and enters the wider valley of Pampacahua. Along the Incan canal running through the middle of the valley are small farming settlements. At the end of the Pampa the trail begins to get steeper as it passes the tree line and continues to the campsite near Paucarcancha, and the confluence of the Pampacahua and Keska valleys (3,150m/10,260 ft). (Hiking time: 5-6 hours; Distance: 10 km) (BLD)

Flowers

DAY 5: Paucarcancha / Huayllabamba / Llulluchapampa

The day begins at low altitude with a visit to the village of Huayllabamba. From here it is a progressively steep ascent to Huayruro stream (3,400m/11,084 ft) and Yunkachimpa . At Yunkachimpa, the trek is joined by a crew of porters. The muleteer and burros are left behind. From here the trail crosses over to Llullucha gorge and traverses a unique forest of Unca trees, a native species, which nowadays is hard to find except in isolated areas. As the trail enters the Machu Picchu Sanctuary there are fewer people living in the area, and once out of the forest at Llulluchapampa, there is a view of Mt. Huayanay that overlooks the campsite (3,750m/12,225 ft). (Hiking time: 5-6; Distance: hours, 8 km) (BLD)

Campsite

DAY 6: Llulluchampampa / Runkuraqay/ Sayacmarca / Phuyupatamarca

A steady ascent on an Inca Trail up to the Warmiwañusqa pass at 4,200m (13,692 ft) affords a magnificent view of our ascent and the trail ahead of us. We descend on a reconstructed Inca Trail down to the Pacaymayo River to then ascend again to the ruins of Runkuraqay and the second pass at 4,050m (13,200 ft). From here we walk down to the site at Sayacmarca at 3,850m (12,551 ft) on the original Inca Trail, passing a dry lake and the first signs of the cloud forest. A beautiful location overlooking the Aobamba Valley, it affords a respite for a leisurely walk through its imposing structures. Continue along the ridge through amazing landscapes, viewing Mt. Salkantay from the western side and Mt. Pumasillo, a silhouette to the north on the horizon. Walking through a rolling flagstoned trail we arrive at Phuyupatamarca (the village on the edge of the clouds) in whose vicinity we camp. (Time: 7-8 hours; Distance 14km) (BLD)

Ruins

DAY 7: Phuyupatamarca / Intipata / Wiñay Wayna / Machu Picchu

An early departure today will have us trekking along a buttress and passing Phuyupatamarca ruins, the flagstoned trail winds sharply down into the cloud forest to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna located below the ridge on the same water course as the previous site, it has well restored Inca Ruins. After a two hour walk through a cloud forest covered Inca Trail we arrive at Machu Picchu the way the Incas used to come, watching the magnificent citadel at our feet from Intipunku, the door of the sun. Overnight at a hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo. (Time: 6-7 hours; Distance 10km) (BL)

Machu Picchu

DAY 8: Machu Picchu / Cusco

The whole day can be dedicated to explore these extraordinary Inca remains, including a visit to Wayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the site. The mid-afternoon train takes you back to Cusco, transfer to your hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. (B)

Pricing

2010 Pricing for 8-day trek:

# Passengers in Group 2 3 4-6 7-8 Join Group Single Supplement
Price per Person $2380 $1960 4:$1840 5:$1690 6:$1555 Upon request $1625 $50

SERVICES INCLUDED IN 8-DAY TREK: Transportation by vehicle to start of the trek; entrance fee to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary; guided tour of Machu Picchu; hotel (3-star) at Aguas Calientes; transportation by train from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco.

For the trek: Inca Trail permits; bilingual guide, burros/muleteer for first part of trek; porters for Inca Trail portion of trek; cook and kitchen crew; commissary gear and dining tent; meals; large two-person tent; sleeping pad; portable toilet.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED: Meals in the cities (lunches and dinners); alcoholic beverages; extras, tips; taxes; laundry service; additional tours; insurance; airfares (where applicable); sleeping bags; hiking boots; other personal gear.

Premium/Deluxe Salkantay and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

This trek is private and limited to 8 people in the group. The DELUXE Inca Trail includes these added features:

2010 Pricing for Premium Salkantay trek:

# Passengers in Group 2 3 4-6 7-8 Join Group Single Supplement
Price per Person $$4970 $4015 4:$3560 5:$3050 6:$2795 $2610 n/a $190