The Salkantay and Inca Trail Combination to Machu Picchu 7d/6n - Ascend Adventure Travel
Trekking > The Salkantay and Inca Trail Combination 7d/6n
Trip Notes
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult

Duration: 7d/6n

Highlights:
  • Enjoy the off-the-beaten-path Salkantay Trek before meeting up with the famous Inca Trail
  • Visit 6 Incan archeological sites in 7 days
  • Look down from Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman Pass), located at 17779F/4200M
  • Visit Machu Picchu twice and take a guided tour, climb Wayna Picchu
Included:
  • Pre-departure briefing with our crew
  • Private bus to starting point of Cruzpata
  • Permit to the Inca Trail
  • Entrance fee for Machu Picchu Archaeological Sanctuary
  • Our experienced bilingual trekking guides
  • Oxygen assistance and first aid kit en route
  • 2 person per tent
  • Thick, comfortable sleeping mattress (Pillows by request)
  • Dining tent with camping tables, stools and gas lamps, Kitchen tent
  • Nutritious, delicious buffet meals with fresh, high quality ingredients
  • Boiled and purified water to refill your bottles
  • Arrieros and porters carry the equipment, tents, food, cooking gear and dining tents
  • 2 days to explore Machu Picchu and a guided tour
  • Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
  • Buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes after Machu Picchu
  • 6 Kg personal porter per person
Not Included:
  • Bottled Water (although we supply you with boiled water to fill your personal bottles)
  • Sleeping bag (-Minus 8ºC)
  • Trekking poles
  • Hot shower on 3rd camp (10 soles)
  • Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
  • Energy snacks will be very useful as chocolate bars, energy bars etc.
  • Tips for the trekking crew, guides, cooks, and porters (optional)
  • Bottled Water
  • Dinner the last day in Aguas Calientes
Packing List:
  • Original passport
  • A Backpack
  • Warm sleeping bag Minus 8ºC
  • Lighter style trekking boots with good ankle support
  • Trekking poles (metal tips are not allowed on the trail)
  • Warm clothes, layers for variable temperature (cold at night)
  • Thermal underwear
  • Gloves or mittens, scarf, wool socks, woolen hat
  • T-shirts
  • Flash light/head lamp and batteries
  • Camera
  • Binoculars
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen, and sunglasses
  • Insect repellent
  • Good rain jacket, rain poncho
  • Toiletries, toilet paper, small towel
  • 2 liter water bottle (disposable plastic bottles are forbidden in the Machu Picchu area)
  • Bathing suit (for Aguas Calientes Hot Springs)
  • Extra money for drinks & tips, souvenirs, etc. (In Peruvian Soles)
  • Emergency money at least 200-300 extra soles
Possible Extensions/Upgrades:
  • Train upgrade: Upgrade to the classy Vistadome train with better views, live entertainment and a complementary meal for the return trip!
  • 1-Night extension: Want to spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes? Just let us know!
  • Vegetarian Meals: We provide vegetarian meals and cater to other special diets at no extra cost. Just let us know prior to departure (at least one week)
  • Sleeping bags: Can be rented for $5 a day
Available Discounts:
  • Students (Requires a valid International Student Identity Card)




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The Salkantay and Inca Trail Combination 7d/6n

Lying between the Urubamba River and Apurimac River, the mountains of the Cordillera Vilcabamba are a magnificent display of Peru’s biodiversity and beauty. On this journey we will pass through Salkantay towards Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail. The first half of the trip will bring you through tropical cloud forests and snowcapped peaks while the second half connects you with the classic Inca Trail. Arrive at Machu Picchu the sixth night to explore and enjoy the sunset before heading back to Aguas Calientes for the night. We conclude the trek with a guided tour of Machu Picchu and free time to better explore the ruins. Don’t miss out on this exceptional gem of the Andes.


Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Cusco - Mollepata - Cruzpata - Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa

We will pick you up from your hotel at 6 AM to drive to Mollepata. We will make a brief stop along the way at the Ruins of Tarawasi to explore this famous Incan temple. After some exploration, we continue on the road to Mollepata, arriving at 9 AM or so. From Mollepata (2800 meters or 9,186 feet), we will drive another forty minutes to arrive at our starting point of Cruzpata (3200 meters or 10,499 feet). We will meet our “arrieros” (horsemen) here and trekking crew who will cook your meals and carry your luggage. We will start our ascent from Cruzpata to Soraypampa, passing through unspoiled Andean valleys between snow-capped Vilcanota Mountains, arriving at Soraypampa (3800 meters or 12,467 feet) in approximately 3 ½ hours. We will stop for lunch at Soraypampa to rest our legs and recharge our batteries. From here, we will continue on another 3 hours to arrive at Salkantaypampa (3980 meters or 13,507 feet), where we will camp for the night. Here we will enjoy views of Salkantay (6264 meters or 21,082 feet) and Humantay (5217 meters or 17,116 feet), a hot dinner buffet, and our first campfire.

Day 2
Salkantaypampa - Paso Salkantay - Sisaypampa

We’ll start today at 6:30 AM for a hot breakfast and tea before climbing to Pampa-Japonesa, where Japanese climbers created a base camp over 30 years ago. From here, we will cross through the pass of Salkantay, where we will be rewarded with spectacular views of the eternal snowcaps. This part our trek will take us between 4-5 hours before we reach the Incachiriaska Pass at 5200 meters or 17,060 feet. Incachiriaska is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Humantay (5217 meters or 17,116 feet), Tucarhuay (5450 meters or 17,880 feet), and Soray (5428 meters or 17,808 feet) - as well as pristine lakes and green valleys. From here, we will descend 15 minutes to the grass-covered valley of Ichupata, stopping for a well-deserved lunch. After our lunch break, we will continue to descend down to our beautiful campsite at Sisaypampa (3790 meters or 12,434 feet). At this tranquil campsite, you will see llamas, alpacas, and possibly a condor. Dinner buffet and hot tea next to the campfire to end day 2.

Day 3
Sisaypampa – Paucarcancha

After breakfast, we will start our 3-hour descent to the Pampacahuana Community, passing by eye-catching flora and magnificent views. This day is far more relaxing than the rest as you’ll need some time get your legs under you. We will stop when needed along the way after Pampacahuana before continuing on to the ruins of Paucarcancha. Here we will explore the ruins and receive a tour, a perfect place for some photos. We will set up camp here for the night and have a luxurious dinner buffet around the campfire after sunset. 

Day 4
Paucarcancha -Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa

You’ll wake up to a hot breakfast and some tea before we start our day with a short trek to Wayllabamba (3000 meters or 9,842 feet). From here, we will start to lightly ascend towards Ayapata and Carralpunku, arriving in 3-4 hours. We will have lunch here and take a small rest before climbing up the steep Llulluchayoq Valley. We will pass through an incredible display of native trees and a beautiful Andean stream on the way to the “Punas” (treeless grasslands). It becomes warmer as we near our campsite for the night at Llulluchapampa - where we will also find incredible views of snowy peaks and the Huayanay Valley behind us. We will arrive about 2 hours before dark, set up your camp and prepare your dinner as the sun sets behind the Andes.

Day 5
Llulluchapampa – Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) – Pacaymayo - Runkuracay - Sayaqmarca Phuyupatamarca

We will start as usual with breakfast before we will climb for about two hours to reach the highest point of our journey, Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman Pass), located at 4200 meters or 17,779 feet. Here we are presented with a tremendous view of the surrounding areas on the traditional Inca Trail before continuing on to the Apacheta Pass. From here, we will take a short break for a few photos before descending 2 hours to Pacaymayo Valley. Pacaymayo leads us to an ancient mountain stairway, heading through the Incan site of Runkuracay, before we’ll arrive at Apacheta Pass (3860 meters or 12,073 feet). We will cross to find a stunning view of the snowcapped Pumasillo Range as we descend to the ruins of Sayaqmarca at 3650 meters or 11,975 feet. At this point, we will truly be able to take in the beauty of the Inca Trail on our way to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca as the scenery becomes more amazing with each step. We will pass through astonishing flora and fauna on the way to our third pass. Here we will get to gaze down below at the incredible Incan complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town). We will arrive to our campsite shortly after the third pass for possibly the most beautiful views and scenery of our trek. We will cook dinner while you appreciate your surroundings and relax for tomorrow’s journey to Machu Picchu.

Day 6
Phuyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna - Inti Punku (Gate of The Sun) – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

Tea and breakfast awaits you before we start a 3 hour descent on the Inca Trail to the Incan Complex of Wiñay Wayna. After some exploration, we descend down through the cloud forest to the Ruins of Wiñay Wayna for a guided tour. This is one of the most amazing sites of our journey as many prefer it over Machu Picchu. After Wiñay Wayna, we head to a nearby hostel (located along the Inca Trail – no road access) for a shower and some lunch before heading to reach the famous outlook point of Inti Punku (The Sun Gate). Here awaits your first view of Machu Picchu, lying only one hour ahead of us. We will descend down to arrive at Machu Picchu, where we will have 2-3 hours to enjoy and explore before we head to our Hotel in Aguas Calientes. Enjoy a dinner indoors before you head to the hot springs to rest your muscles for the last day of our adventure.

Day 7
Machu Picchu! - Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for.  We will wake up before first light and trek 1 ½ hours to the entrance of Machu Picchu to be among the first to arrive at the famous ruins (for those who are tired out, we can wait and take the bus).  Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” is located at approximately 2500 meters (or 8,000 feet, which is significantly lower than the city of Cusco). Machu Picchu is situated between two peaks, Mt. Machu Picchu (“Old Peak” in Quechua) and Wayna Picchu (“Young Peak” in Quechua). We will enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the ruins in which we will learn about Incan architecture and uses of different structures, as well as visit the Main Square, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Sacred Sundial and the ancient burial grounds.  After the guided tour, you will have free time to continue to visit the world-famous ruins.  Some possible activities besides visiting the main ruins include:

  1. Climbing Wayna Picchu (approx. 1 and ½ hours and special entrance ticket required)
  2. Visiting the Temple of the Moon (approx. 3 hours and special entrance ticket required)
  3. Walking to the Inca Bridge (1 hour)
  4. Climbing the last part of the Inca Trail to Intipunku ("Sun Gate," 1 and ½ hours)
  5. Climb Mt. Machu Picchu (twice as tall as Wayna Picchu and less crowded, approx. 2 hours - if you haven't already tired yourself out)
Around 4 PM we will descend to Aguas Calientes where we will grab a quick dinner before heading to the train station and returning to Cusco where you will arrive after nightfall and be dropped off at your hotel.  This concludes the unforgettable Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu!



 

 

 

 

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