Salkantay Trek to Inca Trail 6 Days

After a savory breakfast, we will begin the 3 to 4 hour steep climb to towards the Incachiriasca pass (4850m/15908ft), the highest of the entire route. We will have amazing views of Apu Salkantay and glacial moraines during this portion. We will pause at the top of the pass to take pictures and enjoy the magnificent view.

We will then descend towards our lunch spot at Sisaypampa, a flat area from which one can observe the neighboring Salkantay Valleys. This is a place where we might see Andean condors.

After lunch we continue towards the Pampacahuana community (3,700 m / 12,136 ft), located next to an original Inca canal. This is our camp for the night.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance Covered: 14 km
Approximate Walking Time: 8 hours
Lowest elevation: 3,700 m / 12,136
Highest elevation: 4,850 m / 15,908 ft
Difficulty: challenging

Today we change pace as we join the Classic Inca Trail. We begin by hiking downill for 3 hours from Pampacahuana to Paucarcancha (3133 m / 10,276 ft)). We will have lunch there and visit the Inca Site. This is where we will say goodbye to our horsemen and the horses, and meet our porters.

From Paucarcancha we will hike 25 minutes downhill to the last village on the Classic Inca Trail, Huayllabamba (2,866 m / 9,400 ft). This will be followed by a 4 hour uphill hike to Llulluchapampa (3,700 m/12,136 ft). On the way we will hike through many ecosystems, including the cloud forest. Llulluchapampa is our camp for the night. It is located very close to Dead Woman´s Pass.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance Covered: 15 km/9 ½ miles
Approximate Walking Time: 8 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,866 m / 9,400 ft
Highest elevation: 3,700 m/12,136 ft
Difficulty: challenging

Today is our longest day and crosses two high passes; luckily for us we chose to camp last night at a location where we’re nearly at the first pass, Dead woman’s pass (4,215 m/13,825 ft), the highest point of the Inca Trail Expedition. Then after we’ve gone over the second pass (Runcuraccay pass 3,950 m/ 12,959 ft), the walking is easy with very few ups and downs to contend with.

Today sees some of the best views and scenery of the whole Inca Trail and includes visits to two Inca sites, Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca (3,850 m/12,628 ft). There are fantastic views of high snow-capped peaks for most of the day and the cloud forest all around us today is by far the most visually stunning.

Our campsite for tonight is at Phuyupatamarca (3,680 m/ 12,073ft), from where we’ll get our first views of Machu Picchu mountain far in the distance (the site itself is hidden from view). The views of the sunset from here are fantastic and once again the campsite is quiet with the majority of trekkers camping closer to Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Distance Covered: 15 km/9 ½ miles
Approximate Walking Time: 8 hours
Lowest elevation: 3,680 m/12,073 ft
Highest elevation: 4,215 m/13,825 ft
Difficulty: challenging

Today is all about the Incas; we visit 3 major sites (Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and Wiñay Wayna) before we finally arrive to Machu Picchu itself late in the day. With only a short distance left to cover you’ll really have the opportunity to see these sites in detail and learn more about the Inca culture and Machu Picchu in preparation for your visit tomorrow. The area around these Inca sites is also rich in wildlife and with only a handful of people around on this stretch of trail at this time of day, it is the perfect opportunity to try and spot some of the more elusive species.

Once we finish our tour of Phuyupatamarca we head into the rain forest! We will walk downhill for 2 ½ hours until we reach the impressive Wiñay Wayna (2,680 m /8,792 ft) Inca site. During this stretch of the trail we will visit Intipata. Many people feel that the most beautiful pictures of the entire Inca trail Expedition can be taken from this location! Wiñay Wayna is the largest and most exquisite archeological site on the Inca trail and means forever young in Quechua.

After a thorough tour of the site we continue towards

the Sun Gate (2,720 m/ 8,920 ft), which is called Intipunku in Quechua. We will arrive there around 5 pm. This is where we will have our first view of Machu Picchu . At the sungate, we will have the opportunity to see a fantastic sunset.

From the Sun Gate we will head down to the citadel of Machu Picchu to take the bus to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes you will check in to your room at the hotel. The natural hot springs in town are an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if time is available before dinner. Dinner will be at Indio Feliz.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel
Distance Covered: 11 km/7 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 5 hours
Lowest elevation: 2,040 m/6,691 ft
Highest elevation: 3,680 m/12,073 ft
Difficulty: moderate.

You will have breakfast at your hotel before we take a very early bus (5:30am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu to see the magnificent sunrise. Once there you will be given a 2 hour walking tour of the site.

You will begin your hike of Huayna Picchu mountain at 10 AM. If you are not climbing the mountain, or after you hike the mountain, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

When you arrive in Aguas Calientes you will board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo you will travel by private van to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket.

Meals: Breakfast
Lowest elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
Highest elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft