Salkantay plus Short Inca Trail 5 Days

This is a unique version of the Classic Salkantay Trek and short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The first two days follow one of the familiar Salkantay trails, but on the 3rd day, we depart the Salkantay trails to enjoy the first-day section of the Classic Inca Trail. The Salkantay trekking is named because you will pass Mount Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,574 feet). This Sacred Mountain is higher than any mountain in North America. You will see gorgeous blue lakes, stunning glaciers, cloud forests with green vegetation, and many archeological ruins on this trek. This trek is an excellent blend of the two very popular hikes, with an incomparable variety of flora and fauna.

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and have a beautiful scenic drive of 3 hours duration toMollepata. At Mollepata, we will have breakfast at one of the local houses. During this portion of the drive, we will have our first views of the magnificent Salkantay and Humantay Mountains and observe lush vegetation and the fields of local families growing potatoes, quinoa, lima beans, etc.

At this point, we will arrive at Soraypampa (3,800 m/12,467 ft), the trailhead for the Salkantay trek, and meet our support staff, who will pack everything for the walk and load the equipment onto horses. The first thing we will do is hike up to the magnificent Umantay Lake. After enjoying the beauty and taking pictures, we hike back down to Soraypampa and “officially” begin the trek.

Today’s hike is uphill from Soraypampa to Ichupata (4,300 m / 14,104 ft) in the upper valley. This is a 5 to 6-hour hike. Along the way, we will pass Salkantaypampa, which is our lunch spot.

Ichupata is our camp for the night. We will settle in and have happy hour and a hearty dinner when we arrive.

Hiking time: 5 hours.
Hiking Distance: 13 Km / 8.1 miles.
Meals: Lunch, Tea, Dinner.

After a savory breakfast, we will begin the 3 to 4-hour steep climb 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, to 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.

Hiking time: 7 hours.
Hiking Distance: 14 Km / 8.7 miles.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Dinner.

We begin by hiking downill for 2 hours from Pampacahuana to Paucarcancha (3133 m / 10,276 ft)). We will visit the Inca site of the same name.

After exploring, we will hike downhill for 3 hours until we reach Huayllabamba village, where we will have our lunch. Afterward, we will descend to the Urubamba River, following the first section of the Inca Trail; this day, we will appreciate the archaeological complex of Patallaqta, which is famous for its semicircular constructions, and near there is another Inca compound named Willcaraqay. Finally, we will reach KM 82; from there, you will take our private van towards Ollantaytambo and get dropped off at your hotel. Later that evening, you will have dinner in Ollantaytambo.

Hiking time: 6 hours.
Hiking Distance: 10 Km / 6.2 miles.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

With a compacted 2 days of excitement ahead, we pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am and drive you to a nearby train station. When you arrive at the train station, your guide will give you your lunch to add to your daypack. Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10, and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included), Your hotel can provide you a picnic breakfast to take with you, or you can pack your own breakfast.

One hour free-flowing train ride to 104 km (2,100m/6,927ft) will take us to the beginning of our trek, where we cruise past the first checkpoint with ease. Afterward, we will initiate a moderate climb for three hours to the chiseled remnants and remote archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna. (2,650m/8747ft). As we view out with an open mind and heart, we embrace the spectacular plunging views of the Urubamba Canyon and the ethnic wonder of ancient Inca sites; we make our connection into the traditional four-day Inca Trail. After being with this beautiful sight, we continue onward towards the Sun Gate (2,730mts/9,007ft). Following the ancient remote footpath, we grasp onto our first spectacular view of Machu Picchu in all its brilliance and majestic monumentality. As we move closer to the Citadel of Machu Picchu, you will feel the reasoning of her energetic vibration. Then we take our bus to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night in our hotel.

Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours.
Hiking Distance: 13 Km / 9 miles.
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner.

Bursting with excitement on your final surreal day, we take the first bus to Machu Picchu archeological site, making sure we tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The Citadel of the Incas, Machu Picchu, what an unforgettable experience. Your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and diverse main streets. Then on your own, you can wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom, as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Or you can stay still and find the peace within as you sit in the pure delight of the moment. When you are ready, you will descend to Aguas Calientes, have a leisurely lunch on your own, and later on board the train at 2:30 pm or 7:00 pm for the return trip to Cusco, stopping at the Ollantaytambo Station, where you will catch our van back to Cusco.

Hiking time: 3 hours.
Meals: Breakfast at Hotel.

• Bilingual English/Spanish speaking tour guide
• Pre-Departure Briefing 1 or 2 days before your trek
• Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soraypampa
• Four-person tent for every 2 persons.
• Mattress
• Kitchen tent
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Toilet tent
• Professional chef and assistant chef
• Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc.) and 5 kg (9 lbs) per hiker for your belongings
• Duffle bag for your gear
• Emergency horse in case we need it
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo round trip
• Private van transportation from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
• Emergency oxygen bottle, medical kit
• Entrance to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail
• Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas calientes

• Sleeping bag – you can rent one from us.
• Day 5 Lunch in Aguas Calientes.
• Tips for the crew (guides, porters, cooks, wranglers)
• Ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain $ 80 usd.

• A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots are recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip-on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf, and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
• Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
• Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
• Camera, films, and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain, and cold
• Sunblock
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported
• Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
• Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters, etc.
• Small towel or sarong
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Original passport
• Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Salkantay plus Short Inca Trail 5 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

Additional Inclusions:

• Extra horse to ride (1-2 days only).
• Hotel 3 Stars (At Aguas Calientes Town).
• Extra Porter (to carry your personal stuff 7kg/person)
• North Face 4 season tents.
• Entrance to climb Huaynapicchu Mountain.
• Vistadome train (First class train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo).
• Private van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Bus round trip (Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes).
• Lunch in Machupicchu or Aguas Calientes.
• Sleeping bag.
• 02 waking poles per person.
• 1 duffel bag to carry all your sleeping bags, self-inflating pad, as well as your clothes.
• Tour guide for exploring Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu all day. And of course, we pay a little bit more to our staff and guide.

Our prices for the Salkantay plus Short Inca Trail 5 Days are reasonable and are in different packages with the prices that are handled in the city of Cusco, and discounts will apply automatically for groups of over 5 people when booking this tour together at the same time.
We are a local tour operator that never shares service with any other company in Cusco, most agencies in Cusco share their service to save operating costs with poor quality. We guarantee to make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.
Our booking process is simple and you can secure your trip with only a 30% deposit and pay the rest at the destination.

We want your vacation to Peru to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. This section contains answers to any inquiries regarding going with Huaynas Expeditions. Please read the following information; it will assist you if you have any queries regarding our services.