The 6 day Inca Trail Expeditions and Salkantay, is an Inca pilgrimage style trekking tour in the Andes of Peru. This great combination of Salkantay trail and Inca Trail Expeditions offers you the unique chance to experience the most scenic hiking trail in the proximity of Machu Picchu. Where you will hike on parts of the two most spectacular treks in the region of Cusco – Peru. Hikers will start following the beginning of Salkantay trail and then you will get to join to the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After 3 day of great hiking in the proximity of Mt Salkantay, hikers will get to join to the popular Classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu. This great 6 day expedition, gives you the opportunity of enjoying spectacular snow-capped peaks, high mountain passes, cloud forest and some remarkable Inca sites. So at the end of the Inca Trail expeditions finally you will make directly to the magical legendary lost city of “Machu Picchu”. This Inca Trail expeditions is recommended to hike from April to November.
In the morning of departure for the Inca Trail expeditions travelers will be picked up from the hotel. You then travel for 2 hours until we arrive to the town of Mollepata, where you will have a short stop to buy breakfast at a local restaurant. You leave Mollepata and continue traveling for one more hour by bus to arrive in Challacancha the trail-head for the Inca Trail expeditions. At this point you will meet the horseman (wranglers) and the rest of the crew, before we start with the spectacular Salkantay trek and Inca Trail.
As we start hiking there will be constant views of Mt Salkantay and Humantay on our way to Soraypampa. Here is the first camp for the classic Salkantay trekkers, we will pass Soraypampa and hike up for 2 more hours to arrive to Salcantaypampa for lunch. In the afternoon we will walk for two hours uphill to reach our campsite at Ichupata in the proximity of Mt Salkantay.
After breakfast, we will start walking uphill for approximately 3 hours to reach the highest point of the entire Inca Trail expeditions. This pass is called Inca Chiriyaska(16.500ft). It has a mind-blowing views of all the tall mountains around it. After to enjoy the spectacular scenery, we will start hiking down the other side of Salkantay with direction of Sisaypampa. Where our chef will be awaiting for us with a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we will hike down for two hours to reach the camp at Pampacahuana village.
The day begins with a delicious breakfast. We will continue descending through a small valley for approx. 3 hours until we arrive to Paucarcancha. Which is an extraordinary Inca fortress in the valley. We will have a guided tour at Paucarcancha to learn all the history of this beautiful site. Hhere you are at the beginning of the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary and the end of Salkantay Trek. After to have lunch at Paucarcancha village, we will check in to the classic Inca trail. We then start our 3 hour intense hike uphill until to reach the camp at Llulluchapampa.
Breakfast is served by our professional chef. Then we continue with the Inca Trail expeditions, hiking uphill for 2 hours toward the highest point of the Inca Trail. The mountain top called Dead Woman’s Pass (13800ft). Depending on the season, hikers will enjoy a very scenic views from here. You will have 2 hour downhill walk to Pacaymayo. Where our chef will provide you a relaxing lunch.
In the afternoon, you will ascend to 12980ft to reach the Runkurakay Pass. Here you get a great feeling of reaching the last high mountain top. On the way down, You will stop to visit a couple remarkable Inca sites located close by the camp. After to walk by the cloud forest, you will arrive at our campsite at Chaquicocha.
After breakfast, you will walk through the beautiful Cloud Forest. Then you will visit Phuyupatamarka Inca site on the mountain top. On the way down, you will see some varieties of orchids, ferns and mossy trees as part of the cloud forest. There will be also great views of the impressive mountains around Machu Picchu. After walking for a couple of hours into the lush forest. You will arrive to Intipata, another remarkable Inca farming place. Later you will break for lunch at the camp. Then a 10 minute walk will lead us to Wiñaywayna. A beautiful and very well preserve Inca ruin. Great site considered a preview to Machu Picchu.
We begin our journey with an early wake up. As it is the most important day in our Inca Trail expedition. After breakfast, we leave the campsite at 5:30 a.m. and hike to Machu Picchu. Our total morning hike is approx. 2 hours. We will first pass by the Sun gate (Intipunku). Then we arrive to our final destination; this is a phenomenal point of Machu Picchu. It is a “must take” picture opportunity as we continue our trek downward.
Upon our arrival to Machu Picchu, we will take pictures from the top. Then the guide will show us the most important Inca temples located in the area. After the guided tour you will have some free time to admire this amazing site before you leave it. At appropriate time, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for Lunch.
In the afternoon, you board the train to Ollantaytambo and then you have transfer back to Cusco. End of the Inca Trail expeditions.
Note: The reservations for this trek are totally similar to the Classic Inca Trail . So the number of people also are 500 per day. You should be aware and secure your spot booking it in advance!
