Great Cusco and Salkantay Trekking to Machu Picchu 8 Days

This 8-Day trip will allow you to discover the ancient capital of the Incas and the sacred valley, and walking on the royal roads to the citadel of Machu Picchu. This route is less traveled, only Machu Picchu USA can take you to know the real history of our ancestors, our package is available whole year.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Cusco and City Tour. (Overnight at hotel in Cusco)
  • Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour Pisac and Ollantaytambo. (Overnight at hotel in Cusco)
  • Day 3: Salkantay Trekking. (Overnight at camping Soraypampa)
  • Day 4: Salkantay Trekking. (Overnight at camping Chawllay)
  • Day 5: Salkantay Trekking. (Overnight at camping Santa Tersa)
  • Day 6: Salkantay Trekking. (Overnight at Aguas Calientes town hostel)
  • Day 7: Machu Picchu Tour - Back to Cusco 
  1. Day 1: Arrive Cuzco - City Tour

    Upon you arrival at Cusco Airport in the morning, we will transfer you to the hotel booked by Machu Picchu USA, you have couple hours to rest and get used to the altitude. Then we get back to your hotel at 1 :20 p.m. From here, you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous Cathedral. Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Main Square to the Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen. From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, You will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own. From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We'll then drive back down to Cusco tour ends 6:40pm. (OVERNIGHT IN CUSCO)
  2. Day 2: Sacred Valley Tour  Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero Full-Day

    (8:10 am) We will pick you up from your hotel. Then we will drive on a road that winds around the mountains north of Cusco. On the way, we will stop at a famous point known as El Mirador (View Point). From there, we will be able to see the Sacred Valley and gain some insight into the Inca history. The Sacred Valley was one of the main areas the Incas settled. There is an unusual abundance of fertile plains in this high area of the Andes. You will also witness vast contour terracing and irrigation channels left behind by the Incas. Later on, we will drive towards the ruins of Pisac. Here, you will witness and learn about Inca culture. You will see amazing works of stone art and impressive agricultural terraces. After exploring, we will drive back to the lower town of Pisac to stop at a bustling handicraft market. After you spend some time walking around the market bargain hunting, at Urubamba town we will stop for buffet lunch at a local Andean restaurant. After lunch, we will drive along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo. Once we reach Ollantaytambo, we will visit the ruins, an important area of Incan construction, built during the Inca’s heydays. This is an extraordinary Inca site because you can find rock formations representing the Inca god, Wiracocha. Afterwards, we will return to Cusco around 7:45pm. (OVERNIGHT IN CUSCO)
  3. Day 3: Salkantay trek: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa

    We start the day by picking you up from your hotel at approx. 04:40 am. We will drive for around 4 hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata and ending up at Challancha. Through the windows of the bus you can clearly see the white, snowcapped mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay: two colossal gods of the Incas. You will also see spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama filling every direction you turn your eyes! After the first two hours of driving, we will stop quickly in Mollepata to take advantage of the toilet facilities, souvenir shops, and an optional, short breakfast. We will then continue to Challacancha, the starting point for our trek. We will meet our support staff, and they will organize all of the equipment and cargo mules. Around 09:30 AM, we will begin trekking to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 FASL), the first campsite on our journey. The first section of the path takes us over a few deep valleys along the side of a mountain. At some parts of the trail, an old aqueduct can still be seen which still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. We will travel 7 km (4.35 miles) in 3 hours to Soraypampa where we will have our lunch at the base camp of Salkantay. After lunch and a short rest, we hike up to the unforgettable Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 ft). This is a 5 km (3.1miles) round-trip which we will walk in a total of 3 hours. This place one of the most beautiful sights in all the Andes with unbelievable blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay. It seems like something out of a dream or fairy tale! Back at our camp, the background of the valley at sunset creates the most peaceful scene with an energy that can only be felt and not described! Because Soraypampa (our camp) is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, the sky is so immensely clear at night that you can truly appreciate the stars, constellations, and even comets shooting across the pitch blackness, uninterrupted by the hustle, bustle, or lights of the city. Take a moment this night to re-center your spirit and consider all the deep things of life in the profound silence and tranquility of Soraypampa. (FOOD: LUNCH, DINNER, CAMPING)
  4. Day 4: Salkantay trek: Soraypampa – Chawllay

    After an early wake-up with the first daylight at 05:30 AM and a quick but energizing breakfast, we will start trekking up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650m – 15255 ft). The distance is a 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent in 3 hours between the rocky valley base and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6271 m– 20574 ft). When we reach the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”. Continuing from this climax of today’s trek, there is a 5 km (3.1 mile) downhill walk to the site for lunch. The walk downwards is on a serpent-shaped, rocky, gravel path which leads to the Huayracmachay lunch campsite. To rest on the way down, there is a perfect valley outlook that is absolutely stunning! In the afternoon after our meal, we will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2 mile) hike completed in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick and magical tropical forest. During this part of the trek, you will notice a dramatic change in landscape and the earth’s energy as we move from Andes to Amazon! This hike is truly beautiful; the hills are decorated with colorful scenery, wildlife, and native plants. The forests are warm and tropical most of the year with temperate climates. At the end of this outstanding hike, we arrive at Chawllay Village (2900m – 9514 Ft) for a much-deserved reward of rest from our long day of trekking. (FOOD: BREAKFAST, LUNCH,  DINNER, CAMPING)
  5. Day 5: Salkantay trek: Chawllay –  Playa Santa Teresa

    At 06:00 AM, we will start our trek to the small town of La playa through the Santa Teresa Valley. You will be able to soak up this new, lush landscape during our 6 hours of hiking today! During the hike we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit along the way! We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” where waterfalls, birds, coffee plantation, fruit-bearing trees, and flora and fauna can be observed. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beautiful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks,” the national bird of Peru! After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will catch local car drive us for 45 minutes to our camp site Santa Teresa town. Here you will have chance to go to the hot springs. (FOOD: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, CAMPING)
  6. Day 6: Salkantay trek:  Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric – town Aguas Calientes

    Today after breakfast you will enjoy the Zip-lining activity for some couple hours, for this section we will use car because there is car-way, after finishing we are going to continue to hydroelectric where we will enjoy our lunch in the local restaurant. Then we will walk 3-hour till Aguas Calientes town, spend the night in a hotel. (FOOD: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, HOTEL)
  7. Day 7: Salkantay trek: Machu Picchu Tour -  Back to Cusco

    Today you will visit Machu Picchu. You will determine with your tour guide, the best time to start your day. Most people prefer to rise at 5 a.m. walk to the bus station to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It can be enjoyable to arrive at the ruins as soon as they open, at 6 a.m., to catch the magical mists on the ruins as the sun rises. After a 25 minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, your tour guide will take you to the best views before the day trippers arrive. Then, we will start the two hour guided, walking tour, exploring all of the famous places of this impressive citadel: The Temple of the Sun, The Royal Tomb, The Intiwatana (sun dial rock), Main Plaza, Temple of the 3 Windows, The Artisan Sector, the Condor Temple and many others. After the tour, you will have time to explore the ruins on your own. You will need to take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants there. Be sure to arrive at the train station 30 minutes before your departure. Our Vistadome train schedule is usually at 4:22p.m. to Ollantaytambo, where you will catch our tourist transportation for another two hour drive back to Cusco ends 8:30pm. (OVERNIGHT IN CUSCO)
  8. Day 8: Transfer from your hotel to the Airport in Cusco

    Breakfast in the hotel and we will pick you up and take you to the airport for your flight ends of our services. Salkantay trek Frequently Asked Questions
ITS INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED:
Airport pickup / Drop-off Cusco Airplane tickets
City Tour: hotel pickup, Guide, transportation, tourist tickets Huayna Picchu tickets $67-Upon request
Sacred Valley Tour: hotel pickup, transportation, tourist ticket, Guide Extra night in Machu Picchu - Upon request
Salkantay Trek 5D:  Pre.briefing 1-day before, hotel pickup, transportation to the trailhead, Certified Guide, All camping Gear, horse for carrying, Master chef Sleeping bag -10 (available for rent $30
Salkantay Trek 5D: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, Vita-dome train tickets from Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo Entrance ticket to the hot springs ($10)
Salkantay Trek 5D: 04 breakfast, 04 lunches, 04 dinner - Vegetarian option at not extra cost First breakfast and last lunch, dinner at Aguas Calientes town
Salkantay Trek 5D: 03 nights Camping, 01 night hotel in Aguas Calientes town(3-star) Walking sticks $20 available for rent
03 nights hotel in Cusco with breakfast (4-star) Meals During the Sacred Valley and City Tour
Tourist transportation from Ollantaytambo - Cusco Gratitude for your crew (cooks, horsemen, guides)
First Aid kit along the Salkantay Trek

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