Salkantay Trek 6 Days

After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey around midmorning and head for the highest mountain pass in the park of Machu Picchu: the Salkantay pass (5200m/17060f).

From there, we’ll have an exceptional view of the snow-capped Salkantay (6264m/20551). Afterward, we’ll descend to the next campsite, Sisay pampa (3700m/12139f).

• Hiking Distance: 14km / 8,6 miles
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
• Campsite elevation: 3700m / 12,136ft
• Difficulty: Challenging

At dawn. our trek leads us to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We’ll pass little creeks and visit several small archeological sites. Our trek today ends at Wayllabamba (3000m/9843f), both our camping site and the starting point for the Classic Inca Trail the next morning.

• Hiking  Distance: 15km / 9,3 miles
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
• Campsite elevation: 3800m / 12,460ft
• Difficulty: Challenging

To maximize your enjoyment of the beautiful panorama and mystical atmosphere, our day starts early in the morning. Our trek takes us to the valleys of Yuncachimpa (3300m/10827f) and Lulluchapampa (3850/12631f) and finally to Warmiwañusca pass (4200m/13780f), which offers an impressive view of the snow-capped Verónica mountain.

After a short break at the summit, we’ll continue hiking down to our campsite Pacaymayu (3500m/11483f).

• Hiking  Distance: 16km / 10 miles
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
• Campsite elevation: 3600m / 11,808ft
• Difficulty: Challenging

We begin hiking after a delicious breakfast, and the anticipation of enjoying the most beautiful day of the trek. First, we’ll arrive at the archeological site of Runkurakay (3050m/10000f). Perched on a rocky outcrop, this site was supposed to be a “tambo,” a place for storing food and for messengers to rest.

We ascend to a pass at an altitude of 3950m/12960f, before descending to the ruins of Sayacmarca (3600m/11810f), a small city composed of a maze of narrow streets, houses, terraces, and fountains.

The path continues as we go by an Inca tunnel and then walk through a forest, before reaching the last pass, at an altitude of 3700m/12140f.

Below, we’ll see the ruin of Phuyupatamarca, “City Above the Clouds”, which includes an Inca relay station, impressive circular walls and an ingenious system of aqueducts that still supplies the baths with water.
We’ll enjoy a superb view of snow-capped peaks and the Urubamba Valley. Your descent to the other side is under a thick canopy of bamboo.

You’ll also see the extraordinary ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2650m/8694f) on a rocky spur in the heart of the forest and overlooking the Urubamba Valley. Dominated by a vast array of Inca terraces, the urban complex is separated in two by a grand staircase leading to a ceremonial area.
This is our campsite for the night.

• Hiking Distance: 10km / 6,2 miles
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
• Campsite elevation: 2650m / 8694ft
• Difficulty: Easy

After our breakfast around 5:00 am, we’ll head – equipped with our flashlights – to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu.

Around 8:00 am, we’ll visit the citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m//7874f) and enjoy its spiritual charm during a guided tour of about two hours. Afterwards, you’ll have time to explore the archeological site on your own.

We’ll leave Aguas Calientes in the afternoon.

• Hiking Distance: 5km / 3,1 miles
• Meals: Breakfast.
• Campsite elevation: 2650m / 8694ft
• Approximate walking time: 2 hour