Salkantay 5D/4N

A backpack to carry water, snacks, camera, sunblock, valuables, jacket, mackintosh, etc. We recommend a 25 – 30 litre backpack, but you can take a daypack or any size backpack as long as you feel comfortable with it.
Sleeping bag minimum minus 5 degrees. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from us for USD 09 for the whole trek.
Trekking poles – We recommend for people with knee or ankle problems or who are used to using trekking poles. If you do NOT have one, you can rent a pair of trekking poles for USD 09 from us.
Original passports.
Woolen hat or cap.
Sun hat.
Scarf.
Gloves.
3-4 T-shirt, if you have long sleeves better.
Layers (jumper, fleece).
2 – 3 pairs of long trousers if you have leggings, you can do in leggings.
Hiking shoes.
2-3 pairs of wool socks.
Rainwear (trousers, jacket, if you don’t have one you can buy a rain poncho) is crucial, especially for the rainy season.
A small headlamp.
A small towel.
Shorts.
Sunglasses.
Toothbrush and other personal toiletries.
Toilet paper.
Sunscreen cream.
Insect repellent.
Sandals and Flip Flops.
Water bottle.
Water purification tablets.
Bathing suits.
If you have thermal clothing you can take it with you, it is not so important, you will use it at least for the first night which is at 4000m.
Some snacks such as chocolate, cereal bars, candy, dried fruit, energy bars, etc.
Extra money in soles.

IMPORTANT: Remember that we will provide you with a duffel bag on the day of the briefing that you can use to pack 7 kilos of your personal belongings that you will take on the trek and that will be carried by the horse throughout the trek. This means that you will do the trek carrying your small rucksack with the things you need for the day’s trek and you will have access to the duffel bag at each camp site.

A.M: | QUISWARNIYOC CAMP – SALKANTAY PASS – WAYRACMACHAY – CHAULLAY CAMP
The second day of trekking is the most difficult, as we will climb to the highest point of the entire trek, the Salkantay pass at 4630 meters above sea level. The cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca or muña tea and it will also be time to repack and prepare for the nutritious breakfast which will be served around 5:30 am. After breakfast we will start to climb to the highest point of the trek 4630 m.a.s.l. This will take 3 to 4 hours of uphill walking at a regular or slow pace.
Once you are at the highest point, there will be salkantay you will have enough time to enjoy the snowy salkantay and the surrounding mountains, take pictures, explore the place, learn about the gods of the mountains and participate in a small traditional Andean ritual to thank and give offering to the Apu Salkantay, then we will start descending for 2 hours to wayracmachay place of our lunch, after the rest we continue for 3 more hours of walking downhill to the second camp, Chaullay, which is located at 2. 900 meters above sea level and after the rest we continue for 3 more hours of walking downhill to the second camp, Chaullay. 900 meters above sea level and marks the beginning of the Peruvian jungle ridge. At Chaullay camp, we will provide you with your camping equipment, hot tea and dinner.
There is also an optional hot shower offered by the locals. You can also buy some drinks such as beer, soft drinks and water.

A.M: | CHALLWAY – SAHUAYACO BEACH – SANTA TERESA (cocalmayo hot springs)
On the third day we will wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea while the cooks prepare a delicious breakfast.
After breakfast around 7:30 am, we will begin our 5 hour hike through the beautiful and warm jungle along the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River, after 5 hours of hiking we arrive at Sahuayaco Beach.
Along the trail, you will see crops and plantations of coffee, bananas, avocados, coca, passion fruit and much more. Once we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, we will take local transportation to the third camp, Santa Teresa, which is about an hour away by bus.
Arriving at the camp, we will share a delicious lunch before heading to the hot springs of Cocalmayo (optional). Cocalmayo is about 15 minutes drive from the camp. We will spend a couple of hours relaxing in the clean natural water of the hot springs before returning to camp for tea time and a hot dinner and group campfire. All these activities are optional, so if you prefer to rest and relax in the camp, no problem.

A.M: | SANTA TERESA – LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES
Llactapata is an Inca ruin located along the Salkantay trail, which you will have the opportunity to visit on the fourth day. From Llactapata, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a unique angle. For this beautiful hike, we will start with an early breakfast, around 5:30 am, then we will take the local transport for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba.
Upon arrival, we will begin the 3 hour hike uphill on the original Inca trail until we reach the Inca ruins of Llactapata.
We will then walk downhill for 2 hours, arriving at Hidroelectrica for a nutritious lunch and a well-deserved rest. The final part of the excursion is a 3 hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in the small town, we will take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final dinner at 7:00 pm at a local restaurant.

A.M: | MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO
Finally, we head to see the impressive Machu Picchu. You will wake up around 4:00 am to prepare for the hike to the main entrance of Machu Picchu. Each person will be given a packed breakfast and we will begin the 30 minute walk to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint where you will need to show your passport, Machu Picchu ticket and student ID if applicable. After passing the first checkpoint, we will walk up the trail and stairs into the vegetation for about an hour until we arrive at the main gate of Machu Picchu at 6:00 am.
Once everyone is at the gate, we enter Machu Picchu and begin our 2 hour 30 minute guided tour of the famous Inca city, where you will learn all about The Lost City of the Incas.
After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. The time you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you are returning to Cusco (train or bus) and whether you wish to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, which must be booked in advance for entrance tickets.

WE OFFER YOU TWO OPTIONS TO RETURN TO CUSCO AFTER VISITING MACHU PICCHU

Salkantay Trek, return by Train
By train is a beautiful way to return to Cusco and allows you more time (about 5-6 hours) to visit Machu Picchu. If you plan to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain, we strongly recommend that you take the train, as these hikes require a minimum of 3 hours to complete. You will need to return to Aguas Calientes in time for your train at 6:20 pm. You may want to give yourself extra time, as some people like to explore the town. You will travel by train from Aguas Calientes for approximately 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo, where you will board our tourist transport and complete the last 2 hours of the journey, arriving in Cusco around 10:00 pm.

Salkantay Trek, Return by car
Returning to Cusco by car is a more affordable option for those on a tight budget. However, be aware that with this option, you will have less time to explore Machu Picchu, and even less time if you plan to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Returning to Cusco by car is a longer journey (a 6 hour trip in total), the driver must take a longer return route. If you are taking this return option, you will need to leave Machu Picchu at 11:00 a.m. and take the 3-hour hike back to Hidroeléctrica, where you will meet the car at 2:30 p.m.
If you are considering this option and plan to visit Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain, we recommend that you stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco by car or train on the sixth day so that you can fully enjoy the experience.