8 Days Salkantay Trek - Ultimate Peru Hiking Adventure

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CUSCO 

Arrival in Cusco with a transfer to your hotel. A welcome meeting will be organized by your guide for a quick briefing of the tour. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in the Andes Mountains. Discover Spanish churches and mansions that sit alongside Inca ruins, enjoy the vibrant nightlife and sample Peruvian restaurants!

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DAY 2: FULL DAY SACRED VALLEY TOUR 

From your hotel, we’ll head to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is Pisac, founded during Colonial times. Here, you will be able to appreciate the mixture of tradition and have the opportunity to test your bartering skills, interact with the local craftsmen and purchase hand-made souvenirs. After the visit, we will have a great buffet lunch with an emphasis on locally grown organic products in the town of Urubamba. It is then time to visit Ollantaytambo. The narrow streets, along with their canals, have not changed much from the time of the Inca Empire. The last visit will be the Chinchero market. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. At the end of the tour, we drop you off back at your hotel in Cusco. 

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DAY 3: SALKANTAY TREK - SORAYPAMPA CAMP 

Soraypampa is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip at 3,886 m (12,750 ft).

Today, we will pick you up at 5:00 and travel by bus to Mollepata. Then, we take a 3-hour hike to Cruzpata, where we have lunch with panoramic views of the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay (4,120 m / 13,500 ft) and Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,575 ft). We begin our trek by heading towards our first campsite Soraypampa, taking in the beautiful landscape along the way.

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DAY 4: SALKANTAY TREK - MIGHTY SALKANTAY!

We will have breakfast at around 5:30am and begin our hike to the highest pass on this trek. It is located at 4650m/15200ft and halfway between two huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the two snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here. After a rest, we will continue our walk downhill through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will hike for approximately three hours towards the jungle until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft). We may reach the other campsites of Challway or Andenes depending on the pace of the group.

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DAY 5: SALKANTAY TREK - CLOUD FOREST 

After breakfast, at 6:30, we start trekking in the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River, through a series of small brooks and creeks. We pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will set up camp in the warm climate of La Playa (2,500 m / 8,202 ft). After a rest, we will go to the hot springs and enjoy a well-deserved soak in soothing waters. A real treat after finishing the trek! (Optional).

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DAY 6: SALKANTAY TREK - LLACTAPATA - AGUAS CALIENTES

On day 4 of our trek, we will have breakfast at 6:30 and then head for Llactapata, a 3-hour steady climb. Llactapata is an incredible Incan fort from which we will see Machu Picchu! After some photos and rest, we will continue on a 2-hour downhill hike, passing a variety of plantations that produce coca, bananas, and more, until we reach the Hydroelectric dam for lunch. Then, we will walk a couple more hours until reaching Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night.

Optional: In Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the hot springs in the town. Entrance fee is 10 soles.

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DAY 7: MACHU PICCHU IN ITS GLORY - THE BIG DAY!

Have an early breakfast before your guide picks you up at your hotel at 5:40. We will have a short bus journey to the gates of Machu Picchu, where you will watch the sunrise. After entering the Citadel, begins a guided walking tour (approximately 2 hours) of the Citadel complex. After this experience, enjoy some free time to explore the mysterious city as you please.

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DAY 8: CUZCO AIRPORT

After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.

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