Short Salkantay Trek

Early morning pick up from your hotel and transfer by private bus to breakfast at Mollepata(2700m). Following a two more hour drive we arrive at Soraypampa (trailhead) (3,800mt). We start a gently ascent at the head of the valley, and the trail then goes steep uphill and comes to a serie of zigzags. All around, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of Salkantay (6,271mt) (guardian spirit of the Jungle)

After 4 hours hike we reach the highest pass (4,600m), where we have stunning scenery of the sacred mountains in the Peruvian Andes Humantay and Salkantay. That will compensate the great effort in reaching the top which is marked by several piles of stones spread out that grow daily as each traveler adds his pebble to thank the Apus (mountain spirits) for a safe trip and good luck. We then start descending to lunch and the trail then continues descending to 3,400mt in 2 and half hours when we arrive to our first campsite at Andenes (3400mt).

Following an early breakfast, we will leave the beautiful pyramid shaped peak of Salkantay behind us. From now, the fauna and flora change as we enter the tropical cloud forest and discover its lush vegetation of wild orchids, bromeliads and also beautiful birds. Continuing our descent through the groves of bamboos; don't forget to keep looking back at the snow-peaks behind you, framed by bamboo fronds, providing some bird watching opportunities without missing the view fast-flowing river and going across some amazing untouched path where strawberries grow at your feet and passion fruit are above your head in a decor of begonias and purple orchids! After 5 hours hike we arrive at the hamlet of lluscamayo for lunch. We then set out again on the hike for the last 3 hours to La Playa, and as we drop the vegetation gets more lush and the temperature gets warmer, where coffee plantations, banana trees, avocado trees, and corn grow on the way to our camp site at La Playa.

We wake up early this day to start a nice way uphill, which will give us some amazing views over the valley. After 3 hours, we will enjoy a break in a plain where an important inca remains named Llactapata overlooks one of the main highlights in South America “Machu Picchu”. It is a magical view given to us that the main part of tourists will never see! A 2 hours going down the trail, easily leads the hikers into a forest of increasingly thick vegetation and tall trees leads us to The hydroelectric town lunch spot, we then follow the railway heading up the Urubamba valley to our last destination at Aguas Calientes and stay overnight in a hotel.

Early morning start we get a bus up to Machu Picchu sanctuary and enter early for the best photos opportunities and then spend 2 hours of guided tour and the rest of the morning on your own visiting and exploring the remains. Finally we can either get the bus back down to Aguas Calientes or walk back down for lunch and wait in town chilling until train departure time.

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Early morning transfer by private bus to Soraypampa - the initial point of the trek;
• Accommodation: Campsites (2 nights) and a Hotel in Machu Picchu (1 night);
• Entrance fee to the red of Salkantay and Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner and 2x afternoon hot beverages (please advise us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO extra additional cost);
• Snack every morning;
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide (a group of up to 8 participants receives 1 Guide, a group over 8 persons receives 2 Guides);
• Professional Cook;
• Horseman;
• Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 7 kg of each passenger's stuff; 
• An emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Camping equipment: Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Inflatable mattress (Term-a-Rest Mattress); 
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A blanket per person
• A pillow
• Day Pack Rain Covers;
• Tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Rain Ponchos;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• A T-shirt of the Salkantay Trek Map;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

• Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day;
• International and domestic flights nor airport departure taxes;
• Travel insurance;
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($15) nor Machu Picchu Mountain ($ 10);
• A shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu ($12.00 - one way);
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
• Other extras not mentioned.

Meal budget: Please allow USD 20-50 for meals not included.

Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single room" option for this trek, you receive your own single tent and a single room in Aguas Calientes.

Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!

• Original passport (+ copies for a case of lost),
• Original ISIC (an international student card if applicable)
• Travel insurance (+ copies for a case of lost),
• Pocket money in Nuevos Soles,
• A backpack
• A small rucksack,
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
  Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refill.
• Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.