SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU WITH BAMBA EXPERIENCE - 5 DAYS

Price
$690.00
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This is our mid-range option for the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu operated by our partner Bamba Experience. It is a higher and less beaten alternative trek to the classic Inca Trail trek but no less beautiful. The trek goes through another side of the Andes range and passes by remote Andean communities and stunning scenery including the snow capped peak of Salkantay and Humantay mountains. The trek lasts 4 days and ends in Aguas Calientes. Here we spend the night before ending the tour with the visit of Machu Picchu, South America's top tourist attraction.

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

This is our mid-range option for the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu operated by our partner Bamba Experience. It is a higher and less beaten alternative trek to the classic Inca Trail trek but no less beautiful. The trek goes through another side of the Andes range and passes by remote Andean communities and stunning scenery including the snow capped peak of Salkantay and Humantay mountains. The trek lasts 4 days and ends in Aguas Calientes. Here we spend the night before ending the tour with the visit of Machu Picchu, South America's top tourist attraction.

ITINERARYITINERARY
DAY 1 – Cusco  Soraypampa
Meals: lunch and dinner
At around 5.30 in the morning you will get  picked up from your accommodation in Cusco and get on our tourist bus that will take us to Mollepata (2900 m) where we can have breakfast (not included) and will meet with our team for the final preparations for the trek. When we are ready and after double-checking all the equipment we start our trek and ascend up Saillapata mountain that we will reach after some 4 hours walking. We will then take a break and have lunch in order to recover our energies. While we have lunch, you will be able to enjoy the view of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay (5900 m) and Salkantay mountains (6267 m). After eating we will continue the trek towards Soraypampa campsite (3920 m), while taking in some amazing mountainous scenery along the way, arriving around 17.00. We will have some snacks and then dinner will be prepared. Early bedtime after our first day of trekking, after setting up the camp to spend the night. On this first day we cover a distance of around 19 km.

DAY 2 – Soraypampa  Chaullay
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
On the second day we have an early breakfast (around 6.00 am) and then start our 4-hour-walk to the Salkanta pass at a height of 4600 meters (highest point of our trek). This pass is located between the Salkantay and the Humantay mountains. We take a well deserved break to enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape and have some rest before embarking on a 2-hour-downhill hike down towards Huayracpampa where we will have our lunch. Here we pause for a bit and then continue in high jungle areas populated with large trees that contain a number of bromelids and orchids till we will reach our second night camp site in Chaullay (or Colcapampa). Here we relax, have dinner and set up the camp for the night (at a height of 2900 m). Total trek time for the day is about 7 to 9 hours, covering a total distance of around 22 km.
 
DAY 3 – Chaullay  Santa Teresa
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
On the third day, after a once again early breakfast (at around 6.30 am), we will continue our journey along the trail passing through the upper jungle and going through amazing valleys with waterfalls and tropical vegetation. We will walk for about 5 hours and get to La Playa (2200 m) where we will have lunch. Then we continue down to the town of Santa Teresa by car and camp here for the night, at a much warmer temperature since the altitude will be of 1700 m. There will also be the possibility to visit the nearby hot springs of Cocalmayo so that you can have a well-deserved rest before bedtime. Total distance covered today is of about 15 km.
 
DAY 4 – Santa Teresa  Aguas Calientes
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Breakfast will be served at around 8.00 am and then we start our fourth day's trek which will lead us the hydroelectric station (1880 m) after some 3 hours walking (or, if you don't feel like walking, you can also catch a bus to the hydroelectric station for about 10 soles). We have lunch-break here and then continue our trek for another 3 hours till we reach the town of Aguas Calientes (2010 m). Forget about packed lunches because for this fourth day we go out to a traditional restaurant for dinner. We will then spend the night in a regular hostel and get ready for the real highlight of the whole trip: the visit of Machu Picchu on the fifth day.
 
DAY 5 – Aguas Calientes  Machu Picchu  Cusco 
Meals: breakfast only
Today we wake up early and catch the shuttle bus Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu site at 5.30 am. The ticket control entrance should be passed about 6.00 am and we will enter the site to see one of the wonders of the world. At the ruins you will be taken to a 2-hour-guided visit of the site. 
Before starting the guided tour on the site, you will have time to grab some snacks from local shops, check we have got everything you need on you (sunglasses, suncream, a hat and a waterproof poncho are definitely recommended) and get ready for the final part of this unforgettable experience.
During our guided tour we will visit enclosures, plazas, sacred fountains, temples, towers and our guide will explain the different functions of each area such as the agricultural and urban sections. The tour lasts for about 2 hours and you will then have free time to explore the site yourself. During your free time, you can also climb the Huayna Picchu mountain (2720 m) as an additional option (see below). Great spots around the site in order to take the best pics are the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock and the Sacred Plaza with amazing views over the Cordillera Vilcabamba on the background and Rio Urubamba below.
After spending some hours at Machu Picchu we unfortunately have to leave and the group will make its way down to the town of Aguas Calientes (you can walk or there is also a bus service which is included in the price) before taking the train back to Cusco. If time allows, you can also go to the local hot springs in the town (entrance fee not included for this) in order to chill out and relax a bit before ending your tour. You must be at the train station at least 30 minutes before your train departure time and the train journey takes about 1 hour 45 mins to get to Ollantaytambo, where we will transfer to a tourist bus to take you back to Cusco (you will be dropped off at San Francisco square in Cusco at around 22.30).

INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDEDINCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED
INCLUDED
  • Mandatory briefing a day before departure - you must be in Cusco the evening before for this
  • Pickup from your accommodation in Cusco
  • Transportation - tourist bus to start of trek (Cusco to Soraypampa), train and bus to return to Cusco
  • Entrance tickets for the Inca Trail and to Machu Picchu
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town
  • Professional guide - English and Spanish-speaking
  • Porters to carry tents, food, cooking equipment and shared equipment
  • Horseman and mules to carry the shared equipment and 7 kg personal equipment for each person (3 kg sleeping bag and 4 kg personal belongings) 
  • Professional cook
  • Meals as indicated in description (veggie option available)
  • 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
  • Camping equipment - tent, mattress, dining tent, kitchen tent (including all-season 4-man tent for 2 people and basic sleeping mattress)
  • First aid kit, emergency oxygen bottle and assistance in case of problems
 
NOT INCLUDED
  • Airport or bus station pickups
  • Thermal sleeping bag (can be rented) - required that you have a sleeping bag or rent one.
  • Personal equipment porters (available at extra cost)
  • Trekking poles - Metal tipped poles are NOT allowed on the trail and you must use rubber tip covers(poles can be rented)
  • First day breakfast and last day lunch (or dinner)
  • Personal medical kit - recommended
  • Entrance fee to the hot springs in Santa Teresa (20 soles) and in Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
  • Travel insurance - recommended 
  • Sunglasses and sun cream 
  • Insect repellent 
  • Extra snacks
  • Tips for porters / cook (recommended 50-60 soles to main guide, 30-40 soles to horsemen and cooks)

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONIMPORTANT INFORMATION
  • This Salkantay Trek option has confirmed departures only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. If booking for 4 people or more, then you can leave any day (depending on availability of tickets of course). There are no departures in January and February due to unfavorable weather conditions. Departure and arrival times are approximate.
  • Please check availability for Machu Picchu Tickets for your chosen date(s) BEFORE placing a booking. You can see a guide on how to check availability HERE.
  • You are required to attend a mandatory pre-trek briefing one day prior to departure at 19.00. During this meeting we will give you detailed information about the route, a list of what to take with you, coordinate and confirm the pickup from your accommodation for the morning of the trek and be able to answer all the questions you might have.
  • For the first 3 nights, solo travellers will share a tent with another solo traveller, and couples will have a tent themselves. For the fourth night, solo travellers will share a room with another solo traveller whereas couples will have a private room.
  • Campsites are subject to change according to the designation of the governmental institution regulating the use of the Salkantay Trek, as well as to our guide’s criteria and the group progress.
  • We recommend that you acclimatize to an altitude of around 2500-3000 meters for some days before attempting this trek and that you are in reasonable physical condition. Temperature changes quickly together with altitude (from 4000 to 2000 m). If you have any illnesses or conditions you MUST inform of these when booking. In some cases we will require a medical certificate in order to permit you to take part in tour.
 
WHAT TO BRING
  • Original passport 
  • Hiking boots or strong footwear, waterproof recommended!
  • Trekking poles: METAL TIPS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE TREK (you can rent trekking poles from us - 1 pole - $7  2 poles - $12)
  • A backpack (30 to 40L) with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
  • Water bottle - minimum 2 litres or plastic bottle
  • Rain gear - jacket + trousers or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
  • Warm clothes, including fleece jacket. Thermal clothing is highly recommended and can be also worn in the sleeping bag during cold nights
  • Trekking pants, zip off model is recommended
  • Gloves or mittens, scarf, woollen hat for cold nights
  • 3 pairs of warm socks
  • Sandals or jogging shoes for comfort while at camp
  • Sleeping bag  (you can rent one from us -$15 for the whole trip)
  • Flashlight / headlamp and extra batteries
  • Swimming gear for hot springs in Aguas Calientes
  • Binoculars
  • Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions) and waterproof bags for your camera
  • Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
  • Sun block
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Personal medical kit / supplies
  • Extra cash for snacks, water and energy drinks to buy on the way
  • Travel insurance

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