DAY 1 – Cusco –Soraypampa
Meals: breakfast, 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 – Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes
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 from there we will take another transport to the hydroelectric station (takes 30-40 minutes) and then walk 3 hours to Aguas Calientes. Depending on the time, you might have the possibility to go the local hot springs and relax for only 10 soles. Aguas Calientes is a nice town and here you will find a large variety of services like internet cafes, cafes with board games and cards, as well as a lot of shops and places to relax. Total distance covered today is of about 18 km.
DAY 4 – 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).