SALKANTAY – MACHU PICCHU  THE ICY KINGDOM (5 days)

If we had to categorize the treks in the Peruvian Andes on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of degree of difficulty and beauty, then this trek would certainly deserve a perfect 10. The route from Ancashqocha takes us along original Inca pathways lost in time, between impenetrable mountains, amid pristine landscapes, beautiful valleys, high Andean lakes and soaring snowcaps and it offers us unique contact with the Quechua-speaking inhabitants of this region of Peru.

Day 1: Cusco / Mollepata / Inkachiriasca
We will leave Cusco early and head west through the Anta Valley, crossing the high pass at Vilcaconga before descending into the warm and dry valley of the Apurimac River. Along the way we will visit the Inca temple of Tarawasi, which is a fine example of Inca stonework. After a three hour journey from Cusco we will arrive in the village of Mollepata, where we will have time to make some last minute purchases of supplies before continuing on the next stage of our itinerary; we will continue along a zigzagging trail as far as Soraypampa, where our wranglers will be waiting to load our equipment on mules and horses. Beginning our trek, we will hike for approximately four hours to the highest point of this adventure (5,050 meters / 16,564 feet), before descending through a beautiful landscape to our first camp at Toctocasa (4,825 m. / 15,826 feet).
Meals: L. D

Day 2: Inkachiriasca / Huaylla Pucro
After breakfast, we will make an early start as we hike through marvelous Andean scenery. This is a relatively easy day of walking, and along the way we will have plenty of time to enjoy our unique high Andean surroundings. We will hike for around seven hours on this day, during which we may see Andean condors soaring overhead, eagles and other typical local fauna. We will make our second camp at an excellent location, surrounded by a fabulous landscape at Huaylla Pucro, some 4,200 meters, or 13,776 feet, above sea level.
Meals: B. L. D

Day 3: Huaylla Pucro / Lake Ancashqocha
During this day’s hiking we will approach the reddish-colored sands of the high pass known as Accoqasa. To reach this point will require the expenditure of much energy, as we trek for about four hours to the highest part of this section of the trail. With the help of our binoculars we will be able to enjoy views of the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, as well as the great peaks of Salkantay, Humantay and, very close to us, Huayanay. After a gradual descent we will pass the small archaeological site of Inca Raqay, after which we will pass the beautiful lakes which are home to typical local species of birds such as Andean geese, ducks and many other migratory species which spend part of their year in this part of the world. We will make camp at Lake Ancashqocha at 4,210 meters / 13,808 feet above sea level.
Meals: B. L. D

Day 4: Ancashqocha / Chillca
The trail now descends along a narrow ravine to Chillca, and we find ourselves arriving in the most fertile part of this region – the Urubamba Valley – where we will camp at around 2,800 meters, or 9,184 feet.
Meals: B. L. D

Day 5: Machu Picchu          
Today we will leave our campsite early and our vehicle will take us to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu. The train will arrive at Machu Picchu after a fascinating one and a half hour ride. After arriving at the station below Machu Picchu it will take us a further 25 minutes to reach the most famous Inca citadel in South America.
Machu Picchu was discovered by the international archaeological community in 1911. It is located at the summit of a steep mountain from where there are fine views of the Urubamba River far below. The site was covered by thick vegetation for centuries until Hiram Bingham began to clear the ruins. Today the citadel has been fully restored, and although it may have lost some of its mystery, its magic remains undiminished by the passage of time. Our tour includes a visit to the temples, plazas, palaces, water channels and residential areas of the ancient city and you will also have time to explore the ruins independently. We will return to Cusco by train in the afternoon, where you will be transferred to your hotel.
Meals: B. L. 

 

Included:

• Pre-departure briefing
• Transport to the start of the trail and return transport by train from Machu Picchu to Cusco
• Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish), 2 guides for groups of over 8 people.
• Meals: From lunch on the first day to lunch on the final day, daily morning snack, daily tea service except last day, vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost.
• Services during the trek: wranglers, horses and mules for carrying equipment and personal gear, saddle horse for emergencies and auxiliary staff 
• Camping equipment: Personal tents (2 people in each 4-people capacity tent, they are 3 season and highly maintained), mattresses, kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, toilet tent, household items.
• Accommodation for all our staff
• Chef and cooking equipment
• Hot water every morning to clean up and boiled water to fill in your canteen every morning or night.
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen supply
• Bag for the gear you will need during the trek
• Machu Picchu entrance fee
• R/T Bus ticket (from the village of Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu ruins and from Machu Picchu to the village)
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Backpacker, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham service, upon request) (*)
• Transfer from the train station to the hotel in Cusco
• All the garbage produced during the trek will be returned to the city of Cusco

(*) If there would not be train ticket available in the direct route Aguas Calientes – Poroy, a train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) with an additional transfer to your selected hotel will be provided.

Not included:

• Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the last day
• Sleeping bag (we have sleeping bags for hire at an extra cost)   
• Personal expenses
• Any kind of personal insurance
• Tips

We recommend that you take:

• Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
• A good sleeping bag (down bag for temperatures as low -15°C)
• Backpack for carrying items for daily use such as cameras, water bottles, etc.
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Short-sleeved t-shirts
• Comfortable pants
• Shorts
• Walking boots , waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sports shoes or sandals for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothing, including jacket, fleeces
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat, cap and accessories
• Rehydration cream
• Underwear
• Towel, toilet paper
• Camera, video camera, binoculars, etc.
• Insect repellent
• Sun block
• Non-disposible canteen and water for the first morning. Optionally: water-sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported health problem so far
• Original valid passport
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Walking poles (you will need rubber tips to cover the metal tips and protect the trail)
• Travel insurance

Before you travel we recommend that you check that you have adequate health insurance, travel insurance and personal insurance to cover the needs of your family in case of loss of baggage, accident, theft or death.

Important:

• Departure and arrival times are approximated.
• Campsites are subject to change according to the designation of the governmental institution regulating the use of the Inca Trail, as well as to our guide’s criteria and the group progress
• Challenging: An acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended.

Prices per Person 2010:
Prices per person depend on the group size, the larger the group the lower the price per person. Please contact us, specifying:

• trekking program
• number of people in the trek
• departure date
• requested train service: Backpacker (Basic train), Vistadome (First Class), Hiram Bingham (Luxury train)

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

• Students: US$ 45.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 40.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 85.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

Social & Environmental responsibility
Peru & Travel is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. With your participation we can help conserve the area we visit and bring positive benefits to our host communities.

What you need to know on how to be a responsible traveller:

• The natural environment is also very important. If in the bush we need to make our human waste, be sure is buried away from waterways. Burying or carrying out used toilet paper is a must. Tampons and sanitary pads must also be taken out of the area and disposed of appropriately. Minimize use of soap or shampoos in rivers and lakes - your local guide will let you know when using soap is unsuitable.
• When trekking, many travellers take an extra plastic bag to pick up any rubbish that they see to improve the area and for their own rubbish. Rubbish may have to be carried until a suitable disposal opportunity in the next town.
• Please try and minimize the waste of plastic water bottles. Consider packing a water filter, water purification tablets or iodine to purify drinking water. At some of our hotels there are large water 'bubbler' dispensers where you can refill your bottle with purified water for free or for a small fee.

 

 

For reservation or questions