Salkantay to Inca Trail (km 82) 4 Days

This is a unique version of the Classic Salkantay Trek. The first two days follow one of the standard Salkantay trails, but on the 3rd day, we depart the Salkantay trails to enjoy a less trodden path that connects with the Classic Inca Trail. You even get the opportunity to walk a portion of the Classic Inca Trail on the 3rd day.

The Salkantay Trek is named for Mount Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 feet). This Sacred Mountain is higher than any mountain in North America. On the Salkantay trek, you will see gorgeous blue lakes, stunning glaciers, cloud forests, and rain forests. The last portion of this particular trek has an ecosystem more typical of the Inca Trail with lush green vegetation and many archeological ruins. This trek is an excellent blend of the two very popular hikes, with an incomparable variety of flora and fauna.

The trek includes two nights of camping and one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. You can even combine this trek with the short inca trail in 5 days.

Salkantay to Inca Trail (km 82) 4 Days highlights:

• Hike the first portion of the classic Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu.
• Camp along remote mountainsides, where we can savor peaceful nights beneath a star-filled sky.
• Amazing natural & cultural history.
• Have the opportunity to see the glaciers of Mount Salkantay and Humantay.
• Enjoy a full day guided tour in Machu Picchu.

Acclimatization:
We recommend you be in Cusco at least 2 days before your trek to be acclimatized to Cusco’s altitude so that you won’t have a problem during the tour.

About us:
Choquequirao Expeditions is a direct local tour operator in Cusco – Peru; we never share our tours with other companies as most of them do to minimize operating costs. We don’t work with intermediaries or have hidden prices; we have the best local guides and professionals. We guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of local Peruvians, due to the simple reason we are a local business!

Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at your staying early in the morning and have a beautiful scenic drive of 3 hours duration to Soraypampa from here; we will appreciate the first views of Salkantay and Humantay Mountains. At this point, we will arrive at Soraypampa (12,467 ft), the trailhead for the Salkantay trek, and meet our support staff, who will pack everything for the tour and load the equipment onto horses.

The first thing we will do is hike up to Umantay Lake. After enjoying the beauty, we hike back down to Soraypampa and begin the trek. Today’s hike is uphill from Soraypampa to Ichupata (14,104 ft) in the upper valley. This is a 5 to 6-hour hike. Along the way, we will pass Salkantaypampa, which is our lunch spot. Ichupata is our camp for the night. When we arrive, we will settle in have a hearty dinner.

After breakfast, we will continue the 3 to 4-hour steep climb towards the Incachiriasca pass (15,908 ft), the highest of the entire route. We will have amazing views of Salkantay and glacial moraines during this portion. We will pause at the top of the pass to take pictures and enjoy the views.

We will then descend towards our lunch spot at Sisaypampa, a flat area, to observe the neighboring Salkantay Valleys. This is a place where we might see Andean condors. After lunch, we will continue towards the Pampacahuana community (12,136 ft), located next to an original Inca canal. This is our camp for the night.

Today our hike joins to the Classic Inca Trail. We begin by hiking downhill for 2 hours from Pampacahuana to Paucarcancha (10,276 ft)). We will visit the Inca site of the same name. After the tour, we will hike downhill for 4 hours until we reach Km 82, which is the starting point of the classic Inca trail. Along the way, we will see the Inca site of Llactapata. This is the first site on the Classic Inca Trail. Our chef will make us a delicious lunch at Kilometer 82.

After lunch, we will be picked up by our private van at Km 82 and transported to Ollantaytambo (9,158 ft), where we will catch the luxury train to Aguas Calientes. When you reach Aguas Calientes, you will check in to your hotel room. The natural hot springs in town are a great place to relax if there is time before dinner. Dinner will be at the finest restaurant.

You will have breakfast at your hotel before taking a bus to Machu Picchu. Once there, you will be given a 2-hour walking tour of the site. After the tour, you will have some free time to explore Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will board the train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, you will travel by private van to Cusco, and we will drop you off at your hotel.

• Pre trek Briefing (briefing at the hotel).
• Pick up from your hotel on the morning of departure.
• Transportation from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the hike by private car.
• Entrance fee to Salkantay.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu US$ 40 extra) and Salkantay Trek.
• Professional guide with Spanish / English / Quechua speaking.
• Second Tour Guide over 12 people.
• Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent, which allows for greater comfort and storage of backpacks.
• Thermarest air-inflate Comfortable sleeping Mattress.
• Professional Cook.
• Cooking equipment.
• Dining equipment, including portable chairs and tables.
• Local food service in the campsites (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 snacks).
• Vegetarian and free gluten food for no extra cost.
• Daily tea service (weak up Coca tea and afternoon tea time or happy hour with full of popcorn, chocolate, coffee, and special snacks made by our cooks).
• Water for Drinking: we will supply with filtered and boiled water, and your bottles will be filled at each mealtime. Please bring enough water for the first day only.
• Single tents upon request with no extra cost.
• Camping spots fees.
• Horseman and horses. (they will carry our duffel bag of 7 kilos, including your sleeping bag, matt, and clothes.).
• Local Transportation from Km82 to Ollantaytambo train station.
• Tourist Expeditions Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes(round trip).
• Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• 1-night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (twin bedroom with private bathroom and hot shower).
• Insurance policy of life for cooks and horsemen.
• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
• Visit Machupicchu on the last day (2 hours guided tour to explore the whole incan sites).

• Extra expenses.
• Breakfast – Day 1.
• Lunch and dinner – Day 4.
• Pillows.
• Not detailed meals.
• Travel and health insurance (bring copies with you).
• Huayna Picchu entrance US$ 40 extra.
• Sleeping bags (it can be rented from us for US$ 30 for the entire trip).
• Walking sticks (it can be rented from us for US$ 20 for the entire trip).
• Tips (optional).

• Original Passport.
• Original Student Card (if you book as a student).
• A travel insurance card is essential.
• Sleeping bag.
• Walking sticks.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants) or poncho. Plastic ponchos can be purchased for about $ 2 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots are recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe at night if you want to take them.
• Warm clothes include jackets, fleeces, gloves, scarf, and knit / tour beanies. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions).
• Hat or cap to protect you from sun, rain and cold.
• Sunblock.
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
• Toilet paper.
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• We recommend bringing water purification tablets if you pick up water from streams.
• Your own special medicines you may need, paracetamol, second skin blisters, etc.
• Small towel.
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you think swimming in the hot springs)
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Eager and adventurous spirit to enjoy your hike.

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Salkantay to Inca Trail (km 82) 4 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

• Extra horse to ride (1-2 days only for any emergency).
• Hotel 3 Stars (At Aguas Calientes Town).
• North Face 4 season tents.
• Entrance to climb Huaynapicchu Mountain.
• Vistadome Train (First Class train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo).
• Private Van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Bus Round Trip (Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes).
• Lunch in Machupicchu or Aguas Calientes.
• Sleeping Bag.
• 02 Waking Poles per Person.
• 1 Duffel Bag to carry all your sleeping bags, Mattress as well as your clothes.
• Tour Guide to explore Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu all day. And of course, we pay a little more to our Staff and Guide.

We offer 3 kinds of service, each with different price ranges and you can book in any of these services according to your convenience, we just need you to be a minimum of 02 people to organize your trip on the date that suits you, all our services are 100 % guaranteed.

We are a direct TOUR OPERATOR that never passes clients to other agencies as most agencies do it here in Cusco to save operating costs with poor quality.

We will make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.

Can I be picked up from the Sacred Valley?
Yes, let us know in advance to organize your pick-up time (It has an extra cost for it).