Salkantay and Inca Trail Trek – 7D/6N
Trip Overview
Tour Location: Inca Trail and Salkantay Trail
Tour Type: Hiking, camping, adventure, history, culture
Total Distance: 46.7 miles/75 km
Good For: Experienced hikers
Difficulty: Quite Challenging
Considerations: Permit required for day four
Are you the type of person who enjoys the journey just as much as the destination? Do you enjoy reaching hidden places that very few others have?
If yes, you will definitely not want to miss out on the Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek. This trek will take you through the lush Salkantay Valley, alongside vibrant lakes and rivers, and next to snow-capped mountains, all the while seeing plants, animals, and ruins found nowhere else in the world. However, as this is one of the most challenging hikes in Peru, you will want to be sure you have booked your tour with a credible company, known for excellent customer service, and exquisite knowledge of the Peruvian country side. With a five-star rating on TripAdvisor we take pride in making sure you have an enjoyable trek while creating long lasting memories. While there are many different ways in which you can experience Machu Picchu, the Salkantay camp; Inca Trail Trek is the option that will bring you closest to nature, as you will follow in the footsteps of the Inca who walked the same path hundreds of years ago. Along this hike you will be immersed in Peru’s beautiful and diverse ecosystem as you follow the Apurimac River basin, to the Urubamba River, before heading into Salkantay, Cusco’s second largest Mountain region (6,277m/ 20,577ft). You will walk through lush green valleys, and camp beside turquoise glacial lakes. Your expert guide will show and explain the many archeological sites along the way, as well as the wide variety of flora and fauna. Whether you’re travelling as a group, a couple or on your own we have options that will fit your needs. So, what are you waiting for? If you want to experience one of the seven wonders of the world in the most authentic way possible, book your trek now while limited spots last.
Itinerary
At 5:00 am you will be picked up from your hotel or hostel by our private transportation for the scenic 3.5 hour drive to Soraypampa. Along the way you can enjoy spectacular views such as: Iscuchaca, Limatambo and the stunning valleys and snowy mountains of Salkantay. At the top of the track in Soraypampa, we will have an energizing breakfast while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Humantay (5900mt) and Salkantay (6217mt) mountain glaciers. After breakfast, we will do a short 2.5 hour hike up to the turquoise lake Umantay, then continue with a gentle climb for 1.5 hours up Salkantaypampa before stopping for lunch 
in front of a beautiful glacier. We will then hike for another hour to our camp site at the foot of Mount Salkantay. Here you can relax with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and a delicious and well-earned dinner. The views on this day will be marvelous.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch , tea time and dinner.
- Camping facilities: Accommodations
- Distance: 13 km.
- Difficulty: Moderate
Today we continue walking off the beaten track for about 3 hours uphill. We stop to take lunch along the way and continue our trek for 3 more hours to reach our campsite which is located approximately 1km away from the snow-capped mountain Salkantay. On the way we will enjoy the magnificent views of all the surrounding snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and valleys. We will relax with high tea and a hot toddy at the camp as well as dinner.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , Tea time & Dinner.
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 14km.
- Difficulty: Moderate
Our day begins with a slow uphill climb for approximately 4 hours to reach the Incachiriaska Pass (4,880m) a name which translates to ‘the place where the Inca cools down’. Around this area, in the rocky crags, lives the Andean Condor, the world’s largest flying bird. From here the trail begins downhill and we reach our campsite for the night at Sisaypampa.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , High tea & Dinner.
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 10km.
- Difficulty: Moderate
After breakfast we will hike to the end of the valley, which then leads into a wider valley named Pampacahua. There we find an Inca canal that is still in full use by the local farming settlements. At the end of the Pampacahua we find our first Incan archaeological site named Paucarcancha. After exploring the site, we will arrive at Wayllabamba for lunch . Following lunch we will walk for 3 more hours through the Llullucha Valley to reach our campsite at Llulluchapampa where we will enjoy high tea in front of awe-inspiring views.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , High tea & Dinner.
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 11km.
- Difficulty: Moderate
We will take an early breakfast before starting our 2 hour climb following the original Incan stone path up to the Warmiwañusqa pass (4,217m/ 14,04ft). Here we will have an amazing view of our ascent and the trail ahead. We will then descend down a reconstructed Incan trail to the Pacaymayu river, where we will have lunch . Following lunch , we will head uphill for 2 more hours towards the Runcurakay pass (3,977m/ 13,127ft). From here, we will descend for 3 hours to Phuyupatamarca (3,650m/ 12,047ft), were we will spend the night.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , High tea & Dinner.
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 16km
- Difficulty: Moderate/Challenge
Today is the most beautiful day of our Inca trail trek. We will have our breakfast early in the morning, enjoying the sun rise, the Urubamba Canyon, the Machu Picchu Mountain and the stunning Inca sites, as we eat. After breakfast, we descend for 2 hours through the cloud forest to Wiñaywayna for lunch . Then we walk for 1 hour to the Sun Gate; from here you can enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu and all the surrounding mountains. Afterwards, we will descend to the citadel and take our shuttle to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in a hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , High tea & Dinner.
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Distance: 12km.
- Difficulty:Moderate
We will have a very early breakfast before taking the bus for the journey up to the Machu Picchu ruins. Once inside the citadel, we are provided a 3 hour guided tour with plenty of free time for further exploring, taking photos and the option to climb Huayna Picchu or go up to the Sun Gate. Then we will head back to Aguas Calientes and at 16:22 we take our return train to Ollantaytambo with a bus connection to Cusco. You will be dropped off at your hotel in the evening, full of lasting memories and completely ready for the best sleep of your life.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Difficulty: Easy
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