Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail, 6 days to Machu Picchu, from Cusco

We will leave Cusco at 5:45 am. After having passed the town Mollepata (3000m/9843f), we will head for Cruz Pata (3400m/11155f), where we will meet the rest of the group. From Cruz Pata we start hiking into a magnificent valley surrounded by impressive snow-capped mountains, such as the Humantay (5217m/17116f) and the Salkantay (6264m/20551f). Our campsite will be at Salkantay pampa (3900m/12795f).

After breakfast, we will continue our journey around midmorning and head for the highest mountain pass in the park of Machu Picchu: the Salkantay pass (5200m/17060f). From there, we will have an exceptional view of the snow-capped Salkantay (6264m/20551). Thereafter, we will descend to the next camping place, called Sisay pampa (3700m/12139f).

At dawn our trek leads us to the Secret Valley of the Incas. We will pass little creeks and visit several small archeological sites. Our last station for this day will be Wayllabamba (3000m/9843f), both our camping site and the starting point for the Classic Inca Trail on the next morning.

To enjoy the beautiful panorama and the cosy and mystical atmosphere, our day starts early in the morning. Our trek takes us to the valleys of Yuncachimpa (3300m/10827f) and Lulluchapampa (3850/12631f) and finally leads us to the Warmiwañusca pass (4200m/13780f), which offers an impressive view of the snow-capped Verónica. After a short moment at the summit, we will continue walking down to our camping place named Pacaymayu (3500m/11483f).

We begin with energy, after a delicious breakfast. This day is coming as the prettiest of the trek. The fir st place we are going to arrive is the archeological site of Runkurakay (3050 meters). Perched on a rocky outcrop, this site was supposed to be a Tambo. We continue the rise to a pass, at an altitude of 3950 meters, before coming down to the ruins of Sayacmarca (3600 m), a small city composed of a maze of narrow streets, plots, houses, terraces, fountains, etc. The path continues quietly amount, and we go by an Inca tunnel and then walk throughout a forest, before reaching the last pass, at an altitude of 3700 meters. Below, the ruin of Phuyupatamarca: “City above the clouds”, Inca relay, impresses by its circular walls and his ingenious system of aqueducts that still supplies the baths. We enjoy a tunel – Inca Trailsuperb view on the snowcapped peaks and the Urubamba Valley. The descent of the other side is done under a thick canopy of bamboo. On the merits, appear the extraordinary ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2650m) on a rocky spur at the heart of the forest and overlooking t he Urubamba Valley. Dominated by a vast array of Inca terraces, the urban complex is separated in two by a grand staircase leading to a ceremonial area. This is where we will spend our last night in tents.

After our breakfast around 5:00 am, we will head – equipped with our flashlights – to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu. Around 8:00 am we will visit the citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m//7874f) and enjoy its spiritual charm during a guided tour of about two hours. Thereafter, you will have enough time to explore the archeological site on your own. We will leave Aguas Calientes in the afternoon.