SALKANTAY TO MACHUPICCHU 5 DAY 4 NIGHT

We have a great 5 days program option, ending at Machu Picchu, having on the last day a full day time between 7 a.m. till 2 p.m. to completely enjoy the great Inkan City, that means you will see Machu Picchu before the crowded trains arrive, good for pictures of the scenery without all those people and enough time for those looking to climb the holy mountain of Huayna Picchu (1:40 minutes round trip aprox.), or a quiet hike to the temple of the Moon which is located behind Huayna Picchu (1:50 min. round trip Aprox.)

ITINERARY

DAY 1
WE WILL LEAVE CUSCO EARLY THAT MORNING AND TAKE A SCENIC DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS TO THE SMALL VILLAGE OF MARCOCASA, LOCATED HIGH ABOVE THE APURIMAC RIVER. HERE, WE MEET UP WITH THE MULES, HORSES, AND ARRIEROS (WRANGLERS) THAT WILL CARRY OUR GEAR DURING THE TREK. WE BEGIN OUR GENTLE HIKE INTO THE GREEN RIVER VALLEY OF THE CORDILLERA VILCABAMBA, HIKING STEADILY UPWARDS TO THE HIGH PLATEAU. ALONG THE WAY, WE GET OUR FIRST INCREDIBLE VIEW OF HUAMANTAY (5917 M.). AS WE APPROACH OUR CAMPSITE AT SORAYPAMPA, THE ENORMOUS SALCANTAY PEAK (6270M. AND THE HIGHEST IN THE VILCABAMBA RANGE) DOMINATES OUR SKYLINE. MORNING SNACK.

DAY 2
FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SWITCHBACKS (SIETE CULEBRAS) WHICH LEADS UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AND LEVELS OUT BENEATH THE SHADOWS OF THE GRANDIOSE MOUNT SALCANTAY. WITH SALCANTAY LOOMING ABOVE, WE COME TO A SUMMIT MARKED BY SMALL PILES OF STONES, OR APACHETAS, LEFT BY LOCALS AND TRAVELERS IN HONOR OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS. AFTER THIS HIGH PASS (4750M.) WHICH IS FLANKED BY SALCANTAY AND HUAMANTAY, WE MAKE OUR WAY TOWARDS THE VALLEY BELOW TO CAMP FOR THE NIGHT AT HUAYRAJMACHAY.

DAY 3
OUR TRAIL LEADS US DOWN THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE ANDES INTO A SUB-TROPICAL VALLEY, WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER AND A VARIETY OF ORCHIDS, FLOWERS, AND HUMMINGBIRDS CAN BE SEEN. AFTER A SHORT DAY OF DOWNHILL WALKING, WE ARRIVE TO OUR CAMPSITE WITH AMPLE TIME TO SOAK IN THE NEARBY HOT SPRINGS. CONTINUING THROUGH THE “CEJA DE SELVA,” OR “EYEBROW OF THE JUNGLE,” WE WILL ENCOUNTER BRIGHTLY COLORED FLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES, PARROTS, LUSH GROVES OF TROPICAL FRUIT, COCOA, AND COFFEE. WE THEN ARRIVE AT THE SMALL VILLAGE OF MISCABAMBA, WHERE WE CAMP ALONG THE RIVER FOR THE NIGHT.

DAY 4
TODAY WE START HIKING UP AGAIN THROUGH A HUMID CLOUD FOREST WHERE WE JOIN AN ORIGINAL INCA TRAIL TO OUR SECOND AND LAST PASS, PALTALLACTA (3000M.) FROM HERE, WE ARE REWARDED WITH A UNIQUE PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF MACHU PICCHU. WE HAVE THE AFTERNOON TO EXPLORE THE NEARBY RUINS BEFORE OUR LAST NIGHT OF CAMPING

DAY 5
WE MAKE AN EARLY DESCENT TO THE URUBAMBA RIVER, WHICH WE FOLLOW UPSTREAM TO THE TOWN OF AGUAS CALIENTES.. WE TAKE THE BUS UP TO THE STUNNING ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF MACHU PICCHU, WHERE AN OFFICIAL GUIDE WILL LEAD OUR TOUR OF APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. THEN YOU HAVE TIME TO EXPLORE THE MYSTERIOUS REMAINS ON OUR OWN BEFORE RETURNING TO AGUAS CALIENTES FOR LUNCH AND THE LATE AFTERNOON TRAIN BACK CUSCO

INCLUDED
• HOTEL PICK-UP.
• PRIVATE BUS TO MOLLEPATA (START OF THE TRAIL)
• ENTRANCE FEES TO MACHUPICCHU
• PROFESSIONAL GUIDE
• TWO PEOPLE PER IGLOO TENT & MATTRESS
• COOK AND COOKING EQUIPMENT
• 4 BREAKFASTS, 4 LUNCHES, 4 DINNERS
• PACK ANIMALS TO CARRY PERSONAL GEAR, FOOD, TENTS AND COOKING EQUIPMENT )
• DINING TENT AND KITCHEN TENT
• BUS AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACUPICCHU
• BACKPACKER TRAIN AND A TRANSFER FROM THE TRAIN STATION TO YOUR HOTEL
• TAXES ( 19 % ) IGV.
• VEGETARIAN OPTIONS

NOT INCLUDED
• BREAKFAST ON THE FIRST MORNING
• MEAL IN AGUAS CALIENTES
• SLEEPING BAGS

OPTION
• SLEEPING BAG RENTAL ( US $ 4.00 PER DAY )
• EXTRA NIGHT IN AGUAS CALIENTES ( US $ 25.00 )
• ENTRANCE FEE FOR LARES VALLEY TO MACHUPICCHU

PRICE PER PERSON 2008 $300 MINIMUM 2 PAX GROUP SERVICE

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