TOUR SALKANTAY - MACHU PICCHU - 5 D / 4 N

One alternative to the classical Inca Trail is this tour Salkantay – Machu Picchu. The two highlights on this tour, besides the Machu Picchu complex, are Salkantay Mountain with its 6272 masl. And the other snowcapped mountain up close and the fact that this hike offers the special experience to see Machu Picchu on a distance already one day before arrival on its mountain saddle across the Urubamba valley.
DAY 1:
We start from Cusco around 5 o’clock in the morning a go to Mollepata, a small village located in 2850 masl. on the edge of the cloud forest zone. Already from here we will be able to appreciate some of the snowcapped picks that belong to the chain of Salkantay, and of course we will enjoy the beautiful sight of Salkantay who is at an altitude of 6270 masl.
Enjoying this landscape we will begin our long walk for approx. 7 hours. On the way we observe the vegetation pertaining to the zone. In a nice spot we will have our lunch, and then we will continue until we get to Soraypampa, our first camp site.
DAY 2
After an early breakfast we start the hike. This day offers the best views of Salkantay itself, the second highest mountain in the Cusco department, with the great snowcapped peak not too far away.
The first 4 hours are almost pure ascent until the pass in 4500 masl, where other majestic snowcapped peaks reveal itself for our vision. From this point the trail descent to our camp. On the way down we pass small lagoons and wetlands. Our camp is Chaullay in 2950 masl.
DAY 3:
This day is something special because of the great variety of fauna and flora.. Also we pass the small settlement of Arranniyuc. Later we arrive to a nice hot spring, where we can enjoy the warm water before we continue along the Santa Teresa River. The area also has a big variation of bird life and it is now obvious that the climate and vegetations have changed totally, and now we see plants recognizable from the living rooms in Europe and several types of orchids.
The Playa is the biggest village on the way, where we can find some small shops to buy snack etc. In this area we can see small plantations of coffee and bananas.
DAY 4:
From the Playa to the Hydroelectric at the Urubamba River. This morning we will work up one newly opened Inca trail. This trail originally was used to transport agricultural products to the population on Machu Picchu and it takes us through an area with coffee plantations and subtropical fruits and crops. As we come up higher the trail the vegetations changes between dry and grassy with flowers and moist cloud forest. In the pass we are suddenly in a cool dense wood full of trees covered with thick mosses. Shortly hereafter we see for the first time the impressing Machu Picchu on a mountain saddle further into the valley. 10 minutes more and we arrive to our lunch spot called Llactapata. He we have our lunch while enjoying the views of Machu Picchu and the beautiful mountains. Then we walk the last part downhill and along the river to the Hydroelectric. Here we can visit on fine Intihuatana while waiting for the train or continue walking to Aguas Calientes where we arrive in the afternoon. We spend the night in a nice hotel.
DAY 5:
From Aguas Calientes we walk or take bus to Machu Picchu. We start our visit with a 2-3 hours guided tour, that will bring us to the most important locations at the archaeological site and the guide will tell us about the great importance Machu Picchu enjoyed as astronomical and religious center. The rest of the day we spend at this amazing ruin and you will have the chance to climb Wayna Picchu or visit the beautiful moon temple. We meet in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes to take the train to Cusco.

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