8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
Day 01 - Arrival to Panama City
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu
8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

8 Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

Duration

8 Days / 7 Nights

Package Type

https://cms.vaexpeditions.com/media/images/package_type/adventure.svg

Adventure

Activity Level

Activity Level

High

Wildlife expectation

Physical Difficulty

Wildlife expectation

Cultural rating

Wildlife expectation

Wildlife expectation

Specialist

Travel specialist

Claire
Contact Us

Of all the various treks to Machu Picchu, none can compete with the Salkantay Trek in terms of scenery. It’s a spectacular route, passing through jungles and mountain passes, and dotted with azure lagoons. And at the heart of the trek is Salkantay Mountain, which at 6,271 m (20,574 ft.) is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range and the twelfth-highest in Peru.  

Our trek traverses the flank of this sacred mountain, offering some of the most awe-inspiring views in Peru. It’s one of the more challenging alternative routes to Machu Picchu, simply because of the high altitude. But it also receives far fewer trekkers than the classic Inca Trail, so you can walk through this natural and remote paradise comparatively free from fellow humans – but you might have to share the stunning scenery with Andean condors and other local wildlife. Why don’t you try off season? March, April, September and October are particularly good months, either side of high season, the weather is still decent and there are fewer people! 

Special features of our Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu: 

Type of Tourism:  Hiking, Cultural, Nature and Ecotourism 

Places To Visit: Cusco, Salkantay, & Machu Picchu 

Duration:   8 Days and 7 Nights 

Type of Service:  some tours are small group service tours and other tours are private 

Accommodation:    4 star hotels at every destination that you will visit. These hotels had been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and pampered 

DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE

Arrival to Cusco with a transfer to your hotel; a welcome meeting will be organized by your guide for a quick briefing of the tour. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in the Andes Mountains. Discover Spanish churches and mansions that sit alongside Inca remains, visit the local market of San Pedro and their array of products from handicrafts to vegetable products, fresh juices and items for traditional Andean ceremonies.  In the evening, enjoy the eclectic restaurant opt...

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    After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities available in this incredible imperial City. Show more

      Our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 5 a.m. We’ll then travel in our private bus to Mollepata, which takes about four hours. It’s a lengthy trip, but it’s needed to get out to this relatively remote region. On the way, you’ll be able to enjoy the wonderful scenery, including views of the Izcuchaca and Limatambo mountain ranges.  

      Eventually we’ll arrive at the colorful Andean village of Mollepata, where the trailhead for our Sa...

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        We will wake early and have breakfast around 5:30 a.m. We have a long day of trekking ahead of us, through some of the most incredible scenery in Peru. This will be our most challenging day, as we ascend to the highest point on the trail.  

        We first make the climb to a mountain pass at 4,650 m (15,200 ft) – the highest location on the trek. From here, we’ll have sublime views of two huge snow-capped mountains: Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. After a rest and time to enjoy the views, we ...

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          Waking at 6: 30 a.m., we’ll have a hearty breakfast before setting off. Today, much of our trekking takes us through a region of jungle known as the “ceja de selva” or eyebrow of the jungle: the swathe of jungle that lies between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. We’ll cross the Lluskamayo River and find ourselves in a world of waterfalls, tropical fruits and colorful birds. If we’re lucky, we might even see a cock of the rock, Peru’s national bird. The temperature will be much warmer here, and ...

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            On our final trekking day, we’ll have breakfast at 6:30 a.m. before setting off towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, and as we ascend we’ll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually we’ll reach Llactapata, an impressive Inca ruin that may have served as an important resting place and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which it is connected to, via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance...

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              To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tou...

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                After breakfast, enjoy your last day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home, via Lima.


                  WHAT'S INCLUDED

                  • Accommodation: A *star hotel is specially chosen by us for you throughout the itinerary
                  • Meals: 7 breakfasts, 4 lunch, 4 dinner 
                  • Transport: Private or share 
                  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Salkantay Trail and Machupicchu  
                  • Arrival and departure transfer  
                  • Briefing to the tour one day before the trek at 19h00. 
                  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities  
                  • Professional guide who speaks English 
                  • Salkantay and Machupicchu entrance fee 
                  • Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo 
                  • First aid kit 
                  • Round trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back on the second day 
                  • 24/7 support and emergency line available throughout the itinerary 

                  WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

                  • Airfare to and from destination 
                  • Minimum medical and emergency evacuation insurance 
                  • Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance 
                  • Evacuation: in the event of a serious medical injury, we will coordinate with your travel insurance company to arrange Evacuation 
                  • Visas 
                  • Any activity not described in What's Included 
                  • Meals on your own 
                  • Gratuities 
                  • Optional excursions 
                  • Personal equipment such as trekking equipment 
                  • Camping equipment such as sleeping bag or walking stick 
                  • Damages caused by the client to the bus or to the camping equipment 

                  Trip Preparation & FAQS

                  You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/notification/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-travel-alert

                  We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.

                  We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.

                  We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.

                  As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.

                  We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.

                  Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.

                  VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.

                  Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                  Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.

                  Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.

                  Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.

                  We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.

                  We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.

                  We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.

                  The official currency in Peru is the peruvian sol (PEN). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.

                  Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

                  As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: https://valenciatravelcusco.com/pages/sustainability

                  Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.

                  Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. 

                  The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS / VALENCIA TRAVEL, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.

                  This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests. 

                  For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +51 979 706 464

                  At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. Please ask your travel specialist for more information on our sustainable programs.

                  All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +51 979 706 464. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com 

                  This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.

                  This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.

                  The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.

                  Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                  Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your  hotel.

                  For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.

                  In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.

                  In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.

                  It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your  program.

                  We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. Depending on your destination, at various points on your trip there will be places where you can fill your water bottle.

                  Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:

                   

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