DAY 1.- CUSCO - CANAL INKA - SORAYPAMAPA - SALKANTAY PAMPA
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00am. We then start our 3 hour trip to the town of Mollepata, where you can have breakfast (not included in this trek). After breakfast, we will continue on by bus for one hour until we arrive at the beginning point of the trek called "Canal Inka", where our horsemen and their houses will await us. Once we are ready, we will begin the trek towards the lake called "Soyrochacha" (if you are prepared, you can swim in the water of less than 10 degrees celsius, but you must take responsibility). You will return to Soraypampa to enjoy a delicious Andean-style lunch. After lunch, you will trek for 40-50 minutes until the Salkantay pampa where you will sleep in mountain tents well-equipped to handle the low temperatures (it's important that you bring warm clothes and a good sleeping bag, as this campsite is very cold). In the afternoon, you will have a lunchbox that includes coffee, chocolate, coca tea, and cookies. At night, there is dinner. This day we will trek on a relaxed trail that allows you to acclamate better to the ascent to the Salkantay pass. We will camp at the Salkantay pampa.
DAY 2.- SALKANTAY PAMPA – PASO SALKANTAY - CHAULLAY OR COLLPAPAMPA.
The Llama Tours Peru staff will wake you up very early to offer you coca tea before breakfast. After breakfast, you will begin the trek upwards for 3-4 hours until you arrive at the Salkantay Pass (4,600 meters). There you will be near the impressive Apu Salkantay and enjoy a spectacular view. To continue, we will begin to go downwards for 1-2 hours until we reach Huayracmachay, where you will have lunch. Later, you will continue descending for 3-4 hours in the middle of a tropical rainforest with a hot climate until our next campsite called Chaullay / Collpapama. After a well needed rest after the tough hike, you can use the showers, however keep in mind that the water is cold. For this day, we recommend bringing your hiking poles.
DAY 3.- CHAULLAY O COLLPAPAMPA – LA PLAYA – HIDROELECTRICA – MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO.
On this day, we will wake you up early in this hot climate. After breakfast, we will begin a rest in the rainforest/jungle outskirts for 4-5 hours until we arrive at the beach/Sahuayco. On the trail, you can see a large amount of tropical fruits such as bananas, oranges, mangoes, as well as the famous coca plant. Here you will have lunch and say goodbye to your horsemen that accompanied you for 3 days. After, you will travel by bus to idroelectrica. From Hidroelectrica, you will continue walking on the easy trail beside the railway for 2 hours more until you arrive at Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) where you will sleep at a hostel. Optional: If you feel that you cannot walk anymore from the strain of the day before, you can go by train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, however the train ticket is not included in the trek and will cost you $20 per person. At night, the guide will reunite with the group to coordinate your visit to Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
DAY 4: VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU - OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO.
You can begin the tour at 5:30am, if you desire to see the sunrise at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. However, there are two options to get up to the sanctuary: the first would be to walk for about an hour and a half uphill and the second would be to take a bus for 30 minutes. Once you register in Machu Picchu, you will have a 2-3 hour guided visit through the main sites of the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. After your guided tour, you will have a lot of time to explore the sanctuary and do the activities that Machu Picchu has to offer, such as climb to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), Montana Vieja (Old Mountain), or Huayna Picchu. Visitors generally return to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town/pueblo) around 13:00 to have lunch. The train will leave at 16:22, however you have to be at the station an hour before. You will have a 2 hour trip to Ollantaytambo, followed by 2 hours more to Cusco by minivan.
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