"
With years of passionate, personal, non-stop, hands-on, guest-focused
leadership, Abroad Trekkers is set to provide you with the best possible active
vacation. And should anyone ask, Alana is quick to point out that she hopes to
be fortunate enough to carefully control the helm for years to come. No
consolidations or mergers for Abroad Trekkers! Why? The trips wouldn’t be as
good—we’re sure of it—and that’s what matters!
"
our aim is Machu Picchu and you want to reach it along the famous
Inca Trail path but you also want to explore the area while
meeting your goals well we propose you an unforgettable
experience, the Salkantay-Machu Picchu Expedition.
This trekking
expedition will take you at the base of the sacred Salkantay snow
peak (6,271 meters; 20,700 feet), considered by the local natives
to be the "Guardian Spirit of the Jungle" and will provide you
with the opportunity to experience remote native communities
before joining the famous Inca Trail path to Machu Picchu.
This is
one of the most picturesque trip offered in the Cusco area, so
bring your camera to snap the landscape changes as you hike along.
The trip is supported with horses for part of the journey. We
provide you with top quality camping equipment and a very balanced
and energetic diet. This is a trip that you will never forget!!!
Difficulty of trek:
Moderate to difficult Length of trek: 7 Days / 6 Nights Start point: Cusco End point: Cusco Type of trek: Archaeological, Cultural, Camping,
Ecological, Hiking
Day 1: Cusco - Sayllapata (3200 m.).
We will pick you at 6: 00 AM in your hotel drive to Mollepata in a
private bus and stop in Limatambo town, here we visit Tarawasi
very important religious Inca remains. After four -and - a
-half hours drive we rich to Mollepata (2800 m.), from this point
we start the ascent on foot towards Tillka. Then we take a wide
gradually rising, the trail goes through the native forests and
andina pampas in difference levels which takes us to Marcocasa.
Moving on, we come to Sayllapata and we can observe the
progressive change of the flora and fauna. Here we will set up our
first campsite.
Day 2: Sayllapata - Salkantaypampa (six hours hike).
After an early breakfast, we start the walk in the direction of
Salkantay pampa, which has a great view of the ice caped Humantay
Mountain (5902 m.) and later on a spectacular view of Apu
Salkantay at dawn to appreciate it. The mountain range is crossed
to the right of Salkantay; walking up to the pass we have Humantay
on the left, Rayusca on the right and in front the imposing
Salkantay. The day ends in Sisaypampa.
Day 3: Salkantaypampa Pampacahurina.
The third day we begin the descent, entering a gulley, where an
old Inca channel can be appreciated, then we pass by the
indigenous community of Qhesqa and continue until Paucarcancha.
The trek then approaches Huayllabamba where we camp for the night.
Day 4: Pampacahurina to Llulluchapampa.
The fourth day is a day of hard trekking. The distances are great
and we climb 1200 m. to the top of the first pass, descend and
then ascend the second pass before we camp. The fourth day is a
day of pure trekking we start early to make it to a designated
campsite. From the moment we start walking in the morning we are
climbing. We ascend through cloud forest still following the
river. The path is steep and relentless and as you gets nearer the
top the vegetation changes to barren grassland. The main problem
with this day is the lack of oxygen as you near the pass (Warmiwanusca)
and also the path towards the end gets increasingly steeper.
However once at the top, if it is clear, you are rewarded by
beautiful views. Then the descent; this is very steep and the
differences in temperature are noticeable as the altitude gets
lower. We stay fairly high as we make our way to Runcuracay. These
are the first ruins that we actually encounter on the trail. The
name means "Egg-shaped building" due to its form. It was probably
a guard post or lodge (Tambo in Quechua) for the trail but it also
could have had other uses. From the ruins it is a short climb up
and over the second pass. There are three beautiful black lakes
here and magnificent views. We descend along the first section of
the original Inca Trail using huge steps that can be quite
slippery when wet. The major ruins along the Trail are here.
Firstly we come to Sayacmarca or "dominant town". This is situated
on a spur jutting out into a valley. It has magnificent views but
due to its altitude these are often obscured by the presence of
clouds. We descend slightly and approach our second campsite at
Chakicocha a flat plain looking over the same valley. The total
time for this day is about seven hours and we walk a total of 19
kilometers.
Day 5: Llulluchapampa to Chaquicocha. The fifth day is arguably the most beautiful with the
vegetation changing from high altitude stunted bushes and grasses
to thick rich cloud forest. Also on this day we encounter the most
beautiful ruins on the trail. Thus the long second day enables us
to enjoy the third day at a more leisurely pace. On the morning of
the fifth day we start ascending again for the third pass. This is
a long pass but is not as steep as the first one. We make our way
around the valley through a tunnel cut by the Incas; all the time
on the original paving slabs of the Incas. When the third pass is
reached we can see the next ruins on the Trail, those of
Phuyupatamarca (town in the clouds). This is perched on the side
of a valley with typical terraces trailing down the hillside. This
was probably a religious site as there are numerous water
fountains. However it was almost certainly agricultural as well.
The trekking from here is probably the most beautiful part of the
trail. We descend all the way from here to Wiñay Wayna. We go
through cloud forest that is humid and fairly warm. It is here
that the majority of the 3000 steps down are - so watch your
knees! Eventually we reach the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (forever
young). Again this beautiful ruin complex probably had religious
and agricultural significance.
Day 6: Chaquicocha to Wiñaywayna.
The six day is a short walk to Machu Picchu . The six day starts
early so that we can arrive at Inti Punku (sun gate) above Machu
Picchu as day breaks. This is a short undulating walk for 5
kilometers. From Inti Punku it a short walk down to the ruins of
Machu Picchu . There the guide will give you a few minutes to rest
after the walk and soak up the view after which he will give you a
guided tour of the ruins. The trains leave from Aguas Calientes at
4.30 pm and 5.00 pm.
Day 7: Wiñaywayna to Machupicchu.
Included:
Transfers to and From Cusco
Entrance fees
Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
