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Trekking from Salkantay to Machu Picchu

Salkantay trekking is a very interesting alternative to the very crowded Inca Trail. During this trek with very varied landscapes, you will flirt with the high altitude before quickly plunging into a semi-tropical climate. And, as a reward, you will arrive at the famous Machu Picchu which you will visit during the last day.

Day 1: Very early departure by private vehicle to Mollepata from where we will begin the walk around 9am.

Among the team there will be a guide, a cook, one or two muleteers with their mules to carry all the equipment and your belongings. There will also be a backup horse that will remain with the group during the march.

The walk of about 10 km will take us to the small hamlet of Soraypampa, gradual climb to reach about 4000 meters for the camp, we can already see the Tucarhuay and Salkantay mountains.

Day 2: This day, the most difficult of the trek, will take us over the Salkantay Pass at 4600 meters from where we can observe a splendid view of the Salkantay summit (6264). Then we will begin a long descent to Chaullay at 3000 meters altitude where we will arrive after 8-9 hours of walking. The landscape will then change completely, since we will arrive in a high altitude tropical forest.

Day 3: For this last day of walking without great difficulty, the path will take us to La Playa. Along the way, in a tropical forest, we will discover the magnificent fauna and flora, the crops of coffee, cocoa, fruits, orchids and bromeliads, with a little luck we will be able to observe a "gallito de las rocas" (rooster of the rocks) , the national bird of Peru. About 6 hours of walking.

We will take public transport to reach Santa Teresa and then Hidroélectrica.

At the end of the afternoon we will take the train which will take us to the village of Aguas Calientes where we will settle in our hotel.

Day 4: Visit to the Machu Picchu site.

Optional walk to the Sun Gate, to the drawbridge or to Mount Machu Picchu which offers a superb view of the site, the surrounding mountains and the valley.

Climb to Huayna Picchu included (if booked in time)

Return to Aguas Calientes then return train to Ollantaytambo or Cuzco depending on your program.


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