SALKANTAY INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICHU: 6D5N

SALKANTAY INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICHU
(6 DAYS - 5 NIGHTS)
 Inka trail to Machu Pichu

We recommend the city tour of Cusco Inca archaeological sites. Also the sacred valley of the Incas full day tour

The Inca road system was the most advanced and intricate transportation system in pre-Colombian South America. The network covered a territory of over 5,000,000 square kilometers with approximately 60,000 kilometers of primary and secondary trails. The most essential roadway was theCamino Real (Royal Road), which spanned 5,000 kilometers and traversed the Andes mountain ranges of Peru. Along this important trail, the Incas built countless religious retreats and military stations, in addition to multiple reststops and administrative areas. Only people on duty, or with the permission of the government, were able to travelover this critical route.

The most important Inca roads began at the sacred plaza of Aucaypata in Cusco (the capital of the Inca Empire). From here, the road network connected the four sides of theTawantinsuyu Empire.

Join us for the different Inca Trails and alternative Inca trails. Choose your program and options.

ITINERARY
This an incredible way to see the middle and high Andes, following the ancient Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Experience the Andes and the beautiful landscape surrounded by nature full of ecosystems. Find the ancient path of the Incas; submerge your self in the past of the Inca civilization through the archaeological sites.

DAY ONE: Trekking Challacancha to Salkantay pampa.
Pickup at hotel in Cusco (11,500 ft) the capital of the Inca empire.We will drive for about an hour and a half heading north east, passing small villages and small valleys to reach the town of Mollepata (alt. 9,000 ft). From Mollepata, another hour and a half of driving to the beginning of the trail in a place called Challacancha (11000fts).In this  point we rendezvous our staff and pack animals.With all of that taken we begin hiking for about one hour to lunch in a Paramo conditions with flats secctions where we will have the beautiful view of the Salcantay snow peak (6271 mts); after a light lunch we take the trail up(gravel and dirt conditions) to Salcantay Pampa (12,500 fts) following the grass land ecosystem for about 2 to 3 hours and covering the distance of 6.5 kilometers. Camp near Salkantaypampa near the morane. (B, L, D).

DAY TWO: Salkantaypampa to Canal Inca.
Today we go up in the morning to make the summit of our first pass in about 3 hours, Inca Chiriasca (4880 mts). The sheer proximity of the massive presence of the glacial peak of Salcantay,Vilcabamba mountain range (alt. 6,271 meters) is stunning. There are several tarns and lagoons in the vicinity and views of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountain range as well the trail conditions is up troug dirt and gravel sections with some stones stairs. We descend the other side of the pass through the moraine and eventually into grassland area where we take a break and some great photographs of the different glaciers. The descent continues with dirt and gravel conditions through a succession of different and increasingly warmer interandean valleys for about 4 hours; hiking through different ecosystem like the Andean grassland with the chance to see some bushes called Chillca (bacharis peruviana) and some grass called Ichu(stipa sp) and the possibility to see the Andean flicker (Colaptes rupicola) and different finches like the Plumbeous sierra finch (Phrygilus unicolor). Later we arrive to the Andean semydryforest or srub bush vegetation filled with several tanning tress (Caesalpinia spinosa) and some LLaullis (Bernadesia horrida) and many air plant or bromelids. The fauna is great with  opportunities to see some humming birds like the Giant humming bird (Patagonia gigas) and probably some Southern yellow Grosbeak(Pheucticus chysogaster) After lunch we hike for one hour to reach our second camp in canal Inca (they built a retaining wall and straight up the river for agriculture purposes. which is a place with few members of the Andean community where they grow different potatoes farms. Great views of the beginning of the elfin woods forest. Today we will hike for approximately 7 hours and cover a distance of 11 kilometers (B, L, D).

DAY THREE: Canal Inka to Llulluchapampa.
We begin hiking down following the Pampacahua river with beautiful views of the interandean valleys and dirt and gravel conditions mainly going down troug an original inca trail with sections of the incredible stone work of the Inca Imperial times, until we reach the valley of Paucarcancha (9500 fts) where we will see one of the Tambos of the Inca times(administrative place in between three valleys. Middle day we arrive to the village of Huallabamba for lunch. Beautiful views of the different ecosystem, time to jump in the river, explore nature and meet our porters from the local Quechuan community, because we enter upon an original Inca Road in the town of Huallabamba (alt. 9,000 ft). After the farewell ceremony with the muleteers and staff, we begin ascending to our next camp at Llulluchapampa (alt.11500 fts) following and incredible variety of ecosystems from the Andean semidry forest or scrub bush vegetation to the Paramo with some species like Chillca(Bacharis peruviana) to some Pepper trees Molle (shinus molle) used by the Incas for mummification and several bromeliads and orchest like the Forever young or Wiñay huayna(epidemdrun secundum). As well the great chance to see the Giant humming bird(Patagonia Gigas) and the sparkling violet ear (Colibri coruscans) and different finches. The last section of the hike is important because we find a beautiful stonework trail with beautiful stairs maded with granit. Also we will walk along the natives forest called the elfind woods with several orchest and bromeliads hanging down from several species of Unca tress (Mycianthes oreophyla) and many ferns and liquens decorating the different Unca tress) Today about 7 hours hiking and we cover 13 kilometers. Our camp will have a beautiful views of the Huayanay mountain 5464mts (B, L, D).

DAY FOUR: Llulluchapampa to Phuyupatamarca.
On this day we surmount our second pass of the trek, Warmi Wañusta (alt. 14,200 ft). After lounging around appreciating the view of the mountain range and some archaeological sites like Runkurakay,check point form the Inca times) we go down to the valley of Pacaymayu (alt. 11,500 ft) where we will see a beatiful stone inca work in the several sections of stairs that we will see in order to get to our third pass.as well the orchest called Odontoglusum mystacinum and different finches. After we go up again to the third pass known as Runku Rakay (alt.13, 000 ft). After lunch we have beautiful and scenery  archaeological sites along the way. then we continue to our camp mainly down troug a beatful stone paht of the Incas to Phuyupatamarca(Inca city above the clouds) passin through different arqueological sites like Sayacmarka another religious retreat of the Inca times.In this area,we will have lunch. Our camp in Phuyupatamarca(12500 fts) ,a place above the clouds) with the incredible views of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountain range filled with a incredible snow peak like The Salkantay sacred mountain(6271mts) and the Humantay 5900mts) as well the Wakay Huillca at (5365mts), time for sunset at camp. Today we will hike for about 7 hours and cover a distance of 15 kilometers. (B;L;D)

DAY FIVE: Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu.
Today we hike for about 5 hours and covering about 7 kilometers to Machu Picchu,trough a beatiful stone paht filled with granite stairs mainly going down.also visiting different archaeological sites and ecosystems like the Wiñay huayna Inca remains(religiuos retreat and resting place for the  Inca royal family) and, especially the cloud forest where we will find different species of bromeliads and orchest like Bamboo orchest (Sobralia dicotoma) ans some walnut tress, as well some Coral trees and several species of wrens special the Inca wren (Thryothorus eisenmanni)endemic for this area.after all of that we hike and go for a light lunch with the view of Machu Picchu (2450 mts) below from the Sun Gate (Intipunku); then have our first encounter with the Sacred Inca City of the Incas. After pictures and views and an introduction of the site. we go by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes for the hotel, dinner and maybe -if you’d like to- visit the hot springs. Hotel, (B, L,D).

DAY SIX: Machu Picchu.
Up for Sunrise in the Citadel is the climate aloud us. Then we go for a two hour detailed tour and visit of the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, After that we have time to hike to Huayna Picchu (2740 mts) for about 2 hours round trip or the Mountain Machu picchu(3050mts) 2hours and 30 minutes. Also relax in the archaeological site for pictures and views. After late lunch we take the train back to Cusco. (B,L) Hotel Cusco.


DAY ONE: Trekking Challacancha to Salkantay pampa
DAY TWO: Salkantaypampa to Canal Inca
DAY THREE: Canal Inka to Llulluchapampa
DAY FOUR: Llulluchapampa to Phuyupatamarca
DAY FIVE: Phuyupatamarca to Machu Picchu
DAY SIX: Machu Picchu

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