Salkantay and Inca Trail 7 Days to Machu Picchu

Pick-up will be at 4:00 am if you wish to start your 7 Days Inca Trail with Go Treks Peru. Since today’s climb is somewhat easy, we can relax. Our first destination on our trek will be the Inca fortress of Tarawasi, which is located two hours from Cusco. After we have seen the surroundings, we will stop to stretch our legs in Mollepata. Our 7-day Salkantay and Inca Trail expedition will next stop at Soraypampa, where we will have a hearty breakfast before beginning our adventure. We will walk from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake for approximately two hours. When most of the hikers have left, around one o’clock in the afternoon, we will arrive at the lake, which will be empty. After enjoying the lake, we will return to Soray Pampa and continue walking to Salkantaypampa, our campsite. We will have the afternoon free to relax and prepare for tomorrow after lunch.

•  Challenging: Not bad.
• Allow five to six hours for the hike.
• We begin at an elevation of 3900 meters (12,795 feet).
• Reaching a peak at 4,200 m / 13,779 ft.
• View from camp: 4,200 m / 13,779 ft.
• It is 9 kilometers long.
• Where to stay: Tents.

We’ll start our second day with breakfast and a cup of coca tea to get you going. The first ten minutes of our ride will be on level ground, but then we’ll face a tough ascent. Given our end objective is just four hours away, we will approach this difficult part of the journey gently. Look ahead at Salkantay and the Humantay glacier to your left as you ascend the climb.

Lunch will be had after we reach Pampa Japonesa, our campground. Then, in the afternoon, we will spend two or three hours discovering Salkantay Lake. This will get us rather near the Salkantay glacier. We will return to camp following our lake visit. Perfect for a picture op, Pampa Japonesa boasts breathtaking views of the Salkantay glacier and the Soraypampa Valley. From this vantage point, the sunset is quite amazing. After dinner and some sleep, we shall gather under the night sky and wonder at the stars.

• Duration of Hike: 6 to 7 hours.
• Beginning Points: 4,200 meters / 13,779 feet.
• Maximum height: 4,734 meters (15,531 feet).
• Base Camp: 4,734 meters (15,531 feet) above sea level.
• Terrain: 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) of hiking required.
• Where to Stay: Tents.

A remarkable day has dawned upon us. The highest point of our walk, Incachiriaska Pass (often called the Frozen Inca Pass), is an amazing 5028 meters (16495 feet), and we’ll have to hike uphill for two hours to get there. Once we reach the peak, we can choose to descend to our lunch place or continue hiking for another half an hour to go closer to the glacier.

The landscape today is very stunning. As we climb over Salkantay’s shoulder, we are awed by the mountain’s majestic stature and begin to understand the Incas’ devotion to it. Viscachas, which look like rabbits crossed with Chinchillas, White-Tailed Deer, and maybe even Condors, those elusive beasts of the Andes. If we’re lucky, we might even see these animals.

We will have a three-hour downhill hike to YanaCcaca, our lunch destination after we reach the Pass. Our expert cook is waiting for a delicious feast. We will continue our trek for about three hours after our lunch before descending to our campground at Canal Inca, where we will spend the night.

• Total time spent hiking: 8 to 9 hours.
• The starting elevation is 4,734 meters or 15,531 feet.
• The highest point is 5,100 meters or 16,732 feet.
• You will be camping at an elevation of 3,853 meters, or 12,641 feet.
• Distance hiked: 13 kilometers (8.07 miles).
• Where to Stay: Tents.

We’ll relax as we head down the valley to Paucarcancha after a substantial breakfast. Our lunch spot is almost three hours’ travel away. As we tour the famous Inca ruins of Paucarcancha before we settle down to eat, our knowledgeable guide will fill us in on their significance. We shall now move our goods using porters rather than horses to prevent damaging the Inca Trail. After lunch, seeing our diligent porters—who have climbed from kilometer 82—the launching point for hikers commencing the 4-day Inca Trail adventure, will be a wonderful experience. We shall also be saying goodbye to our horsemen during this time. Once we swiftly present our passports and Inca Trail permits at the checkpoint, it will take us one hour to climb to Wayllabamba. We will then press on till we arrive at the Ayapata Campsite, where we will spend the evening.

• Difficulty: Moderate to High.
• Duration of Hike: 6 to 7 hours.
• We begin at an elevation of 3,853 meters (12,641 feet).
• At its peak, the altitude is 3,853 meters (12,641 feet).
• This is the campsite at an elevation of 3,323 meters (10,901 feet).
• Trail Length: 14 kilometers (8.69 miles).
• Where to Stay: Tents.

Due to the two passes we must traverse today, it is a challenging day. Our hike will last around four hours, beginning after breakfast, until we reach Dead Woman Pass. Having ascended the Inca Chiriasca Pass. This pass is easy to hike to, but the steps get progressively more difficult. Upon reaching the peak, we will see the shifting scenery and take pictures of the two valleys. Afterward, we will descend to Pacaymayo for a tasty lunch. Our next stop will be at the Inca Site of Runku Raqay, where our guide will provide us with a thorough explanation as we climb the Runku Racay Pass. As we go on, we’ll see the terrain change drastically from the mountains to the jungle. Our guide will lead us on an expedition to the Sayacmarca Inca Site, approximately one hour downwards, once we reach the pass. We then will go to Chaquicocha, our campground at 3,600 meters (11,800 feet), well known for its peace and amazing sunset views of the far-off mountains.

• Total time spent hiking: 8 to 9 hours.
• The starting elevation is 3,323 meters (10,901 feet).
• Reaching a peak at 4,200 m / 13,779 ft.
• View from Campsite: 3,623 m/11,881 ft.
• It is approximately 16 kilometers (9.94 miles) in length.
• Where to Stay: Tents.

After conquering the two passes yesterday, we will now have a day of relaxation as we hike through some of the most breathtaking scenery along the Inca Trail. Starting from Phuyupatamarca, we will embark on a brief hike over Inca Flat, which consists of mild inclines and falls. We will see the lush cloud forest as we go and wonder at the far-off Andes. Following a brief history lesson at Phuyutamarca, we will ascend three hours to the Inti Pata Inca Site, where we will be treated to amazing views of the Urubamba River. Following this site, we will climb to the Wiñaywayna Campsite, have lunch, unwind, wash off, and then see the Inca remains at Wiñaywayna. Dinner and early rest will let us relax the day and be ready for the next great one.

• Level of Difficulty: Easy to Normal.
• Hiking Time: four to five hours.
• We begin at an elevation of 3,623 meters, or 11,881 feet.
• Maximum height: 3,623 meters (or 11,881 feet).
• The campsite is situated at an elevation of 2,623 meters, or 8,605 feet.
• Trail Length: 9 kilometers (5.54 miles).
• Where to Stay: Tents.

Today is the most important day of our lives; we are going to Machu Picchu. Following breakfast on the Salkantay Inca Trail, we begin our last seven-day climb to Machu Picchu, the lost Inca metropolis. At Inti Punku (“Sun Gate”), the first gate of the Inca Trail, we will find an amazing and panoramic panorama of the Machu Picchu citadel waiting. We will next go 45 minutes to the guard house, where we could get the famous Machu Picchu picture. We will then stop at the exit for bathroom breaks before going back to the Citadel for a 2-hour guided tour of the sanctuary city. After our Machupicchu tour, we will take a bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and some free time to visit the town. We will then ride a bus back to Cusco and a train back to Ollantaytambo. We will be back in Cusco about at 7:00 p.m.

• Level of difficulty: Not bad.
• It takes three to four hours to hike.
• An initial height of 2,623 meters (8,605 feet).
• Total Height: 2,720 m /8,923 ft.
• Approximate Hiking Distance: 5 kilometers (3.14 miles).