Salkantay Inca Trail Condor Overflight

We drive from Cusco by bus to Chonta, we travel through the highlands of Anta. A dirt road will take us over the Puna highlands to the scenic mountain hamlet of Chonta near the Apurimaq Canyon. A 3km trek along the mountainside brought us to the Condor viewing platforms and the view of the canyon (double the depth of the Grand Canyon in places) and Apurimac river way down below is extraordinary. We will be 2 hours to see the condors and – some flying right overhead!. Continuing our tour, we drive to head trail, Challacancha, where our hike begins. We start trekking up to Tillka from where we take the road to Marcocasa (3,500 m/11, 482 ft) passing forests and steppes on the route. We can enjoy beautiful vistas of the snow capped peak of Rayuska (5,350 m/17,552 ft). Finally we get to our first campsite at Soraypampa (3,600m/10,200 ft), lunch. After lunch we will climb the Humantay Mountain for 2 hours to visit the Humantay Lake, a superb lake in the mountains and we then descend back to camp at Soraypampa. There you will find the dining tent set up for afternoon tea  with tea, mate de coca, coffee, chocolate etc. You can rest and later are served dinner.

Estimated Trekking Time: 7 hours

Condor Sight: 2 Hrs

Trekking Distance: 14 Km
Max. Elevation: 3,600 m (10,200ft)
Min. Elevation: 2,803 m (9, 196 ft)
Difficulty: Easy

After an early breakfast we start hiking. We get to Soyrapampa (3, 850m/12,600 ft) where we join the main Salkantay Trek. From there it takes about an hour to reach Salkantay Pampa, the place of our second campsite. Before that we have the chance to take in the stunning sight of the sacred mountains of Huamantay (5,917 m/19,412 ft) and Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 ft). In the Andean culture these mountains are considered to be `Apus´ (mountain spirits)of great significance. When in Salkantay Pampa (4,100 m/13,451 ft) we set up camp and are later served dinner. We are in high altitude so the night will be cold, don’t forget to bring lots of warm clothes.

Estimated Trekking Time: 6 hours
Trekking Distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 4,100 m/13,451 ft
Min. elevation: 3,600 m/10,200 ft
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Today we leave the path of the Salkantay Trek and join the Inca Trail route. First we go through a charming valley with domestic flowers and dramatic vistas of the Salkantay mountain to our left as we pass the indigenous villages of Qhesqa and Paucarcancha. We then ascend to the Incachiriaska Pass (4,880m) (the highest point of the trek), which translates as `the place where the Inca cools down´. From here we get the closest view of Salkantay, this whole area is dotted with small mountain lagoons and old glaciers of diverse shades of blue! Around this region, in the rocky cliffs, dwells the Andean Condor, the world’s largest bird. If we are lucky we might also see some viscachas (chinchillas), white tailed deer and also some rare animals such as guanaco, and vicunha. After we descend to the Cusichaca Valley until the tiny village of Pampacawana (4,000m/13,123 ft), here we can observe some old Incan channels. We set up camp nearby and have our dinner.

Estimated Trekking Time: 7 hours
Trekking Distance: 13 km
Max. Elevation: 3,855 m/12,650ft
Min. Elevation: 3,000 m/9,842 ft
Difficulty: Difficult

A hard day of trekking awaits us today. We hike for 3 hours to get to Paucarcancha (3,205 m/10, 515 ft). There you have a guided tour of the Inkaracay ruins. After that you will descend for a couple of minutes to the town of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842 ft) where we say goodbye to our horses and horsemen and welcome our porters. We enjoy lunch before we continue climbing. During the hike we pass a cloud forest with native trees, orchids, mosses, ferns and birds. We finally get to the next campsite, Llullucha Pampa (3,855m/12,650 ft)

Estimated Trekking Time: 7 hours
Trekking Distance: 13km
Max. elevation: 3,855 m/12,650 ft
Min. elevation: 3,000 m/9, 842 ft
Difficulty: Difficult

Early after breakfast you start descending to Abra Warmiwañusca (dead woman’s pass) at 4,200 metres passing through cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku which offers some wonderful views the surrounding snowcapped summits. From Warmiwañusqa you descend to the Pacamayo Valley (3,300 m) where you have a lunch break. You then continue the hike through the valley to the Inca ruins of Runkuracay where a guided tour follows. Then you get over the second pass – Abra Runkuracay (3,860 m) and follow the Royal Inkas Highway down to the Inka ruins of Saycamarca passing Lake Yanacocha. Camp in Chaquicocha (3,670).
Estimated Trekking Time: 7-8 hours
Trekking distance: 12 km
Max. elevation: 4,200 m (12,630 ft)
Min. elevation: 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
Difficulty: Challenging

We continue on the trail and pass through charming semi tropical vegetation and many archaeological sites. Before reaching the first site we get over the Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,670) and just behind it we can see the Phuyupatamarca Inka complex (3,600m), one of the best preserved and completed sites of the Inca Trail. It is located on top of a mountain and corresponds with its Quechua name that means `the town above the clouds´. After a guided tour we have lunch there. We then begin a steep descent via cloud forest where we can see delightful orchids and different bird species on the way to our last campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2700 m). A guided tour of the Winaywayna archaeological site follows. After that we have dinner and camp there.

Estimated Trekking time: 5-6 hours time
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max.elevation: 3,670 m (12,040 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate

Another early start. We climb the prehistoric steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise over the long awaited sight of Machu Picchu. We enter the site in the early morning, where you have the best photo opportunities. You then enjoy your 2 and a half hour guided tour of the `Lost City of the Incas´. After that you can explore the ruins by yourself. When you’re finished you can meet the other from the group in Aguas Calientes for lunch or visit the hot springs. In the afternoon we return to Cusco by tourist train from Aguas Calientes.

Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
Trekking distance: 4 km
Max. elevation: 2700 m/8,850 ft
Min. elevation: 2, 400m/7,875 ft
Difficulty: Easy to moderate