The Responsible People foundation is registered under the Peruvian Non-Profit Organization Act. With an annual contribution from Tierras Vivas, we support our operating costs as well as a significant portion of project development costs.
responsiblepeople.org
If your goal is Machu Picchu and you want to achieve it by hiking, but you cannot decide whether to trek the famous Inca Trail or the adventurous Salkantay Trek, now you do not miss even one of them, since you can undertake the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail with us. This trekking expedition takes you to the foothill of the sacred snowy peak of Salkantay (6,271 m/20,700 ft), considered by local native people to be the “Guardian Spirit of the Jungle”. The first part of the trek provides you with an opportunity to observe remote native communities and enjoy gorgeous mountain sceneries before joining the Classic Inca Trail. This second part enables you to discover remote Incan ruins that are hidden from common visitors as they are not accessible using transport! In the end, you experience the once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere of the New Wonder of the World – Machu Picchu.
Salkantay to Inca Trail is one of the most complete authentical Inca paths that you can find! On the way, you can watch quick landscape changes as going through diverse microclimates. This offers fantastic views so do not forget to have your camera ready. The trek is challenging and is designed for experienced trekkers that would like to try something new and uncommon. The first part of the trip is supported by horses and the second by Porters (due to strict Inca Trail regulations). We also provide you with top-quality camping equipment and a very balanced and energetic diet so that you do not need to be worried about any facility and just enjoy the trek, which is an unforgettable experience.
At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities. We are again supporting Sernamp this Inca Trail 2022 with picking up trash and clearing the trail.
Tierras Vivas Travel.
Superior service all inclusive, extra horses for your equipment and private transport.
3 – Demanding – Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers
8+ / All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Campsites (6 nights).
A Tierras Vivas representative in Cusco and a professional Tour Guige, a Cook, a Horseman and Porters for the Salkantay Trek vs Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
6x breakfast, 6x lunch, 6x dinner, 6x afternoon tea.
Transportation by private van, 1x train
Mix: 2 Max: 8 Trekkers
Day 01: Cusco – Soraypampa
Day 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pampa
Day 03: Salkantay Pampa – Pampacahuarina
Day 04: Pampacahuarina – Llullucha Pampa
Day 05: Llucha Pampa – Chaquicocha
Day 06: Chaquicocha – Wiñayhuayna
Day 07: Wiñayhuayna – Machu Picchu
Departure Point: Cusco – We pick you up from your hotel.
Departure Time: 05:30
Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek
Briefing Time: Between 17:00 – 18:00
Return Point: Cusco – Our driver will drop-off in your hotel or Airbnb department
We recommend you contact by WhatsApp our staff at (+51 984004472), we will reply to you ASAP, and you can book online your 7-day Inca Trail combo. In case you want to talk with our info department, we can coordinate a meeting via google meet or WhatsApp
The Inca Trail starts on the fourth day of the Salkantay Inca Trail!
For Example: if you like to start the tour on the 10th of May, you need to check Inca Trail availability on May 13th!. If there is still availability of the Inca Trail on the date requested at the time of your booking.
You can check the Salkantay Trek to Inca Trail Permits Availability for 2023! Please click on Salkantay Trek to Inca Trail 2023 and Book Online!. Chose the best month and day for your Hike to Machu Picchu. Remenber. Once booked, It is not refunded and you can´t change your travel date. We recommend to book in advance.
If you want to know about our foundation, please click Responsible Travel
We pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am to take you by private transport for a 3-hour ride from Cusco (3,400 m) to Mollepata (2,803 m/9,196 ft). On the way, we stop in Limatambo (a small town) to visit Tarawasi – very important religious Incan remains! Then, we continue our ride to a one and half an hour far away town of Mollepata where we have breakfast. Then we continue by driving to Challacancha head trail. There we start hiking up to Soraypampa (3,500 m/11,482 ft) and we take then wide gradually ascend to passing various Andean forests and steppes on the route giving us many opportunities to take fantastic photos of birds, flowers, and various plants! In Soraypampa, we are given stunning views of the snow-capped peak of Rayuska (5,350 m/17,552 ft). At the end of the day, we get to the place of our first campsite at Soraypampa (3,600 m/10,200 ft).
Estimated trekking time: 6 hours
Trekking distance: 14 km
Max. elevation: 3,600 m (10,200 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,803 m (9,196 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
After an early breakfast, we start our today´s trek. First, we get to Salkantaypampa (4,100 m/13,451 ft) where we join the main route of the Salkantay Trek. From there, it takes approximately an 2 hour to reach Salkantay Pampa, a place of our campsite for lunch. Before we do so, we are given an opportunity to observe a breathtaking scenery of the sacred mountains of Humantay (5,917 m/19,412 ft) and Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 ft)!! Especially, the Salkantay Mountain is considered by Andean cultures to be “Apus” (a mountain god) of a great importance!! So we continue first through a lovely valley with native flowers and impresive views of the Mountain in front of us at the left side passing through the indigenous villages. Then, we ascend to the Incachiriaska Pass (Frozen Inca Pass; 5,100 m/16,700 ft), the highest point on the entire trek. From this point, we can admire the closest view of Salkantay and the whole this area dotted with small mountain lagoons and old glaciers of diverse shades of blue! If we are lucky, we can see a variety of viscachas (chinchillas) and white-tailed deer and hopefully some rare animals such as a condor, guanaco, and vicunha! After the pass we will be hiking down for 20 minutes until Ichupata ( Andean grass place) where we have a stop for a break and pictures, afterward we will descend until Sisay pampa Camp (3790m), at this section we will be able to fully appreciate and take in the imposing Andean topography, quiet and cozy place where you can see Llamas, Alpacas and with luck, we might see a condor. Camp near the local kid’s school. ( 7-8 hours walking ). When in Sisaypampa, we set a campsite to be later served dinner. The night might be a bit colder due to its altitude so do not forget to pack a sufficient number of warm clothes please.
Estimated trekking time: 8 hours
Trekking distance: 15 km
Max. elevation: 4,100 m (13,451 ft)
Min. elevation: 3,600 m (10,200 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Today, we leave the main route of the Salkantay Trek to change to the route of the Inca Trail. From our campsite, after breakfast, We start descending to the Cusichaca Valley until the small village of Pampacawana (4,000 m/13,123 ft), a place where we can appreciate old Incan channels! We set up a next campsite nearby and after dinner, we go to sleep.
Estimated trekking time: 6 hours
Trekking distance: 14 km
Max. elevation: 5,100 m/16,700 ft
Min. elevation: 4,000 m/13,123 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Hard trekking expects us today so we finish our breakfast to gain more energy and get ready for the trek. First, we hike for 3 hours to get to Paucarcancha (3,205 m/10,515 ft). There, our Tour Guide shows you around antique Inca ruins called Inkaracay! Then we descend for a couple of minutes to the town of Wayllabamba (3,000 m/9,842 ft). There, we say goodbye to our horsemen and horses and welcome our Porters as we join the route of the Inca Trail where only Porters are permitted. Before we continue climbing, we enjoy lunch. During hiking, we can appreciate a cloud forest with its native trees, orchids, mosses, ferns as well as birds. Finally, we get to our next campsite at Llullucha Pampa (3,855 m/12,650 ft)
Estimated trekking time: 7 hours
Trekking distance: 13 km
Max. elevation: 3,855 m/12,650 ft
Min. elevation: 3,000 m/9,842 ft
Difficulty: Difficult
Early after breakfast, you start ascending towards the highest point of the trail – Abra Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman´s Pass) at 4,200 meters passing through the cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku offering excellent views of surrounding snowcapped peaks. From Warmiwañusqa, you descend to the Pacaymayo Valley (3,300 m), where you have a lunch break. Then you continue hiking through the valley to the Inca ruins of Runkuracay where a guided tour follows. Afterward, you climb up and get over the second pass – Abra Runkurakay (3,860m) walking on this “Royal Inca´s Highway” down to the next Incan site – Sayacmarca. On the way, you pass Yanacocha Lake. In the end, we get to our second campsite – Chaquicocha (3,670 m).
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
Today, we start hiking passing through lovely subtropical vegetation and many important archaeological sites. Before we reach the first site, we get over Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,670 m) and just behind it, we can see the Phuyupatamarca Incan complex (3,600 m), one of the best preserved and most completed sites of the trek. The complex is located on the top of a mountain and it corresponds with its Quechuan name that means the “Town above the Clouds”. After a guided tour, we have lunch there. Then, we start a steep descent via a cloud forest offering an opportunity to see beautiful orchids and different bird species on the way to our last campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,700 m). There we have a guided tour of the same-named impressive archaeological complex consisting of a religious sector, urban sector and an agricultural center with lots of stepped terraces. Afterwards, we are served dinner and then we go to sleep to get ready for the “icing on the cake” of the trail – Machu Picchu!!
Estimated trekking time: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 3,670 m (12,040 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Early morning of the last day, we climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu!! Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit of the so called “Lost City of the Incas”!! Afterwards, you have an opportunity to climb the peak of Wayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu!! In the afternoon, you descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
Trekking distance: 4 km
Max. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,400 m (7,875 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Extra porter and horse: Usually it is not necesary, becuase it is included in our service, but If you want to take the extra personal equipment more up 7 kg, you can rent the extra horse and porter to carry your personal belonging (USD 150)
Solo Travelers: Please note that if you have booked the “Solo Traveler” option for this trek, you receive your own single tent for all nights.
Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek’s price!. If you need to book the flight, let us know, we can try to get the best price, contact us.
It’s very important to take Extra Money. You need to take at least 200-300 soles emergency money:
Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. The horses carry your luggage from Soraypampa (1st day) to Huayllabamba (3th day). 4 day Inca Trail hike our porter carry your luggage from Huayllabamba to Wiñayhuayna. Our porter takes your luggage to the Aguas Calientes town. They will leave in a restaurant your luggage and that finishing the trek, you can meet. We recommend keeping the weight under 7 kg/15lb.
If very important your take best cover backpacker, because the weather in Salkantay trek and Inca Trail is change every date, we can’t predict it raining or no. If you don’t have, we recommended to put your clothes, sleeping bag and other personal equipment inside the plastic bag
Climate in Cusco: The highland region of Cusco has well defined winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June – August) are very sunny and warm, but the temperature drops to near freezing at night. Rainy season is from January to March. December and January are two of the nicest months for trekking with only the occasional shower and blooming flowers.
Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the five, Six and seven day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.
Many are the routes that are included in Machu Picchu Vacation Packages, but none is like the Inca Trail, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
Few travel excursions will top as many bucket lists as the Inca Trail Tours to Machu Picchu and for good reason. Combining sub-tropical jungle, lush cloud forests and staggering alpine scenery, the 44-kilometre trek is ranked among the finest in the world.
But there are certain drawbacks. With an increasing number of travellers looking for their piece of the action – 2012 saw 62,789 pass the main gate of the trail. This is one adventure that’s fast becoming the most popular trek in the world.
In a bid to minimise environmental impact, the Peruvian Government now issues just 500 permits a day (with up to 300 of those going to cooks, porters and guides), meaning those looking to travel in peak season, May to September will often need to apply for permits months in advance. But to avoid crowds and red tape, a great option is to look at some of the lesser-known alternative treks. The exhilarating, high-altitude Salkantay Trek is steadily growing a reputation.
Encompassing five different ecosystems over the same number of days, the ancient path offers a mind-blowing mix of snow-capped glacial mountains, lush tropical rainforests and vast Lord of the Rings-style plains across Mt Salkantay rising 6,271 metres above sea level.
And while the Salkantay may not possess the international brag factor of the Inca Trail, its advantages are many. The Salkantay Trek offers a different experience to the Inca Trail and delivers the best vistas of the Salkantay mountain as well as superb hiking.
Also, you don’t need porters. Most travellers on the Salkantay Trek use animals, such as mules or horses. You get close to the majestic Mt Salkantay, and it’s possible to stay either in lodges or camps. It’s important to note the Salkantay Trek will require a permit from 2015. It doesn’t lead directly to Machu Picchu though it does still culminate at the site following a brief transfer from nearby Aguas Calientes on the final morning.
The Salkantay Trek is also a more strenuous alternative to the Inca Trail, the altitude is higher in several places and there is some steep, rugged terrain to tackle. That said, a little bit of prior fitness training goes a long way and people of all ages, in good physical condition, with some hiking experience will do fine on this trek.
If you have the time and energy many people trek both trails as they a really both unique unto themselves.
Inca Trail vs Salkantay Altitude
4 Day Inca Trail
Max. elevation: Dead Woman’s Pass 4,250 meters / 13943.57 feet
5 Day Salkantay Trek
Max. elevation: Salkantay Mountain’s Pass 4,620 meters / 15157.48 feet
Inca Trail to Salkantay Trek cost
Inca Trail: U$ 680 per person included the porters for your personal belonging
Salkantay Trek: U$ 550 per person included the horses for your personal belonging
In the both hike, it is included all camping equipment such sleeping bag, pillow, blanket, hiking poles.
Inca Trail and Salkantay Permits
Inca Trail: it is included the Inca Trail permits and Official Machu Picchu tickets, it is very important to book in advance, because there are only 500 spaces available everyday included trekkers, guides and porters.
Salkantay Trek: It is included the Salkantay and Machu Picchu tickets. Book in advance, there are limited for the Machu Picchu tickets. Usually the all tour operator require the entrance fee between to 6:00 am or 7:00 am for your guided tour.
What do you views during the hike to the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek?
What do you view on the Inca Trail?
What do you view during the hike to Salkantay?
perfect