4 Day Salkantay Trek Tour | Salkantay Trek Backpaking
Salkantay Trek Backpacking to Machu Picchu is the best alternative path to the Inca Trail, known for its spectacular views and its ecological levels. Cheap
Description
Salkantay 4 day trek cheap or Backpacking is the best alternative to the Inca Trail. On this 4 day hike you overcome the highest point of the trek, On the first day it is easy hike, you walk between the Challacancha to Soraypampa (3700 meters). On the second is hard day, you will walk up between Soraypampa 3700 meters to Salkantay Mountain.4,550 meters above sea level! also enjoy amazing mountain sceneries with snowy peaks, mountain lagoons and remote Andean villages to later experience a subtropical area of Cusco with its warm climate! The icing on the cake is obviously a guided tour of Machu Picchu in the end!
Forget the Inca Trail and hike to Machu Picchu along the higher, more beautiful and less touristy Salkantay Trail! Discover a different side of the great Andes mountain range and get the most amazing views of the mountains by taking this alternative route to Machu Picchu and at a good price. Ascend to the highest pass at 4,550 meters above sea level for up-close-and-personal views of the massive Salkantay and Humantay mountain peaks in the Vilcanota mountain range, which are among the highest in Peru. This pristine high altitude trail is the perfect opportunity to get away from the crowds and get into the nature to see abandoned Inca sites not very visited by tourists. This is the most challenging hike but you’ll get to walk very close to the glaciers and get revel with the wondrous mountain peaks towering overhead as you breathe fresh mountain air. The famous Salkantay trail is top 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine
What to Expect
Tour Overview
Service Level: Salkantay Travel Budget and tourist transportation.
Physical Rating: 3 - 4 Demanding - Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers
Age requirement: 12+ / All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tour Operator: Local Tour Operator
Crew: A Representative in Cusco and a professional Tour Guide, Cook and Horseman.
Do I need to book it in advance? The Salkantay 4 day trek cheap has departures guaranteed, but train tickets and entrance to Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are subjet to availability. For that reason, we HIGHLY recommend booking it in advance to ensure you receive exactly what you want!
PLEASE NOTE: May, June and July are peak months of a HIGH TOURIST SEASON in Cusco. It means that train tickets ARE SELL OUT QUICKLY!! Please be aware that the trek leaves daily; however, return train tickets may not be available, if you like to book on last moment. To avoid this inconvenience, please book it several weeks in advance!
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Itineray Details
Day 01: Cusco - Molletapata - Soraypampa
We rise about 5 am and go from Cusco on bus for about 4 hours to Mollepata village (2900 meters above sea level). You will arrive around 7.30 am, we stop for 45 minutes and have breakfast in a restaurant if the group wants (not included in cost) and can buy some last minute supplies. (not included)Then we continue our ride uphill, for 1 more hour until we reach Challacancha (the trail head).
There we meet our support staff, who will pack the equipment on the horses and mules. We need to have 2 backpacks. One which will carry all our personal items(up to 5kg) that will go on the horses and a daypack with just necesities that you will carry. From there we hike for about four hours to Soraypampa, which is burrowed between the snowy mountains (3850 meters above sea level), on a trail which is a mixture of uphill, downhill and flat path, during which we will have sweeping views of the impressive Salkantay, other snowy mountains and the valley of the Apurimac River. We reach our campsite, where we have 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.
Day 02: Soraypampa - Huayracmachay - Chaullay
An early start, we have a fine breakfast and prepare ourselves for the longest and most difficult day of the excursion. We start on a moderate pace for 1 hour till we get to Soyrococha. Then we hike uphill for around 3 hours more till we reach the high pass, at 4,800m close to the wonderful frosty peaks of Salkantay (6,271m) and Humantay (6,100m), the second highest peak in the Cusco region.
Here we enjoy the stunning scenery, you will also see heaps of stones called Apachetas. From here we descend for 1 hour to Wayracmachay (3,800m) where we have lunch and a rest. Then follows a 3 hour hike to our campsite in Chaullay.
Day 03: Chaullay - Playa Sahuayaco - Bus a Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes
Wake up at5:00a.m., we will start our trek and we will enjoy the beautiful sunrise. We will walk for about 5 hours toward Playa Sahuayaco and during this period; we will observe a town called Collpabamba, also called the “Forest Cloudy Brow” where waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds can be observed. salcantay pass river crossingIf we are lucky, we will be able to observe the famous bird called the “Cock of the Rocks'. Once at Playa Sahuayaco, we will take a local bus to drive us to the hydroelectric train station. At around 1:30p.m., we will have our lunch at the hydroelectric. At 3:20p.m., here we have 2 options if you want you can go walking until Aguas Calientes or if you want you can take a train from the hydroelectric to the town of Aguas Calientes (2000 meters above sea level). Here, you have the option of going to the thermal hot springs.
We will have dinner at 7:00p.m. and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 04: Machu Picchu
An early start to continue hiking to Machu Picchu and see the sunrise over this glorious old city! We walk for about 2 hours to the ruins of Machu Picchu and have a full guided tour that takes about 2 hours.
After you have plenty of time to traverse the fortress on your own, and maybe climb Huayna Picchu (if you have a permit) or the Inca Bridge.
Afterwards you can take the bus to Aguas Calientes. You can have lunch at Aguas Calientes (not included in the cost). In the afternoon, we return by train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco.
Included
What is included in this trek?
Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
Early morning transfer by tourist bus to Challacancha - the initial point of the trek;
Accommodation: Campsites (2 nights) and a Hostel in Machu Picchu (1 night);
Entrance fee to the Salkantay and Machu Picchu;
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 2x dinner and Hot drinks in the evening (please advise us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO extra additional cost);
Professional bilingual Tour Guide (a group of up to 8 participants receives 1 Guide, a group over 8 persons receives 2 Guides);
Professional Cook;
Horseman;
Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff;
Personal double tents
Sleeping mattress (Syntetic)
Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
A shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu (U$12 - one way - U$ 24 round trip);
Water every day (you can buy on the trail, there are small local markert;
Inflatable mattress (Term-a-Rest Mattress) U$ 25;
A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C) U$ 20;
Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
Other extras not mentioned.
Essential Information
Suggest Items
Luggage and backpacker for you Trekking
Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. The horses carry your luggage from Soraypampa (1st day) to Playa camping (3th day). 3 day hike, our chef takes your luggage by bus to Hidrolectrica. From there to Aguas Calientes, you are expected to carry your own luggage (max 3 hrs), in case, the local train running, our chef take your luggage to the town. We recommend keeping the weight under 7 kg/15lb. You will need to carry clothes.
If very important your take best cover backpacker, because the weather in Salkantay 4 day trek cheap 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.
What to pack for Salkantay 4 day trek cheap?
Original passport ,
Original ISIC (an international student card if applicable)
Pocket money in Nuevos Soles,
A backpack
A small rucksack,
Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
Sun cream or sun block,
After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),
Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
Small towel and toiletries,
Sufficient reserve of underwear,
Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.) Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refill.
Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,
Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.
The Inca Path tour involves 9 day trip to Peru. From Lima to Cusco city. Visit the Sacred Valley and hike for 4 days the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Book Now!
Salkantay Trek Backpacking to Machu Picchu is the best alternative path to the Inca Trail, known for its spectacular views and its ecological levels. Cheap