Trek to Salkantay

Description:

The snowy peak of Salkantay (6372m) has been considered a sacred mountain from the time of the Inkas, and so the trails surrounding Salkantay are also Inka trails. In this walk you can appreciate the surrounding glacial walls. The hike begins in the friendly town of Mollepara.

As you are walking up the trail, the snow peaks appear in the valley. The first to appear is Humantay and then later the impressive snowy peak of Salkantay. The hike ends on the other side of the mountains in the tropical valley of the River Vilcanota, near MachuPicchu.

itinerary

At 5:00 a.m. we begin our trip going through the valley of the River Apurimac. The road is paved until Limatambo, and from there is not paved. We travel for one hour driving up to Mollepata , and from that point we begin to hike. The hike lasts 5 hours walking through the valley of Río Blanco which contains the thawed ice coming from the snowy peaks of Salkantay and Humantay. We camp in a place named Soraypampa.

This day we ascend to Humantay doing 7 large switchbacks, and a 45 minute walk afterwards. From this point you can see the valley of Santa Teresa as well as the peaks of mountains and their lakes. We begin to descend down the valley to a place called Challhuay where we camp.

Continuing the trail to the valley below we arrive at Santa Teresa, which is a small tropical village located on the banks of the River Vilcanota. This town was hit by a disasterous mudslide caused by el Niño in 1998. As a result the train line between Cusco and Quillabamba was destroyed. We will stay in Santa Teresa in a basic hostel. Surrounding Santa Teresa you will find fruit farms, which have an abundance of oranges, plantains and other kinds of fruit.

This day we will walk through the valley of the River Vilcanota to the hydroelectric plant of MachuPicchu on the old train line. The hike will take about 4 hours. In this spot we will take a local train that leaves at 4 p.m. and takes us to Aguas Calientes (MachuPicchu). There we will take you to a two-star hotel, very clean and enjoyable. In the night we will visit the thermal waters of Aguas Calientes.

fifth day.- Aguas Calientes - Cusco

Early in the morning we will begin our trip to MachuPicchu. We will leave in a bus from Aguas Calientes to MachuPicchu. When you arrive you will receive a guide, and your tour will last approximately 2 hours. After you may stay 2 more hours to explore the ruins. Afterwards you will return to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon we will return to Cusco by train in the station in Aguas Calientes. In Cusco a bus will take you back to your hotel.