Salkantay Challenge Trek 3 days

OVERVIEW FOR SALKANTAY CHALLENGE TREK

The Region of Salkantay is one of Peru’s top trekking destinations since the trek takes you to Machu Picchu, the new wonder of the world; the 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek is a ultimate trekking adventure, crossing one pass over 4,600m / 15091ft, offering amazing scenery and views. The trip is a package for customers with a well experience in trekking; this amazing trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6.271 m / 20,574 ft); one of the highest and most stunning mountain in the Peruvian Andes.

The trekking has been opened to everybody in its different modalities of 3 days , 4 days 5 days and more; “Sunrise Peru Trek” a trekking specialist travel company, offers to its customers a 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek for well-trained trekkers. The trekking is the most popular alternative Trek to Machu Picchu since the trail runs through different ecological zones. For Salkantay Challenge Trek is very important to be well prepared since the trail is considered very challenging, in this trek is included two days of trekking for 8 -9 hours per day and one day exploring Machu Picchu.

Fast facts

• Duration:   3 days / 2 ghts
• Max. Elevation: 4,600 (Salkantay Pass)
• Start/finish: Cusco City
• Difficulty:  Challenging
• Trek style: Adventure trekking / Camping Trek
• Type of Tour: adventure, cultural and history.
• Transport: bus, trekking and train.

Getting there!

The typical starting point of the Salkantay Challenge Trek is the zone of Saryapampa at 3,800m / 12468ft where we’ll arrive by private car. Soraypampa is a small community located at the base of the Salkantay Mountain. This is the normal campsite for other groups that hike in 4 or 5 days. To get this place we’ll drive for 4-hour from the city of Cusco.

For this trek is very important to be in good physical condition since the trek offers top trekking route.

Permits & regulations

As with other treks in the Cusco region, you’ll need Entrance fees for the trek ($10 USD) and the special permit to get in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu ($50 USD). The costs of the entrances are included in the cost of the tour but, it’s very recommendable to reserve in advance. If you’re going through a trekking agency, they will arrange these for you. If you’re arranging your trek yourself, you’ll need to pick up your permit in Cusco.

Description

Our Salkantay Challenge Trek starts from Soraypampa at 3,800 meters (12468ft) located at four-hour bus ride from the city of Cusco. The trek continues 4 hours up to the highest pass of Salkantay located at 4,600 m (15,091 ft). Then, the trail descends throught the left-hand side of the valley, becoming indistinct in swampy areas. And then comes a place named Huayracmachay “Eye of the Wind”; from here, we will have a great chance to see the beautiful Pyramid-shape of Humantay behind as you drop below the tree line; known as “LA CEJA DE SELVA” (“Eyebrow of the Jungle”), and walk through groves of bamboo with many orchids and other flowers and lots of hummingbirds, spectacular waterfalls, a small hot spring at Collpapampa, the right place to see parakeets that abound in this area as well.

Inquiry now

The second day, the trek continues through the cloud forest until “Hidroelectrica” from where we’ll follow the rail way for 3 hours to the town of Aguas CAlientes. If you are tired you can decide to take the train for 30 hours (USD35 extra); once we arrive to the town of Aguas Calientes, you’ll have accommodation in the hotel. The last day we’ll explore Machu Picchu and I the afternoon we’ll return to Cusco by train.

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES

• Guided Salkantay Trek.
• Machu Picchu Tour.
• Free time within Machu Picchu

HIGHLIGHTS OF SALKANTAY TREK CHALLENGE TREK

• The Salkantay Trek is listed among the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
• The Salkantay Trek is definitely one of the best hiking adventures that you will find in Peru.
• After the Inca Trail the Salkantay Trek is the second most popular trek to Machu Picchu, and a lot less crowded.
• The hike alongside the magnificent Apu Salkantay and the arrival at the ruins of Machu Picchu is one of the best experiences known to mankind.
• See natural bridges, snowcapped mountains, cascades, wildlife and cloud forests.
• Camping with less people to make your own trip and have the best look on these incredible mountains.

DETAILED SALKANTAY TREK CHALLENGE TREK ITINERARY

FIRST TREKKING DAY:  CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – QOLLPA

We’ll leave the city of Cusco at 03:30 a.m. (Pick up time from your hotel); we’ll travel by car for about 3 hours to the town of Mollepata where we’ll stop to use toilets, some breakfast and probably purchase some items for the trek, then we’ll continue one hour drive to Soraypampa (3,800m / 12467ft) where we’ll start the Trekking to Machupicchu.

As soon as we are at Soraypampa, our chef and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we’ll start the hike. The first 4 hours will be uphill to get to the Highest Point which is at 4,600 m / 15091ft (the highest of the trek) then the trail, we’ll continue down to Huayracmachay where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4,120 masl/13,500 ft) and down the beginning of the cloud forest.

After lunch you’ll have time to rest and refill your water bottle; then the trail continues down for about 2 hours to the camp of Qollpa; which is a small community where we’ll see farms.

• Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours
• Beginning point: 3,800 m / 12467ft
• Maximum altitude point: 4,600 m / 15091ft
• Campsite altitude: 3,200 m / 10450ft

SECOND TREKKING DAY: QOLLPA – “HIDROELECTRICA” – “AGUAS CALIENTES”

After good breakfast, we’ll continue the trek through lush and beautiful scenery, keeping our eyes open for flora and fauna along the way. In this part of the trail, we will see different types of plants, fruits, flowers, birds etc. coca and banana crops can be observed; with luck, we can see the famous Peruvian National Bird called “Tunki” or the “Gallito de las Rocas – The Cock of the Rocks “.  After four hours of trekking we’ll arrive to the zone of “Playa Sawayacu” where you’ll visit the organic coffee farms and you will have the choice to taste this extraordinary drink.  The coffee is the main product that people farm here and they export to different pars of America, Europe and Asia.

From the “Playa Sawayacu” We continue walk half hours to Lucmabamba where the lunch will be served.  From here we’ll take car until the zone of “hidro”¡… why?  Other ways can be very hard the ascent to the pas of LLactapata the car will take us first of all to the town of Santa Teresa and from here we continue to “Hidro”.

From “Hidro” we’ll continue the trekking next to the railway for 3 hours until the town of Aguas Calientes. If you are exhausted, you can take the train to Aguas Calientes ($31.00 extra). Once we arrive to the town of Aguas Calientes you’ll have accommodation in the hotel. At approximately 7:00pm you’ll have diner in one of the restaurants, at the diner time your trekking guide will give you the briefing for the guided tour at Machu Picchu; after that you can go to rest in your hotel and be ready for the next day.

Trekking Facts

• Estimated walking time: 8-9 hours
• Beginning point: 3,200 m / 10450ft
• Maximum altitude point: 2,750 m / 9022ft
• Aguas Calientes altitude: 2,000 m / 6562ft

THIRD DAY: “AGUAS CALIENTES” – MACHU PICCHU TOUR – CUSCO

This trekking ends with an especial visit of Machu Picchu. We’ll wake up very early (4:00am); at 4:30 am you’ll have your breakfast in the hotel after that you will need to leave your duffel bag in the reception of the hotel; at approximately 5:30am am we’ll take the bus for 25 minutes up to Machu Picchu; this is the best time to view the “Lost City of the Incas” – Machu Picchu.

Once in Machu Picchu you’ll have a walking tour of 2 or 3 hours; you also can explore more the site. After all you’ll take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes where you can have your lunch in one of the restaurants; During the tour in Machu Picchu you’ll visit the most important places such as the Inca palace, the different temples built for the elements of the Mother Nature, Inca terraces with impressive aqueducts, the sundial, the storehouses, the stone quarry the main square and more.

In the afternoon, at 2:55 pm we’ll take the train from the Town of Aguas Calientes to the train station of Ollanta (1:45 hours); from here you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the city of Cusco; you´ll arrive in Cusco at approximately 7:00pm.

SALKANTAY CHALLENGE TREK VIDEO

SALKANTAY CHALLENGE TREK MAP

See the Map for Salkantay Challenge Trek -thist trek takes you to explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu