Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5-days

Our lodges can be found all along the famous Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu. Our 4 day /3 night service starts with your pick up from your Cusco hotel to your drop off in Aguas Calientes. In our 3 mountain lodges along the trail, we include local, nutricious and tasty meals and cater for all dietary preferences. We also include transportation of your main backpacks to the end of the trail. All you need to bring are your change of clothes! The space The first night, you will stay in Salkantay Lodges with some privileged views of the majestic Salkantay glacier. The second night,You will wake up in a family environment in the jungle and with the aroma of fresh coffee in a local house, full of culture and tradition, not to mention, hospitality. The third night, You will sleep in front of Machu Picchu in our sky lodge with glass rooves….. an oasis of tranquillity. You will be perfectly situated to feel the magic and energy of this ancient wonder…You will be surprised!… Guest access Day 1: The departure from Cusco is approximately at 5:30 a.m. The trip to Mollepata is 2 hours. You will have the opportunity to have breakfast (the first breakfast is not included) in the Mollepata restaurant (La Casona) where you will meet the founder of “Refugios Salkantay”— Mercedes Sotelo. After breakfast, we continue the trip for one more hour to the Challacancha and the Challacancha sector, which will include a two-hour hike along the Inca canal to our first house (Soray House). Once in Soray you will have time to rest in your rooms and then enjoy a locally prepared lunch. After lunch there will be a round trip walk to Laguna del Humantay and the Salkantay Glacier. This walk helps us with the acclimatization of the next day. Soray's house has an altitude of 3800 meters and the lagoon 4200 meters. The round trip walk to the Laguna and the Glacier is approximately 3 hours. We then return to the lodge for dinner. Day 2: This day begins the challenging climb-walk to Salkantay Pass, which is 3 to 4 hours. From the Salkantay pass to the Huayraqmachay sector is 2 hours downhill. Lunch is at Huayraqmachav. From Huayraqmachay to the Challhuay Sector is 3 more hours. The hike through this jungle area of the Amazons, known as the “cloud forest” is filled with beautiful views and many varieties of flora and fauna. In Challhuay a car awaits you to take you to the Lucmabamba Home, which is a one hour drive. As the second day is longer, if you wish you can hire an extra horse to ride alone on the climb for an extra cost of 100 soles (approximately $32 dollars). Day 3: After breakfast, a car will take you to experience the coffee and fruit plantations and products of the area. The trip will include a ride to the hot springs of Cocalmayo (the cost of admission to the hot springs is not included, 10 soles per person). Upon return of your visit to the hot springs of Cocalmayo there will be a delicious local lunch made from products you picked from the trip and then we will trek along the Inca Trail for 3 hours to Llactapata. From here you can see Machu Picchu. In Llactapata you will enjoy a bonfire and a glass of wine in the evening watching in the mountains, all the while in front of you is Machu Picchu. Day 4: You will watch sunrise over Machu Picchu on this day. After breakfast we will walk down 2 hours to Hidroelectrica and from there the hike is two more hours to the town of hot waters Lunch will be at the Hydroelectric train station. We will see a natural waterfall and we will cross the river on a hanging bridge. We will then visit several important sites, including the Inca Sundial. We will then head to the train tracks, where you will have 2 options: you can take a train to (Aguas Calientes) for an extra $31 dollars or you can hike for 3 hours to the hotel. Day 5: ou will need to arrive early to Machu Picchu which means waking up really early! Machu Picchu opens at 6 a.m. until 5p.m. You can choose to hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes which is a hike of about 2 hours. OR you can take the shuttle bus up to the archaeological site for $12 USD (one way) and takes 30 minutes. If you wish to hire the services of an official guide, there are many at the entrance to Machu Picchu, who form groups for a guided tour. The cost is usually around s/.20 soles per person for a group tour and around s/.150 soles for a private tour. A guided tour usually lasts 2 hours for this mystical site. A regular entrance ticket will only allow you to visit for about 2 -3 hours. When you enter Machu Picchu you will head to the principal viewpoint. Here you may take your idyllic, postcard photos of Machu Picchu. After seeing the sunrise (weather permitting), you will start your guided tour which will take about 2.5 hours. You will visit the most important sites and temples inside the archaeological site. At the end of the tour you will have some time to take photos, or if you have reserved the permit to climb Huayna Picchu/Machu Picchu mountain, to climb your respective mountain. These permits need to be reserved ahead of time and cost $35 Usd per person). If you haven’t reserved a climb, you can hike to the to the Sun gate (1.5 hours approximately) or even to the Inca Bridge (45mins). Other things to note INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE: 1. Hotel Pick up in Cusco. 2. Private transport (Cusco - Mollepata / Mollepata - Challacancha.) 3. Hot shower at all lodges. 4. Fresh towels and soap provided at all lodges. 5. Rooms in private cabins: Soraypampa, Lucmabamba, Llactapata. 6. Mules And horsemen to carry your personal items for 100% of the route with the exception of (Hidroelectric - Aguas Calientes). 7. We include porters day 3 and 4 (you will be accompanied by porters as this trail is not suitable for the mules) 8. First Aid kit in all lodges. 9. All meals included during the hike with until the last day when we reach Hydro electric. 10. Sleeping bags are NOT required as we provide plenty of blankets at each lodge. 11. We also provide a natural walking stick for the hike at no extra cost- one stick per person. 12. Water is provide. (Bottled). 13. WiFi Free 14. All our Refugios have renewable energy to charge their cell phone. 15. Coffee tour