The Salkantay & Short Inca Trail trek is a spectacular path with diverse ecological zones filled with an enormous variety of plants and bird life, beautiful snowy mountains, unique turquoise lagoons, and it connects with part of the classic Inca Trail and the short Inca Trail, The ancient and remote foot path passes you through to the sun gate, from where you can enjoy the stunning view of the sacred Machu Picchu citadel.
SALKANTAY TREK & SHORT INCA TRAIL OVERVIEW
Pick up from your hotel at 05:00 AM, our private van will take you until Soraypampa village (3800m / 12.467 ft.); the beginning of our adventure, where we will meet with our support team muleteers.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Today is a day of adventure to conquer the Inca chiriasca Pass (4850m / 15.908ft).
HIGHLIGHTS:
Today is a day to enjoy Inca constructions and walk part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas
HIGHLIGHTS:
Today is the most beautiful day, first travel by train then enjoy walking along the original Inca path until Machupicchu.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Today dreams come true enjoying one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and returns to Cusco full of magic.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Our Itinerary is as follows:
Briefing/ smoothllamaperu Cusco office.
It will be in our office which is located at Street Lizandro Montero Ñ – 4
All travelers are required to visit the Cuzco office for a mandatory briefing on your trek one day prior to departure at 6:00 pm. At this meeting you will receive detailed information on the route, a list of what to bring, confirm your pick-up for the morning of the trek and be able to ask questions. However, if you wish to receive all the information in your hotel, let us know and our guide will kindly approach your hotel for the informative meeting.
The transfer will pick you up early in the morning at 05:00 AM. From the hotel in a private van and will take you for around 2 hours to Mollepata town, here we will take breakfast (not included), after we will continue driving for 1 more hour until Soraypampa village, here is the beginning of our trek, from where you will enjoy the amazing views ofHumantay (5900m/19,356ft)andSalkantay (6217m/20,396ft) glacier Mountains.
We take a 2 hour round trip hike up to see the turquoise Humantay Lake and later on we gently ascend for around 5 to 6 hours until the camp Ichupata, but we stop in Salkantaypampa where we will have our lunch with the view of the majestic Apu Salkantay snow mountain, Apu Pumasillo, Apu palcay, small rivers, if we are lucky we will see some Andean wild animals such as: Andean fox, Andean deer, Andean chinchilla, Andean condor and much more. Once we reach to the camp Ichupata we enjoy our afternoon tea time, coffee, or hot chocolate. The views on this day are truly breathtaking.
Inclusions: Cuzco Accommodation Pick-Up, Bus Cuzco Soraypampa (starting point of trek), 1 Night Camping
Meals: 1 Lunch / 1 Dinner, (Plus afternoon tea time)
Trekking: 12 kilometers / 6 hours
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate
After a delicious breakfast, the panoramic views are very beautiful, and today is a day of adventure to conquer the Pass (4850m / 15.908ft). We continue walking up 3 hours to the Inca chiriasca pass, which is approximately 1km away from the snow-capped mountain Salkantay, then we will descend 2 hours until our lunch spot in Sisaypampa, a flat area from here you can observe the Salkantay neighboring stunning Valleys. This is a place where we can see condors. After lunch we continue for 3 hours to the community of Pampacahuana, There we will find an Inca Canal that is still in full use by the local farming settlements. We have afternoon tea or coffee at our campsite, Here is our camp to spend the night.
Inclusions: 1 Night Camping
Meals: 1 Breakfast / 1 Lunch / 1 Dinner, (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
Trekking: 14 kilometers / 8 hours
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Advanced – Moderate
After a delicious breakfast we start hiking for around 3 hours downhill to the end of pampacahua valley, in our tour we will visit a fascinating Patawasi Inca site and from the natural viewpoints we will observe Llactapata and Canamarka Inca sites. then we will arrive at Wayllabamba village for our lunch, after a delicious lunch we walk for 4 more hours to KM 82, on the way we will enjoy Amazing Inca buildings along the sacred valley of the Incas such as: Llactapata, Wilcarakay, Q´anabamba, will see the majestic Apu Wakaywilca snowcapped Mountain (5700m / 18.700ft.), and many varieties of native plants such as: Qéuña, Molle, Cactus, Muña, begonias and much more which adorns the Mather Nature (Pachamama). From km 82, our vehicle will take us to Ollantaytambo to our respective Hotel “1 hour of travel”.
Inclusions: 1 Night hotel
Meals: 1 Breakfast / 1 Lunch / 1(Dinner in a restaurant), (Plus snacks)
Trekking: 15 kilometers / 8 hours
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy
Today we will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Ollantaytambo, and drive to Ollantaytambotrain station, 1 hour and 20 minutes of a scenic train ride to 104 kms point (2080 m. / 6824 Ft.). That will be the beginning of the trek, after pass the check point we will visit the first amazing Inca building of Chachabamba, after explore with our guide we begin a moderate climb for three hours to the archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna (2600 m. / 8,530 Ft.), from where you will enjoy the spectacular plunging views of the Urubamba Canyon, wiñayhuayna is one of the most impressive constructions along the Inca Trail, surrounded by huge mountains, flowers, orchids and tropical vegetation, you will have the opportunity to enjoy it.
We will continue onward towards the Sun Gate. (2700 m / 8,858 ft.) Following the ancient remote footpath which goes inside the Jungle, we will reach the viewpoint of the famous sun gate, From where is the first spectacular and magic view of the sacred Machu Picchu Citadel in all its brilliance and majesty, 45 minutes of descending we reach to Machupicchu, and then we will take a bus to Aguas Calientes town where we spend the night.
Inclusions: 1 Night hotel
Meals: 1 Breakfast / 1 box Lunch (We can provide a vegetarian box lunch if you let us know ahead of time). / 1(Dinner in the restaurant).
Trekking: 12 kilometers / 8 – 9 hours
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate – Easy
Early in the morning, we will go up by taking the first bus at 5:30AM to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Observe the sunrise in Machu Picchu is a beautiful detail, and “if the weather allows us we will have a beautiful view of this special event”, Your guide will expertly take you all around Machupicchu for 2 hours. Then on your own, wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center, then in the afternoon you must return to the town of Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and from Ollantaytambo train station the transfer will take to you in our van to Cusco.
Inclusions:
Meals: 1 Breakfast
Trekking: 1.5 kilometers / 2 hours
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy
Here are a few of alternative activities that you might wish to indulge in on your own:
Tips for the staff (smoothllamaperu staff receives a fair and decent payment immediately after they end their trip.), Please remember that tipping is 100% optional and depends entirely on the service you received. It is customary to give tips in Latin America, however it is NOT mandatory. If you do wish to give a tip, these are our recommended guidelines.
EXTRAS:
PRICE: US$800 per person
*** This price includes the extra porter who will carry your belongings up to 7 kilos except on the 2 day Inca Trail portion of the trek it is not possible (including the sleeping bag : 2kgs), we will provide you a duffle bag to put your belongings in.
***We provide large Eureka 4 man tents for each 2 trekkers.
DISCOUNTS:
EXTRAS:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
“Please read carefully the following information; it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the trek to Machu Picchu”.
ABOUT THE BRIEFING
All travelers are required to visit the Cuzco office for a mandatory briefing on your trek one day prior to departure at 6:00 pm. At this meeting you will receive detailed information on the route, a list of what to bring, confirm your pick-up for the morning of the trek and be able to ask questions. However, if you wish to receive all the information in your hotel, our guide will kindly approach your hotel for the informative meeting.
It will be in our office which is located at Street Lizandro Montero Ñ – 4
WHERE CAN I LEAVE MY LUGGAGE SAFETY?
Of course! During the Salkantay + Short Inca Trail your large luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, both are for free. Please do not pack anything you will need for your hike.
HOW TO BOOK THE SALKANTAY & SHORT INCA TRAIL?
FIRST, to book your trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
To book your “Salkantay + Short Inca Trail trek”, we need the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase an Inca Trail permit without the following information:
SECOND, we require a deposit of US$400.00 per person in order to purchase a permit for the “Salkantay + Short Inca Trail trek”. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment of your choice, either VISA or PAYPAL.
WHAT ABOUT THE PAYMENT BALANCE?
It would be greatly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many cash machines in the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 6% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address of smoothllamaperu@gmail.com
WHO QUALIFY FOR THE STUDENT DISCOUNT?
Those passengers who booked their trip using the discounted price for ISIC Student Holders must bring their original and valid CIIU card (not a copy and not expired). This document must be shown at the Inca Trail Control Gate. Unfortunately, if you do not bring your card, you will be denied entry to the Inca Trail as the permits won’t be valid without your card.
SCHOOL STUDENT
With the passport or national ID – original ones, from 8 to 17 years old
UNIVERSITY STUDENT ABOVE 18 YEARS OLD
With the original student ID gives from the university in PVC material and it must have the next requirements: university information, personal student information, student picture, and expiration date valid only for one year, it year must coincide with the year that student visit Machu Picchu, the discount until 25 years old.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE?
Unfortunately the answer is “No”. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, Due to the strict regulations of the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, once your reservation is made, you cannot cancel the reserved space that you have.
*** If you cancel your Salkantay + Inca Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!
IS IT NECESRY MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT ON THE SALKANTAY TREK & SHORT INCA TRAIL TREK?
Yes of course! The same passport number that we have sent to reserve the permit of “Salkantay + Short Inca Trail”. The park rangers’ check when you enter Machu Picchu. The train company will also check your passport before allowing you to board the train. In case you are renewing your passport, continue and send us your previous number to secure your permission, and we can change it when your new passport number appears … if so, send the new passport number as soon as possible.
HOW CAN I AVOID THE ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
For those trekkers that come to Cusco directly from places at sea level; we recommend arriving 2-3 days before your trek. Two of the most common health issues among tourists in Cusco are: The Altitude Sickness (Soroche) and stomach pain provoked by slow digestion.
In general if you have regular exercise and spend a couple of days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatization to the altitude, you may be fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness.
We offer the Cusco City Tour or Sacred Valley Tour that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our Day Tours on our Home Page.
DUFFEL BAG AND DAILY BACK PACK
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFLE BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/15lbs. Your team of porters will carry your duffle bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffle bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Usually a 30 to 50 liters back pack is sufficient.
HOW DIFFICULT IS THE SALKANTAY & SHORT INCA TRAIL TREK?
“The Salkantay + Short Inca Trail Trek” is located in the mountains and in the part of the Andes in Cusco region which make from advance to moderate trek, and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and take regular exercise. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.
We offer the Cusco City Tour or Sacred Valley Tour that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our Day Tours on our Home Page.
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOME ONE IS UNABLE TO FINISH THE TRAIL?
In the scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health
reasons, smoothllamaperu will assist you to the
nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek
for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be
arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no
refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.
Generally those who have to be assisted off the trail are taken to
Ollantaytambo and if they recover quickly they continue the journey to Aguas
Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu according to the
original plan.
WILL THE CAR IS GOING TO DROPP OFF US AT THE HOTEL?
Absolutely! Included in our packages is dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too!
WHAT ABOUT TIPPING?
Tips for the staff (smoothllamaperustaff receives a fair and decent payment immediately after they end their trip.
**** (Please remember that tipping is 100% optional and depends entirely on the service you received. It is customary to give tips in Latin America, however it is NOT mandatory. If you do wish to give a tip, these are our recommended guidelines.)
ARE YOU PART OF THE SUSTAINABLE WORK? Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator in that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and its people
THINGS YOU MUST BRING WITH YOU
TOILETRIES
