14/06/2012
Salkantay Trek 5d/4n
The Apu Salkantay (6,264 masl / 20551 ft) is a sacred mountain in the Vilcabamba range, located to the south of the Sacred Citadel of Machu Picchu.
This mountain, together with the Southern Cross, served as a point of reference for astrological observation developed by the Incas (from Machu Picchu), especially during the June and December solstices. Its location supports the concept of “sacred geography”, under which the Incas developed Andean civilisation.
The best time of year to visit the Apu Salkantay is during the Winter, from April to October. Temperatures range from -5º C / 41 ºF to 23º C / 73 ºF; with a scarce chance of rain. The maximum altitude we will reach is 4643 masl / 15233 ft at the Salkantay pass, with the minimum altitude being 2000 masl / 6562 ft in the town of Aguas Calientes.
The ecological levels we will experience will vary from Quechua, Suni, Puna and Janca (inter-Andean valleys and rainforest) with all their characteristic flora and fauna. All of this amid spectacular geography.
Program itinerary
First Day
We will pick you up between 4:30 and 5:00 from your hotels or accommodation places. Then we will take a local bus to Mollepata, small town located over 2,850 m above sea level, with a tempered climate and vegetation from the Edge of the Jungle, in its surroundings we will be able to appreciate some snowcapped picks that belong to the chain of Salkantay, where we will enjoy the beautiful sight that is part of the snowcapped pick Salkantay which is at an altitude of 6,270 ms above sea level., contemplating this landscape we will begin our long walk which will approximately last 7 to 8 hours. Likewise, we will observe the vegetation pertaining to the Edge of the Jungle, along the road we will have lunch, and then we will continue until we get to SORAYPAMPA, place of our first camping site.
Second Day
At dawn, when we wake up our first sight will be the impressive of the majestic Salkantay. At 7:00 a.m. we will get ready to have breakfast and after that we will continue our trek, also, this time will take us 7 to 8 hours. Along our walking we will be able to observe the echo tones and the differences among the altitudinal floors, we will enter into a kind of canyon which will lead us to the to the foothills of the Salkantay, after 3 hours walking we will have lunch, to keep on our walking we will have to get through this pass in order to descend and contemplate the Edge of the Jungle. This day, we will arrive to CHALLWAY where we will spend the night.
Third Day
We begin a new day and a new landscape and a new temperature, because here begins the warm weather related to the Edge of the Jungle zone. After breakfast we will follow our route, today we will go along valleys, watching a variety of birds, mammals, insects and other animals. Moreover, we will have the opportunity to observe the life of the settlers and enjoy of the thermal baths (collpapampa), the rainfalls (wiñaypoco), if we really have some spare time. Then, we will continue walking for about 4 a 6 hours before lunch (sahuayacu o playa), next we will take the bus to get to Santa Teresa where we will spend the night.
Fourth Day
Waking up we will have breakfast and after it, we will walk for about 40 minutes to get to the edge of the river VILCANOTA, here we will have to use the hanging bridge after which we will walk for 3 more hours towards the Hydroelectric, once there, we will be able to appreciate the valley of the Urubamba river, a huge rainfall that flows from the Machupicchu mountain, on the northeast we will find an appropriate place where we can have lunch. Afterwards, visit the Intihuatana at Km. 121.At the end of our visit, we will have to wait for the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes, where we will rest in a comfortable inn.
Fifth Day
Today is the great day because we will be able to know the Historical Sanctuary of MACHUPICCHU. At 4:00 morning we will get ready to hike towards to Mcahupìcchu
where we will have a guiding for 2 hours a then you have free to take picture in the places most interesting after to go down to Aguas Calientes to take de tren to Ollantaytambo a then bus to Cusco .
INCLUDES:
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• Horses (only for equipment)
• Entrance ticket to Machupicchu and Round trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu
• Train back from Aguas calientes to Cusco
• Bus fares (Cusco, Mollepata),
• A professional guide ( English-Spanish)
• Tents
• A mattress
• Tents for dinning / cooking
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• First breakfast
• Last lunch
• Sleeping bags.
We recommend that you bring
Water-resistant trekking shoes and sandals
Warm clothing (thermal underwear, fleece, hat, gloves, socks)
Waterproof clothing (poncho)
Synthetic or cotton clothing (socks, trousers, shorts, t-shirts)
Sunhat and sunglasses
Sun cream and insect repellent
Water bottles such as Nalgene
Basic medications
Walking sticks
Swimsuit and towel
Personal items
Personal snacks
Previous acclimatization in Cuzco city, for at least 2 days and general good health. Pachatusantrek offers easy one day and half day routes which can be completed before the main trek
DNI / Original Passport
