ITINERARY

Day 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SALLAYPATA - SORAYPAMPA (About 7 hrs - 22 Km) (B), (L), (D)

At about 5:00a.m. your guide will pick you up from your hotel and at this time you will meet the rest of your group. A three-hour ride will take you through beautiful landscape until you arrive at the Andean town of Mollepata, about 9180 feet above sea level, where you will enjoy breakfast. After receiving a snack, you will start your trek, observing the Salkantay Nevado. Once in Mollepata, you will enjoy of a nutritious breakfast. After three hours you will be able to take a long rest and buy water, sodas, and candies at the small resting point called Cruzpata. Another hour and a half of hiking will take you to your lunch camp, Sallaypata, about 11152 feet above sea level.

Day 2: SORAYPAMPA - CHALLWAY (About 8:00 hrs - 28 km) (B), (L), (D)

After breakfast at about 6:30a.m. you will start the longest day of the trek. A four hour and a half hour hike will take you to the highest point, Abra Salkantay, about 14760 feet above sea level. It will be cold and windy, and the landscape will take you to a surreal world. Another hour and a half trek will take you to your lunch camp located at about 12530 feet above sea level. During the hike after lunch you will have one grand view after another of the majestic mountains, the towering forests, and the creeks that are the origin of the White River. After two and a half hours of hiking you will arrive at your camp, Challway, at about 9512 feet above sea level. (Insect repellant will be needed here.) Tea will be served upon your arrival and dinner will be served at about 7:30p.m.

Day 3: CHALLWAY - LA PLAYA – SANTA TERESA (About 4:30hrs - 22Km) (B), (L), (D)

After breakfast at about 6:30a.m. you will start your amazingly colorful hike along the White and Santa Teresa Rivers, coming to a resting point, Qiñaypoco, 8036 feet above sea level. Here you will be able to try passion straight from the trees. Another two and a half hours of hiking through a few coffee plantations will take you to the small native community of La Playa, where lunch will be served. From this point you will be driven to Santa Teresa where you will have the opportunity of enjoying of the hot springs*. Dinner will be served at your campsite.

*The Hot Springs of Santa Teresa were severely damaged during the months of January and February because of heavy rain. The City of Santa Teresa announced that they would be re-opened in July but as of today there are not news about it so it is possible that your visit to Santa Teresa won't be possible.

Day 4: SANTA TERESA - LLACTAPATA - HYDROELECTRIC - AGUAS CALIENTES (About 6 hrs. – 17 Kms) (B), (L), (D)

Today, breakfast will be served at 5:30a.m. A private transfer will take you to the Llactapata entrance in about an hour. A raincoat should be brought for today’s hike. You will be hiking Inca stairs in a few sections through coffee plantations. On the way, you might try fresh coffee at a local house. In about three hours filled with amazing views you will arrive at the ruins of Llactapata, 8890 feet above sea level, from which you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu. In about three hours a descending trail will take you to the Santa Teresa River and then to the hydroelectric, where you will eat lunch at a local restaurant. At 4:20p.m., you will take a local train to Aguas Calientes, where you will be staying in your hostel or hotel. At about 7:00p.m. your guide will pick you up from there in order for you to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - AGUAS CALIENTES - CUSCO (B)

Today you will tour Machu Picchu (7875 feet above sea level ), either hiking there beginning at 4:30a.m. or taking a bus at about 6:30a.m.  Your guided tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours. After that you will have time to hike the Huayna Picchu Mountain or just wander around. In the afternoon, one or two hours before your train departure, you should take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the Backpacker train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, you will be driven to your hotel in Cusco.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE