Salkantay Trek 3 Days / 2 Nights

• Trip Style: Adventure trek
• Starting point: Cusco
• Ending point: Cusco
• Highlights: Cusco, Mollepata, and Santa Teresa.

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata –Soraypampa – Salkantaypampa – salkantaycocha – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay

You will be collected from your hotel early in the morning in a private vehicle, after 21/2 hours we will arrive the small village of Mollepata where we will have breakfast (not included) and can buy some last minute supplies. From here our private car will ascend to Soraypampa for about  2 hours where we will start to hike. It is about 3 hours hiking to Salkantaycocha where we will have lunch while enjoying views of the mountain peak of Salkantay. After lunch we will continue with a hike uphill for 1 hours to rich the Salkantay Pass. The last section is down hill for about 3 hours until our first campsite at Huayracmachay. Accommodation: Camping Huayracmachay. (7 to 8 hours hike)

• Walking distance approx. 13kms or 8 miles.
• Minimum Altitude – 3900 masl, 12800 feet.
• Maximum altitude – 4600 masl, 15091 feet
• Altitude of camp – 3900 masl , 12800 feet.
• Approx night temperature: Around -5°C. 41°F

MEALS INCLUDED

Lunch, tea time and dinner.

Day 2: Huayracmachay– Arrayanniyoc – Challhuay – Colpapampa – Cocalmayu

After breakfast we descend for 5 hours to the high jungle (known in Spanish as the eyebrow of the jungle”, enjoying the landscapes which offer us much natural beauty). We are walking along the left hand side of the River “Alto Salkantay” to the ‘eyebrow ofthe jungle’ where we can see orchids, bromeliads, typical vegetation of the area and we will see different types of birds, insects and butterflies. In comparison to the previous day of the trek, this is easy walking. 5 hours hike until Collpapampa 2700 metres/8859 feet, where we have lunch.

After the lunch we will take motorised transport to the campsite outside the village of Santa Teresa near by the hot springs of Colcamayu. We descend for 2 hours by car following the Santa Teresa river. Accommodation: Camping Cocalmayu . (5 hours hike)

• Walking distance approx. 15 kms or 9.33 miles.
• Minimum Altitude – 1600 masl, 5250 feet.
• Maximum Altitude – 3900 masl, 12800feet
• Altitude of camp – 1600 masl , 5250 feet.
• Approx night temperature: Around 15°C. 59°F

MEALS INCLUDED

Breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner.

Day 3: Cocalmayu – Santa María – Malaga Pass – Cusco

After breakfast we will take a car to go back to Cusco passing through the village of Santa María, then we will ascend until the Malaga Pass (4300 masl.) (14100 feet), along the way we can stop the car for some pictures. From the pass we descend until Ollantaytambo (2800 masl.) (9180 feet) where we have lunch. After the lunch we go back to Cusco.

• Driving time approx. 7 hrs.
• Driving distance approx. 194 kms or 121 miles.

MEALS INCLUDED

Breakfast, lunch.

Included

• 3 days Excursion with English speaking guide.
• Orientation meeting in Cusco (previous to departure day).
• Official English-speaking guide
• Transfer by private van from Cusco to Soraypampa.
• Experienced cook and assistant cook.
• Horses to carry food and camping gear and backpack.
• All balance meals during the trek (3 days / 2 nights), including 3 snacks.
• Teatime every day (coffee, tea, popcorn, biscuit).
• Water supply (boiled) after every dinner or breakfast.
• Camping tents (four season tent) gear: 2 persons per tent with plenty space for backpacks.
• Cooking equipment.
• Kitchen and dining tent with camp tables and chairs.
• Tents and food for our camp staff.
• Well-paid and well-treated Cook and Porters.
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle for any participant and our camp staff.
• Trekking price include government sales tax (18% as know IGV).
• Sanitation care (disinfect dishes, filtered water, etc.).
• Environment care (all the garbage is going back to Cusco).
• Map.

Not included

• Tips for camp staff
• Others not specified.

Excursion notes:

Every night keeps everything locked up in your tents to prevent any problems with robberies.

What you need to Bring/Carry

• Hiking boots (waterproof), sneakers are welcome to but for the rainy season is not enough comfortable.
• Sleeping bag -10ºC (this can be hired in our office for $5 USD per day with previous notification at booking time).
• Long pants or slacks.
• Long-sleeved shirts to prevent you from the sunburn.
• T-shirts.
• Sweaters and a jacket (something warm for the night).
• Rain wear or poncho for the rainy season December – April, but during the dry season can be raining too.
• Camera with extra batteries.
• Bottle of water, along the trail you can purchase a bottle of water for few coins more.
• Snack (dried fruits, power bars, chocolates, etc.).
• Insect repellent to protect you from mosquitoes along the Inca Trail.
• Hat and sun block to protect you from the sun.
• Personal toilet items.
• Flashlight or headlamp and batteries.
• First Aid kit (Band-Aids, cotton, bandages, alcohol, aspirin, tablets for stomach troubles, medicines to avoid altitude sickness).
• Backpack of 50 liters or more to carry your personal items including your sleeping bag.
• Day pack is good to bring to carry your camera, water, rain jacket.
• Plenty of complete change of clothing.
• A change of underwear.
• Gloves, scarf and wool socks.
• Toiletries, towel and toilet paper.
• Swimsuit
• Optional: Trekking Poles

Salkantay weather

• Dry season (April – November)
• Day temperature 20ºC/35ºC
• Night temperature 0 ºC/5ºC
• Wet season (December – March)
• Day temperature 17ºC/22ºC
• Night temperature -7 ºC/7ºC

Advice for hikers

The Salkantay Trail lies in the forested fringes of the Amazon basin, where showers can occur at any time of year. Therefore, even in the “dry” season, your daypack should always include full rain gear (both jacket and trousers).

Daytime temperatures can vary greatly, with daytime highs ranging from 10ºC/50ºF to 32ºC/90ºF and nigh time lows ranging from 10ºC/50ºF to a cold 4ºC/40ºF, though seldom much lower.