ALTERNATIVE SAYKANTAY -
SANTA TERESA - MACHU PICCHU 5 Days / 4 Nights
You cross a pass at 4650m
and then it´s a relaxing walking down. You pass some
remote villages, have fabulous views at for example
Veronica, Salkantay, other snow peaks, green valleys and
the river Urubamba, maybe you can see Condors and surely
you´ll meet very friendsly people.
DAY 1 Cusco – Mollepata –
Soraypampa – Abra Huayracmachay.
We leave Cusco on a bus
through the Anta plains. This is the spot where the
legendary Inca Pachacutec defeated the Chanca tribe thus
starting the expansion of the Inca Empire. We continue
up to Huillque pass with the panoramic view of the east
side of the Vilcabamba Mountain range. Then we will
continue our way down towards the warm Limatambo valley
with rich agricultural farming fields, along the way we
will also see local villagers working and possibly
interact with them. The route continues towards the
highlands with its very interesting and colorful
surroundings, until we finally glimpse the mountain
Soray glacier with 5,950mt. (19,420ft). After crossing
several streams and passing through some dense bush
areas, we reach the immense Pampa Soray the trailhead is
3,800mt.(12,460ft) high, after lunch our hike will take
us to the base of the south face of Salkantay mountain
one of the Incas sacred mountains, then we’ll climb up
on the southwest side of the sacred mountain moraine to
the high pass called Portachuelo, campsite very close to
the high pass with a beautiful view of the Apu (god)
Salkantay whitepeak.
DAY 2: Abra Huayracmachay
– Qollpapampa.
Our first campsite is
located near to the rocky area and we may see a glimpse
of a vizcacha, a unique type of gray Andean rabbit and
perhaps see the Andean Condor, the world’s largest
flying bird. And a very important one, we’ll head
towards the high pass 4,750mt. (15,580ft) high. And
don’t forget to carry a small rock all the way from
Soraypampa Valley, since according to the Inca tradition,
travelers must deposit one on an “apacheta” (a pyramid
of rocks) at the pass as an offering to the “apus” (mountain
spirits). Now the route descends towards the Amazon
basin and the Andean valley of Huayracmacchay, the trail
continues along the left bank of the Sunchuccata River.
On the way down toward Rayanpata we’ll observe how the
landscape changes from arid highlands to tropical jungle.
Further down, we'll see where the streams meet to form
the Santa Teresa River. We continue along the valley
through the Collpapampa community 2,900mt. (9,530ft).
Campsite for the night.
DAY 3: Qollpapampa – Playa
The trail continues along
the left bank of the Santa Teresa River. And as we loose
altitude the weather warms up but remains at a
comfortable temperature, along the valley we’ll see
another rich agricultural valley with typical crops of
the area and still surviving the Inca social
organization system in the same manner, the “ayni”
system which is a cooperative system designed to share
construction and farming work, finally we arrive to the
village called Playa where we can interact with locals
and have a good chance to play soccer or volleyball.
Campsite.
DAY 4: Playa – Machupicchu
This day we'll say goodbye
to our horse driver and his horses. We'll start our last
gradual climb toward the Llactapata pass, where on the
other side of the pass is an Inca site in the middle of
the dense forest with an spectacular panoramic view of
the outline of MachuPicchu. Then we descend into the
rich tropical Aobamba valley with its fields of oranges,
paltas (avocados), bananas, granadillas (passion fruit),
coffee and sugar cane. We’ll arrive on time to catch the
train for a 30 minutes ride to Machu Picchu. We’ll stay
for the night at a comfortable lodge in Aguas Calientes
village which is just below the Inca city, if you like,
a late afternoon dip in the outdoor hot springs a few
meters of the town, is a real treat.
DAY 5: Machupicchu – Cusco
Very early in the morning,
we’ll board the bus up to the Inca city of Machu Picchu
to enjoy a guided tour of this enigmatic site. After the
tour there will be time to wander around and appreciate
the beauty and mystery of Machu Picchu. Later on, you
may choose to climb Wayna Picchu 2,600 mt. (8,850 ft),
the jutting peak overlooking the area. Around mid
afternoon we’ll board the bus back to the train station
for the return trip to Cusco. The track runs along the
Urubamba river valley, the route taken by Hiram Bingham
in 1911 when he re-discovered Machu Picchu. On the
arrival to Cusco we’ll transfer you to your hotel.
Included during the trek:
Pick up the
participants from their hotels, and then
transferring by bus to Mollepata or Soraypampa
Village (head of the trail).
Entrance Fee to Machu
Picchu city
Igloo tents, each for
2 persons occupancy.
Mattresses, one per
person.
Kitchen tent.
Dining tent.
Tables and chairs.
Toilet tent (in case
the campsite does not have one).
English speaking
professional tour guide.
Cook.
Wranglers and horses
Full meals during the
trek.
Daily snack bag.
Daily afternoon tea
service.
Daily wake up call
tea, and hot water for washing.
Daily morning, boiled
and cold water to fill the water bottles.
Emergency oxygen
bottle and first aid kit.
Comfortable lodging in
Aguas Calientes village
Train ticket (one way,
Vistadome or backpacker service, upon request).
Not included:
Breakfast the first
morning (you can order an early breakfast at your
hotel)
Fourth day, Machu
Picchu town Dinner (on your own)
Fifth day, Machu
Picchu town Lunch, Dinner (on your own)
Tips for the crew (guide,
cooks and wranglers).
All our programmes can be tailor made according
to your requirements, whether regarding the
length of your tour, any special interests or
specific activities, flight reservations,
optional destinations or tours.
