Salkantay Challenge Trek, is astounding short hike to Machupicchu that satisfy the ambitious trekker intent on crossing high passes. You’ll cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,600m / 15091ft. The Trek begins in the zone of Soraypampa at 3:30 hours from the city of Cusco; from where we gain further outstanding views of Salkantay and Umantay peaks. This trek traverses the entire Machu Picchu national park and provides all the highlights you would expect with a mixture of local villages and remarkable culture. Our nights are spent in a combination of camps and hotels of 3-stars category. If you are highly motivated and want to experience the absolute best of what the Salkantay region has to offer, then this is the trek for you. The Salkantay Challenge Trek is popular because it allows trekkers to pass through diverse terrain. From jungle to high alpine, and reaches to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu; a XV century Inca build The Region of Salkantay is one of Peru’s top trekking destinations since the trek takes you to Machu Picchu, the new wonder of the world; the 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek is a ultimate trekking adventure, crossing one pass over 4,600m / 15091ft, offering amazing scenery and views. The trip is a package for customers with a well experience in trekking; this amazing trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6.271 m / 20,574 ft); one of the highest and most stunning mountain in the Peruvian Andes.
The trekking has been opened to everybody in its different modalities of 3 days , 4 days 5 days and more; “Salkantay Trek” a trekking specialist travel company, offers to its customers a 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek for well-trained trekkers. The trekking is the most popular alternative Trek to Machu Picchu since the trail runs through different ecological zones. For Salkantay Challenge Trek is very important to be well prepared since the trail is considered very challenging, in this trek is included two days of trekking for 8 -9 hours per day and one day exploring Machu Picchu.
As soon as we are at Soraypampa, our chef and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we’ll start the hike. The first 4 hours will be uphill to get to the Highest Point which is at 4,600 m / 15091ft (the highest of the trek) then the trail, we’ll continue down to Huayracmachay where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4,120 masl/13,500 ft) and down the beginning of the cloud forest.
After lunch you’ll have time to rest and refill your water bottle; then the trail continues down for about 2 hours to the camp of Qollpa; which is a small community where we’ll see farms.
Hiking distance: 13 km / 8.1 miles
Estimated walking time: 6½ to 7 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Camping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
Maximum Altitude: 4200 Masl / 13779 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2954 masl / 9694 ft.
After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will take local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station.
Here you will have two options:
1) If you are exhausted, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($31.00 extra).
2) If you are still eager to hike, you may walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. There is a nice path next to the tracks through the warm paradise of the cloud forest. This is the same trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost to the outside world!
Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a bit before dinner or walk around this alluring place that has the feel of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it is an especially peaceful place to be. At 7:00 PM, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the overnight stay at our hostel. In your luxury room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
Hiking distance: 18 km / 11.2 miles
Hiking time: 7 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Camping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
Maximum Altitude: 2650 masl / 8700 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2400 masl ASL / 7874 ft.
After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride at 18:20 hrs (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 21:30 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
Distance Travelled: 6 Km. / 3.7 mile
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours approximately.
Machu Picchu guided tour: 2½ hour.
Climate: tropical warm.
Shuttle to Cusco:3 hours by train and bus from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast.
Maximum Altitude: 2429 masl / 7972 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2040 masl / 6692 ft.
