Salkantay Lodge Trek

Itinerary

Day 1 Lima

Arrive Lima where you will be met and transfered to your hotel.Known as the City of Kings, Peru’s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro. To get a feel for colonial Lima, head to the Plaza de Armas at noon and watch the changing of the Palace Guard. Walk the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to get a taste for life in a large South American city. There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. The more affluent districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, which are on the coast, offer good nightlife and cafés. Limeños (Lima’s residents) are friendly, and the city is filled with excellent restaurants; seafood lovers in particular should be sure to try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known.

Day 2-3 Cuzco

Take a morning flight to Cuzco in the heart of the Inca Empire. The following day, is a day at leisure to acclimatise before your hike. Cuzco is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 21st Century way of life. Inca-built stonewalls line most of the central streets and you don't have to go far to see other major Inca ruins. It is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend as well as the perfect base for optional explorations around the city and area, and a range of outdoor activities. Relax and explore this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.Cuzco's numerous colonial churches are one of the citys most common sights. The Cathedral was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build; it is also one of the city's greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compaa, La Merced and San Francisco. While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. Today the ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure. There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum. Our best advice for exploring Cuzco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!

Day 4 Cuzco/Soraypampa

Guests will be picked up at approx 8am at their hotel in Cuzco by a local guide and vehicle and transferred to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR) (about 3.5 hours drive). En route we will take a break to visit the impressive Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx 1.5 hrs from Cuzco). After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where guests will have lunch before ascending a winding mountain track to the spectacularly situated valley of Soraypampa.Optional: Guests have the option of choosing to trek from Mollepata to Soraypampa, on an old route called the Camino Real (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for guests to acclimatize and enjoy a mild & beautiful 3-4 hour trek on their first day. The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley of the Salkantay, the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,500 ft (6240m), the highest in the region. After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, the guests will be shown to their rooms and have time to wash-up. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude. An evening briefing by the fire is followed by aperitifs and dinner.

Day 5 Soraypampa

This day is spent at leisure for rest or activities, depending upon guests’ level of acclimatization. Guest may do local hikes, fish a high glacial lake for rainbow trout with our fishing guide, or do a scramble to a viewpoint to take in the panorama. In the evening the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the next four days. NB. If you would like to fish you are required to bring your own fishing gear.

Day 6 Soraypampa/Huayraccmachay

This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu. After an early start we will hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from the Salkantay. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4600m (15,000 ft). At the pass we stop to take in views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the south face of Salkantay towering above us. We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we continue our descent toward the Wayra Lodge (“Wayra”: wind; the place where the wind lives) our destination for the evening.

Day 7 Huayraccmachay/Collpapampa

The early morning is free for exploration. (Optional: 2-3 hour hike to nearby glacier lake). We then begin our trek by hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. Cold snack en route. The Collpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers. We arrive for a late lunch at the lodge, and in time for an optional excursion to a nearby hot spring.

Day 8 Collpapampa/Lucmabamba

Early today we head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas with coffee plantations (said to be one of the best coffees in the world!) and orchards. We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. From the river it is a short climb to Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the village and meeting with members of the local community.

Day 9 Lucmabamba/Aguas Calientes

After an early start and a hearty breakfast we tackle the last day of our trek. We head uphill for two hours towards Llactapata pass (2600m/8,500 ft), where we come upon a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse; an added value are the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. We then begin our final descent to the Vilcanota River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hours descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short, scenic train ride away.

Day 10 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

We wake up very early and then make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min). A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu will be provided. Guests will have about 4 to 6 hours to tour the ruins (there is a lot to do and see). Afterward, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for a hot buffet-style lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure. The train will arrive in Cuzco and you will be transferred to your hotel.Recently voted one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is both the most impressive and the least understood of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on it's function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.

Day 11 Depart Cuzco

Depart Cuzco at any time.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Comfort Hotel /Mountain Lodge(10 nights)
Brochure Notes	Minimum age 14
Departure	See website for departures.
Group Size	No Minimum
Meals Included	10B, 7L, 6D
StartFinish	ex Cuzco
Transport	Car, Van, Shuttle, Train, Hiking

Browse Similar Trips

• Taste Of Peru
• Explorama Lodge
• Inca Discovery Plus

• Inca Heartland
• Inca Discovery
• Great South American Journey - Quito to Rio

• South American Treasures - Quito to La Paz
• In The Shadow Of Machu Picchu
• Great South American Journey - Rio to Quito

• Ultimate South America
• Peru (MAD) Project - 28 days
• Highlands & Amazon Adventure

• Home
• International Airfare
• Hotels
• Hostels
• Community
• RTW Guide
• Travel Blogs
• Adventure Trips
• Travel Gear
• Travel Insurance
• Eurail