TRIP AT GLANCE Difficulty: Challanging Tour
Code: SAL6
Activities: Camping and hiking
Is there a walk anywhere in the
world with such spectacular beauty, intriguing history, and sheer
mystery—climaxed by one of the most incredible sights on Earth?
Welcome to Earthbound Adventures’ Salkantay & Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu Trek, a quieter, less trodden route to the “Lost City of the
Incas”.
The breathtaking scenery of
towering snow-covered peaks and ever-changing sky is only part of
the magic of this awe-inspiring trek. The remarkable Inca ruins
along the way heighten the hikers’ sense of anticipation as they
approach the other-worldly Machu Picchu, the famed UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Day 1: Cusco -
Mollepata - Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa On the 3-½ hour scenic bus ride from Cusco to Mollepata, we'll stop
briefly at the ruins of Tarawasi, a well-preserved Inca temple
boasting one of the finest examples of Inca polygonal masonry. We’ll
rest and enjoy lunch in the pastoral village of Soraypampa before
embarking on a spectacular six-hour hike to the campsite
Salkantaypampa (3,800 mt.12,467 ft) at the foot of majestic
Salkantay (6,264 mt/20,551 ft) and Humantay (5,217 mt/17,116 ft).
After hiking in a rather cooler climate, we’ll relax and get to know
each other at the welcome dinner. Meals: L, D.
Day 2: Salkantaypampa – Paso Salkantay – Sisay Pampa
The colder morning temperatures will be excellent to ascend to the
highest and toughest part of this trek—through the snow over the
Salkantay Pass (5,200 mt/17,060 ft). Named one of the 25 best treks
in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine,
the pass is surrounded by majestic snow-peaks such as Humantay
(5,217 mt/17,116 ft), Tucarhuay (5,450 mt/17,880 ft), and Soray Hill
(5,428 mt/17,808 ft). We will hike down to our campsite at Sisay
Pampa (3,700 mt/12,139 ft). Our hiking-time will be about 7 hours in
a cooler climate. Meals: B, L, D.
Day 3: Sisay Pampa – Canal Inca – Wayllabamba
Enjoy the relatively easy hike along a river channeled into a
straight canal by the Incas. The phenomenal diversity of flora and
fauna is captivating as we hike to the tiny indigenous village of
Wayllabamba or “Grassy Plain” (3,000 mt/9,842 ft). There we will
enjoy dinner and rest in sight of Veronica Peak. Meals: B,L,D
Day 4: Wayllabamba - Pacaymayo
Refreshed, we now climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a
rushing stream and through enchanting native polylepis woodland.
Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves in
the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. The trail
traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags as we ascend
to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200 mt/13,776ft).
Here we encounter spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second
pass, and look back to the sweeping snow peaks and valleys of the
Huayanay massif. We hike the trail to the floor of the forested
Pacaymayo valley, where we make camp for the night. Meals: B,L,D.
Day 5: Pacaymayo – Wiñay Wayna We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens into a
spectacular vista of the snow peaks of the Pumasillo range. We
descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate
labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously
on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca Trail, now
a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues
along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful
array of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns. Hummingbirds and
butterflies flit all around us. At the third pass, pinnacles topped
with Inca viewing platforms overlook the archaeological complex of
Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-Level Town). Pausing to explore the wondrous
maze of Inca stone towers, fountains, and stairways that spill down
the mountainside, we begin a long descent through ever-changing
layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living
granite (a succulent clump-forming plant) leads us finally to our
camp by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and
most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. Meals: B,L,D.
Day 6: Wiñay Wayna to Machu Picchu
Finally, the day we’ve been looking forward to. We leave camp very
early to reach Inti Punku (Sun Gate) in time for sunrise. This is
our first dramatic glimpse of Machu Picchu between the mountains on
its saddle high over the Urubamba River. We meet at Machu Picchu at
a decided hour to make the tour. We will learn about the
importance—religious and historical—of the place, and admire the
fine architecture of the Incas. After the guided tour you can hike
to the summit of Wayna Picchu, from where one has a stupendous
overview of the whole area and the full panorama of Machu Picchu.
Another possibility is to visit the beautiful Temple of the Moon. In
the afternoon we meet in Aguas Calientes to take the train back to
Cusco. Meal: B
DATES Departures: Every other Monday Season: April-December Start-End: Cusco Includes Machu Picchu
and backpackers train back to Cusco.
Included: * Pick
up from your hotel in Cusco – Mollepata * Bus
from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu * Return train to Cusco (Backpacker) * Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu * 1
night at Aguas Calientes hostel * Large, double-occupancy tents, kitchen tent, dining tent, latrine
tent
* Sleeping bag/mat ($30 refundable deposit) * Horses for our camping and kitchen equipment and horsemen. * 1
emergency horse. * Meals as in itinerary: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5
dinners * Cook
and cooking equipment. * English speaking guide * Emergency first aid kit * Oxygen tank
Not included:
* Breakfast 1st day/Lunch in Aguas Calientes/Dinner last day
* Tips, taxes, international airfare and personal expenses
* Hotel accommodations in the city
Gear list:
* Passport * Backpack or duffle bag
* Warm clothing/thermals
* Trekking shoes
* Sandals
* Raincoat
* Sunscreen
* Flashlight
* Insect repellent
* Bottled water
* Personal first aid kit
* Bathing suit and towel
* Hat * Sunglasses * Camera, film and batteries
* Change of clothes/shorts, T-shirts, pants, long sleeve shirts,
socks and
underwear.
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend past