About your trip

JOIN A TRIP OF A LIFETIME:

- Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu was rated in the list of the best hikes in the world by National Geographic traveller. This epic trek includes a portion of the historic Inca Trail, but gives a unique opportunity to hike without crowds and enjoy the wilderness

- This trek rewards you with stunning Andean landscapes, glaciers and lakes, cascades, wildlife and tropical cloud-forest. We will follow the Inca steps through the ancient archeological sites and pass vibrant local villages along the way!

- We will admire the Lost City of Machu Picchu at Sunrise and have a plenty of time to explore the archeological site.

- We are planning to visit the most significant Inca temples and ruins in Cusco and Sacred Valley

- Additional option: a day hike to astonishing natural wonder - RAINBOW MOUNTAIN. Away from the beaten path and hard to reach, Rainbow mountain was ranked by National geographic as one of the 100 unique places on Earth!

- Travel in our small group of 10 hiking fellows assisted by enthusiastic and fun team-leader Karina Safari (Spanish/English/Russian-speaking) and qualified team of local guides and porters.

- Our trip will be organized in the PREMIUM category, it means that we will be traveling by ourselves without mixing up with other groups, our porters can carry our personal luggage, we will stay at exceptional campsites, with the finest equipment, best delicious meals, and wake-up coffee, chocolate, or coca-tea brought to our tents each morning!

Number of days: 8 days /7 nights (including Salkantay Trek 3d/2n)

Walking Distance: 47km (31miles)

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Start elevation of the hike: 3400m (11000')

Highest elevation (Salkantay Pass): 4650m (15255')

Accommodation: 2 nights in tents, 5 nights in standard hotels

Assistance: Tour leader, professional local team of guides and porters

Meals: All included on trek (meals cooked by chef) / breakfasts in hotels

Who carries our camping gear: Porters (your personal luggage up to 7kg/14lbs can be carried by porter as well).

Registration:

$500 non-refundable deposit for each traveler is required to lock your spot in a group

Trip price is based on double-sharing accommodations in hotels and camping tents

What’s included

- All travel logistics and booking arrangements

- Your trekking permit and all related logistics

- Your admission to Machu Picchu with sightseeing tour

- Professional assistance all the way: Team-leader (Karina Safari), certified mountain guide, porters, cook. Our guides studied in Cusco National University for tourism and english and trained in the first aid.

- 3 meals/daily cooked during the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner, coffee/tea and drinking water available at campsites

- Camping gear (tents, dining tent, kitchen, bio-toilet tent), first aid kit, oxygen

EXTRA-BENEFITS INCLUDED (WHAT OTHER OFFERS DON'T HAVE):

- Personal equipment to each trekker provided: duffel bag (for your luggage), rain poncho, air foam mattress, insulated pillow, a day pack cover

- Our tents are spacious, clean and of high quality. Eureka Timberline 4 person tents will be provided for 2 persons sharing

- Portable bio-toilet tent for our group only. No need to wait in line in public toilets (not well-maintained and always far away)

- Porters, in addition to camping gear can carry up to 7kg/14lbs of your personal belongings (your duffel bag)

- Clean drinking water at each campsite will be provided at no additional fee

- Included 5 overnights in standard hotels in Cusco and Sacred Valley before and after the trek

- Included 2 full days of Guided tours in Cusco and in Sacred Valley

- Your train ticket and bus ride on the way back from Machu Picchu

- All private airport transfers on arrival/departure in Cusco

Not included

- International flights (~$650-750 round-trip from SF ; ~$500 from LA or NY)

- Domestic flights ($150-170 round trip Lima-Cusco-Lima)

- Meals in Cusco & tipping the trekking crew (~$200-250)

- Optional Huayna Picchu climb (on request depending on availability, admission $35)

- Optional accommodation in Lima before or after the tour (on request)

- Optional extension: Rainbow mountain day-hike ($260 incl. hike and 1 night hotel in Cusco)

- Travel insurance ~$50 (8 days)

Before You Go

All necessary information (travel kit) about Peru , weather& climate, packing list, currency, pocket expenses and other info will be provided via email to the registered travelers.

Arrival to Cusco

Day 1: May 27 (Saturday)

Arrive at any time. You will be met at the airport by our local reps. Airport transfer to hotel, where you meet with other travelers of our group. Evening free for acclimatization walks in the city. Tonight we get together for our first dinner. Overnight in hotel at the altitude of (11200'/3400m)

Cusco Old town,best views and Inca ruins

Day 2: May 28 (Sunday)

Full day acclimatizing and walking. Guided tour in Cusco historic downtown and Saksayuwaman fortress (often called as "Sexy Woman" :-). Panoramic views of the city. At the evening meet with our trekking guide at hotel for a briefing about our upcoming hike. Overnight at hotel.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - First day, the challenging one

Day 3: May 29 (Monday)

Depart from Cusco hotel around 4am, 4h drive to the trailhead - Trek starts at the elevation of 3800m - 4h gradual uphill hike to the lunch spot (4200m) - 1h strenuous hike crossing the Salkantay Pass (4650m) - 2h downhill hike to the campsite (3,800 m) - Dinner and overnight in tents - Total walking Distance: 15 km / 9.5miles - Weather: Cold

Sakantay trek - The Longest day

Day 4: May 30 (Tuesday)

Early wake up, see sunrise in the valley - Breakfast - 4h downhill from alpines to the cloud forest with some short uphill parts - After lunch, another 4.5h on a gradual downhill hike to the campsite -Dinner and overnight in tents. Walking Distance: 18 km (11miles) - Campsite Elevation: 2400m - Weather: Warm to hot

Salkantay Trek - Historic Inca trail, Llactapata ruins and Machu Picchu views

Day 5: May 31 (Wednesday)

Early breakfast - 45 minutes of gradual downhill hiking until we reach a portion of the historic Inca trail - 3h of uphill hiking along the stone, rocky trail until we arrive at the Llactapata Inca ruins right in front of Machu Picchu - 2,5 h downhill to the famous hydroelectric station - Lunch - 45min train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes - Optional visit to the hotsprings - Overnight at the simple hotel - Total walking Distance 14 km - Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2000 m - Weather: Hot

MACHU PICCHU AT SUNRISE

Day 6: June 1 (Thursday)

Wake up time is at 4.30 a.m., followed by breakfast at 5 a.m. at the hotel. We will take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu, 25 minutes drive. Gate opens at 6 a.m. Guided tour in Machu Picchu will be given. Continue exploring the site on our own: optional hike to Huayna Picchu or just have free time on your own to explore the ruins, hike to the Sun Gate or Inca bridge. Depart from Machu Picchu in the afternoon, train back to Ollanta (included). Overnight in hotel in the Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu Elevation: 2400m

Sacred Valley - Maras & Moray - Pisaq - Cusco

Day 7: June 2 (Friday)

Breakfast at hotel. On the way back to Cusco we will explore the most impressive sites of Sacred Valley: Maras and Moray, then have time to shop for souvenirs at the Pisaq market. Overnight at hotel in Cusco. Farewell dinner to celebrate our accomplishments!

Departure / Optional HIke to the Rainbow mountain

Day 8: June 3 (Saturday)

Check-our from your hotel and transfer to the domestic airport. Departure. OR OPTIONAL DAY HIKE TO RAINBOW MT. Walking distance : 15 km / 9 ¼ miles Starting elevation: 4,326 m / 14,189 ft Highest elevation: 5,020 m / 16,466 ft Difficulty: Challenging

Location

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1. Peru

Peru

About your organizer

Safarika Travel

64 reviews

Safarika Adventure Club was founded in Silicon Valley in 2013 by Karina Safari, a professional travel organizer with 17 years of experience in adventure travel, specializing in guided hiking and cultural adventures in South America and beyond for tech professionals and their families, traveling in small groups. Seller of Travel License Safarika Travel Inc. # 2112795-40)

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