8 Day Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu Peru and Amazon Tambopata Reserve in Sky Lodge Dome (Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu and Amazon Jungle Rainforest in one Trip!!! )

You can now go on a great tour through the snowy Salkantay to one of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World – Machu Picchu. We Highly Recommend to do this package that involves all the best Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Peru Destinations.

National Geographic Adventure Magazine rated the Salkantay trek as one for the 25 Best Treks in the World.

Mount Salkantay (or Nevado Salkantay / Salcantay) is one of the most iconic mountains in the Cusco region and the highest mountain on the Vilcabamba Mountain range.

Hikkers on the Salkantay trail spend a day approaching the mountain from the south and then another day in close proximity to the mountain as they scale the Salkantay Pass, which at 4,600m provides amazing views into the valley below. Salkantay trek of 4 days and 3 nights is a great adventure that will allow you to appreciate Andean and lush green mountains (Cloud forest), streams, rivers and hot springs that will help you relax your body after the physically taxing walk. You can also feel the temperature change along the hiking mountain paths of the tour of Salkantay. You can also enjoy some snow in one of the highest points of the road, 4,630 mts/15, 228 feet above sea level. Finally, the last day (the fifth day) you will enjoy the Grand tour of Machu Picchu City.

STARTING POINT: Pick-up from Cusco & Sacred Valley Hotel/Airbnb. From 4:30 am to 5:00 am  
ENDING POINT: Drop-off in Cusco at Hotel/Airbnb 10:30 pm
DEPARTURE: Daily. If you are a group of 02 we depart (No matter if you have paid as large group service). We NEVER pass our people onto another operator as most agencies do here in cusco
HIKING DISTANCE: 67km
PHYSICAL LEVEL: Level 3. Salkantay Trek requires some physical preparation and we Also recommend to Aclimatize 2 days before we begin the Salkantay Trek
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,630 m / 15,228 ft
TRANSPORTATION: Private Van/Bus to Challacancha (for our Passengers and staff) Tourist Expedition Train Back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and Bus back to Cusco, Bus round trip Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Cusco or Puno
ACCOMMODATIONS: 2 nights in Green Eco Dome ( Private Campsite of Domes at Soraypampa and Loreta la Playa ), 1 night in the hotel (Aguas Calientes), 03 nights in Bungalow into the Tambopata Natural Reserve
MEALS: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, 2 tea times + wake-up teas
MACHUPICCHU: Machupicchu entrance fee Included.

• Day 01: Pick Up from Hotel in Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa
• Day 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmacha – Chaullay – La Playa Loreta
• Day 03: La Playa Loreta – Lucmabamba – Llactapata incan site – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
• Day 04: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo –  Cusco (Overnight Bus ride) – Puerto Maldonado
• Day 05: Pick up From Bus Terminal in Puerto Madonado – Lodge – Jungle Trail Walk – Botanical Garden – Caiman Spotting
• Day 06: Sandoval lake hike (Oxbow Lake) – Picnic Lunch – Jungle Family – Night Trail Walk
• Day 07: Parrot Clay Lick – Relax – Zip Lining – Canopy – Kayak to the Monkey island
• Day 08: Breakfast & Transfer to Puerto Maldonado and Bus Back to Cusco or Puno.

Why Choose Quechuas Expeditions?

• We are 100% Peruvian Company (The Best Local Tour Operator)
• We have the best top GUIDES in the Region
• We have the best Cheffs/ Cooks 
• We have our own private campsites SKY LODGE DOMES (And we work with responsability protecting the natural area) Exclusive Salkantay Campsites for our passengers only
• We are a reliable and certified company
• Small Groups and Memorable Lifetime Experiences 100% Guarantee
• We have special Itinerary to avoid the crowds and so many surprises to make your SALKANTAY trip memorable!!!

• Sleep in comfort under the stars in our Ecofriendly Sky Green Eco Domes located in private campsite at Soraypampa and Loreta Campsite. Best Campsites Along the the Salkantay Trek.
• 02 Nights: Private Soraypampa and Loreta La Playa at Campsite at our Green Eco SKY DOME
• 03 Nights in a Jungle Bungalow into the Tambopata Natural Reserve
• 01 Night: Aguas Calientes Hotel
• Visit Humantay Lake and Salkantay Lake
• Hike the Original Inca Trail to LLactapata Incan site to see Machupicchu.
• Enjoy the scenic views of Salkantay Snow Mountain
• Make a small ritual for the Andean gods and learn about Incan religion
• Enjoy our friendly customer service and experienced top guides
• Eat delicious, freshly prepared Peruvian cuisine (Buffet Peruvian Style Food)
• Hike through the different types of landscapes and Sceneries, such as cloud forests, highlands, grassy hills, and Andean valleys
• Reach 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) in elevation along the Salkantay Pass
• Explore Machu Picchu and the surrounding area with expert and knowledgeable tour top guides
• Hike one of National Geographic’s 25 “World’s Best Treks”

Please, Note: We need at least 02 of you and Leave any day you suit. All Departures 100% Guaranteed If You’re Booked, You are Going !!! To Confirm and Secure the Inca Trail Permits. Send us the filled out booking form as well as a deposit of 30% and you are ready to go…

Please Note: For travellers who don’t have many days to hike, or for those who doesn’t feel fit enought to hike the Salkantay of 4 days. We have a great alternative salkantay trek and Humantay lake of 3 days conecting to machupicchu by train from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes. or salkantay and humantay lake 2 days sleeping in our domes.(Click here to see more info)

• Private Tourist Transportation To Mollepata and Extra 1 hour minutes to get Challacancha better views and skip the dusty road. (We never share Bus service with other companies as most agencies do here to minimize costs) 
• Expeditions Train From Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
• Bus Round trip from Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Cusco or Puno.
• Machupicchu Entrance fee and Visit of Machupicchu
• 01 Night Hotel Overnight in Aguas Calientes
• 03 Nights in a Jungle Bungalow into the Amazon Tambopata Natural Reserve
• English – Spanish speaking guide for 2 days on Humantay Lake & Salkantay Trek.(All our Guides work for us only) All of them speak Fluent English Second Guide Over 16 people Group Night in Dome at SORAYPAMPA and LORETA LA PLAYA CAMPSITE ( Twin bed room, Matrimonial bed room, 3 beds room, 4 beds room Accomodation)
• 02 Nights: Soraypampa and Loreta La playa Campsite at our Geodesic Sky Dome
• Cook and assistance of the Cook.(We have chosen the best cook/cheffs and all are trained by Quechuas Expeditions every month)
• Cooking equipment (We use New cooking equipment and change all every 3 months)
• Snacks (Fruits, energy bars)
• Daily tea service (Wake up Coca tea and afternoon tea time(Happy hour) with full of popcorn and special snacks made by our cooks)
• Dining equipment including portable chairs and tables
• Food service (7 breakfast, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, 5 snacks) – nutritionally balanced menu: Buffet style Plenty of food you will never be hungry with us! as well as Guinea Pig for free because we want you to taste all from Peru.
• Vegetarian and free Gluten menu at no extra cost (Please let us know at the time of booking)
• Salkantay Trek & Humantay entrance fees, valid for 3 days
• Insurance policy of life for porters and cooks.
• Private Transportation from the train station of Ollantaytambo to Cusco(2 hours drive) and drop off at the hotel.(we only use our Private Transportation. so you will never wait at the train station till the bus of 30 ppl gets full)
• First-aid kit (Our Guide will carry while on the salkantay trail) Please, note all our Guides are trained every year in first-aid)
• Emergency oxygen bottle (Our guide will carry while on the Trail)
• Rain waterproof cover for your day backpacks
• Pre trek Orientation – briefing A day before we do the Trek. (Hotel or Office) Let us know once you are at the office or by email.
• Free “I survived ” T-shirt and certificate (only for PEOPLE who successfully complete the trek!!!

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on 1st Day and Lunch Dinner on day 6
• Salkantay Entrance Fee (20 soles)

DISCOUNTS (to apply discounts. Please send us an email at info@quechuasexpeditions.com)

• UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD (Students must be below 25 years) : US$20. Please send us a a scanned copy of the student card at the time of booking.
• Under 17 years old: US$20 Please send us a copy of passport at the time of booking.
• Under 12 years old: US$20  Please send us a copy of passport at the time of booking.
• Group of 5 or more: US$10 per person. All you need is to book the trek together at the same time.

UPGRADES:

• Huaynapicchu Mountain (Based on Availability): US$30 Based on Availability (Let us at the time of booking)
• MachuPicchu Mountain (Based on Availability): US$30 Based on Availability (Let us at the time of booking)
• Upgrade to Vistadome Train (First Class Train) (Includes Private Transportation From Ollantaytambo to Cusco) USUS$70
• Extra Night in Aguas Calientes US$30 per person (Twin Bed room, 3 Beds room & 4 Beds Room with Private shower & Bathroom)
• A night in Cusco at our Quechuas Guesthouse: from US$20 per person / Twin Bed room (Before we do the tour/trek or after the tour/trek)

RENTALS

• Goose Down sleeping bag (Mummy style): US$30 for the entire trip
• (Black Dimond) Walking Poles Rubber Tips Included: US$20 for the entire trip
• Day Pack 20 – 30 liters (Rain cover included): US$15 for the entire trip

ADITIONAL INFO:

• BRIEFING for all our treks is a Night before we do the trek at 6:30pm in our office, But if you want us to come to your Hotel let us know in advance.(You will get a chance to meet you guide and as well as to give you your duffel bags)
• STORAGE Most Hotels have storage where you can leave the rest of your stuff while you hike to Machupicchu, But if they dont have a place you can leave your stuff in our storage with no extra cost. (Let us know at the time of briefing)

We pick you up from your hotel Between 4:30 a.m to 5:00am to drive for about 2 hours to Mollepata  where we stop to have breakfast. Then we keep driving 1 hour to Challacancha where start our Salkantay trek. As soon as we are at Challacancha while you get ready to walk. The cook and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we start hiking the first 3 hours will be a little bit uphill to get Soraypampa where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – just the start! After Lunch We will begin our Hike up to Humantay Lake, and hen back to Soraypampa our first Salkantay Trek camping spot (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) we will be very close to the second highest Salkantay snow capped – mountain of Cusco.

1ST DAY: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 7- 8 hours
Maximum altitude point: 3,800 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 3,800 m (aprox.)

After having our Salkantay Trek early breakfast we start walking about 6:00 am, because this day will be the longest day the first 4 hours is uphill to get the highest point of the Salkantay Trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here. After a rest, we will continue our walk (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the start of the jungle until we reach  Chaullay Where we take our Local transportation for 1 hour to Get our La Playa Loreta Coffe Campsite. The Reason we stay at this campsite is because the next day we will climb up to a mountain where you will find one of the most beautiful inca trail site which is known as Llactapata. You will also see Machu Picchu City from this point.

2ND DAY: Total distance: 19 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours
Maximum altitude point: 4,650 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 2,750 m (aprox.)

We will have breakfast at 6:00am and leave our camping spot of La Playa Loreta. We walk up on a original Inca Trail to Llactapata site where you will get a chance to see Machupicchu far away (one of the most beautiful place to see Machupicchu) then We continue walking, passing a variety of crop plantations, coca, banana etc. until we reach the hydroelectric station for Lunch. And after the lunch we keep walking about two and half hours till reaching Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the thermal springs in the town (entrance 10 soles) a real treat after finishing the Salkantay Trek.

Please note: (For those who dont want to hike via this trail. There is a chance to take a bus to Santa Teresa and do an adventure sport of zip lining and Canopy and then transfered to hydroelectric station for Lunch and meet the group.) This has an extra Price of US$40 per person.

3RD DAY: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 7 – 8 hours
Maximum altitude point: 1,600 m (aprox.)
Hotel (aguas calientes) altitude: 1,900 m (aprox.)

Salkantay trek important day! We wake up early morning about 4am to then to 4:30 to have the breakfast and Start to walk up to Machupicchu which takes 1 and half hours up to machupicchu. But there is another option to catch the first bus which leaves 5:30am to Machupicchu. (it takes 25-minutes long) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun is rising. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your Guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top.and after enjoying machupicchu you have to go down to aguas calientes to take the train back to ollantaytambo and then bus back cusco. this Night you will get a Night bus ride from Cusco to Puno at 10:00pm

4TH DAY: Total distance: 6 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hour
Maximum altitude point: 2,700 m (aprox.)

On arrival of your bus to Puerto Maldonado, our guides or staff will meet you at the bus station and transfer you to our office to make a registration.

Your excess luggage will be stored safely in our office in Puerto Maldonado and then we will continue to the Capitania port. We take our motor boat along the Madre de Dios River for approximately – 40 minutes to Amazon Garden Lodge. A cool welcome drink awaits you.

The start of the adventure circuit is reached a tower and stairway that ascends to the treetops where a platform that marks the start of the zip-line almost 200mts long, the breathtaking views are only matched by the excitement of overcoming our fears and the adrenaline that courses through us as we leap off the platform supported by the high security harnesses that connect us to the zip- line cable to a platform 27mts high. The 75mts long of the log walkway, hanging 27m above the floor, leads off this platform, a risky balancing act, and takes us to the platform at the start of the second zip line, a 160m fly back to the tower and stairwell that descends to the forest floor. And then Return to the Amazon Garden Lodge After a well-deserved lunch, we take the kayaks to the river, well protected with high quality life jackets, and accompanied by a motor boat that guarantees extra security; this level one activity is relaxing and accessible for all. Getting Monkey Island you will be able appreciate a great diversity of monkeys such as the: capuchin, tamarines y squirrel monkeys we will put on a show of swinging through the treetops charging down the trunks of the large trees that form their home in order to accept food from your hand .

Return to Amazon Garden Lodge .Nocturnal activities are available this night we have the caiman spotting.

 After a great breakfast, and distributed to each traveler lunch and snacks we’ll take the boat to get to the control of Tambopata National Reserve Zone, after 1 and half hour walking trhough the rainforest we are approaching to the famous Sandoval Lake. DIts way by immense ancient trees and entangled vines; we will be able to see multihued flower and fauna including: Giant Otters, birds, coloured butterflies, turtles, and variety of fish. We will spend few hours in canoe on this one of the most beautiful lakes in region. Return to Amazon Garden Lodge, dinner and rest. 

 we take to the majestic Madre de Dios River and set course downstream for an hour for the Native Community of Ese´Ejas, the largest Ese Eja community numbering about 200 families, of which we will be visiting two. The Project “Rescuing Cultural Values“, situated on Gamitana Island, is working with two families who will show us the culture of their ancestors, their language and customs, clothing and dances. In our modern, civilized world we have all but forgotten the existence of ancestral cultures and traditions. An ancient indigenous tradition like the Ese´Eja reveals to us the customs and way of life of indigenous peoples. They gift us with the opportunity to have a direct contact with a people of ancient warriors and hunters and to share their ancestral ways.and at 1.pm lunch. By the afternoon we have time to do roustic fishing in Madre de Dios river, where with some luck we’ll have chance to catch some species like pictus cat fish, small mouth,armored cat fish and red eye piranha. Back to the lodge, dinner an rest

 Parrots and parakeets need to eat rich clay that provides them with the salts and minerals necessary to metabolize and neutralize the toxins and acids of the flowers, fruits, and seeds upon which they feed. Early each day, therefore, they congregate at the salt licks, clay walls along the rivers and streams in the Madre de Dios region of the Amazon rainforest. At about 7:00am we back to the lodge, have breakfast and return to Puerto Maldonado and Drop you off at the Bus Terminal arriving between 8:30 to 9:00am