Salkantay Inca Trail Expedition + Rainbow Mountain 12 days

Combine the 2 most epic treks in Peru; the wilderness hike of Salkantay and the Iconic Classic Inca Trail. For this hike, travelers need to be in a good physical condition and have experience camping.

Trip details:

• Duration: 12 days
• Depart: Mollepata
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Season: All year round, except in January - February
• Destination: Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain

Highlights of Salkantay Inca Trail to Machu Picchu:

• Travel with an authentic Local Tour Operator from Cusco city
• We offer complimentary airport pick up and drop off
• We offer a real camping experience with tents and hot showers
• Explore Humantay Lake in the afternoon
• Camp near Salkantay Mountain
• Join The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
• Enjoy the silence of Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain
• Support and visit Social Project that helps the education of local children

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata – Marcoccasa – Soraypamapa
We will pick you up early from your hotel in Cusco, then drive for 3 hours to the trailhead near the town of Mollepata. After an early breakfast, we will start our expedition crossing the Valley of Mollepata with amazing views of the Humantay and Salkantay Mountain.   

• Approximate time: 7 hours
• Campsite altitude: 3900 m /12790ft
• Considered: Moderate
• Total distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 2: Soraypampa - Humantay lake – Salkantaypampa – Pampa Japonesa
After an early breakfast, start with a gentle uphill towards Humantay Lake and the Salkantay mountain. Enjoy the amazing view of the Vilcabamba Mountain range that separates the Andes from the Cloud Forest. The total hike takes about 8 hours to Pampa Japonesa (4280 m /14041 ft). Camp next to the great Salkantay and beautiful glacier lakes.   

• Approximate time: 8 hours
• Campsite altitude: 4280 m /14041 ft
• Considered: Moderate to Challenging
• Total distance: 16 km / 10 miles
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 3: Pampa Japonesa – Sisaypampa – Canal Inca
Wake in your tent with a cup of coffee served by your trekking team and get ready to conquer the highest point of this expedition, the Incachiriasca pass (5100 m / 16732 ft). Once you reach the top, enjoy the amazing views while enjoying a hot cup of coca tea to help you with the altitude. From the pass, you will start descending through the Pampacahuana Valley, following the meandering streams to the third campsite next to a small village.   

• Total distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
• Approximate time: 8 hours
• Campsite altitude: 3670 m /12040 ft
• Considered: Challenging
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 4: Canal Inca – Wayllabamba – Ayapata.
Enjoy an energetic breakfast and start with a 3-hour downhill trek to the Incan ruins of Paucar Cancha (3143 m / 10410 ft), a beautiful archeological complex but rarely visited. Next, continue for 30 minutes to Wayllabamba to visit another Inca Site of the same and check into the Classic Inca Trail’s second checkpoint and join the other hiker to the 4th Campsite at Ayapata.  

• Total distance: 15 km / 89.3 miles
• Approximate time: 7 hours
• Campsite altitude: 3300m / 10826ft
• Considered: Moderate
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 5: Ayapata – Warmiwañuska – Chaquicocha  
Early wake up for the most challenging day, we conquer 2 mountains: Death Women Pass, the highest of the trek with 4200m, and the second mountain is called Runqurakay Pass with 4000m.    

• Total distance:16km, 10 hrs
• All meals included
• Visit Runqurakay, Sayaqmarca, Conchamarca sites
• Camping

Day 6: Chaquiccocha – Phuyupatamarca – Wiñaywayna
The most pleasant day of the Inca Trail, only half-day hiking and afternoon free to relax and prepare for the final day at Machu Picchu.   

• Total distance: 10km, 6hrs
• All meals included
• Visit Phuyupatamarca, Intipata, Wiñaywayna
• Camping

Day 7: Wiñaywayna – Machupicchu – Cusco
Wake early to arrive with the first ones to the Sungate (Intipunku), from where you will have the first and most amazing view of Machu Picchu.   

• Total distance: 6km, 2 hrs
• Visit Sungate, Machu Picchu
• Meals: Breakfast only
• Vistadome Train to come back to Cusco.
• You need to book a hotel in Cusco

Day 8: Free day in Cusco
Rets and recover for the Ausangate Trek

*You need to book a hotel in Cusco
 

Day 9: Cusco – Upis  – Yanacocha
Early pick up from your hotel in Cusco and drive for 4 hours to the village of Upis: After breakfast, we will start for 6 hours up and 3 hours down to our campsite.   

• Total distance: 14km, 7 hrs
• Campsite altitude: 4,650 m / 15,256 ft
• Considered: Moderate to Challenging
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 10: Yanacocha – Qomercocha
After an energetic breakfast, you will start hiking for 8 hours around the Ausagante mountain with beautiful views of the lagoon below. Camp near the Rainbow Mountain!  

• Total distance: 16km, 8 hrs
• Campsite altitude: 4,680 m / 15,354 ft
• Considered: Moderate to Challenging
• Meals: B, L, D
• Camping

Day 11: Qomercocha – Rainbow Mountain – Cusco
Wake up early and arrive first at the amazing Rainbow Mountain and explore the Red Valley before the crowds. After Lunch, you will board the van back to Cusco arriving around 5:pm  

• Total distance: 10km, 4 hrs
• Considered: Moderate 
• Total distance: 16 km / 10 miles
• Meals: B, L
• You need to book a hotel in Cusco

Day 12: Fly from Cusco to Lima
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport depending on the flight schedule                  

Included

• Complimentary airport transfers
• Safety briefing the day before the treks
• Pick up from your hotel on the morning of the tours
• All transportation during the duration of the tours
• Personal Porter for up to 7 kilos for your personal stuff 
• Professional highly trained mountain tour guides
• Experience chefs, porters, arrieros
• 8 nights camping in the mountains with comfortable
• Comfortable sleeping tent with enough space (4-men tents)
• Camping cot and sleeping bag included for more comfort and isolation from the floor
• Porta-potties 
• Portable solar showers are available during the trek
• Trekking poles included 
• All meals during the Trek with local ingredients 
• Oxygen tank, first aid kit, satellite phones
• Entrance ticket to all places we visit
• Panoramic Vistadome train on the last to come back to Cusco.

Not Included  

• Meals not mentioned on the itinerary
• Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances
• Tips for porters, chefs, guides
• Travel insurance

Important Information

• Minimum 2 people to guarantee departure
• Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other options available
• Travelers need a good physical fitness level

Booking and Cancellation Policy

• Book the Salkantay Inca Trail only with 140.USD per person
• The remaining payment can be made up to 24 hours before departure with any credit card and no booking fees.
• Initial payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Cancellation with 24 hours or less, 90% of the total price is due
• The trip can be canceled due to force majeure