M A N Y E X P E R I E N C E S SALKANTAY IMPERIAL T O M A C H U P I C C H U 8 D A Y S | 7 N I G H T S DESCRIPTION
Allow us to show you the Imperial City as you acclima ze to the al tude! Cusco sits at nearly 3,400 meters above sea level, many need a couple of days to adjust before embarking on the strenuous Salkantay Trek. We are itching to show off our and our ancestors home to you before we hit the trail! From Cusco we will head to the sacred valley to explore ancient ruins, remote villages, and begin our trek to Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek is a secluded hike. Less people means be er views of the mountains and more autonomy over your trip!
HOME FULL ITINERARY INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED BEFORE YOU GO ACCOMMODATION TERMS & CONDITIONS DAY BY DAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DAY DAY DAY DAY DAY DAY DAY DAY Arrive in the Explore the Sacred Hike to the Jewel in The Stunning Jungle Adventure The Day of Incan Tour of the Bid Farewell to the Imperial City of Valley of the Incas the Mountains Salkantay Pass and and Coffee Ruins and Your First Incredible Incan Imperial City Cusco and Tour the Descent to the Experience Glance of Machu Fortress: Machu Sites Jungle Picchu Picchu
Cusco´s Cathedral Pisaq Challacancha Salkantaypampa Collpapampa Llactapata Machu Picchu Transfer Koricancha Temple Ollantaytambo Soraypampa Salkantay Pass La Playa Hidroelectrica Saqsayhuaman Chinchero Humantya Lake Wayracmachay Lucmabamba Aguas Calientes Q`enqo Sky Camp Chaullay Jungle Domes Puka Pukara Andean Huts Tambomachay
HOME FULL ITINERARY INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED BEFORE YOU GO ACCOMMODATION TERMS & CONDITIONS FULL ITINERARY Salkantay Trek Imperial 8 Days 1 F E A T U R E D D E S T I N A T I O N O F T H E D A Y DAY SAQSAYHUAMAN Archaeological Site SALKANTAY IMPERIAL 8 DAYS 7 N I G H T S 1 Arrive in the Imperial City of Cusco and Tour the Sites T R E K T O M A C H U P I C C H U DAY City tour Cusco
elcome to the imperial, Andean carved wood such as the choir, pulpit and altars, city of Cusco, the cultural capital beau ful pain ngs from the Cusquenian School Wof Peru! Upon arrival, we will take of Art (including a Last Supper pain ng in which you to your hotel (included in the price of your Christ and His disciples eat cuy – guinea pig!) tour) to drop off your luggage and freshen up. Koricancha Temple and Santo Domingo Convent: When you are ready, we will take a leisurely half- This religious center was built to worship the day tour of this amazing place as you acclima ze Sun, the most revered deity during the Inca to the high al tude (3399 MASL – 11151 FASL). Empire. Inside the temple, you will find smaller Cusco has a long history and is the oldest temples dedicated to the sun, moon, stars, etc. con nuously inhabited city in all the Americas! Outside are beau ful, regal gardens and Since about 1000 B.C. people have lived in Cusco fountains on the grounds of the monumental and regarded it as a center of the surrounding temple. culture (then called Qosqo). It has been an important part of every civiliza on that has lived Saqsayhuaman: Located 2 km from Cusco City, in the area throughout history, star ng with the this fortress was built using enormous carved na ve people of Peru long before the famous rocks joined with compelling precision.
Incan people. On arrival of the Incan Empire to Q`enqo: Located 1 km from Saqsaywaman, this Peru and beyond, Cusco (then called Cuzco) complex was an Inca ceremonial cult center. The became of the naval of their far-reaching and most prominent feature of this complex is an powerful empire! Of course the Incans were then open space called the amphitheater. conquered by Spaniards who also used Cusco as a colonial, regal capital for the area. Puka Pukara: This complex is known as the ´´ red fortress´´ due to its reddish nts resul ng from The a rac ons visited on this tour include: the vast amounts of iron in its rocks.
Cusco´s Cathedral: Located in Cusco´s Main Tambomachay: This complex is made up of a Square, the cathedral is a colonial monument of combina on of finely carved stones, waterfalls, great ar s c value. It was built on top of the and aqueducts to carry water coming from Wiracocha Inca Palace and houses works of nearby springs and hot springs.
HOME FULL ITINERARY INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED BEFORE YOU GO ACCOMMODATION TERMS & CONDITIONS 2 F E A T U R E D D E S T I N A T I O N O F T H E D A Y DAY CHINCHERO Textile making P resentation SALKANTAY IMPERIAL 8 DAYS 7 N I G H T S 2 Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas T R E K T O M A C H U P I C C H U DAY Pisaq Ollantaytambo Chinchero
oday, you will have the opportunity to tex le-making presenta on. The Cusco region is visit some of the most beau ful and known for its amazing, colorful tex les, and here Thistorically rich towns of the Sacred you will learn how each color of wool is naturally Valley of the Incas. We begin the day by picking dyed, how the intricate cloths are woven, and you up from your hotel in Cusco at 8:30 AM and the symbolism held by the tradi onal designs heading toward the town of Pisaq. Before you find in their beau ful crea ons. Here, you reaching Pisaq, we will stop at both the Qorao will also visit an archeological site and a colonial and Taray lookouts so you can admire the beauty church. A er your tour, you will be brought back of the Sacred Valley from afar and take pictures. to Cusco and dropped off at your hotel at 6:45 Once in Pisaq, we will visit both Pisaq PM to rest up for tomorrow’s exci ng ac vi es! archaeological site and famous market. For lunch, we will drive to the town of Urubamba, where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of tradi onal Peruvian dishes.
Con nuing on, we will drive to the classic Incan town of Ollantaytambo and visit the town´s amazing and extensive archaeological site with its royal baths, high terraces, temples, etc. surrounded towering mountain peaks and colorful valleys (plus a view of a faraway glacier)! This town is the most well-preserved layout of a typical, Incan-built city with its narrow, cobbled streets and stone walls. Its conserva on allows for the enduring legacy of the Incan people to live on for us today!
To finish our day, we will visit Chinchero and meet some of the town´s talented women in a
HOME FULL ITINERARY INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED BEFORE YOU GO ACCOMMODATION TERMS & CONDITIONS 3 F E A T U R E D D E S T I N A T I O N O F T H E D A Y DAY HUMANTAY Lake
Today’s Highlights: Walk from Challacancha to Soraypampa with very few tourists. Relish in an a ernoon visit to the absolutely whimsical Humantay Lake nestled at the base of Apu Humantay mountain. Take in your first views of the enigma c Apu Salkantay. Spend the night in our glass-topped Sky Camp, and stargaze from your bed in our exclusive campsite! SALKANTAY IMPERIAL 8 DAYS 7 N I G H T S 3 Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains T R E K T O M A C H U P I C C H U DAY Cusco Mollepata Challacancha Soraypampa Humantay Lake
Meals: Accommoda on: Difficulty: Walking Distance: Highest Eleva on: Campsite Eleva on: Lunch and Dinner Sky Camp Moderate 7.45 miles 4600 m / 15091 3920 m / 12861
e start the day by picking you up water to farmers in the lower valleys. For the from your hotel at approximately next three hours, we will travel 7 km (4.35 miles) W04:00 AM. A er the first two to Soraypampa, where we will have our lunch at hours of driving, we will stop in a small town the base camp of Salkantay. A er lunch and a called Mollepata for a quick op onal breakfast. short rest, we do the climb up to the Then, we will con nue for another hour to unforge able Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – Challacancha, the star ng point of our trek. As 13779 ). This is a 5 km (3.1miles) round-trip we drive, and as the sun begins to peek over the hike, which will take a total of 3 hours. Humantay mountains, the white, snow-capped peaks of Lake is one of the most beau ful loca ons in all Apus Salkantay and Humantay, two colossal gods the Andes with unbelievably blue-green water, of the Incas, will start to materialize. which reflects the mountain glacier of Apu Humantay. It’s truly like something out of a fairy A er arriving at Challacancha we will meet our tale! A er we enjoy dinner back at camp, the support staff. The support staff consists of a head background of the valley at sunset creates the chef, a sous chef, and horseback riders. Day to most peaceful scene with an energy that can day, they will strap all the luggage and only be felt and not described!, Because equipment to mules and ride ahead of us to set Soraypampa, is located far from the hustle and up camp and prepare the food. At around 09:30 bustle of any city lights, at night the pitch-black AM, we will begin trekking to Soraypampa (3850 sky lights up with thousands of stars, MASL – 12631 FASL), the first campsite on our constella ons, and comets. As you lay in bed, journey at the base of the Humantay and gazing at the expanse that is unfolding before Salkantay Mountain. you, you will be overcome by feelings of peace Besides, at the very beginning, the first sec on of and tranquility as you are humbled by the glory the path is rela vely flat and snakes through a of all the beauty that has been created for us to deep glacial valley. Much of the trail follows a enjoy. restored Incan aqueduct, which s ll supplies
HOME FULL ITINERARY INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED BEFORE YOU GO ACCOMMODATION TERMS & CONDITIONS 4 F E A T U R E D D E S T I N A T I O N O F T H E D A Y DAY SALKANTAY Pass
Today’s Highlights: Hike along the winding Salkantay trail with the mountain’s tallest peak in front of your eyes all morning! Challenge yourself as we make our way up some steep slopes while looking out on the valley far below un l we reach the base of Apu Salkantay. Around midday, you will be standing in the middle of the Andes mountain range! In the a ernoon, we make our way into the incredible cloud forest and tropical jungle around Chaullay. This is your most challenging day but also your most rewarding! SALKANTAY IMPERIAL 8 DAYS 7 N I G H T S 4 The Stunning Salkantay Pass and Descent to the Jungle T R E K T O M A C H U P I C C H U DAY Soraypampa Salkantaypampa Salkantay Pass Huayracmachay Chaullay
Meals: Accommoda on: Difficulty: Walking Distance: Highest Eleva on: Campsite Eleva on: Breakfast, Lunch, Andean Huts Challenging 13.7 miles 4650 m / 15255 2750 m / 9022 Dinner