A Magical Experience on the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail:
If you want to enjoy one of the best trekking routes in the world in a short amount of time with Tunqui Expeditions, our Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail hike is perfect for you.
Exciting Salkantay Trek with Connection to the Inca Trail
If you are ready to take on the Salkantay Trek with the 2-day connection to the Inca Trail, we offer a unique hike that will not disappoint. Salkantay is like part of the highest mountain in the world, and even higher than any mountain in North America. Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m / 20,574 ft) will show you the wonders of the Andes: blue lakes, impressive glaciers, and cloud forest. The Inca Trail is one of the most famous and popular hikes in the world, following the original paths of the Incas to Machu Picchu. Along the way, you will find archaeological sites, abundant flora and fauna, and breathtaking landscapes.
As a nature lover, you will absolutely adore the lush green vegetation in the final part of the trek and the unmatched variety of flora and fauna along the way.
For the first two days, we follow one of the classic Salkantay trails. On the third day, we leave the common path to reach the Inca Trail, where you will have the incredible opportunity to discover many archaeological ruins.
Our Trekking Adventure Begins in the City and Heads Towards Soraypampa, Where We Start Our Hike.
We will explore the magical Humantay Lagoon and appreciate its beautiful turquoise waters. Our camp will be at Ichupata, near the Salkantay Mountain.
On the second day, we will reach the summit of Inca Chiriasca Pass. We will walk through the cloud forest and witness the diverse flora and fauna of the area. Later, we will enjoy the experience of sleeping at our Paucar Cancha camp, at the foot of the mountains, gazing at the stars.
On the third day, we will hike to the archaeological site of Llactapata, where you can observe the Sacred Valley from afar. In the afternoon, we will walk to Piscacucho, Km 82, where we will take private transportation to Ollantaytambo and spend the night at a hotel.
On the second-to-last day, we will board the train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 to begin the Inca Trail and uncover its incredible history. It will be a day of exploration and hiking on the Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu.
HIGHLIGHTS
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
DAY 01: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAGOON – SALKANTAY PAMPA – ICHUPATA
In the morning, the Tunqui Expeditions group will begin the hike, and we will enjoy a delicious lunch in the middle of the mountains, near Salkantay. We will spend the night at the Ichupata campsite.
DAY 02: ICHUPATA – INCA CHIRIASCA PASS – INCA CANAL – PAUCAR CANCHA
Hike to the highest point of the route, Inca Chiriasca Pass, and enjoy the stunning views. We will then descend through the Andean valley to our camp in the Paucar Cancha sector.
DAY 03: PAUCAR CANCHA – WAYLLABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – PISCACUCHO KM 82 – OLLANTAYTAMBO
Today will be an exciting day as we leave the Salkantay Trek and join the Classic Inca Trail, passing by several archaeological sites such as Llactapata. We will stay overnight at a hotel in Ollantaytambo to prepare for the Inca Trail the next day.
DAY 04: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAYWAYNA – SUN GATE OR INTI PUNKU – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
We will depart from your hotel to the Ollantaytambo train station. At the station, the guide will distribute your tickets to board the expedition train that will take us to Km 104, the starting point for the hike to Machu Picchu.
DAY 05: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
After an early breakfast, we will take the first bus to Machu Picchu for a guided tour and enjoy the sunrise at this magical place—the most famous attraction in South America. A knowledgeable guide will lead us through the Machu Picchu citadel for three hours to learn about our Inca culture.
Highlight of the Day: Witness the magnificent sacred mountains of Humantay and Salkantay up close.
A day hard to believe the majesty of Salkantay.
We will begin our journey by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 and 4:45 am. In our private Tunqui Expeditions transport, we will travel to Soraypampa for 3 hours, where we will enjoy the first breakfast prepared by our chef.
During the trip, you will enjoy views of the beautiful Salkantay and Humantay mountains, as well as the lush green vegetation and the local family fields where they grow beans, quinoa, potatoes, etc.
The hike will begin at Soraypampa (3,800 m / 12,467 ft). There we will meet our support staff, who will prepare everything for the Salkantay Trek and load the equipment onto the horses.
First, we will hike to the marvelous Humantay Lagoon, where you will have time to relax and take photos. Then we will descend to Soraypampa to officially start the trek.
It will be a tough day as we will have to walk up to Ichupata (4,300 m / 14,104 ft) in the upper valley, which will take approximately 5 to 6 hours.
We will stop for lunch at Salkantaypampa and then continue to Ichupata to spend the night. We will set up camp, have happy hour, and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate
Walking Distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles
Walking Time: 5 – 6 hours
Highest Altitude: 4,750 m / 15,584 ft
Camp Altitude: 4,750 m / 15,584 ft
Highlight of the Day: Enjoy the most beautiful landscape imaginable as you get close to immense glaciers.
Adventure with Tunqui Expeditions through Andean Landscapes.
In the morning, our porters will wake us with coca tea, followed by a delicious breakfast prepared by our chef. After breakfast, we will begin the most challenging yet exciting hike. Alongside your guide, you will reach the Inca Chiriasca Pass (4,850 m / 15,908 ft) at a smooth pace, allowing you to admire the breathtaking views of the glacier mountains. Once you reach the top, you will enjoy hot coca tea, views of the valley and lakes, and even spot birds such as condors and hawks.
Next, we will descend or take an optional 30-minute hike to a glacier. We will then continue hiking to the lunch spot, where our porters will be waiting with traditional hot tea and a delicious lunch.
For the rest of the day, we will hike downhill through green valleys and streams before reaching the Paucar Cancha camp in a small village of 10 families.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Challenging
Walking Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Walking Time: 7 – 8 hours
Highest Altitude: 4,850 m / 15,908 ft
Camp Altitude: 3,700 m / 12,136 ft
Highlight of the Day: Witness the climate change as you step onto the Inca Trail.
Explore the Sacred Valley alongside the Vilcanota River (Willkamayu).
Today will be an exciting day as we leave the Salkantay trek to join the Classic Inca Trail. We will start hiking downhill for about 2 hours from Paucar Cancha (3,133 m / 10,276 ft) to Wayllabamba (3,323 m / 10,901 ft) and discover one of the Inca sites.
To reach Km 82, the start of the Inca Trail, we will walk downhill for approximately 5 hours. Along the way, you will see the Inca site known as Llactapata, the first archaeological site on the Inca Trail. Here, our chef will prepare a delicious lunch.
After lunch, our private van will be waiting to take us to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,158 ft), where we will take the train to Aguas Calientes the next day.
Upon arrival, we will check into the hotel to spend the night and have the opportunity to relax before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Easy
Walking Distance: 16 km / 9.94 miles
Walking Time: 7 – 8 hours
Highest Altitude: 3,700 m / 12,136 ft
Hotel Altitude: 2,792 m / 9,158 ft
– Aguas Calientes
Highlight of the Day: Explore the stunning tropical forest landscapes while visiting archaeological sites and enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu.
Explore the ancient Inca trails and enjoy breathtaking views.
Your adventure with Tunqui Expeditions will begin early, with a hotel pickup at 5:00 am. We will walk with our guide to the train station. Here, we will board the first train to KM 104, the starting point of our hike. Along the way, you will witness incredible views of the Andean mountains, sacred fields, and the Urubamba River, enjoying the warm sunrise. Before the trek, you will receive a brief explanation from the guide, a box lunch, and some snacks to enjoy later.
We will start on a stretch similar to the Classic Inca Trail, visiting the first nearby archaeological site: Chachabamba. This site was a strategic guardian and checkpoint for those accessing the Inca Trail. Your guide will pause briefly to share fascinating insights into Inca history. From here, the real hike begins for another 3 hours until we reach the Wiñay Wayna Complex. Along the way, you will be surrounded by lush vegetation and towering mountains offering stunning valley views.
At Wiñay Wayna, you will have plenty of time to relax, rest, and connect with Mother Nature through the refreshing air. A little further on, you will arrive at one of the Classic Inca Trail campsites. Here, around noon, you will enjoy a delicious box lunch and then take some time to relax.
Afterward, we will continue hiking to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). Enjoy your first breathtaking views of Machu Picchu, then descend to the town of Aguas Calientes. Check into your hotel, have dinner at a local restaurant, and rest for our Machu Picchu visit the following day.
Meals: Snacks, Box Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Moderate
Walking Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Walking Time: 5 to 6 hours
Highest Altitude: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Hotel Altitude: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
Highlight of the Day: Stroll through the stone streets of Machu Picchu and imagine life centuries ago.
Marvel at the energy of Machu Picchu and Discover Inca Secrets.
Your epic journey comes to an end today with a visit to the New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. In the morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes before departing early. We will board the bus from Aguas Calientes to the archaeological site to arrive before the crowds. This way, you can take advantage of the morning light and watch the sun rise over the ancient rocks.
At the hotel, you can leave your backpack or unnecessary items for the Machu Picchu visit, bringing only essentials. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes approximately 30 minutes. Once at Machu Picchu, your guide will lead you to the best spot to witness the sunrise (weather permitting) and take photos. Then, your expert history guide will explain the main sections of the citadel over the course of 2.5 hours. During this private guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.
You can choose to hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain (must be booked in advance as spots fill up quickly, costing $75 per person). Your guide will show you where to start this hike. The hike will take no more than 2 hours round trip.
Alternatively, you can hike Machu Picchu Mountain, which is more challenging and takes a minimum of 3 hours round trip (with an additional cost of USD $75 per person).
After exploring this magical site from start to finish, around noon, we will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a restaurant of your choice. In the afternoon, around 2 pm, we will head to the train station bound for Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, Tunqui Expeditions’ private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.
Now it’s time to rest your legs after an epic 8-day adventure through the mountains and jungle. We are sure you will never forget this life-changing trek.
Meals: Breakfast
Difficulty: Easy
Machu Picchu Site Altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
Machu Picchu Mountain Altitude: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
Huayna Picchu Mountain Altitude: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Optional Activities (Difficulty – Duration): Moderate (2-4 hours)
