The Salcantay or Salkantay (in Quechua, Sallqantay) is a snow-capped mountain in Peru, located in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, in the district of Santa Teresa, province of La Convencion, Department of Cusco. It rises to 6264 ms. n. m.
According to some authors, the name of this mountain is a contraction that comes from Salqa = sullen or wild and Antay = producing cloudsides or avalanches. The word Apu is often put before it – in the Quechua language it comes to mean Lord – which defines the spirits that inhabit the hills and the great mountains in the surroundings of the Andean communities. In this case, we refer to the Apu Salcantay in the Vilcabamba mountain range. The Nevado de Salcantay is one of the highest mountains in the Cusco region, along with the Nevado de Ausangate in the Vilcanota mountain range which is located further south.
Pick up from the hotel 4.30am to 5.00am. Departure in our private transport to Mollepata (2900 masl). This day we will have a beautiful trip to Limatambo where we will have breakfast; During the trip we will have panoramic views of the “Apu Salkantay”, as well as the snowy mountain ranges and the Apurimac River valley. We will arrive at Cruspata (3,200 masl) from where we start the trek.
Here we meet our muleteer who is already waiting for us with his horses, who will be in charge of loading the agency’s equipment. We start walking around 3 hours passing through traditional and Andean communities such as Cruzpata and Challacancha where we will stop for lunch.
We continue the walk in the afternoon until we reach the villages of Soraypamapa (3850 masl), where our first camp will be.
Overnight in Carp
We will have breakfast very early and our walk that lasts approximately 3 hours begins, until we reach the Apacheta pass (4590 masl). From this point we will be able to appreciate spectacular views of the mountain and the imposing snow-capped Salkantay (6264 masl), which is the second highest peak in the Cusco region, like the Humantay and Huayanay mountains, the white river, among others, until we reach Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch.
Then we will start our walk of approximately 2 – 3 hours towards the Rayanniyoc field (2890 masl) or the Chaullay field (2920 masl), depending on the capacity of the group and the weather conditions; we will settle for our second camp at a distance of 16 kilometers from Rayanniyoc or 23 kilometers from Chaullay.
Overnight in Carp
We will start walking at 7.00 am, a 3-hour light walk to Uscamayoc, where we will enter a place in the high jungle called Ceja de Selva, where we will be able to see the various kinds of plants, fruits, flowers, coca and diversity of birds; etc. Here you can see the banana harvest and the waterfall, if we are lucky we will be able to observe the famous bird stop of “Gallito de las Rocas”.
Lunch at Wiñaypoqo. After lunch and rest we start walking for about 3 hours passing through a small village of La Playa (2350 masl). In this area we will have our third camp.
Overnight in Carp
After breakfast at 07:30 a. m. We will start our walk towards the village of Lucmabamba, here we will see some Inca remains, and thus we will continue our way in which we will see the coffee, banana, fruit diversity plantations and a beautiful view of the Santa Teresa valley.
We will continue ascending about 4 hours approximately, arriving at Llactapata (2700 masl). From here we will be able to observe the Citadel of Machupicchu and we will enjoy some free time to rest, after which we will descend for 2 hours towards the Hydroelectric plant (1870 masl). Where we will have lunch with the whole team. At 16:35 we will board the train that will take us on a 45-minute trip to the town of Machupicchu (2000 masl).
Optional thermal baths that are about 10 minutes from the town.
Dinner and accommodation at Casa Andina Standard hotel.
(If you require another hotel you can request it together with your reservation)
05:30 hrs. Transfer to the station in Machupicchu town, to take the tourist bus that goes to the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. This short bus ride lasts only 20 minutes and runs along a very steep and zigzagging unpaved track through a jungle-like mountain with breathtaking views.
Finally we arrive at the Sanctuary of Machupicchu, where our local guide will take us on a tour of the most important sectors of this beautiful Inca citadel, visiting the most relevant parts. Around 13:00 hrs, we will be taking the return bus that will take us to Machupicchu Pueblo.
14:00 Lunch at Machupicchu Pueblo (Restaurant “El Indio Feliz”) and at 16:00 approx. Transfer by Expedition train to Ollantaytambo where we will be waiting for you by our private transport to take you to your hotel in Cusco.
We will arrive in Cusco at approximately 20:00 p.m.
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