Salkantay seems closer to the sky than the earth, it is the first thing you will see the start this route. Here you live one of the greatest cosmic experiences, the sky changes color at dusk, is when it spreads a vast and infinite canvas with stars, which inspires and establishes immense tranquility and peace to every viewer.
Salkantay routes are alternatives arrival at Machu Picchu. In special, the route through the Ahobamba river basin, promises to take you through wonderful and incredible landscapes; places such as: mountains, snow-capped mountains, lagoons, waterfalls, flora and fauna. On this route you can see one of the highest waterfalls in Cusco, which is over 160 meters high.
If you have the opportunity to do this route, you can enjoy and connect with each of its wonders, it is certainly the best route to get Machu Picchu.
Is the beginning of this beautiful experience, you depart by a transport from Cusco (3300 m.a.s.l) to Soraypampa (4650 m.a.s.l), this takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes of trip, usually the transport stop in Mollepata (2900 masl) to have breakfast. When you arrive to Soraypampa we can rent horses and horsemens to make the walk lighter, we can also enjoy the view of Salkantay, Humantay lake and many mountains. The goal for this day is to reach the Japanese Pampa (4650 masl), where is the first camping are to rest.
This day is the longest and most extensive, the road is on the edge of Salkantay, where according to the season, you can appreciate the mountain ranges and see the flight of condors is an exceptional sensation, after all this experience, we started to go up until you arrive to the beautiful and wide pasture of Sisaypampa (4200 masl) here you can have lunch, it is important to eat lightly and rest. The next destination is Palqay (4750 m.a.s.l.) This path is a 500-meter climb up a rocky mountain between Salkantay and Mount Palqay. This part of the walk is heavy, but you will have a unique experience, when you arrive at Palqaypampa, according to the weather, you will see the most starry sky. You will rest and spend one of the most intense nights in your life.
After the rest and a good breakfast, this day you will have many experiences, ranging from the most beautiful landscapes of Puna to a cloud forest, we have a trekking for 7 kilometers go down. At the meeting of two rivers, you will arrive to an archaeological pre-Inca settlement, located deep in the valley, when you arrive its posible to explore and there will also be time to relax and take many photos. You will also be able to appreciate the most awesome of the trip: one of the longest waterfalls in Cusco, with more than 160m high. The trekking down is continuous as you traverse the sides of the valley, well above the Ahobamba river, the road becomes more rugged, as you go, the weather becomes warmer between the hanging forests and bamboo thickets. After several hours of walking, we find a self-sufficient farm, where they grow a variety of products such as: coffee, cassava, oranges, limes, and others. Here is where we rest, there will be time to enjoy the warm climate and the sound of many species, including birds, insects, rodents and the river.
On this day after the respective meals, we have a last walking down towards Hidroeléctrica for approximately 1 hour, as we continue the trekking you can see the mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. For arrive to Aguas Calientes we will walk for around of 3 hours and 30 minutes Aguas Calientes is also known as Machupicchu Town, where you have lunch and rest, after some free time to get to know a little of this town.
Is the last day we’ll ready to know Machu Picchu, wonder of the world. You start to walk up to reach the mountain, here you can see one of the most beautiful sunrises in the region. There is strict control, but everything gives us the opportunity to have a great 2-hour tour, the Inca citadel always surprises with all of this awesome view, the experience is comforting to enjoy by yourself. In the afternoon, according to the train departure time we will descend to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo, from where we will have the last transfer to Cusco.
It is necessary to carry only the essentials, we recommend carrying a bag that does not exceed 8 kilos.
