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Salkantay Challenge Trek 3D / 2N

Created with Sketch. Salkantay, Machu Picchu, Peru
Ranking

Code: STTM3200

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Duration

3D/2N

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Tour Type

Specific Tour

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Group Size

12 people

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Languages

Español, Ingles

Overview

Salkantay Challenge Trek, is astounding short hike to Machupicchu that satisfy the ambitious trekker intent on crossing high passes. You’ll cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,600m / 15091ft. The Trek begins in the zone of Soraypampa at 3:30 hours from the city of Cusco; from where we gain further outstanding views of Salkantay and Umantay peaks. This trek traverses the entire Machu Picchu national park and provides all the highlights you would expect with a mixture of local villages and remarkable culture. Our nights are spent in a combination of camps and hotels of 3-stars category. If you are highly motivated and want to experience the absolute best of what the Salkantay region has to offer, then this is the trek for you. The Salkantay Challenge Trek is popular because it allows trekkers to pass through diverse terrain. From jungle to high alpine, and reaches to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu; a XV century Inca build The Region of Salkantay is one of Peru’s top trekking destinations since the trek takes you to Machu Picchu, the new wonder of the world; the 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek is a ultimate trekking adventure, crossing one pass over 4,600m / 15091ft, offering amazing scenery and views. The trip is a package for customers with a well experience in trekking; this amazing trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6.271 m / 20,574 ft); one of the highest and most stunning mountain in the Peruvian Andes.

Tour Salkantay Challenge Trek 3D / 2N

The trekking has been opened to everybody in its different modalities of 3 days , 4 days 5 days and more; “Salkantay Trek” a trekking specialist travel company, offers to its customers a 3-day Salkantay Challenge Trek for well-trained trekkers. The trekking is the most popular alternative Trek to Machu Picchu since the trail runs through different ecological zones. For Salkantay Challenge Trek is very important to be well prepared since the trail is considered very challenging, in this trek is included two days of trekking for 8 -9 hours per day and one day exploring Machu Picchu.
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    Activities: Trekking Adventure
    Difficulty Levels: 4 of 5
    Maximum Altitude: 4650 masl / 15255 ft.
    Accommodation: 1 nights camp + 1-night hostel
    Departures Day: Daily Departures.
    Starts: Pick up at your accommodation in Cusco around 4:30 AM
    Ends: Drop-off at your accommodation in Cusco around 9:45 PM

Itinerary

DAY 1 : Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Challway.
We’ll leave the city of Cusco at 03:30 a.m. (Pick up time from your hotel); we’ll travel by car for about 3 hours to the town of Mollepata where we’ll stop to use toilets, some breakfast and probably purchase some items for the trek, then we’ll continue one hour drive to Soraypampa (3,800m / 12467ft) where we’ll start the Trekking to Machupicchu.

As soon as we are at Soraypampa, our chef and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we’ll start the hike. The first 4 hours will be uphill to get to the Highest Point which is at 4,600 m / 15091ft (the highest of the trek) then the trail, we’ll continue down to Huayracmachay where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4,120 masl/13,500 ft) and down the beginning of the cloud forest.

After lunch you’ll have time to rest and refill your water bottle; then the trail continues down for about 2 hours to the camp of Qollpa; which is a small community where we’ll see farms.

Hiking distance: 13 km / 8.1 miles
Estimated walking time: 6½ to 7 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Camping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
Maximum Altitude: 4200 Masl / 13779 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2954 masl / 9694 ft.
DAY 2 : Chaullay – La Playa – Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes
At 06:00 AM, we will start our trek to the small town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. You will be able to soak up this new, lush landscape during our 6 hours of hiking today! During the hike we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit along the way! We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” where waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, and flora and fauna can be observed. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beautiful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks,” the national bird of Peru!

After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will take local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station.

Here you will have two options:
1) If you are exhausted, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($31.00 extra).
2) If you are still eager to hike, you may walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. There is a nice path next to the tracks through the warm paradise of the cloud forest. This is the same trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost to the outside world!

Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a bit before dinner or walk around this alluring place that has the feel of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it is an especially peaceful place to be. At 7:00 PM, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the overnight stay at our hostel. In your luxury room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

Hiking distance: 18 km / 11.2 miles
Hiking time: 7 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Camping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Plus snacks and afternoon tea time)
Maximum Altitude: 2650 masl / 8700 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2400 masl ASL / 7874 ft.
DAY 3: Aguas Calientes – Hiking to Machu Picchu – Cusco.
Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hostel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM. We will hike up to Machupicchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!

After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride at 18:20 hrs (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 21:30 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!

Distance Travelled: 6 Km. / 3.7 mile
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours approximately.
Machu Picchu guided tour: 2½ hour.
Climate: tropical warm.
Shuttle to Cusco:3 hours by train and bus from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast.
Maximum Altitude: 2429 masl / 7972 ft.
Minimum Altitude: 2040 masl / 6692 ft.

What is Included?

  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • Pre-departure Salkantay trek briefing, presented by the tour guides at 7:00 pm at the office a day before
  • Duffle bag to get ready 7 kilos of your belonging carried by horses.
  • English/Spanish speaker professional guide.
  • Guided visit to Machu Picchu.
  • Transportation to head of Salkantay trail.
  • 3-night camping
  • 1-night hostel in Aguas Calientes
  • 3 breakfast
  • 2 lunches
  • 2 dinners
  • Transport from la playa to Santa Teresa
  • Personal pad (double foam - 2.5 inches thick).
  • Pillows at the first Camp.
  • Cooks and cooking equipment.
  • Vegetarian food available on request with no extra charge.
  • First Aid equipment and Oxygen bottle for emergencies.
  • Horses for carrying - 7 Kilos of each hiker.

Not Included:

  • The 10 soles entrance fee of the local municipality of Mollepata, every single person pay the 10 soles directly to the local government which is about 3 dollars.
  • Sleeping Bags, If you do not have one, You can rent from us.
  • Hot springs expenses which are to cover de transportation and the entrance (20 to 25 soles)
  • Travel insurance.
  • Extra expenses, Tips, and gratitude.

Salkantay Trek 3 Days Tour's Location

Created with Sketch. Salkantay, Machu Picchu, Peru

Tour Map Salkantay Challenge Trek 3D / 2N

Salkantay Trek 3 Days FAQs

What Should I Bring for the Tour?
– Original passport
– For students: ISIC card
– Insurance card/certificate
– Walking stick ( Highly Recomemded )
– Hiking boots
– Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
– Warm jacket
– Hat and gloves
– 2-4 t-shirts
– 2 pairs of pants (1 for hiking, 1 for camp)
– Long underwear for sleeping
– Hand sanitizer
– Comfortable trousers
– Sun hat or cap
– Sunscreen
– Insect repellent
– Water
– Toiletries/ Toilet paper
– Personal medication
– Camera
– Flashlight or headlamp
– Extra money for tips/snacks/beer.
How is the weather in the inca jungle tour?
Weather in the Inca jungle trail change a lot special the first day. however the weather is very warm in Santa Maria, Santa Tereza and Aguas Calientes. all this towns are located lower then Cusco and they are not higher then 2400 meter about the see level.
Temperature during all year is between 10°C and 25 °C.
Only in the biking portion you will need warm jacket and rain jacket.
when is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
Best time to visit Machu Picchu by inca jungle trail is between march and December.
How hard is the biking tour ?
It is not that difficult and not that challenge however we recommend passenger have some king of experience with the bike. then with our tour guide recommendation you will have a great time with our tour.
Do I need experience for the tour?
Actually you don't need that expert experience on biking, rafting, or zipline. In any moment you fell these activities is to much for you. You can decide to not continue with this activities and take and optional way.
When should I book inca jungle trek?
Never is to early to book you tour with us, It is because you will have enough time to book in advance updates like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Montaña. This tickets are sold out very fast and you need to book approximately 2 months before departure.
How much is to enjoy hotspings?
In Santa Tereza - Cocalmayo, You will find the best hotspings in the area, it only cost 10 soles or 3.5 USD dollars.
How hard is the hike on the second day?
It is not that hard. It is a medium exercise hike, However we recommend bring just belongs you will really need in the hike. Lite back pack is more confortable for hike this area.
How much money do I have to take in the tour?
We recommend 200 soles or 70 USD dollars. This is because sometimes you can need money for water, snacks, extra drinks, any kind of emergency.
How hard is hike from Aguas Calientes o Machu Picchu?
It is 1:30 hours hike . The first part is 30 minutes flat and then 1 hour steps up to Machu Picchu.
When Machu Picchu open and close ?
Machu Picchu Open at 6:00 am and Close at 5:00 pm.
How long people usually take in machu picchu?
Usually people stay in Machu Picchu for 5 hours then they prefer to go to Aguas Calientes for lunch or spend sometime in the town.
Do you serve vegetarian food in machu picchu jungle tour?
Yes we do . Please when you book this tours don't forget to tell us if yu are vegetarian or you have any kind of allergy.
Huayna Picchu VS Machu Picchu Montaña
Many people ask about Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Montaña and few people know the difference about this 2 climbing hike mountains in Machu Picchu.

Huayna picchu: It is located at the northeast area and it is famous because since the summit you can enjoy a beautiful landscape and Machu Picchu.

huaynapicchu have a steep road and people arrive to the summit in approximately 45 minutes hike up. In the summit you can enjoy and take picture for not longer then 20 minutes. This is because huaynaPicchu pick do not have a big space and not to of people can login there.

if you plan hike up to Huayna Picchu You need to book in advance . it cost 25 American dollars per person.

Huayna Picchu altitude: 2789 masl.

Montaña Machu Picchu: It is the taller Mountain. You need at list 3:30 hours to enjoy the hike up to this Montaña. This mountain ofer different altitudes view of Machu Picchu and also a amazing panoramic view of all machu picchu, Aguas calientes, hidroelectrica and others areas around.

In the summit you can spend longer time. this is because not lot of people go to this mountain yet because the new accest it is.

if you plan hike up to Montaña, You need to book in advance . it cost 25 American dollars per person.

Montaña altitude: 3240 masl.
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from $450,00
16/03/2025
Age 18+
Age 5-12
Extra
  • Machu Picchu Entrance ⇨$0,00 *
    Include
  • Mountain Huayna Picchu ⇨$25,00
  • Mountain Machu Picchu ⇨$25,00
  • Buffet Lunch in Machu Picchu ⇨$35,00
  • Bus Up and Down ⇨$25,00
  • Vistadome Train 360º | Return ⇨$40,00
  • Sleeping Bag & Walking Sticks ⇨$40,00
  • Private Service ⇨$250,00
There are no spaces available for this date

Contact Us If you have questions about the Tour?

Whatsap Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu +51 931197083

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