Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days, An Absolute Adventure

Salkantay Inca Trail 7 days. Add a special perspective to your mythical adventure and experience hiking the Salkantay trek plus Inca Trail, which is a premium 7-day trek to get Machu Picchu, exploring the two best popular treks in Cusco. Treks, which are blessed with forested natural mountainscapes, ancient Inca temples crowning the mountains, and the inca trail where takes a step back in time and mysterious Machu Picchu citadel declared as a new seven world wonders.

Hike with our experts to be teeming with fascinating legends and history on an exciting trek adventure.This famous trekking route of the world, takes adventurers along an epic and sometimes challenging journey to the city in the clouds because on the trail we reach until 5,000 m.a.s.l / 16,350 feet, which is the highest pass located right next to the second highest peak in Cusco, and hikers will be struck by the majestic beauty and human ingenuity of the Inca temples that remained hidden until just over 100 years ago as the trails goes just close by still covered incan ruins. Only this particular trek offers you to go winding and exploring the spectacular sceneries of the Peruvian Andes, the past centuries-old incan sites located on the trail itself to the mythical and awe-inspiring Machu Picchu–Salkantay Inca Trail 7 days.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime – give us a call at +51 984 464 391 or shoot us an email at info@perusummit.com to learn more or book your spot today!

This trip is officially operated by Peru Summit Adventures, a 100% local tour operator based in Cusco.

Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days Highlights 

• Trek in a high Andean realm. Stay in a mountain 4 season roomy tents (Black Diamond tents).
• Your own private guide, porters, muleteers, horses, delicious camp cuisine prepared by your personal cook.
• Explore trail-side archaeological sites that only Inca Trail hikers have access to.
• Travel & Trek with someone who hiked the Inca Trail for over 300 times, Salkantay Trek for over 200 times, Choquequirao Trek for over 150 times, Ausangate Trek for over 100 times, Lares Trek for over 50 times, being at Machu Picchu for over 600 times.
• View ice-clad Salkantay, Huamantay, and the diverse ecosystems of the Cordillera Vilcabamba.
• Hike to Machu Picchu on mystical, stone-paved paths built by the Incas.
• Enter Machu Picchu on foot through the Gate of the Sun, as the Incas once did.
• Spend the last day at Incomparable Machu Picchu, “Lost City of the Incas” with a private guide.
• Direct & official local tour operator with headquarter in Cusco, accredited by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism.

The Smallest Groups en Route—Averaging Just 4 Travelers!

Could you imagine trying to hike silently along an isolated trail, carefully not disturbing shy wildlife, with 10 or 20 other travelers? Or walking on a remote area to explore the pristine wilderness with dozens of other tourists at your side? We know meaningful nature encounters must be undertaken in small groups. That’s why our trips come with an average of just four travelers, by far the smallest groups in the tourism industry across the country. This not only guarantees you more personal close-up wildlife experience, but a less-impact presence on the earth’s brittle natural places we love.

Besides, Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.

We Deliver on Our Promises

We are very confident the quality of our journeys will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.

Think Green, Think Global for a Better Place for Everyone

Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.

Trip Details Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days

Service Level

• Upgraded

Physical Grading

• 1 2 3 4 5 6, Very Strenuous, Challenging:Designed for very experienced active travelers in excellent physical and health condition. 5-day to 8-day trips are in this category. Full-day hikes (8-9 hours), mountainous, some very steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 4,000 feet) on many days, with some camping and hiking at extreme altitudes. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 11,500 feet, with some days ascending as high as 16,850 feet with some exposed sections.

Activities

• Hiking / Trekking, Camping, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures.

Important Note

• While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Salkantay Inca Trail 7 days. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, e.g, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.

Group Size

• We need a minimum of 02 people to depart. Family groups, friend travelers, couple travelers or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our adventure to Machu Picchu. Prices are per person which are based on two people who might share a room / tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services; however, you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.

Accommodation

• 4 season Black Diamond tents designed for 4 people which are used only for 2 people, come with sleeping pads “Therma-Rest”, and Pillows.

Limited Spaces

• YES. To protect the historical trail, the number of people allowed to hike the Inca Trail each day is limited to 500. That is why, you should reserve your space as soon as possible. Spaces can be filled up three to four months in advance. Spaces fill more quickly in the high tourist season, from May to September.

Whether you would like to climd up Wayna Picchu Mountain, please let us know at the moment you are booking the tour( tickets for Wayna Picchu is limited, 400 tickets a day).

Acclimatization

• Please allow a minimum of 2 days in Cusco before your hike begins to Salkantay Inca Trail 7 days.

Suggested Reading List 

We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Salkantay, Machu Picchu and Peru travel books for this trip.

Itinerary

Day 1, Cusco – Challacancha – Salkantaypampa 

We go to your hotel to pick you up very early in the morning to start our journey to Tarawasi ( 2,600m / 8,502 feet), an important incan site located about one and half-hour away from Cusco; in which, we will enjoy about the history recounted by our tour guide. after that we will keep driving to Mollepata town where we will meet up with our muleteers after a while we will get ready for the hike, about 1:00pm we will have lunch enjoying the scenic views around us, then to walk for couple of hours to get the first camp site called Marqokasa ( 3,600m / 11,772 feet) from this camp site we will have astonishing views around, and one of them is the mountain of Rayusqa(5,450m / 17,822feet). in the evening we will have our tea time, next we will have dinner, and eventually we will go to sleep.

Day 2, Salkantaypampa – Incachiriaska Pass – Sisaypampa

In the morning we will wake up with a hot coca tea provided by our muleteer, then we will have our breakfast. In the morning we will walk for four hours to get the lunch spot called Soraypampa( 3,890m / 12,720feet). in which we wll be at the bottom part of Tuqarway mountain( 5,930m / 19,391feet), in the afternoon we will have a two-hour walking uphill to get the second camp site, known as Salkantaypampa(4,150m / 13,571feet), at this camp site we will be at the skirt part of the stunning Salkantay mountain( 6,279m / 20,533feet) thus we will have an amazing sunset at the Salkantay’s summit. In the evening we will have our tea time, next we will have dinner, and eventually, we will go to sleep.

Day 3, Sisaypampa – Paucarcancha 

As usual every morning we will wake up with hot coca tea, and this morning that is not the exception, right away we will have our breakfast, enjoying the beautiful sunrise at the summit of Salkantay mountain. After that we will set off uphill to Incachiriasca pass that is located at an altitude of 4,990m / 16,317feet) and which is the highest point on this trail to Machu picchu; from this point we will have spectacular views; such as: the Salkantay Mt, glacier lagoons, and it is possible to see condors soaring around. Subsequently we will walk downhill to get our lunch spot about 1:00pm, where will enjoy the succulent lunch, afterward we will continue walking to get the third camp spot which is located at Sisaypampa (4,100m / 13,407feet), the views around are undeniably beautiful. In the evening we will have our tea time, next we will have dinner, and eventually we will go to sleep.

Day 4, Paucarcancha – Wayllabamba – Llulluchapampa 

Wake up hot coca tea in the morning to start another great day, right away to enjoy our breakfast, then we will walk through the highland valley of Pampaccawa, where we will see the remains of ancient incan canals, later on after having a great walk we will arrive to Paucarcancha that is a small archaeological remains from the incan time, then we will have a short hiking to get the fourth camp site which is Wayllabamba (3,000m / 9,810feet), at this camp site that is provided by the Ministry of Culture, we will meet up with our quechua porters for the next days, and we will say goodbye to our muleteers and horses; because horses and mules are not allowed into the inca trail to Machu picchu, so that only quechua porters are allowed. In the evening we will have our tea time, next we will have dinner, and eventually we will go to sleep.

Day 5, Llulluchapampa – Dead Woman Pass – Pacaymayu – Chakiqocha 

This morning after having a great breakfast we continue hiking on the inca trail, the path is uphill until getting the Deadwoman Pass ( 13,784 feet/ 4215 m), as we hike to this pass, we will get in different ecotones ( a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities “ecosystems”), befote to crown the Deadwoman pass we have lunch at place known as Llulluchapampa, so using that lunch’s energy to fulfill the summit, when we will have made it, we will take a well-deserved break to enjoy the sceneries around, from this highest point we walk downhill to get the second campsite called Pacaymayu. At the arrival, we will be welcomed warmly with claps by our porters, after a while tea time, eventually dinner.

Day 6, Chakiqocha – Wiñay Wayna

Early in the morning we take our breakfast, then to keep walking uphill on the inca trail until we reach the pass called Runkuraqay 13,015 feet/ 3980 m, this sixth day as distinct from the other previuos days, you will enjoy several incan sites (Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarca, Intipata) where you get a rich information on history and the importance of each incan site, and we get the high jungle a proper cloud forest jungle, as we hike to the third campsite we will see couple of gorgeous orchids. About midday we will have lunch at place called Chaquiqocha. . Later, we will reach Wiñaywayna, translated to “Forever Young,” ( 2,650 m / 8,694 feet.) At the arrival, we will be welcomed warmly with claps by our porters, after a while tea time, eventually dinner.

Day 7, Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco 

The most important day, because that day, it is the day of llaqta(city) MACHU PICCHU, there is no way to describe the feeling of the first sights of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, as the mist rises off the mountains early in the morning and the astonishing llaqta (city) appears in front of you. this day, all the sores, and the other uneasiness of the trek are transformed in happiness, because we will be iluminated by the energy, that way we will be entering in the wonder, underneath the sunrise; eventually, after walking about fourty five minutes from the Sun Gate, we will have arrived to the new seven wonder of the world, where the masterpiece is combined in one element with thounsands of elements to have a brilliant combination and perfection. in which, all our dreams will come reality. The morning is dedicated to exploring the extraordinary Machu Picchu, where your guide will give you a thorough three-hour tour. Following your tour, you will have time to yourself before taking the bus to Aguas Calientes. We will then have our last lunch before you take the train back to Cusco. In the afternoon you will go aboard the train back to Ollantaytambo train station and/or Poroy train station, where our transfer will be waiting for you to take you back to the hotel in Cusco.

Note on Itinerary 

Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!

What’s Included For Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days

Inclusion

• Transportation from your hotel to the start of the trail.
• Entrance fee to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu.
• Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• Train ticket back to Cusco at the end of our journey.
• Camping Equipment 4 season tent (03 people tent for 02 people)
• Other camping equipment, a dining tent with table and chairs, and a kitchen tent, manned by a professional cooking staff.
• Private bus from the train station to hotel in Cusco.
• Trek Leader, Our Leaders are equipped and trained to practice First-Aid, administer oxygen if needed, and conduct radio communication.
• Meals: Breakfast (6), lunch (6), dinner (6), and snacks.
• A professional Quechua chef who grew up in the countryside, and several Quechua Porters who will carry the equipment.
• Horses, and muleteers that carry your 7 kl / 14 pounds personal items.
• Emergency Horse to escort our groups and supply water, snacks to our group every day.
• Oxygen tank.
• Quechua porters for inca trail section.

Exclusion

• Sleeping bags, US$5 per day, and hiking poles US$5 per day( a pair of poles, Black Diamond or leki brand), you might get them rented from us.
• Extra expenditure during the trek, such as: soda, alcoholic drinks, extra snacks.
• Gratuities for the guides, porters, and other staff
• Travel and Health insurance (bring copies with you please), we highly recommend to get an insurance of trip cancellation, interruption; an insurance to protect your travel investment, Included with your pre-departure package, bring your travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption, baggage loss and delay, emergency medical evacuation insurance and emergency medical expense insurance. Any unexpected situations occurred during the journey and which are beyond our control, including changes in scheduling trains or flights, delays, strikes, cancellations, missed connections, etc. it should be covered by the passenger as a whole. Also, if you for physical reasons of health cannot continue the trek or walk, and will need emergency evacuation then all charges incurred such as transportation, hotel, ambulance, doctors, medication, hospitalization, etc. will be at passenger’s expense.

Price

From US$ 1750/ 7 Days

• A personal porter included to carry your 7kg / 14 pounds personal items.

The price is based on two-person. Whether you would like to take a private service, our service would increase in US$350 with two-person, US$300 with three-person, US$250 with four-person or more, these prices are applied to each person. We need a minimum of two people to run the tour. We guarantee that your tour will be limited to a maximum of 8 people.

The Best Fare For The Best Trip

We don’t believe any other tour companies make comparable trips when you take into account our unique itineraries and signature itineraries, impressive locations, small groups and quality Trek Leaders / Tour Leaders. But, should you come across a similar itinerary or matching itinerary of our quality at a cheaper price, even within 45 days after booking with us, we will happily refund the difference. It’s how we deliver our promise.

You Book, You Go…Don’t Worry… We Won’t Cancel!

While other tour companies generally cancel their trips due to low participation of travelers or pass their travelers to other big groups tour operators, we guarantee that we will never cancel a trip because of low signing-up or participation for the departure date neither get our travelers to other tour operators! This makes to our travelers the assurance and peace of mind to know their travel plans are insured and guaranteed.

Request a Quote: We can customize this private trek just for you. Any detail can be tailored – activities, length, hotels and other destinations. Call us at +51 984 464 391 or request a quote, Here.

Trek Gear List / Trip Checklist

• Original passport and Student ISIC card (if applicable), and some copies.
• Travel insurance (and some copies)
• Sleeping bag (or you can rent one from us).
• Backpack to carry your things.
• Phone and Camera charger and adapter.
• Bathing suit (if you would like to enjoy the hot springs in Aguas Calientes).
• Camera
• Ear Plugs.
• Power bank battery
• Torch or headlamps.
• Deet or mosquito repellent ( recommendable 30% deet).
• Hiking poles ( or you can rent one pair from us)
• Rain gear (especially if traveling in the wet season, from October to March).
• Comfortable hiking clothes, including warm clothes for the nighttime.
• Good hiking boots with protector ankle or similar, and one pair of flip-flops or light sandals.
• Sunblock and sunglasses.
• Hiking long sleeve T-shirts.
• Hiking trousers.
• Thermal underwear.
• Hiking socks.
• Water bottle or canteen.
• American dollars and peruvian soles in cash.
• Sun hat, cap, and warm hat and gloves for the nighttime
• Toilet paper, and face tissue paper.
• Crédit or debit card.
• Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen).
• Personal first-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may take).

Weather in Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days

Average daytime temperatures in and around Cusco generally range from 55º – 75º F with evenings cooling down into the 40º and 50º. Much of this itinerary takes place in the mountains, where weather can change very quickly and evening temperatures regularly drop into the 30º and 40º. As our treks are planned during the “dry season”, days are typically clear and pleasant, with afternoon clouds occasionally building and leading to small amounts of rainfall, and morning temperatures usually range from 35º and 45º with some frost on the tents, and frosty plains in some locations. While April and November departures may experience slightly higher amounts of rainfall, all-day rain is unusual. We will be hiking over multiple mountain passes which are over 14,104 ft, so should you be prepared for unpredictable mountain weather.

Trek Leaders or Guides Are Part of the Core of Peru Summit Adventures and Your Perfect Local Companion

The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.

With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.

What Makes Us Different!… Here’s, Why You Should Book With Us!

Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.

Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!

1. We Focus on Details

Little insignificant details make all the difference to get a successful trip and an unforgettable experience, that’s the point where our tailor-made trip specialists and destination experts work intensely. No stone is left unturned in our quest to deliver exceptional private tours, trekking tours, and expeditions in Peru. With us, it’s all about you and your traveling mates too, for sure! We take your wants, needs, time constraints, budgets, and personal travel style into account to deliver experiences that are far from standard.

2. Our Safety Record is Flawless

Safety is at the core of everything we do at Peru Summit Adventures. There is nothing that we take more seriously. Put away your concerns and start enjoying the trip of your life knowing that you are on safe and sound hands. Peru Summit Adventures is a registered trademark and a licensed company by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism (MINCETUR).

3. Knowledge and Expertise

What an awesome to travel with someone who is from the same destination, a professional expert, it’s how you get the first-hand information. Our Peru Summit Adventures staff are friendly, funny, with deep knowledge on the route and destination, and great storytellers. We love what we do and it’s obvious. A simple concept, yes, but it makes all the difference. The team at Peru Summit Adventures all live and breathe the trip, experience, adventure, (you’ll see this when you arrive!). We love what we do, and it’s obvious. From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel the buzz and excitement that Peru Summit Adventures offers.

4. We are Local Entrepreneurs, A Family Enterprise (we are not a gringo company)

Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.

In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.

5. Responsible Travel

Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.

As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.