Peru

Starting Price:	$4,106.00
Trip Length:	10 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Salkantay

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Lima and Cuzco with 3 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salkantay mountain (6.271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes. You will pass through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally reach Aguas Calientes on the third day of the trek. This is a great alternative for those who are unable to obtain the permit required to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Recently, following UNESCO recommendations, Peruvian authorities have placed restrictions on the visitation of Machu Picchu, the lost Incan ruins. Currently, no more than 2,500 people daily will be allowed to visit the ruins. While these new restrictions are great for the preservation of the ruins, they may cause some difficulties in your ability to visit them, so we recommend booking with plenty of notice.

This trip can be customized to fit your individual travel dates and any specific requests you may have. Your travel consultant will prepare a customized itinerary for you. We offer a choice of 3, 4, 5-star and deluxe hotels. The Deluxe option is with the Orient Express hotels: the Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu, Monasterio in Cuzco and the Park Plaza in Lima.

Machu Picchu, the famous mountain top citadel, was known as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, and was only discovered earlier this century. Standing magically among the clouds, it is complete with palaces, residences and sanctuaries, and surrounded by a sophisticated system of terraces. We will spend a night at the bottom of the ruins.
We will also stay three nights in Cuzco, the ‘Archeological Capital of the Americas’, which was the former capital of the Inca Empire. It is a small city embedded in the Andes range, and a beautiful blend of Inca and Spanish cultures; and two nights in Lima, the capital of Peru, known as the City of Kings for its wonderful colonial architecture and beauty.

Trust Yampu with your personalized travel experience to Peru. We will lead you through these wonderful cities with our professional guides, you can then choose from one of over thirty excursions to see the rest of Peru according to your own interests. Please visit our Peru website at http://www.yampu.org/country.cfm?countryid=1 for detailed information on other Peru tours that we can offer.

This tour includes airfare allowance from Miami (US), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via Miami; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Tuesday, Saturday
Visited Cities:
Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu

Day 1

Overnight flight to Lima, Peru.

Day 2

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon tour of Lima, one of the most important cities in South America since its founding in 1535. Journey through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martín and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visit San Francisco Convent, religious building from the end of the 16th century, and its catacombs. Also drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. Note: check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).

Day 3

Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to acclimatize.

Day 4

City tour of Cuzco, visit the Korikancha Temple or Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. After your visits, you will continue to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. After the tour, return to your hotel.
Note: Because of the altitude in Cuzco, we recommend that this tour be done privately at your own pace, at an additional cost of $28 per person, based on two people.

Day 5

Cusco to Chaullay
We leave Cusco at 4 am in private transportion and start a scenic morning bus-ride to our trail starting point at Soraypampa. Along the four-hour drive, we drive through the town of Limatambo (2100m/6888ft), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the time of the Inca Empire, where the archaeological remains of Tarawasi are located. The road continues up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River and crosses the town of Mollepata (2800m/9184ft) and the small community of Cruzpata (2750m/9020ft) to finally reach Soraypampa (3500m/11483ft), the starting point of the trek where we meet our horsemen and horses. After a short introduction and a quick breakfast, we start our hike towards the base of Mt. Salkantay (6271m/20569ft), crossing Salkantaypampa, and then starting a 2 hours steep ascent to Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4200m/13776ft). Continuing uphill, we reach the Abra Huayracmachay (4525m/14846ft), the highest mountain pass in the program where, besides enjoying stunning views of the surrounding glaciers, we may also observe chinchillas and condors in their natural habitat. From this point, we start descending towards a more tropical climate and into the so-called cloud forest. A long though easy descent brings us late afternoon to Chaullay, a beautiful spot where we set our first camp.
(Group departures occur Wednesday and Saturday)

Day 6

Chaullay to Playa
Today we continue our hike with an easy walk along the Salkamayo River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp at the village of La Playa (2155m/7068ft), where we can refresh in the river before dinner.

Day 7

La Playa – Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, we cross the river and start climbing - passing through some coffee plantations- up to El Mirador or Abra Q’elloqasa (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of the Lost City of the Incas: legendary Machu Picchu, from a different angle. We enjoy a last lunch in nature at the lookout point of Llaqtapata (2650m/8692ft) from where we can view both Machu Picchu and Salkantay and take a good rest. A 2-hour descent brings us to the hydroelectric plant of Machu Picchu. Transfer to your selected hotel.

Day 8

Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast, we board a bus to go up to Machu Picchu and then immediately begin a two-hour guided tour of the Inca citadel. Afternoon, you have time to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain, where you can appreciate spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it. In the afternoon, we will board the train to return to Cuzco. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so we may confirm your entrance to the ruins.

Day 9

Transfer to airport, to return to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon shopping tour of Lima, taking you to the famous handicraft markets accompanied by our guides.

Day 10

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Lima
3-star	Casa Andina, Allpa, or similar.
4-star	San Agustin Exclusive, Antigua Miraflores or similar.
5-star	Casa Andina PC, Radisson Decapolis or similar.
Airport	Ramada Costa del Sol airport hotel.
Deluxe	Miraflores Park Plaza (Orient Express), JW Marriott, Lima Country Club or similar.
Cuzco
3-star	Casa Andina Classic, San Agustin El Dorado, Rumi Punku or similar.
4-star	Costa del Sol Picoaga, Novotel, Casa Andina Private Collection (oxygen available) or similar.
5-star	Inkaterra La Casona, Libertador, or Suite at the Casa Andina Private Collection inc. oxygen, matrimonial beds only, or similar.
Deluxe	Monasterio (Orient Express), Casa Cartagena or similar.
Machu Picchu
3-star	El MaPi or similar.
4-star	Sumaq Machu Picchu (this is a free upgrade to all 4 star clients). Yampu guests enjoy special benefits: welcome drink, tea time, dinner and cooking lessons.
5-star	Sumaq Machu Picchu (see above for special benefits) OR Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Yampu guests enjoy dinner and a choice of a 25 min massage, a wine bottle or chocolate truffles
Deluxe	Sanctuary Lodge (Orient Express - includes all meals), or Junior Suite at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

10 days , from $4106

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star	Deluxe
Double	$4106	$4448	$4800	$5290
Single	$5571	$6227	$6665	$7606

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Price includes:
Air transportation from Miami to Lima in economy class (surcharge applicable from other cities)
Air transportation from Lima to Cuzco return
Hotel accommodation including 2 nights in Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes
All transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling
Guided tours in English including all entrance fees
Meals where specified
Trek includes: all meals during the trek, personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks (our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field); one foamy sleeping pad per person; one sleeping bag per person (our sleeping bags are -18şC-comfort (0şF), mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips); dining tent with tables and chairs; kitchen and toilet tent; English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people); chef and cooking equipment; horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment); 1 emergency horse for every 6 people; hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead; all Lares entrance fees and one entrance ticket to Machu Picchu; first-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. Taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are already included in the quote (if airfare has been included in the quote)

Note: Cost includes Expedition train for 3-star category, and Vistadome train for 4-star category and above. Expedition train features comfortable seats, fixed tables, backpack storage, panoramic windows as well as heating and air conditioning. Vistadome is ideal for travelers who want a personalized immersion of Andean culture with traditional dances and music along the way. This train features panoramic windows, leather seats, new table design as well as heating and air conditioning. Upgrades available from Expedition to Vistadome; please add $46 per person.

Deluxe service Hiram Bingham train features an observation wagon with a bar and two dining cars. In addition, this train includes a gourmet brunch on board, exclusive bus return to Machu Picchu, entrance to Machu Picchu as well as a guided tour. Afternoon tea in the Sanctuary Lodge, pre-dinner cocktails and a 4-course, a la carte dinner is also included. Does not operate on Sundays. Upgrades available from Vistadome to Hiram Bingham Deluxe; please add $575 per person.

Hike rate: Challenging due to the high altitude and steep ascents. We recommend that you rest on your first day in Cuzco; if you are prone to altitude sickness, please consult with your physician. An acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended.

Along the Salkantay route, temperatures range from 10-20şC during the day if it’s sunny, to 05-10şC during the day if not sunny and can drop below freezing at night. In Aguas Calientes/Machupicchu, at lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer though warm clothes are still recommended at night.

This is a private trek. If you are able to travel in one of the following dates and join a group, there will be a deduction of $ 475 per person based on two people traveling and $ 950 per person based on one person traveling. Date corresponds with the first day of the trek (day 5 in the itinerary below):

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