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In the whole world the best alternative to the Inca Trail is the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.
Recognized as one of the best walks in South America and in the world!
The best alternative to the Inca trail is the Salkantay tour to Machu Picchu, and it was often mentioned as the perfect path to venture into many of the ecosystems in a single day.
To summarize the doubts, you will walk between unique landscapes of the snowy mountain to the tropical jungle observing many varieties of flowers in all their sizes and colors, animals, bugs in many sizes and medicinal plants that we will recognize for their peculiar aromas.
Along the way we will pass through several villages where the Andean culture lives with its own traditions and customs for each town. These native settlers rarely see foreigners.
The walk will take place in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, a very impressive range of mountains that extends 260 km. We will have the opportunity to appreciate of a beautiful landscape of the snowy Salkantay (6,271 meters) or (20, 574 feet) through the pass Salkantay (4,600 meters).
Sometimes you will feel disoriented, do not forget that our guides have a map of the Salkantay road to illustrate the altitudes and difficulties.
The Salkantay Trek will take place through the highest peaks of the Humantay mountain and will be surrounding the archaeological center of the citadel of Machu Picchu (wonder of the modern world named by UNESCO)
This route is very considered by visitors to include many experiences in the trip as is the adventure of the road, the beautiful landscapes, the warmth of the Peruvian people and its great cultural wealth.
We will leave very early in Cusco and our trek starts from the area of Chala la Cancha where we will organize the team with the carriers and the support staff.
We will Pass through deep valleys on the mountainside until you reach Soraypampa the base camp of Salkantay, we will Walk a few kilometres more to reach the lagoon of Humantay (4.200 meters) a beautiful moor of blue-green waters formed by the Thawing of the glaciers of the Humantay Mountains and Salkantay Mountain.
Back to the camp that is located in the middle of the valley between the glaciers, allows us to appreciate with total clarity in the twilight as the stars appear one by one in the sky, to these beautiful views it can be added the silence of the nature between the snowed of Salkantay and Humantay.
The hike will start very early with a fixed view of the Salkantay Mountain (6.271 meters), and you will notice more the hike up the uphill to the Salkantay pass (4.600 meters) the highest point on the map of the Salkantay road!
At the top of the pass we will have the most incredible views of the valley that we walk and on the other side the way to the high jungle that we need to know.
We Will Be surrounded by the most imposing snowy peaks (Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo), formerly these snow-capped ones were called gods and in the Quechua language "Apus". Of which the Salkantay mountain is the second highest mountain in the entire Cusco region.
If you are very adventurous the Salkantay route is the tour you should not miss.
Continuing with the second part of the Trek, descend to a snake-shaped slope and very rocky.
We will Reach the cloud forest that represents the high part of the Amazon Rainforest. A wide path with a forest that is more and more dense to the extent we are entering.
The scenery will change very radically when we move from the Andes to the rainforest in a very noticeable and even magical transition.
It is in this pate of the trek when we realize the fantastic nature of the tour Machu Picchu Salkantay Trek.
In This trek we already observed the wild animals and medicinal plants that aromatize the trails to the next camp that is in the village of Chaullay (2.750 meters)
This Trek also starts early but calmer because our experience is based on appreciating the jungle landscape that at the same time envelops our dreamed goal "Machupicchu".
We will appreciate in this hike the most striking of the jungle as are the wild Orchids where some are very small size and other medium sized.
We can refresh our feet in the rivers and waterfalls of the road, it is a freedom that can not be done in other ways.
In some parts of the hike you can taste a fruit well-known as the Passion fruit and a good assortment of granadillas.
We will Pass through the town of Colpapampa that is in the area called "Cloud Forest Top" where it also inhabits a species of bird very beautiful by its colors and the way of courting his partner "The Rooster of the Rocks" The National Bird of Peru!
Our Trek from day 3 of Salkantay Trek culminates in the next base camp called Lucmabamba (2.400 meters) where we explore the forest and an organic coffee farm.
Although The coffee is not native to South America, in the jungle is the main agricultural industry and you can see and feel the aromas in the air as they roast and grind the coffee to export to the continents of Asia, Europe and the United States.
Like the other days, the hike awaits us early With the opportunity to go through a part of the Inca Trail!
We will Appreciate breathtaking views of the valley of Santa Teresa arriving at the ruins of Llactapata located in front of Machu Picchu, and be the first archaeological center that we visit.
From the ruins of Llactapata we can also see the ruins of Huayna Picchu and the Machu Picchu Mountain.
The Road continues through a descent on the trail, always overlooking Machu Picchu, which takes us to the hydroelectric plant in one of the most important places in the Cusco region, the 300 meters high waterfall that supplies us with energy.
Finally with the last effort we will walk from the hydroelectric station to the town of Aguas Calientes, this railway is in use and if you hear any train. Run!
Machu Picchu! The most anticipated end of the Salcantay Route, and the best way to enjoy it and the most advisable is to arrive very early to the opening of the Inca citadel, a bus trip is the most advisable or if you prefer you can walk up.
The Guide will explain all about this incredible Inca city for an average of 2 hours. It Will Be amazing how the Inca empire built this marvel!
When Hiram Bingam first came to the citadel of Machu Picchu, it was unrecognizable! It Was initially called the City of snakes for which it was Rediscovered by Hiram Bingam where it burned the citadel to frighten them. Only then did they manage to clean it up and restore it to become a treasure for the Peruvians and to be declared one of the seven modern wonders of humanity.
Do Not forget to check the timetable of the train ticket so that you arrive half an hour before the train station for your pick up to Ollantaytambo. And then we'll pick you up on a bus back to Cusco city.
It is recommended to get acclimatized in the city of Cusco minimun 1 day before the tour.