DIA 01: Cusco – Santa Maria; Bikink and Rafting.
We will pass by your hotel at 05:30 am to get on our van, we will travel for 1 hour and a half to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley where we will make a stop to enjoy our first breakfast. After that we will continue our trip for 1 hour more until we reach the Malaga pass 4350 masl 14160 feet. Starting point of our adventure and the highest place of the entire route, after clear safety instructions we will provide you the bicycles and all the necessary safety equipment for this type of activity.
We will make our descent by bicycle that will take us 03 hours including some stops to check our bicycles. During the tour we will appreciate spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, valleys, rivers, flora and fauna that are unique. Little by little we will go into the Peruvian jungle with a warmer climate, crossing streams to reach Santa Maria, in this place we enjoy a delicious lunch.
After lunch the afternoon will be free, if you want you can hire River rafting which is a fantastic activity that takes place in the Vilcanota river, this activity has an extra cost of 35 usd per person. If you do not do the rafting, you can get ready to rest and enjoy the high jungle of Peru.
Distance by bicycle: 55 km
Campsite Elevation: 1200 masl
Weather: Warm, Humid.
DAY 02: Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hot Springs; Trekking.
After a delicious breakfast we will get ready for our trek, do not forget to put on your sunscreen, sun hat and insect repellent, as we will see many of them today. The first 2 hours of our walk will be uphill, but we will make several stops to enjoy the magnificent views, learn more about the flora and fauna of our environment, etc. We will also stop at a local family house where we will learn about their local customs and traditions. Later we will have the opportunity to enjoy a section of the Inca trail that formerly connected the sacred city of Machu Picchu with the last refuge Vilcabamba, in this place our guide he will explain more about the different types of Inca roads that existed at that time and their message system with the chasquis. We will continue our journey until we reach Quellomayu where we will enjoy a delicious lunch.
From now on our trail will be easier since basically we will continue to the river bank with some small climbs, it will be 2 hours of walking until we reach the thermal baths of Cocal Mayo where we can enjoy a deserving rest, at the indicated time we will get on our van to the town of Santa Teresa where we will enjoy a delicious dinner before resting.
Walking distance: 13 km
Campsite Elevation: 1200 masl
Weather: Warm, Humid.
DAY 03: Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric – Machu Picchu Pueblo; Zip Line + Trekking
This morning we will start our activity doing the Zip Line with one of the most reliable and safe operators to carry out this adventure. Then we will return to our hotel to enjoy a delicious breakfast. After preparing we will travel in mobility for 30 minutes to Hydroelectric, where our trek begins today, just 10 minutes’ walk we will arrive at the Intihuatana which is a small sacred archaeological center where our guide will provide you with valuable information about this place. We will continue our journey following the railway line, it will be a magnificent hike with beautiful views of the mountains, we will even have the opportunity to see Machu Picchu on the top of the mountain, a view that only those who make this route through Santa Teresa can enjoy. After 2 hours of walking we will arrive at Mandor, place where we will enjoy a delicious lunch with a unique view.
After our lunch we only have 1 hour of walk to Machu Picchu Pueblo where we will spend the last night of our expedition.
Walking distance: 11 km
Campsite Elevation: 2050 masl (hotel night)
Weather: Warm, Humid.
Accommodation; hotel inti Punku 3 *** or similar
DAY 04: Machu Picchu (World Wonder) – Return to Cusco.
This is one of the most important days of your stay in Cusco. After a 4-day pilgrimage, we will finally visit the world wonder, the sacred city of the Incas, Unesco’s cultural and natural heritage; Machu Picchu. Our recommendation is to get up early to appreciate the sunrise in Machu Picchu (subject to weather conditions) and take the energies of this sacred place. Your guide will pass through the hotel and will go to the bus station, it will be a 25-minute trip to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. Once there, do not forget to use the toilets for the last time since there are no toilets inside Machu Picchu. You will have a guided tour of approximately 3 hours visiting the temple of the sun, temple of the Pacha Mama, Inca house, chacana temple, the Intihuatana, the temple of the condor, etc. In our Tour to Machu Picchu, we do the most complete route so you do not miss any place, you will have time to take your pictures, enjoy beautiful views, etc.
If another extra walk is encouraged you can request the entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, however, this will be confirmed according to the availability of space at the time of booking, this mountain is quite popular and the entrance is limited to 200 people by group, from June to September is recommended to book at least 3 months in advance. In case we get space for this extra walk, your guide will show you the way you should take to make this extra hike. However, this has an additional cost of $. 35 dollars per person.
Whatever the case may be, once you have finished your Machu Picchu Tour, you must go down to Machu Picchu Pueblo to enjoy a lunch (Not Included) before getting on your train that will leave at 14:30 pm to Ollantaytambo, once you arrive to Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you with your van to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco or Sacred Valley.
We are known for providing a personalized service and a unique experience, visiting the attractions in not overcrowded hours and for using out the beaten tracks, we guarantee 100% satisfaction and we care a lot for your safety during our tours. This Salkantay trek is available from March to December, we do not operate in the months of January and February for your safety since there are lot of rains and landslides that may occur.
Group tour
$. 499 usd per person
Group tour means that your reservation is open so that other people can accompany you on your walk, however, our groups will never be larger than 14 people and with 02 guides, a guide can take a maximum of 08 people.
Private tour
Our specialty is private tours and we will provide you with the best service, the price depends on the size of your group. However, a minimum of 02 people is required to book a Private tour, unless you want to exclusively walk alone then please contact us at info@pptoursperu.com
02 people $. 799 usd per person
03 people $. 749 usd per person
04 people $. 699 usd per person
05 people $. 649 usd per person
06 people $. 599 usd per person
07 people $. 549 usd per person
08 people or more. $. 499 usd per person
Discount for students
Discount $. $ 25 per person.
The student discount applies to those who have CURRENT STUDENT CARD or are under 17 years old, whatever the case, we need that at the time of booking you send us a copy of the passport and the student card, and must bring the originals to use the ticket purchased as a student. Please send the copy to info@pptoursperu.com. If you are traveling with children under the age of 8, please contact us and send your travel document to obtain a higher discount.
Additional services
For this tour you can hire some additional services available that we detail below:
Entrance to Huayna Picchu $. $ 35 per person
Entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain $. $ 35 per person
360º train only return $. $ 65 per person
Sleeping bag $. $ 20 per person
Air mattress $. $ 20 per person
Walking steaks (a pair). $. $ 15 per person
Single room the last night $. $ 49 per person
Breafing (Previous Information)
All information sessions are held in our office at 06:00 PM the night before your trek. If you cannot assist to this talk please contact our office staff to serve you better.
Duffle Bags
You will receive your duffle bag at the information session. These bags are to put your belongings inside it, these will be carried by the porters and will be returned to you each evening at the campsite. However, beside from these bags, you should carry a small backpack where you will carry everything you need during the trek.
Each duffle bag must have a maximum weight of 7kg. 4kg will be for your clothes and other personal items, the other 3kg will be for our logistics, such as your sleeping bag and pad, if you have your own sleeping bag and mat these must be included in the 7 kilos.
Arrive in Cusco
The airport in Cusco is currently quite small and only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline, you must pick up your bags in Lima and then register them again.
The best way to get to Cusco is by air and there are several airline options. LATAM tends to be the most expensive, but it has more flight options. But you also have PERUVIAN, AVIANCA, STAR PERU, LC PERU to choose according to your preference. Expect flight delays or cancellations, due to the high altitude of Cusco, tends to be difficult to land so that on rainy days you can paralyze air traffic. Bus tours are always available and although the journey may be long, especially from Lima, Peru buses are well maintained and are comfortable. This option is recommended if you come from a city closer to Cusco like Puno or Arequipa. Buses from Lima will take around 20 hours to arrive to Cusco.
Pick Up from The Hotels.
We pick up all our clients from the hotel for all tours. While your hotel is in the center of the city of Cusco, we will coordinate this pick up with the guide at the information session. Pick-up times may vary between 20 and 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions and hotel locations.
Cusco is an ancient city with cobblestone streets and very narrow corridors. Very small hotels and Air BNBs are often located on streets that cars cannot pass through. They are also usually located on the side of the hill, with long and steep climbs to the property, difficult to maneuver with luggage. We recommend that you do not stay in one of these places and try to find places where there is easy access to carry your bags.
Leaving Machu Picchu requires a lot of logistics, but everything is included in your journey.
From Machu Picchu Ruins to Machu Picchu Pueblo, you will take a 25-minute bus. The buses are in order of arrival and you can take any of those in turn.
From Machu Picchu Pueblo, you will take a train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station. Your guide will give you your train tickets. Make sure you get to the platform 30 minutes ahead of time.
- The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is 2 hours.
- The train from Aguas Calientes to Poroy is 3.5 hours.
Once you arrive at the train station, look for our staff with a PPT sign. He will take you to the Plaza San Francisco, Cusco.
- The trip on the van from Ollantaytambo to Plaza de San Francisco is 2 hours
- Travel by van from Poroy to San Francisco Plaza is 30 minutes
Once you arrive at the Plaza San Francisco our staff will be waiting for you to separate you and send in pre-paid taxis to your respective hotels.
Entrance fees to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu now has two hours to visit: morning or afternoon. Your ticket will be for a single entry, in the morning, once your time is done, the guards will ask you to leave.
Morning turn: 6AM – 12PM
Afternoon turn: 12PM – 5:30 PM
NOTE: If you have tickets to climb to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will have additional time until 2:30 PM. And you can re-enter for a single time as long as it is within the time of re-entry (05 hours from the first entry)
If you want to spend all day at Machu Picchu, we can add a ticket for the afternoon group to your reservation for $ 50 per person.
Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu is more beautiful when viewed from above, so it is very popular to hike one of the mountains next to the ruins after your guided tour.
Huayna Picchu is the most popular and must be booked in advance … it sells very fast. This hike takes approximately 50 minutes to the top and 40 minutes downhill to the bottom. There are 2 schedules or groups to enter this mountain. The first group is 8-p am and the second is 10 am to 11 am. Again, this refers to when you can start your hike and normally we reserve the second option so you can first enjoy your tour with your guide in Machu Picchu. This walk will be done on your own, but your guide will show you where to start.
The Machu Picchu mountain is a little longer and less popular. It takes 2 hours to reach the top and 1.5 hours to reach the bottom. There are also 2 visiting hours: from 7-8 am and from 9 am to 10 am and we usually buy for the second group.
Health Concerns
It is important that you be honest with your guide about any health problems you may suffer. Although the guides are not medical professionals, they are trained in first aid. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help our team.
You are responsible for evaluating if a trek is suitable for you. You should consult your doctor to confirm your physical condition to travel and participate in any planned activity. You should seek advice from your doctor about vaccinations and medical precautions. Peru Private Tours will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your own circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.
If during the trek you get sick of extreme altitude or any other illness that not allows you to continuing with the journey, but you want to visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. This will be a new trip and may involve additional costs. We will use as much of the logistics purchased from the original route to keep rates low.
If you experience problems while walking and cannot continue, a porter will escort you to the nearest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and take you to the nearest health clinic.
Group trips
Group tours are made up of different types of people, with different walking skills and ages. By accepting a group trip, you understand that some people may be slower or faster than you. Everyone can make their own pace for the walk, the guide will work through the group to spend time with everyone. Groups can request some modifications to the tour and the guide will work with everyone to make the best decision for the group.
Strikes
Unfortunately, strikes are very common in Peru and can cause many interruptions in our Tours. Roads are often blocked, trains stopped. We will do everything possible to operate your Tour, even before the start date. Some tours may be canceled under these circumstances. Our Operations Department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our main concern and will determine how we decide.
Lost Items
You are responsible for your personal items throughout the Tour. Be diligent about where you leave your stuff and remember to remove all items from our vans, tents, restaurant, etc. Do not leave anything involuntary while walking. Other hikers or teams can pick it up without knowing to whom it belongs.
Weather
The climate in Cusco and Machu Picchu is unpredictable. In general, the dry season in Cusco is from April to October, but this does not prevent the rain from falling in June or the sun coming out in December, just prepare for any weather condition. No matter which month you take the hike or excursion, or which tour you are on, make sure you have adequate clothing that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves.
Also be prepared for four seasons in a day. Many of the excursions through the Andes involve many microclimates and you will have to be prepared for all seasons. The layers are always key because they are easy to adjust to different temperatures. And the nights will always be cold, so get ready with a warm jacket.
Altitude sickness
As soon as the people reserve the trip to Peru, specifically to Cusco, they begin to wonder about altitude sickness. High altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. For few days at high altitude your body adjusts to the least amount of oxygen in the air.
The first symptoms of altitude sickness may be; headache, fatigue, followed by loss of appetite, nausea or vomit, dizziness, trouble sleeping, difficulty breathing during exercise. If any of these effects worsen, contact our office and we will help you get to a doctor.
Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easy activities and walk slowly, allowing your body to adapt. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea. Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. The leaves of the coca plant contain alkaloids that help carry oxygen to the blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee because it will make you urinate more often and you will become dehydrated. Avoid smoking, Smoking makes it difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They can cause shallow breathing at night, which makes it difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.
Many people prefer to visit the doctor to give them a treatment with pills even before traveling to avoid problems during their stay. Your doctor may prescribe medications, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before reaching a high altitude. Continue taking it while you are at high altitude.
Travel insurance
To protect your travel investment, we recommend buying travel insurance. Getting travel insurance before leaving home is highly recommended and very easy. There are many insurance companies depending on your country of origin and at different prices according to your time of stay, take some time to review them and hire the one that best suits you. This is an excellent way to protect yourself while visiting Peru.
Community
At Peru Private Tours (PPT) we are proud of the work we do for our community. This is the main objective for our company. We are working directly with the villages to help them meet the needs of their families. We support the children of the villages by giving them school supplies, books and clothes.
We buy all our food from farmers and local markets and serve the freshest ingredients. We offer constant training for all our team: guides, porters, chefs and drivers. We are a family born in the Andes and we want to work with them and for them. That is why once a year we bring our porters and their families to Machu Picchu. We want our team to know the world wonder, since they work tirelessly at the doors of this place without ever visiting it and showing them this place is our greatest honor.
Another advantage of booking with Peru Private Tours (PPT) is that we will provide you with the best camping equipment and fresh and quality food, probably one of the best you will have during your stay in Peru.
CAMPING EQUIPMENTS
We have the best camping equipment, we use 4 people tents for only between 2 people, so you will have a comfortable and spacious space to store your belongings inside the tent. Likewise, we have spacious dining tents where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, we do not use pre-built places that almost all agencies use and that are very cold, we take comfortable chairs and tables for your comfort. All the equipment that you rent from our office is of the highest quality, our sleeping bags are in the shape of a mummy to make them more warm and hold temperatures of up to -10 Cº. The air matras have a thickness of 1 ½ inch and the walking sticks are light and retractable. You can review more detailed information about our camping equipment HERE
WATER
Our camping team will provide you with water every day, you will only take your own water for the first day of hiking until lunch time, from this point we filter, boil and cool water every day and We will provide according to the quantity you need. We recommend carrying a water bag or bottles of 2 to 3 liters so you have enough.
FOODS
All our walks have a professional chef included, one specialized in high mountain cuisine who prepares delicious dishes that you would have never imagined trying on an adventure route. We will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner in a family style where all meals will be in large trays in the middle and from there everyone will be served whatever they want, all will be served hot and fresh. We also offer snacks every morning after breakfast and tea time with snacks, chocolate, coffee, etc. Before each dinner. The key to enjoy a walk is to be well fed and that’s what we take care of.
We gladly cater for food restrictions, it does not matter if you are vegetarian, celiac, gluten free, it will always be a pleasure for us to serve you.
More information about our meals you can check HERE.