Day 1:transfer by bus Cusco – Mollepata ( 4h) Start of the hike outside the village of Mollepata at 2850m. You walk through a nice valley slowly going up until you reach the campsite in Soraypampa at 3850m. On your way, if the weather is clear, you can see parts of the mountains Humantay and Salkantay.
Day 2: From Soraypampa within 1 h. you are starting the climb to the first pass, of Salkantay, which takes about 4 h. to reach about 4500m. If you´re lucky, you´ll see the snow and ice very close. Then all walking down to the possible camp in Sarampata at 3360m, or a little more down where you find already tropical vegetation.
Day 3: From the camp down to the village of Colpapampa will be about 2 hours, depending on where was the campsite. This is a small village where most people only work in growing potatoes. A little further down there is a hot spring, but now you can not take a bath. Your campsite is still lower, in Lluscamayu. Total walk 6 – 7 hours.
Day 4: Transport down, greener and greener the vegetation, you reach Santa Teresa at 1500m, 3 hours walking, a village which was almost destroyed in a mudslide in ´98. Through the valley you continue the hike to hot spring town of AGUAS CALIENTES overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: you can take the first bus at 6 am or hike to visit Machu Picchu. Guided tour. In the afternoon return to Cusco by train.
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ABOUT SALKANTAY TRAIL
[Click on map to see large version]
You cross a pass at 4510m and then it´s a relaxing walking down. You pass some remote villages, have fabulous views at for example Veronica, Salkantay, other snow peaks, green valleys and the river Urubamba, maybe you can see condors and surely you´ll meet very friendly people.
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