Salkantay Inca Trail Trek in 7 Days

Prices

Luxury All Inclusive Service

Prices: Salkantay Trek 7 Days to Machu Picchu Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2022 through January 2023. All prices quoted are $USD

• Group service $1120 per person

Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules Discounts:salkantay trek and inca trail 7 days 

• Under 15 years will pay as student: US$20.00
• Under 7 years Discount: US$35.00

Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):

• Machu Picchu Mountain climbing:  USD 25.00 (Need to book in advance)
• Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 25.00 (Need to book in advance)

Frequently Asked Questions: Salkantay Inca Trail Trek in 7 Days

Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days FAQ´s

The Salkantay trek is also known as the hike of the sacred snow-capped mountains (APUS) that starts from the city of Cusco and then goes by bus to the place called Challacancha, this is a pilgrimage road has a distance of 89 km through unique landscapes with unique flora and fauna, lagoons, cloud forests, and rainforest and ending at the temple of wisdom (Machu Picchu).

The Salkantay Peak -Wild Mountain- is located within the Vilcabamba mountain range, northwest of Cuzco. Salkantay is one of the highest and most spectacular mountains in the Andes (6,271 m/20,574 ft).

National Geographic’s Adventure Travel magazine included the Salkantay among the 25 best treks in the world.

How far do we hike each day?

5 days of trekking, basically the first day is for training and the second day is the most difficult because of the altitude, the third day is a short day, the fourth day is a very long day but you will not have problems with the weather because it is the jungle to Machu Picchu town and the fifth day is basically bus, that means we will walk between 5 to 8 hours per day, reasonable averages to enjoy this incredible trek.

How difficult is the Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days?

Even for an experienced traveler, the Salkantay trek will be complicated but not impossible because of the difficulties that there are in the different days demanding you physically, but in recent years there is the possibility of renting horses and taking the most difficult part of this trek, for this it is very important to acclimatize in Cusco 2 or 3 days to avoid difficulties with the altitude and of course exercise and be in good shape.

The complete trek is 72 km and with options of 4 and 5 days and is considered slightly easier than the classic Inca Trail.

What’s the most challenging section of the Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days?

The high point of Salkantay is at 14.760123 feet above sea level, which is the most difficult stretch during the Salkantay, there are several reasons for the wind, little oxygen, and may have altitude sickness but take it easy because there is the option of renting horses, especially when ascending and basically the descent is somewhat lighter in general with a steady pace if you can make it.

Can I hike the Salkantay trek at any time?

The best months to make this excursion are between April and September, with very clear days with incredible views of the landscapes and very cold but bearable nights.

The rainy season is between October and March with cloudy days and cold nights even so the views are not very spectacular, for lovers of the mystical are incredible scenery and the least recommended month is February there is a lot of rain and landslides and the road is not safe instead Machu Picchu is open all year round, in general, the most recommended months are the dry dates,

When is the best time to hike the Salkantay Hike?

the best months to make this excursion are between April and September, with blue sky with incredible views so you can take the best pictures and make beautiful memories of this magical country

Can I make the Salkantay Trek by myself?

The answer is yes, it is possible to do it on your own or with a group carrying all your trekking gear without cooks, guides, or muleteers, but you run the risk of getting lost as some days the path is not so clear and the best recommendation is to book with SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES, to have a mystical experience

Can I do the trek with my kids?

This trek on some days is very tiring and regularly other days are calmer, the recommendation for children there is the option of taking horses during the first and second day as they are the most tiring days, of course, they must have acclimatization of 2 to 3 days in Cusco to avoid complications in this trek, and always do some walking exercises in their different countries that come and from 10 years old can make these treks

Can I use my mobile/cell phone on the mountain?

The Salkantay Inca Trail 7 Days becomes more popular every year and also more facilities for the hiker, which means that in every camp there is wifi and you will not have problems to make emergency calls and about the signal coverage there is only in some places sporadically and there is also the option to charge your cell phone, camera, etc.

What is the weather like?

The climate in recent years was changing abruptly due to global warming and the different altitudes that are in this Salkantay trek, basically, the biggest concern is the first day and in Salkantay pass with strong winds and at night the temperature drops below zero, and the following days are calmer because you get to warmer places and will not have difficulties with the weather.

What should I bring to the trek?

• A good daypack.
• Original passport.
• Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)
• Three pairs of trekking pants.
• One rain jacket: The first night, the temperature can be as low as – 5 degrees Celsius/23 degrees Fahrenheit.
• One warm/winter jacket (Thermals: wool socks/gloves, scarf, and woolen hat for cold nights).
• Four shirts.
• Two long-sleeve shirts.
• One good sleeping bag.
• Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).
• Bug spray.
• Water.
• Digital Camera and film
• A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries
• Bandages or moleskin.
• Flip flops. Your toes will thank you!
• Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes
• Something to read in the evenings
• Extra money.

Why do I need to make a deposit?

We recommend making your reservation in advance and we will guarantee your Spaces for this hike. Each reservation needs a 30% of the deposit as the first payment. The final balance(70%) will be paid in Cusco(Briefing Day). About Payment, you must choose where would you like to make the deposit: Payment system online,

• Paypal by Debit or Credit Card
• Western Union, Money Gram
• Peruvian Banking Account

We use the money from your deposit to make several important purchases, including the entrance fee to Salkantay, the entrance fee to Machu Picchu, bus tickets, and train tickets. In addition, making a deposit assures us that you will be coming on the trek, and are unlikely to cancel at the last minute. This helps us with knowing how much food to buy, how many of our guides to use for the trek, etc. The deposit is non-refundable once we receive it because we will immediately use it to purchase the tickets mentioned above.

What happens after I make the security deposit?

First, we will send you an email to confirm your payment. Then we will contact you to offer you different hotel or hostel options in Cuzco, as well as inform you of other tours you might be interested in.

Two weeks before your tour date, we will contact you by email to request the final payment. We will also ask you where you will be staying in Cuzco, to be able to pick you up on the day of your hike.

After we receive the final payment, we will send you an email confirming your tour date and informing you of important contact information for our tour agency, as well as some final tips to prepare for the trek.

Can I change my starting date for the Salkantay Trek 7 Days?

Something very important for the customer is to give a quality service for it, once we buy your tickets with your deposit can only change the start of the trek with additional 200 dollars, the reason that the tickets are not refundable or transferable so it is very complicated and delicate, for that we recommend that you plan very well to have no details with your trip.

Is altitude sickness a problem? What should I do to avoid altitude sickness?

One of the problems of Cusco is the altitude, so before making this trek is to be 1 or 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize and we do not recommend alcohol before the hike and drink plenty of water or rehydrating drinks during the day and not eat much and chew coca leaves will help a lot in the altitude and carry some medicine for altitude sickness.

What should I do if I get altitude sickness?

It is always necessary to be in Cusco before any excursion in order not to have altitude problems, if you suffer during the excursion, let your guide know immediately so that he can help you since they have a first aid kit and will give you pills for altitude sickness and basically it is easy to recognize altitude sickness with stomach problems, headache, dizziness and general malaise.

Do you provide water during the Salkantay Trek?

Yes we will provide you with water to drink throughout the tour and you will have no problems, there are also streams along the route basically the water is clean and you should carry a purification pill this is in case of emergency, in general, there are also stores so you can buy beer, Gatorade, etc.

What is the environmental impact of my trek like?

In the Salkantay trekking every year is cleaned in February to keep clean and also during the high season months in each camp there are garbage cans, in general in this excursion is doing everything possible to keep clean for future hikers.

Are there bathrooms during the Salkantay Trek?

During most of the excursion, there are no bathrooms, basically, there are in the camps but remember that they are very basic and in some places you will have to pay 1 sol, this is a kind of economic aid to the villagers, in general, you will have to carry your toilet paper and in Aguas Calientes, you will have your hotel and private bathroom.

What is the food like on the Salkantay Trek?

A cook, and kitchen assistant accompanies each group on this excursion and the food is one of the highlights having breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every variable from local food to fusion and we have the option of vegetarian food.

What are the guides like?

One of the most important is to have a good guide to have an unforgettable experience, so SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES has the best leaders who know the route very well and with a very good English, of course, depending on the client specializing each year and are knowledgeable in history, archeology, ecology and are from Cusco.

To be able to continue working with the guides we give a higher salary than the others and they are well treated.

What happens if I fall ill, can’t keep up or there is an emergency?

The idea of a hike is to enjoy every second, every minute, every day and basically, it is not a competition for which we will always have staff at the back and you will be totally safe and walk at your own pace.

What are the food and drink like?

In the Salkantay Trek 7 Days, the food is very varied and delicious, there will be pancakes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, toast, local soups, rice, fried potatoes, sauces, noodles, and noodles, noodles general each meal will be different and abundant.

the water is totally drinkable, every day we will provide it until the end of this trek, is to organize with the cook so that you do not lack water and if you want drinks like beer, Gatorade there is in each camp

What are the toilet/washing facilities like?

There are no toilets on this trail, there are only in each camp but they are very basic and at the end of the tours every day our staff will give you warm water to wash your hands and face and bring wet wipes and gel.

Do we need to take our own sleeping bags and mats?

You will have no problem renting sleeping bags, SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES has the best four-season sleeping bags as well as hiking poles included.

Travel Guide Salkantay Inca Trail Trek in 7 Days

Why Sullpayky Experiences!

In SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES we are not only a Travel Agency, we are a 100% Quechua family with more than 15 years of experience in the world of tourism. Our mission is to offer an unforgettable experience that will mark your life, based on Inca values: honesty, love and respect. For this reason, we offer a different kind of tourism, in which our priority is to give you more than a fun trip, a trip of reunion with yourself, to know your essence through the most sacred thing we have, our land, the Pachamama.

We are specialists in creating a personalized experience, so we have more than 28 tours that can be modified according to your needs (from the classic Inca Trail to innovative and alternative tours such as Moonstone) because there are many ways to know Machu Picchu, however, we are convinced that there is only one right for each client. . We also offer tours for clients with special needs.

We offer personalized assistance 24 hours a day, before and during your trip. When you contact us, you will be attended by our Peru travel experts, who will be happy to assist you and help you as soon as possible, answering your questions and providing you with information, as well as recommendations to prepare you physically and mentally for the experience you will live.

All our staff is 100% Quechua and is in constant training to always offer the best possible service. Our guides are Quechua mystics who will provide you with a unique experience. They also have basic training in photography and are equipped with a semi-professional camera to document your entire trip so you don’t have to worry about anything except enjoying every moment. Our cooks have chef training and will be informed of any dietary restrictions (such as allergies).

SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES is a local travel agency and tour operator authorized by the institutions that govern tourism regulations in Peru. That is why we have the necessary licenses and permits to operate within our country.
We also emphasize that we are against the exploitation of the Pachamama (earth) and our wayki (brothers), so we offer a totally ecological tourism and well paid for all our workers, as we seek to be the difference in everything.

We know you will be happy with our service, as evidenced by the hundreds of testimonials from our traveler clients from all over the world. See the recommendations and memories of travel experiences in various social networks such as TripAdvisor, which will explain why you should choose SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES for your next vacation in our country.

About our growth process
Continuous improvement is one of our commitments. One of our principles is that the work of each area is important to achieve the best final product. Therefore, throughout our history we have developed several projects with different areas, which have given us the following results:

We have completed the policy of our Integrated Management System as a sign of the guarantee of our organization.

Continuous training to tour guides, cooks, porters, drivers, people in charge of different areas such as Sales, Reservations, Operations, Administration, etc., in customer service, quality of service to tourists, knowledge of the route, and other topics concerning the tourism industry in Peru. Due to our progress in these areas, we have received the CALTUR 2021 Certification from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.

About SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES Licenses and Authorizations
SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES – Travel Agency and Tour Operator, complies with all the requirements and licenses necessary to operate and offer various services in the field of tourism throughout the Peruvian territory. The institutions mentioned below are in charge of regulating the tourism industry in Peru and we are subscribed to them:

We are authorized by DIRCETUR (Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Cusco), a government agency that promotes competition, sustainability, and diversification of Peruvian exportable products, tourism, and handicrafts.

We are subscribed to PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism), an institution belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of our country.

We are also subscribed to SERNANP, in order to operate in the Inca Trail Network. The National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State, which is a specialized technical public agency of the Peruvian government, under the Ministry of Environment of Peru, is in charge of directing and establishing the technical and administrative criteria for the conservation of the Natural Protected Areas of Peru.

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