6 Days
The Inca Trail challenge 6 days, is a trek for those who like to observe in detail the landscape and panoramic views of the path and appreciate nature. On this trek, we will have the opportunity to get to know SALKANTAY, one of the highest mountains in Cusco, and we will go from a snowy to a semi-tropical climate during the trek. The entire walk is 54 km. The walking time per day on average is 6 hours. Our hikers will enter Machu Picchu using the ancient Inca Trail and visiting the smallest Inca ruins found along the way. This trekking is suitable for those passengers who plan to stay in Cusco for 1 week or more. Couples who want to have a personal experience with nature
What’s included
1. A briefing one day before your hike. Here, we’ll give you all the necessary information about the hike and answer any questions you may have about what is included in Inca Trail Challenge 6 Days.
2. Entrance permits to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Once we have received confirmation of your reservation and your deposit, we’ll immediately apply for your permit at the Ministry of Culture (the institution which regulates the Inca Trail) to ensure that there is enough space for you and the necessary porters. We can also reserve tickets for either Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu at the same time (note that these are optional and have an additional cost. See “Not Included” below).
3. Field Staff:
- Professional Guides: specialized in trekking and selected from accredited universities. Our guides are fluent in English and have five to twelve years of experience in different hikes of the region. They are skilled at managing groups under pressure and are experts at first aid and rescue techniques. The majority of them come from different Andean communities and bring with them their cultural heritage. Along with the rest of the field team, our guides will make your journey a unique experience.
- Chefs: Trained in local gastronomy schools, they are experts in modern Andean cooking, traditional Peruvian meals, international food styles and vegetarian cooking. They have deep knowledge of the nutritional properties of their meals and are experts at cooking as quickly as possible. And all of this, of course, with a strong emphasis on hygiene and food safety during preparation.
- Horsemen: Responsible for carrying all the group gear and your 8kg (17.6lb) of personal items for three days, after we will have porters.
- Porters: Responsible for carrying all the group gear and your 8kg (17.6lb) of personal items. They come from various rural communities from the Cusco region, where they still maintain their local customs and traditions. (If you decide to come on the Wayki Experience, you’ll get to experience these first hand.) We provide them with accident insurance during the trek and with suitable clothing that allows them to work in comfort. Our porters are also hosts responsible for making your journey an unforgettable experience.
4. Meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 morning snacks, 4 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks, 3 dinners.
We’ll have variety of food throughout the hike, all of which will be loaded with the protein, vitamins and carbohydrates to give you the energy that you’ll need on the hike.
- Breakfasts: Fruit salad, yogurt, oatmeal, chocolate, milk, coffee, tea, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bread and butter.
- Morning Snacks: Fresh and dried fruit, crackers, and sweets (chocolate, other candy)
- Lunches: Buffet-style, with soup, 2-4 different main dishes, desserts and hot drinks. The mains will include Peruvian classics, such as lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with rice and French fries) and aji de gallina (mildly spicy, creamy chicken pure), among other options. We can also make vegetarian options.
- Afternoon snacks: Popcorn, crackers, coffee, chocolate, milk, and a variety of teas.
- Dinners: Soups, chicken, pasta.
- Water: We’ll provide you with boiled water every day of the hike, from lunch onwards.
5. Camping Equipment
- Tents: These are 4-season, high mountain tents from the brands North Face, Eureka, and Mountain Hardwear. They can withstand harsh winter weather, including heavy rain and snow.
- Sleeping Mats: Our inflatable Thermarest mattresses guarantee a warm, comfortable night’s sleep on the trail.
- Sleeping Bags: We use down sleeping bags rated to -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) to ensure a warm night’s sleep.
- Dining Tent: Our spacious dining tent, complete with chairs and a table, gives us all the room we need to enjoy our meals no matter the weather outside.
- Cooking Tent: Comes with all the equipment necessary for our chef to prepare your meals (gas stove and all food prep utensils).
- Bathroom Tents: These tents have toilets with water pumps, and we’ll set them up at all our lunch spots and campsites.
NOTE: In group service the tents will be shared.
6. Transportation
- From Cusco to Mollepata- Salkantaypampa in a Mercedes Benz minibus.
- A bus from Machu Picchu down to the town of Aguas Calientes.
- Return train ticket (Expedition class) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo after your visit to Machu Picchu.
- Mini Bus from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.
7. Biodegradable products: Personal hygiene products for our staff and clients, and soap for cleaning cooking and camping equipment.
8. Emergency Equipment:
- Satellite Telephones: Each one of our groups carries a satellite telephone at all times to communicate with our office in case of emergency or for clients to use in case they have a personal emergency in whatever part of the world.
- Radios: These have a 10km range and 8 frequencies for our guides, chefs and porters to communicate amongst themselves. Additionally, the radios can be used to communicate with the Machu Picchu and Inca Trail park guards in case of emergency.
- First Aid Kit: We carry a full complement of over-the-counter medication, including alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tincture of iodine, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, adhesive medical tape, surgical gloves, analgesics for muscle and stomach pain, antipyretics, anti-allergy medication, anti-inflammatories, oral rehydration salts, laxatives, burn cream, splints, blood pressure measuring devices, and thermometers. If you take prescription medication, you may carry your own drugs.
- Medical assistance by satellite calling: Our guides are very well trainned in first aids but Keep in mind that only a medical professional can write up a medical prescription. Our guides are not allowed to prescribe a treatment for our clients. Is For this reason, we implemented a Doctor’s assistance on the way by sateilite phone calling in case any medical Emergency.
NOT INCLUDED
- Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the fourth day.
- Tips – These are VOLUNTARY. Each traveler may decide for him or herself whether to give one.
- Travel Insurance: This is not a requirement, but we always recommend that our clients purchase it in case there are problems with their flights or unexpected health problems come up. Be aware if your travel insurance policy has altitude restrictions: some policies are void above 4,000m (13,123ft), and the Inca Trail goes as high as 4,200m. Other hikes in the Cusco region may go as high as 5,000m.
*A porter to carry 8kg (17.6lb) of your personal gear is included. In case you need to bring additional weight, you must ask for an extra porter at the same time as you make your reservation.
