The 5-day trek combines the tour through the Sun Gate "Inti Punku" at Cachicata with the iconic Short Inca Trail. It's the ideal alternative when classic Inca Trail permits are sold out. You'll discover authentic Inca paths, archaeological sites, local communities, and make the legendary arrival to Machu Picchu through another Sun Gate "Inti Punku" - all with fewer travelers and more adventure.
Your expedition begins early in the morning from your hotel in Cusco. We'll transport you to an Andean village (Huarocondo). The first day is a cultural odyssey, starting with a visit to a colonial church that showcases the region's rich history. Hikers will discover ancient petroglyphs telling stories of pre-Columbian civilizations, followed by an exploration of the Inca site of Perolniyoc.
The day's hike will take you through vibrant potato and quinoa fields, offering an intimate look at traditional Andean agricultural practices. An impressive waterfall provides the perfect midday break, while a unique Quechua lesson will deeply connect you with local culture. At the end of the day, you'll camp in Rayan, at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), surrounded by stunning Andean views.
The second day presents a more challenging hike that will push your limits and reward you with extraordinary landscapes. You'll ascend to an impressive 4,440 meters (14,567 feet) via the Charkahuaylla pass. At the summit, we'll take a well-deserved break and enjoy beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks and mountains of the Urubamba Mountain Range and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
After a ceremony and offering by your tour guide to the Apus (mountain spirits), we'll continue hiking to Lake Marcacocha (4,000 m / 13,100 feet), the perfect spot for a delicious lunch.
Later, we'll cross the final mountain, Apu Buena Negra (4,370 m / 14,300 feet). After enjoying its incredible views, we'll descend to the anticipated Sun Gate or "Inti Punku", a beautiful Inca architecture that still prevails over the mountains. From here, you can observe one of the most impressive snow-capped mountains, Veronica (5,893 m / 19,334 feet). We'll then walk a few more minutes to our campsite in Choquetacarpo (3,600 m / 11,811 feet).
After enjoying a cup of tea, a perfect sunrise over the mountains, and a delicious breakfast, we'll hike for 3 hours to the Cachiccata Quarry (3,829 m / 12,719 feet), the largest quarry of the Inca Empire. These quarries tell a fascinating story of how the Incas transported enormous stone blocks across challenging mountainous terrain, allowing us to understand their extraordinary engineering capabilities.
We'll descend via the original Inca stone transport route used by Inca workers, discovering unfinished stones, ancient chullpas (funeral towers), and a mysterious Inca mummy cave. This day combines historical exploration with a panoramic journey to Ollantaytambo, where we'll have dinner and spend the night.
On Day 4, your adventure begins in Ollantaytambo with breakfast at the hotel before boarding the morning train to kilometer 104, the starting point of your Inca Trail experience.
From here, you'll embark on a spectacular 12-kilometer hike through lush cloud forests to the fascinating ruins of Chachabamba. Then, you'll ascend via ancient stone stairs of the original Inca route to the impressive Wiñay Wayna complex. Your journey will culminate with a magical sunset arrival at Machu Picchu through the iconic Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where you'll enjoy your first unforgettable panoramic view of the Lost City of the Incas from Machu Picchu's upper platform or Circuit 1.
After immersing yourself in this wonder, you'll descend by bus to Aguas Calientes (included), where you'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel, ready for the full exploration of Machu Picchu the next day.
On our final day, we must wake up very early for the highlight of our trip. After breakfast at the hotel, we'll board one of the buses that will take us back to the Inca City of Machu Picchu. This will be followed by a comprehensive 2-hour guided tour that will reveal the most significant architectural and historical features of the site.
After exploring the citadel, and for the more adventurous, we'll also have time to enjoy some optional activities (not included in the price):
Return to Cusco: You'll descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included), then board the train to Ollantaytambo, where our transportation will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.
Book your spot for this extraordinary journey in advance, keeping in mind that the Short Inca Trail has a daily limit of 255 passengers.
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Maja Rose C
March 31, 2025
My friend and I had an amazing tour! We did the Salkantay Trek and Jesus were an incredible guide. Through out the entire trek we eat delicious food made by our chef Ignacio. The horseman Genaro made sure that all of our stuff was transported from campsite to campsite. We loved it from beginning to end and would highly recommend this tour!
Emma B
March 31, 2025
We did the 4 day Salkantay hike, and it was amazing. The views and places that we got to see were very beautifull. We had the best guide, Jesus, who told us about the things we saw and the history of Peru. The rest of the team, Ignacio, the chef, and Genado, the horseman, was also very sweet and nice, and we got some really good food. Overall it was a really nice trip, the we would recommend!
Connector616234
March 30, 2025
A tailor-made experience. our guide was Jorge Calderón. together with his team he provided us with unforgettable experiences. highly recommended!
octavio s
March 30, 2025
Hicimos el camino de 4 días de lares, con la empresa Inka trail, la verdad no podría estar más contento y conforme, superaron ampliamente mis expectativas. Una mencion especial para el guía Jorge Calderón, el cual siempre tu la mejor de las ondas, así como también los porteadores y el cocinero. Una excelente experiencia, que recomiendo a todo viajero que la haga.
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