Inca Trail 7 Days (Alternative)

Today is a great day to star the trek. First, visit the important Inca site of Tarawasi, located 2 hours drive from Cusco. After touring the site, head to Mollepata to start your trek. Following a different path than most groups, you will have views of native plants and birds as well as a beautiful valley view. Our campsite for the night is Marcocasa (3500m / 11482ft) with views of snow-capped peak Rayuska (5350m / 17552 ft.). Few camp here so you can enjoy this spot in complete peace and tranquility.

Leaving Marcocasa, join the main Salkantay trekking route in Soraypampa. Today’s journey is easy and you’ll see several high peaks such as Humantay (5917m / 19412 ft.), Tucurway (5910m / 19389 ft.) and Salkantay (6217m / 20573ft.).

After an hour’s walk to Salkantaypampa (4100m / 13451 ft.), be prepared for a colder night as you camp here – don’t forget to bring your hat and gloves!

Today, leave the main trekking route towards the Inca Trail and ascend up the valley to Salkantay. Take a side path leading to Incachiriaska Pass (Frozen Inca Pass, 5028m / 16495 ft.), which is the highest point on the trek.

From there, continue down to Pampacawana (4000m / 13123 ft) where you can camp for the night. The views are stunning . As you climb over Salkantay’s shoulder, feel humbled by its size and understand why it was worshipped by the Incas. Along with beautiful lakes of different hues, you might also see Viscachas, White-Tailed Deer and some rare Andean animals such as Condors, Guanacos and Vicunas.

Set off from Pampacawana and make your way down the valley to join the Inca Trail at Wayllabamba, passing by the first Inca site of the trek, ‘Paucarcancha’. At Wayllabamba, switch from using mules to porters in order to prevent damage on the trail. Your campsite for tonight is at Llulluchapampa (3800m / 12460ft) near Dead Woman’s Pass. As you climb up Llulluchapampa, pass through various biozones including low sierra, cloud forest and high puna. Look out for different types of plant and birdlife, plus if you’re lucky – White-Tailed Deer!

Today is fairly hard going as you have to make your way over two passes. However, luck is on your side as you have camped close to the first pass, making it easier than for most Inca Trailers who are camped in the valley far below. The views today are stunning with high mountain ranges visible as you cross the two passes. Plus, you’ll get the chance to visit two Inca sites (Runcuraccay and Sayacmarca), see a variety of plants and wildlife in the area known as the cloud forest, and marvel at beautiful views of the sun setting over the mountains from your campsite at Chaquicocha (3600m / 11800ft).

Spend the day relaxing and taking in some of the most beautiful scenery that the Inca Trail has to offer. Cover a relatively short distance on Inca Flat, which consists of gentle ascents and descents, as you enjoy lush and verdant cloud forest along with spectacular views of the Andes Mountains in the distance. Visit two impressive Inca sites (Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna) before making your way to Winay Wayna (2680m / 8792ft) your campsite for the night. Once settled in, enjoy an extended guided tour around this stunning area.

Start your day with breakfast before embarking on the last leg of the Salkantay Inca Trail 7 days to the lost city of Machu Picchu. First, hike to Inti Punku (“Sun Gate”), Gate of the Inca Trail to take in an inspiring and panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel. Take a short hike down to Machu Picchu and enjoy a two-hour guided tour around this sanctuary-city. Afterwards, take the bus or walk part of the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes for lunch and some free time to explore the town before returning to Ollantaytambo by train and then bus back to Cusco.