We will pick you up from your hotel at 4am, and begin with our amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure.  We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley; ending up at the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m / 15,216 ft).  Along the way, there are amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, valleys and high Andean peaks.

The herds of alpacas and llamas near your breakfast place will entertain you in the early morning. Once we reach the trailhead, we start on our hike following a lovely stream. As you start your hike, you will have views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. You can interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!

After a total hike of 1.5 hours, we finally reach our destination: the Rainbow Mountain (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, there is an optional hike across to the top of the Red Valley.  This walk takes about 45 minutes longer to get back to the trailhead.

At this point, we hike back down the way we came. The hike takes 1 hour.

We will embark on the 2-hour drive on the way to Raqchi, lets explore this unique and amazing Inca city.

Fanally we drive to Puno for 3 hours, arriving to our hotel by 6pm

**** We can offer your the Pacoyoc Mountain instead the Rainbow mt!

• Meals included: Lunch
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• Pick up from your hotel to the bus station
• English speaking guide
• Lunch
• Entrance ticket to sites
• Oxygen tank for emergencies
• Air conditioning
• GPS satellite tracking of transit

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Tips
• Hotel in Puno
• Breakfast and dinner
• Transfer out to Juliaca airport

This unique and new designed day trip is available onany date that is best for you as long we have a minimum of 2 people.

PRICE:

• Price for 2 people: $240 per person.
• Price for 3 people: $197 per person.
• Price for 4 people: $187 per person
• Price for 5 or more people: $167

***This price includes the transfer from your hotel to the bus station in Cusco

***Note that this tour can be done from Puno to Cusco also.

WHY CHOOSE APU PACHAMAMA TRAVEL?

Apu Pachamama Travel is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. Apu Pachamama Travel is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.

 Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. 

We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.

Apu Pachamama Travel knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers,  Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Salkantay/Inka Trail ! July 14th to 20th 2016  Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3.

SMALL GROUPS

To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at Apu Pachamama Travel we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.

OUR TOUR GUIDES

We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history.  Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.

OUR SUPER COOL PORTERS

Trekking with Apu Pachamama Travel is a life changing experience with a fully portered trek, where your comfort and enjoyment are our first priority. We make sure that you get the best experience for your holiday in Peru, while you interact with the locals, explore fantastic sites and re-discover remote ancient Inca towns. Our porters will carry your gear, prepare your meals, set up your tents by avoiding crowded campsites and take care of you while you sit back and relax.

On the Salkantay portion of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of your trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

We provide the following items to our horsemen and porters for free: Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffel bags, canteen, a girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattresses and travel insurance. All of our porters are hired from isolated mountain communities and are given the opportunity to work with our company. This will better their economic circumstances as well as provide help for their children’s education!  We ensure that all of our porters are treated like family!

OUR EQUIPMENT

Our team (Guides, cooks and porters) and our equipment are what really makes Apu Pachamama Travel stand out from all of our competitors…. For all our adventurous hikes we include the following items:

OUR TENTS: Enjoy a good night sleep in our 4 season EUREKA Timberline tents. All our tents are 4 person tents,  ONLY 2 will sleep in them, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.

• OUR FOAM MATS: They are included insulate you from the ground.
• AIR MATTRESSES can be rented for $25 USD.
• OUR KITCHEN & DINING TENTS: The dining tent is used as our meeting room at meal times. This is a great time to sit back relax and catch up for a chat.
• OUR TABLES & CHAIRS: The interior of the dining room includes tables and chairs with two doors on each side, easily adaptable to the day’s weather.
• DUFFEL BAGS: Will be provided at briefing time the night before the trek.
• MORE: Pillows, backpack rain covers, survivor t-shirts, hot shower and bio-chemical toilet are all provided on the trek.

Please note: On the Salkantay portion of the trek, your camping gear will be carried by pack horses. To protect the trail, horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail. For this section of your trek, your camping gear will be carried by porters.

OUR SERVICE PROJECTS

Apu Pachamama Travel have always believed that we should give back to the local isolated communities.  Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.

Apu Pachamama Travel is so proud to be able to support these people, not only employing them but go back to our grassroots as they share with their families. It makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!

IMPORTANT INFO

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Please read carefully the following information as it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail Trek.

ARRIVAL IN CUSCO

You will be welcomed at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look for our representative holding a Apu Pachamama Travel board at the exit from the arrival terminal. It can be done on any date that is best suited to you!

THE BRIEFING

The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?

Of course! During the Salkantay Trekking & Inca Trail your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you. Please don’t leave anything you will need for your hike.

HOW TO BOOK THE SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU?

FIRST, to book your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.

Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group).  We cannot purchase an Inca Trail permit without the following information:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
• Nationality

SECOND, we require a deposit of $211.00 USD per person in order to purchase a permit for the Salkantay – Short Inca Trail Machu Picchu.  You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Unfortunately, the answer is No. Once the tickets have been bought for the Inca Trail the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the ticket has been bought. Tickets are  also not transferable nor refundable. If you cancel your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!

DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT?

Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your classic Inca Trail Machu Picchu permit. In case you are renewing your passport, go ahead and send us your old number to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number. Please send the new passport number as soon as possible.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend that you plan to always dress in layers to facilitate adjusting to the quickly changing weather conditions.

WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

In general, if you exercise regularly and spend a couple of days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you will be able to acclimate normally. It usually take between 24 hours to 2 days.

The recommended remedies for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN, IF NEEDED. Our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness. See our detailed information about Altitude Sickness under FAQS.

DUFFEL BAG AND SMALL BACKPACK

The evening before you start your Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/15lbs. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters and horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad (foam or air). This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear. Your team of porters will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. A 30 to 40L backpack is sufficient.

IS THE TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?

The Salkantay & Inca Trail Trek is a 76km (47.2 mile) hike through the Andes in the Cusco region. The maximum altitude reached is 4,880m/16,010ft. The trail is a fairly difficult trek and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and take regular exercise.

In preparation: try walking 15kms/9 miles in a day or working out in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.

ARE THERE TOILETS ON THE SALKANTAY – INCA TRAIL MACHU PICCHU?

This has been highly appreciated by most of our clients, especially by our trekkers, who want a private, clean and sanitary toilet! Apu Pachamama Travel toilet facilities have an individual tent and a camping toilet with a seat.  Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent. Our toilet is always set up a comfortable distance from our campsite. At night, if you need to use the toilet, it is readily accessible and clean, unlike the facilities supplied by the government which may be dirty. Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO FINISH THE TRAIL?

In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health reasons, Apu Pachamama Travel will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.

Generally those who have to be assisted off the trail are taken to Ollantaytambo and if they recover quickly they continue the journey to Aguas Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu according to the original plan.

TIPPING

If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek.  It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Apu Pachamama Travel destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you would like, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR TOUR

Please read carefully the following information; it will help you answer all of your questions about our Bus to Puno from Cusco

THE BRIEFING

The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?

FIRST, to book your Bus to Puno from Cusco, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.

Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group).  We cannot purchase your Bus to Puno from Cusco without the following information:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
• Nationality

SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person in order to purchase a your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket.  You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Yes, but with some restrictions. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the tickets has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.  If you cancel the bus to Puno from Cusco, the deposit is not refundable at all!

ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?

Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.

WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE WITH YOU

• Good day pack
• Hat, gloves, scarf
• Sunscreen, sun glasses, hat
• Good camera
• Warm clothes as this place is very cold
• Good boots and sandals
• Flash light, very important
• Rain poncho if it is rainy season