Day 1.-Cusco
We
explore ancient Cusco's atmospheric cobbled streets
and remarkable Inca sites.
Day 2 The Sacred Valley
The Urubamba Valley is ringed by craggy mountains
where the Incas built their most spectacular
monuments. We visit the towering Inca fortress at
Ollantaytambo, where rebel Manco Inca and his men
held out against Pizarro's forces in one of the only
battles the Spaniard's lost. We also explore the
lovely village below the ruin, with its traditional
market. Our camp tonight has panoramic views of
dazzling Mt. Veronica (20,275') in the snow-capped
Cordillera Vilcabamba.
Days 3-5 Pampaccahuana / Incachiriasca
Pass
Hiking up past the extensive Inca ruin of Llactapata
on the classic Inca Trail, we branch off into the
alpine reaches of the Pampaccahuana Valley, where
traditional Quechua bring their herds of alpacas and
llamas.
Day 5,
we cross the spectacular 15,900-foot Incachiriasca
Pass, a notch between Salcantay (20,574') and
neighboring Huamantay (19,239'. The pathway at the
top of the pass is marked by apachetas (rock cairns)
left by the Quechuas to honor the mountain apus (spirits).
There are amazing views of Salcantay's fabulous
icefalls and deep couloirs as we ascend. Here in the
high mountains, the beauty of the legendary
Vilcabamba is all around us
Days 6-8 Salcantay / Santa Teresa
We cross
Salcantay Pass (15,700'), and from this alpine paradise of
turquoise tarns and glacial moraines, we begin our
descent into orchid-draped forests and subtropical
terrain. Our trail leads down through a long valley
to the small settlement of Colcapampa, where there
is a hot spring. We continue through the subtropical
Santa Teresa Valley, with its beautiful botanic
displays of waterfalls, bromeliads, and orchids
characteristic of the Andean cloud forest.
Days 9 / Cusco,
we return to Cusco.
Salkantay 4 days
