Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4 days

SALKANTAY TREK 4 DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa

We will start the day by picking you up from your hotel around 5:00 a.m. Then, we will embark on a 3-hour bus ride to Anta – Mollepata. Along the way, you will enjoy majestic views of the snow-capped Salkantay and Veronica mountains, considered sacred gods by the Incas, as well as panoramic views of the highlands and fertile, colorful valleys.

After about two hours of travel, we will make our first stop in the village of Mollepata, where you will have access to bathrooms and the option to enjoy a light breakfast. We will continue our journey to Challacancha, which is the starting point of our hike. There, we will meet our support team, organize the necessary equipment, including horses and mules, and have an introductory meeting. Around 9:30 a.m., we will begin our trek to Soraypampa, located at an altitude of 3,900 meters above sea level. The first part of the trail is a cobbled path. Along the way, you can admire the ancient water canal that still provides water to the local inhabitants. We will walk approximately 9 kilometers in three hours to reach Soraypampa, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch. This will also be our base camp.

After lunch and a short rest, we will continue our hike to Humantay Lake, located at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level. This hike, approximately 5 kilometers, will take about 3 hours round trip. Once we arrive at the lake, we will admire the Humantay Glacier and enjoy a stunning sunset. Soraypampa is situated in the middle of the glacial valleys, where the lack of ambient light makes it a perfect place to observe the constellations in the sky.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping
• Maximum Altitude: 3,850 meters / 12,631.2 feet
• Minimum Altitude: 2,850 meters / 9,350.4 feet
• Distance Traveled: 14 kilometers / 8.5 miles

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayramachay – Chaullay

You will receive an early wake-up call at 5:00 a.m. with a cup of coca tea delivered directly to your tent. We will quickly pack, enjoy breakfast, and immediately begin the hike to the highest point of the Salkantay Trail, which is at an altitude of 4,620 meters above sea level. The distance to be covered is 7 kilometers, and we estimate it will take about 4 hours to reach the summit. As we ascend through the rocky valley, you can observe the impressive Salkantay peak and may even spot chinchillas along the trail (at 6,217 meters above sea level).

Once we reach the summit, we will enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snow-capped peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, and Pumasillo. Salkantay is considered the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the main Inca gods, known as “Apu Salkantay.” Reaching the summit is the most challenging part of the entire trek, but you will feel very rewarded! The next 3 hours will be dedicated to descending along the winding trail, following a rocky and gravel path until we reach Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue to the cloud forest area. We will walk 9 kilometers in 3 hours to reach the village of Challway (2,900 meters above sea level), which will be our base camp. As we descend, we will be able to admire the dense forest decorated with colorful orchids and native plants.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping
• Maximum Altitude: 4,650 meters / 15,255.9 feet
• Minimum Altitude: 2,900 meters / 9,514.4 feet
• Distance Traveled: 21 kilometers / 13 miles to Chaullay

Day 3: Chaullay – Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Aguas Calientes

Around 5:30 a.m., you will be woken up with a cup of coca tea. After breakfast, we will begin the hike through the thick jungle and follow the banks of the Salkantay River along a gentle slope. Along the way, we will stop at several local family farms to enjoy fresh local fruits and vegetables, such as passion fruit, bananas, coffee, avocados, mangoes, oranges, and papayas. If we’re lucky, we may spot the famous bird known as the “Cock of the Rock.” The total trail distance will be 16 kilometers, and we estimate it will take about 7 hours to reach Lucmabamba, which will be our base camp. Lucmabamba is a small town surrounded by plains.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

The fourth day is the most magical of all: the day of Machu Picchu. We will wake up at 3:30 a.m., very early, to take the first bus to Machu Picchu and witness the sunrise over the ruins.

Your guide will spend about 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu. You will then have time to explore the ruins on your own, and if you have booked the option, you can hike Huayna Picchu (which requires a separate entry ticket costing $15 per person). Finally, you will return to Aguas Calientes and take a train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will catch a bus back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast