Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 5 days

SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS ITINERARY

ALKANTAY DAY 1: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – CHALLACANCHA – SORAYPAMPA

We will begin the day by picking you up from your hotel around 5:00 a.m. Then, we will embark on a bus journey of approximately 3 hours to Anta – Mollepata. Along the way, you will enjoy majestic views of the snow-capped Salkantay and Verónica mountains, which the Incas considered sacred gods. Additionally, you’ll admire the breathtaking panoramic views of the highlands and the fertile, colorful valleys.

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

After lunch and a brief rest, we will continue our hike to Humantay Lake, which is located at 4,200 meters above sea level. This hike, covering about 5 kilometers, will take us approximately 3 hours round trip. Once we reach the lake, we will admire the Humantay glacier and enjoy a stunning sunset. Soraypampa is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, where the absence of ambient light makes it a perfect place to observe constellations in the sky.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Maximum altitude: 3,850 meters above sea level / 12,631.2 feet Minimum altitude: 2,850 meters above sea level / 9,350.4 feet Distance covered: 14 kilometers / 8.500 miles

SALKANTAY 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. After quickly packing, we’ll enjoy breakfast and immediately begin our hike to the highest point of the Salkantay trail, which is located at 4,620 meters above sea level. The distance to cover is 7 kilometers, and we estimate it will take about 4 hours to reach the summit. During the ascent through the rocky valley, you will be able to 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 of the trail, we will enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and the towering 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 following 3 hours will be dedicated to descending along the “snake trail,” a rocky and gravel path, until we reach Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we will proceed toward the upper part of the cloud forest, also known as the “cloud forest.” We will walk 9 kilometers in 3 hours to reach the town of Challway (2,900 meters above sea level), which will be our base camp. During the second half of the day, as we descend, we will admire the dense forest adorned with colorful orchids and native plants. For most of the year, the weather in this area is warm and pleasant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Maximum altitude: 4,650 meters above sea level / 15,255.9 feet Minimum altitude: 2,900 meters above sea level / 9,514.4 feet Distance covered: 21 kilometers / 13.048.8 miles to Chaullay

SALKANTAY DAY 3: CHAULLAY – COLLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA – SANTA TERESA

The third day begins around 5:30 a.m. with a wake-up call accompanied by coca tea. We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast before starting the hike. This stage will take us directly to “La Playa,” following a gradual trail through the dense jungle along the Salkantay River. Along the way, we’ll stop at several family farms to taste local fruits and vegetables such as passion fruit, bananas, coffee, avocado, mango, oranges, and papayas. If we’re lucky, we might spot the famous bird known as the “Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.”

The total trail distance is 16 km, with a hike lasting approximately 7 hours until we reach Lucmabamba, where we will set up our base camp. Lucmabamba is a small village surrounded by coffee plantations and offers basic services such as restrooms, electricity, and options to buy souvenirs. It will also serve as our lunch spot.

In the afternoon, you’ll have the option to take a short one-hour bus ride to the area’s hot springs, highly recommended after the tough mountain hike. After enjoying the hot springs, we’ll return to the camp for an hour to enjoy a lively evening and a delicious dinner before heading to bed.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Maximum altitude: 2,900 meters above sea level / 9,514.4 feet Minimum altitude: 2,100 meters above sea level / 6,889.8 feet Distance covered: Approximately 16 km

SALKANTAY DAY 4: LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES

We’ll start the day with a brief explanation of the coffee we will taste, followed by a tasting of local organic coffees. We will begin the hike early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. During the hike, we will pass by coffee plantations and a handmade coffee mill on our way to Llactapata.

Here, we’ll follow a wide, well-preserved, original Inca trail that once connected with Quito. Along the ridge, we’ll enjoy views of numerous butterflies, the scent of citronella, beautiful orchids, mountain streams, and stunning views of the Santa Teresa valley. From the pass, we can see Machu Picchu, as majestic as it is when viewed from Intipunku, the famous Sun Gate.

From the pass, we’ll take a short walk to Llactapata. Although it is covered in vegetation and vines, we will explore the site before descending to the Acobamba River and then to the Hydroelectric Station, where we will enjoy our last lunch prepared by our skilled chef.

From this point, we’ll continue walking along the train tracks until we reach Aguas Calientes. Once in town, we’ll check into our hotel, have dinner at a local restaurant, and prepare for a well-deserved rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel Maximum altitude: 2,040 meters above sea level / 6,692.9 ft Minimum altitude: 2,900 meters above sea level / 9,514.4 ft Distance covered: 24 km / 14.9129 miles approximately

SALKANTAY DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

The fifth day is the most magical of all: the visit to Machu Picchu. We will wake up at 3:30 a.m., early, to catch the first bus that will take us to Machu Picchu to witness the sunrise over these ancient ruins.

Your guide will spend about 2 hours providing a full explanation of the highlights of Machu Picchu. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore the ruins on your own, and if you have reserved this option, you can climb Huayna Picchu for an additional fee of $15 per person. Finally, we’ll return to Aguas Calientes and take a train back to Ollantaytambo, where a bus will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast Excursion: Visit to Machu Picchu