Salkantay to Machu Picchu
Salkantay to Machu Picchu
From towering glaciers to cloud forests, every step leads toward Machu Picchu
Experience one of the world’s most spectacular treks
The Salkantay Trek is an ancient and remote alternative to hiking to Machu Picchu. It offers far more spectacular views and diverse ecological zones. The trek takes you past lagoons, past impressive snow-capped mountains like Salkantay and Humantay, across rivers, and through subtropical areas teeming with vegetation and wildlife.
This breathtaking trek passes beneath the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6,710 m), one of the highest and most impressive peaks in the Peruvian Andes. Your first two days will be dominated by the stunning snows of Salkantay and Humantay as you travel through the high Andean landscape. On the third day, you’ll descend into the warm cloud forest, arriving in Aguas Calientes on the fourth day.
The awe-inspiring sacred Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is visited on the final day of the program. The Salkantay Trek was recently named by National Geographic Adventure Travel as one of the 25 best tours in the world.
Day by day journey
DAY 1 Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa (B)(L)(D)
Transfer from the hotel to the bus station at 5:00 AM, where we begin our 5-day trek. We’ll take a bus to Mollepata, arriving around 9:00 AM. Before starting the hike, we’ll stop at the ranch to pick up the horses that will carry food and camping equipment, making the trek easier. We’ll hike for approximately 4 hours, observing the diverse flora and fauna typical of this area. Later, we’ll arrive at Silcakancha, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll continue along the trail for approximately 3 hours until we reach our first campsite, Soraypampa (3400 meters above sea level), where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 2 Day 2: Soraypampa – Challway (B)(L)(D)
We woke up early and, after a hearty breakfast, left Soraypampa. This is a slightly more challenging day because we’ll be climbing to the pass very close to the Salkantay mountain; this is the highest point of our trek. From here, we can see the spectacular Andes Mountains and the typical flora and fauna of this region. After lunch, we’ll continue our descent to Colpapampa, where we’ll have dinner and spend the night in tents. From this point, known as the “cloud forest,” we can appreciate a very interesting ecosystem, mainly due to the numerous endemic species of flora and fauna.
DAY 3 Day 3: Challway – La Playa – Santa Teresa (B)(L)(D)
After breakfast, we begin the third day at approximately 6:30 am, traveling to Lluscamayo for lunch. Today we will see an Inca bridge, some waterfalls, orchids, and wild strawberries. In the afternoon, we will reach the village of “La Playa” after a leisurely two-hour hike. From there, we will take local transport to Santa Teresa (approximately one hour). Along the way, we will see a variety of plants and fruits such as oranges, bananas, papayas, lemons, and others. Upon arrival in Santa Teresa, we will have dinner and spend the night in tents.
DAY 4 Day 4: Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes (B)(L)(D)
After breakfast, we left Santa Teresa and continued walking. Along the way, we saw two Inca bridges, one of them over the sacred Urubamba River. After three hours of walking, we arrived at the hydroelectric train station. Lunch.
After a relaxing break of about an hour and a half, we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll have dinner and overnight accommodation in a hostel. An optional visit to the famous hot springs is available.
DAY 5 Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco (B)
Included
- Professional English Guide
- Public bus from Cusco to Mollepata.
- Horses to transport the equipment.
- Full board (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners). Snacks along the way.
- Camping equipment (tents and mattresses)
- Kitchen utensils and tableware. · First aid kit + Oxygen tank.
- 1 night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (one way only)
- Return by train (Backpacker) to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco.
Not Included
- Day 1: Breakfast, Day 2: Lunch, Day 3: Sleeping bag.
- Entrance to the hot springs on the 3rd day of Santa Teresa s/10.00, bus ticket from hot springs to Santa Teresa s/10.00.
- Train ticket from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes $8.00, bottled water