MultiDayTourFinder

5 Days Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu

4.9(14)5 daysCusco✓ Free cancellation
1 / 11
From $550
Check availability

Length

5 days

Itinerary

5 days planned

Group

Max 10

Guides

English, French

Overview

Salkantay Trek is listed as one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in Cusco and is undoubtedly the best alternative trek to experience the original Inca Trails. This trek takes you through many different types of landscapes. You will have the best opportunity to see the typical Andean landscape up to the snowy mountains, the tropical forests and, finally, venture into the dense Inca jungle. If you are thinking of taking a trekking trip to Machu Picchu and want to be off the beaten treks, near the Andean communities and appreciate the beautiful and diverse nature of Peru, the Salkantay Trek is highly recommended

Day by day itinerary

  1. 1DÍA 1CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE⌄

    Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 am. We will drive together with the group to Mollepata, where we will have a breakfast. We will then drive one more hour to Challacancha (3,380 meters/ 11,090 feet), the starting point of our hike, passing the view point of Hornada Pata where the valley splits into two. The beginning of the trail will take us through some beautiful valleys. After a three hour hike, we arrive at our campsite in Soraypampa (3,900 meters/12,800 feet) at approximately 13:30 pm. We will have time to relax and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our cook. Later, we will finally visit the famous Humantay Lagoon! After 1.5 hours of hiking, we will arrive at the lagoon (4,220 meters/ 13,850 feet) with incredibly blue-green water and the snowy Humantay Mountain peak behind it, making it one of the most impressive places in the Andes Mountains. We will take some time to admire the breathtaking views and then descent to our campsite in Soraypampa.

    Meals: Breakfast: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER

    Overnight: CAMP ANDEN HUTS

  2. 2DÍA 2 SORAYPAMPA – PASO SALKANTAY – COLLPAPAMPA⌄

    At 5:00 am we will enjoy a large breakfast so that we have a lot of energy for our hike today. Starting our trek from Soraypampa, we will ascent for 3 hours to the highest point of Abra Salkantay, where we enjoy breathtaking views of the snow capped high Andes Mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet). Passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Huarachmachhay for 3 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet). There, we will have lunch and then continue our descent for 3 more hours until we reach our campsite in Colpapampa (2,900 meters / 9,500 feet). We will have tea and a delicious dinner prepared by our cook. Tonight we will sleep in our Andean huts at the campsite.

    Meals: Breakfast: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER

    Overnight: CAMP ANDEAN HUTS

  3. 3DÍA 3 COLLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA⌄

    After a rejuvenating night’s sleep, we start day 3 of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We begin our 5 ½ hours hike through the Peruvian jungle, passing over many ascents and descents. This part of the trek marks the cloud forest, where we will discover several coffee plantations, orchids and many natural plants used for medicines. We will arrive at our lunch point Playa Sahuayaca to rest a little. Here you have the option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included). We will return to our campsite at 6.00 pm for tea and a freshly prepared dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER

    Overnight: ANDEAN HUTS CAMP

  4. 4DÍA 4 LUCMABAMBA - LLACTAPATA – HIDROELÉCTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES⌄

    we will enjoy the sunrise in a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. We will have a nutricious breakfast and get ready for the next part of our trekking adventure: we will finally hike along a part of the original Inca Trail! We will walk up along the Inca Trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley. After a 2.5 ascent, we will arrive at the Inca archaelogical site of Llactapata. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the history of this place. Besides, we will get the chance to get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. We will go downhill for lunch and then continue our hike to Hidroeléctrica. You can choose to walk to Aguas Calientes for around 3 hours, or opt to board a train for $32.00 extra. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the village on the bottom of the magnificent Wonder of the World.

    Meals: Breakfast: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER

    Overnight: HOTEL

  5. 5DÍA 5 AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO⌄

    We will wake up very early this morning for our visit to famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a jewel of the Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different quarters, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. We will have a guided tour to see and learn about the Machu Picchu site, a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour, you will have free time to take photos and discover this magical place by yourself. For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group:. In the afternoon, we will return to Aguas Calientes. We will have some time for lunch (not included), which is the perfect opportunity to explore the local restaurants. We then take the train to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 14:55 pm. On the way back, we can enjoy the incredible landscape of the Sacred Valley

What's included

  • ✓4 cenas
  • ✓1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes Town
  • ✓cook, assistant cook and muleteer
  • ✓Entrances to Salkantay and Machupicchu
  • ✓Camping equipment, inflatable mats, dining tent, cooking tent
  • ✓Breakfast
  • ✓4 almuerzos
  • ✓3 nights Andean huts Camp site
  • ✓Bilingual tour guide
  • ✓Trains tickets , to return to Cusco
  • ✓Tourist transport

Not included

  • ✕1st breakfast and the last lunch after the tour of Machu Picchu
  • ✕Tickets bus roundtrip in Machu Picchu
  • ✕sleeping bag, walking stick
  • ✕tips

Good to know

Starts: We will be waiting with a blue flag

Ends: near to the main plaza de armas Cusco

Cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Traveller reviews

4.9(14)

Loading reviews...

Read more reviews on Viator →