4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Vistadome Train

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Cusco – Humantay Lake – Salka Glamp Campsite⌄

   Start your adventure with an early hotel pickup around 4:30 a.m. from Cusco, then relax on a scenic drive through the Andean mountains.

   Stop in a traditional village along the way and enjoy a warm Andean breakfast at a local restaurant.

   Meet your guide and trekking team, get your gear ready, and begin the hike.

   Reach the bright turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, surrounded by snowy mountains—a calm, beautiful place to rest, take in the view, and snap stunning photos.

   Enjoy a freshly prepared picnic lunch made with local ingredients, then continue hiking for about two hours through quiet valleys and below towering glaciers, always surrounded by amazing Andean views.

   Settle into our exclusive Salka Glamp campsite, our unique and private camp located right below Salkantay Mountain and used only by TreXperience. Sleep in spacious glamping tents with amazing mountain views, enjoy a cozy tea time and a delicious hot dinner, and finish the day lying under a sky full of stars in the quiet Andes.

   Meals: Breakfast: Local restaurant at Mollepata Town · Lunch: Enjoy a freshly cooked lunch at Soraypampa, prepared by our trekking chef. · Dinner: Enjoy tea time and dinner at our Salka Glamp campsite.

   Overnight: TreXperience Salka-Glamp Campsite

2. 2Salkantay Pass – Wayracmachay – Collpapampa⌄

   Wake up to hot coca tea or coffee brought right to your tent, then enjoy a big, fresh breakfast to fuel up for the trail.

   Hike for about two hours up to the highest point of the trek, with every step opening up bigger views of glaciers, sharp peaks, and the wild Andean mountains. Take a break by a quiet glacial lake next to the trail, perfect for photos and a moment to breathe. From the top, start a gentle three-hour descent through changing landscapes until you reach a comfortable spot for a well-earned lunch.

   Continue hiking for about three more hours as the landscape changes from high mountains to lush cloud forest full of plants and trees. Arrive at the small village of Collpapampa, set in the green valley, where you’ll spend the night in cozy Andean huts, enjoy dinner, and fall asleep to the peaceful sounds of nature.

   Meals: Breakfast: Breakfast at our Salka Glamp campsite. · Lunch: At Wayracmachay surrounded by mountain scenery · Dinner: Dinner at Collpapampa Village

   Overnight: Andean Huts in Collpapampa

3. 3Pachamanca Barbecue – Coffee Farm Tour – Machu Picchu Pueblo⌄

   Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the green cloud forest valley, with rivers, birds, and exotic plants all around you.

   Hike for about three hours to a lush village known for its coffee and fruit farms. Join a traditional Pachamanca, where your meal is cooked underground with hot stones—a fun, hands-on experience. Visit an organic coffee farm, see how coffee is made from bean to cup, and enjoy a fresh, local brew.

   Enjoy a scenic one-hour drive to the Hidroelectrica station, surrounded by jungle views. From there, hike for about three hours along the train tracks, passing valleys, rivers, and lush tropical greenery.

   Arrive in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and spend the night in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

   Meals: Breakfast: Breakfast in Collpapampa. · Lunch: Pachamanca and coffee experience in Lucmabamba. · Dinner: Dinner in a Local Restaurant at Aguas Calientes

   Overnight: 3 Star Hotel in Aguas Calientes

4. 4Machu Picchu tour - Return on Vistadome train⌄

   After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll walk to the bus station and line up for one of the first buses around 5:30 a.m. On the way up, the sky slowly gets lighter, and if the weather is good, you might see the sunrise over Machu Picchu and the citadel appear in the morning light.

   Your guide will bring Machu Picchu to life on a 2 to 3-hour tour, showing you the main temples, terraces, and best viewpoints while sharing the history and hidden stories of this Inca city. After the tour, you’ll have time to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for incredible views from above (need to be booked in advance).

   Travel back on the Vistadome train and enjoy amazing views of the mountains and valleys through its large panoramic windows.

   When you arrive in Ollantaytambo, our driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel, ending your Salkantay adventure.

   Meals: Breakfast: Hotel Breakfast