Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - 4 Days

We start the day with picking you up at your hotel or hostel at 05:00 am. We’ll drive for around 4 hours, crossing Anta, Mollepata and end up at Challancha. Through the windows of the bus you can clearly see the white snowcapped mountains of Salkantay and Huamantay: the holy Gods of the Incas. But also the spectacular scenery of the higher situated areas and the lower valleys with colorful landscapes. After two hours driving there will be a quick stop in Mollepata town. At Mollepata there are toilet facilities, souvenirs shops and an optional short breakfast. When this short break is over we will soon continue to Challacancha, which is the start of our trail. There we will meet with our support staff. The staff will organize all the equipment, horses and mules. Around 9:30 am. we will start our trek to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 ft). The first section of the path is a hike over a few deep valleys. At some parts of the trail the old water channel can still be seen. The channel still supplies water to the farmers in the lower valleys. The beginning of the trek is 7km (4.35miles) hiking in 3 hours to Soraypampa, where we will have our lunch at the basecamp. After the lunch and a quick nap we continue hiking up to the Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 ft). This is a 5km (3.1miles) round trip which we will walk in a total of 3 hours. At the Humantay Lake the bottom of the glacier can be seen, and also the most spectacular views of the background with the valley at sunset. Soraypampa is located in the middle of the glacier valleys and at night the sky is so immensely clear that we can really appreciate the stars, constellations and even shooting stars.

Walking Distance – 12km / 7.45 miles

Starting Elevation – 3350 meters / 12477 feet

Highest Elevation – 4600 meters / 15090 feet

Campsite Elevation – 3850 meters / 12477 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Meals: Lunch, Dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)

Accommodation: Camping

Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory

After an early wake up with the first daylight at 05:30 am. and a quick breakfast we soon start hiking up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15,255 ft). The distance is a 7km (4.34miles) tough ascent in 3 hours, between the rocky valley bottom and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6200 MASL– 20,341 ft). When we finally reach the top we can and definitely will appreciate the spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. The Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca Gods called “Apu”. After reaching the top of the pass there is a 5km (3.1miles) and 2 hours downhill hike towards the camp for our lunch. The walk downwards is on a serpent shape trail and a rocky gravel path to get to the Huayracmachay lunch spot. In the afternoon we will enter the upper part of the amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2miles) hike in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick forests. This hike is truly beautiful, there are decorated the hills with colorful sceneries and a lot of wildlife and native plants. The forests are most times of the year warm or have a temperate temperature. When finishing this magnificent hike we finally arrive at Chaullay Village (2900 MASL – 9,514 ft), our base camp in the jungle.

Walking Distance – 22 km / 13.7 miles

Starting Elevation – 3800 meters / 12467 feet

Campsite Elevation – 2750 meters / 9022 feet

Maximum Altitude: 4650 meters / 15255 feet

Difficulty: Challenging – Moderate.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)

Accommodation: Camping

Adventure: Absolutely

At 6:00 am. we will start our trek to La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. We will be hiking approximately 6 hours. During the hike we’ll see: waterfalls, wild orchids, but also coffee, banana and avocado plantations. Here you can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit. We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “forest cloudy brow” where waterfalls, thermal hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the famous bird called “the Cock of the Rocks” this bird is the national bird of Peru. After lunch at La playa, we will catch a local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station. Here you will have two options: 1) If you are exhausted you may take the train to Aguas Calientes. 2) If you are still eager to hike you may walk from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. Once in Aguas Calientes we will go to the accommodation which is included in the tour. At 7:00 pm. we will have dinner at a local restaurant.

All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company. Including: breakfast, lunch, dinner and the overnight at a hotel.

Optional: Train ride from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes ($ 39.00).

Walking Distance – 26km / 16.1 Miles

Starting Elevation – 2750 meters / 9022 feet

Campsite Elevation – 1600 meters / 5249 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Adventure: Absolutely

After breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary the same professional tour guide from the Salkantay trek; will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore on your own.

If you have booked Wayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price):

Visit the Sun Gate: You will have an opportunity to walk (approx. 2 hours up and down) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to see Machu Picchu from a different angle.

Hike to the Inca Bridge: The Inca Bridge offers a dose of adventure for your next Machu Picchu visit. However in this case, the adventure is a little less strenuous, but a lot more death defying, not for people with vertigo.

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft

Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft