5 Days and 4 Nights Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
4.8
39 Ratings
Cusco
Embark on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu for a breathtaking, crowd-free adventure through Peru's sacred landscapes. Discover the best alternative to the Inca Trail.
Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake - You’ll be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick you up around 4 am. You’ll travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive.

After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. We’ll then continue on to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

Once you get to Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Private Camp where you’ll sleep this evening. You’ll have a bit of time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the incredibly beautiful Humantay Lake (4200 masl).

Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset as your company. You can’t describe the energy here, but you’ll feel its peacefulness for yourself once here.

Salkantay Pass

Salkantay Trek - You’ll be woken up today at the first signs of daylight with an energizing cup of coca tea to get you going. Enjoy a nourishing breakfast before we set off on our trek to the route’s highest point, the Salkantay Pass at 4630 masl.

You’ll be walking 7 km over 3 hours. It’s a difficult ascent up the “Trail of the 7 Snakes” rightly named due to its winding path. Once you reach the top, you’ll appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys as well as Salkantay Mountain sitting right next to you (6271 masl), which is the second-highest in the Cusco region and one of the Apus (Inca Gods).

After your longest day of hiking, you’ll be pleased to reach our campsite at Collpapampa (2950 masl). You’ll be served a hearty meal before hitting the hay in your DOMES camp for a peaceful night’s sleep in the small village.

You’re sure to sleep well tonight!

Cocalmayo Hot Springs

Aguas Termales Cocalmayo de Santa Teresa - Today you’ll be woken at 6 am for your tea and then breakfast before setting off from the campsite. Our first destination will be La Playa, and we’ll be walking through the Santa Teresa Valley.

In La Playa, at camp, we’ll share a delicious lunch before heading out to the hot springs of COCALMAYO (optional). Cocalmayo is about a 30-minute car ride from camp. We’ll spend a couple of hours relaxing in the natural, clean water of the hot springs before heading back to camp for tea time, a warm dinner, and a group bonfire.

All of these activities are optional, so if you’d rather lay back and relax at camp—you are certainly welcome to!

Once you’re ready for bed, after dinner, of course, you’ll be settling down for the night in another one of our exclusive campsites, the Domes.

As you drift off, you’ll be able to hear the many sounds of nature and feel at one with the earth as you gaze up at the stars through the top of the dome in your comfy bed.

Llactapata Trek

Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes) - You’ll be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking after you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original world-famous Inca Trail!

After a 2 hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 masl), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 2 hours, where you get another couple of peeks at the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, along the way – only making your anticipation for tomorrow stronger. We stop for lunch in Hidroeléctrica.

After 2 hours of walking, we’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes town. Here, we’ll head first to our hostel. In your room, you Will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

At 7:00 pm, we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant and organize to be ready for the icing on our last adventure day: MACCHU PICCHU!

Machu Picchu

Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu - Today’s the day you’ve been waiting for since you first set foot on the trail. You’re finally going to visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu!

After making our way up to the Inca citadel, you’ll enjoy a 1.5 hour guided tour of this incredible ancient site to see temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields.

After your tour, you have plenty more time to enjoy the site as you please. You can opt to climb Huayna Picchu (2720 masl) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3000 masl) (tickets must be booked in advance), which takes around 3 hours, up and down. There’s also the option of the Sun Gate (2729 masl) or Inca Bridge.

What's Included
  • 1 Night hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • 3 Nights in domes with panoramic roof
  • English/Spanish speaking professional tour guides
  • Guided visit to Machu Picchu
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Circuit 1 - 2
  • First-Aid equipment and oxygen bottle for emergencies
  • Coca tea to wake you up every morning in the campsite
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Vegetarian/Vegan options available on request with no additional charges
  • Private transportation to head of Salkantay trail
  • Return journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco by Bus
  • Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
  • 4 Snacks
  • Horses for carrying up to 5 kilos of personal luggage and other required equipment
  • A duffle bag to pack 5 kilos of your belonging that will be carried by horses during the trek
  • Professional chef and cooking equipment
What's Not Included
  • First breakfast and last lunch
  • Sleeping bag (you can rent from us for US$ 10.00 for whole trek)
  • Walking sticks (you can rent from us for US$ 10.00 for whole trek)
  • Entrance ticket to the hot springs (PEN 10.00)
  • Transportation to the hot springs
  • Entrance to Humantay Lake (20 soles)
Additional Information

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a popular alternative to the Inca Trail. It is considered by many to be the best alternative route due to the natural beauty found along the trail and the lack of crowds. Because it is a more remote and rugged route, the Salkantay Trek has significantly fewer people than the Inca Trail. With breathtaking and inspiring views, this less traveled trail is invaluable. It is truly, as the Incas called it, sacred. If you are looking for an adventure in Peru, consider the “Salkantay Trek” as an option to reach Machu Picchu.

Location
Plaza Kusipata
We will pick you up between 4:00 am and 4:30 am, our manager will be calling your name to meet you.
Cancellation Policy

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

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(39 Ratings)
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up to 15 guests
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June 2024
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