Salkantay trek 4 days 3 nights

Discover the majesty of the Andes with the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 days. This challenging trek will take you through breathtaking mountain scenery, lush jungles and unique archaeological sites, culminating in the iconic Inca citadel. Accompanied by expert guides, live an unforgettable experience in the wilderness, book your adventure now and explore the Salkantay route!

Start
Cuzco
End
Cuzco
Duration
4 Days
Languages
English, Spanish
Physical capacity
ticket-blank
Cancellation
Cannot be cancelled

Summary

  • Day 1:
    • Start in Soraypampa: The trip begins with transportation from Cusco to Soraypampa, the starting point of the trek.
    • Humantay Lagoon: Acclimatization hike to the beautiful Laguna Humantay, with breathtaking views of the turquoise lake and surrounding peaks.
    • Camping in Soraypampa: Return to Soraypampa to spend the night in a campsite under the impressive Apu Salkantay.
  • Day 2:
    • Salkantay Pass: Ascent to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters, offering spectacular views of snow-capped Salkantay.
    • Descent to Chaullay: Descent into the Chaullay valley, passing through diverse microclimates and changing landscapes.
    • Camping in Chaullay: Overnight camping in the Chaullay region.
  • Day 3:
    • High jungle: Hike through the high jungle, passing through coffee plantations, fruits and exuberant flora.
    • Llactapata: Visit the ruins of Llactapata, with views of Machu Picchu from a unique perspective.
    • Arrival in Aguas Calientes: Continuation of the descent until arriving in Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay in a hotel.
  • Day 4:
    • Guided tour of Machu Picchu: At dawn, take a bus to Machu Picchu for a 2-hour guided tour, exploring the citadel and learning about its history.
    • Free time and return: Free time to explore before returning to Aguas Calientes, and then by train and transportation to Cusco.

Places you will visit

The best of Salkantay trek 4 days

Full Itinerary

Day 1 Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa

We will start our day by picking you up at your hotel at around 5:00 a.m. Then, we will embark on a bus ride of approximately 3 hours to reach Anta – Mollepata. Along the bus ride, you will be treated to majestic views of the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Veronica, which the Incas considered sacred gods. In addition, you will admire the breathtaking panoramic views of the highlands and the fertile colorful valleys.

 

After about two hours of travel, we will make a first stop in the village of Mollepata, where you will have access to restrooms and the option to enjoy a light breakfast. We will continue our journey to Challacancha, which is the starting point of our trek. There we will meet our support team, organize the necessary equipment, including horses and mules, and hold an introductory meeting. Around 9:30 a.m., we will begin our trek to Soraypampa, which is located at an altitude of 3900 meters above sea level. The first part of the trail is a paved rock road. On the way, you will be able to contemplate the ancient water channel that still provides water to the current inhabitants. We will walk approximately 9 kilometers in three hours to reach Soraypampa, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch. This place will also be our base camp.

 

After lunch and some rest, we will continue hiking to the Humantay Lagoon, which is located at 4200 meters above sea level. This hike, of approximately 5 kilometers, will take about 3 hours in total (round trip). Once we reach the lake, we will be able to admire the Humantay glacier and enjoy an impressive sunset. Soraypampa is located in the middle of the glacial valleys, where the absence of ambient light makes it a perfect place to observe the constellations in the sky.

 

  • Meals: Lunch, Dinner
  • Lodging: Camping
  • Maximum altitude: 3850 meters above sea level / 12,631.2 ft.
  • Minimum altitude: 2850 meters above sea level / 9,350.4 ft.
  • Distance traveled: 14 kilometers / 8,500 miles.

You will receive an early call at 5:00 a.m. with a cup of coca tea delivered directly to your tent. We will then quickly pack up, enjoy breakfast and immediately begin the hike to the highest point of the Salkantay trail, which is located at 4620 meters above sea level. The distance to be covered is 7 kilometers, and we estimate that it will take approximately 4 hours to reach the summit. During the ascent through the rocky valley, you will be able to observe the impressive Salkantay peak and even spot chinchillas on the trail (at 6217 meters above sea level). Once we reach the top of the trail, we will enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snow-capped peaks of Salkantay, Humantay and Pumasillo.

 

Salkantay is considered the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the main Inca gods known as “Apu Salkantay”. Reaching the top is the most challenging part of the entire hike, but you will feel very rewarded! The next 3 hours will be dedicated to the descent along the snake trail, which follows a rocky and gravel road until we reach Huayracmachay, where we will have our lunch. In the afternoon, we will advance to the upper part of the cloud forest, also known as “cloud forest”. We will walk 9 kilometers in 3 hours to reach the village of Challway (2900 meters above sea level), which will be our base camp. During the second half of the day, as we descend, we will be able to admire the dense forest decorated with colorful orchids and native plants. Most of the year, the climate is warm and pleasant in this area.

 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
  • Lodging: Camping.
  • Maximum altitude: 4650 meters above sea level / 15,255.9 feet.
  • Minimum altitude: 2900 meters above sea level / 9,514.4 feet.
  • Distance traveled: 21 kilometers / 13,048.8 miles to Chaullay.

Around 5:30 a.m., you will be awakened with a cup of coca tea. Then, you will enjoy breakfast and begin the hike directly to the beach, through thick jungle and following the banks of the Salkantay River on a gently sloping trail. Along the way, we will stop at several family-run farms to enjoy local fruits and vegetables, such as passion fruit, bananas, coffee, avocados, mangos, oranges and papayas. If we are lucky, we may spot the famous bird known as the “cock of the rock”.

 

The total distance of the trail will be 16 kilometers, and we estimate that it will take about 7 hours to reach Lucmabamba, which will be our base camp. Lucmabamba is a small village surrounded by coffee plantations and offers basic facilities such as toilets, electricity and options for shopping and souvenirs. After lunch, we will take a local bus for about an hour until we reach Hidroeléctrica. From there, we will continue walking along the train tracks until we reach Aguas Calientes. Once in town, we will check into our hotel, go out for dinner and spend the night.

 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
  • Lodging: Camping.
  • Maximum altitude: 2900 meters above sea level / 9,514.4 feet.
  • Minimum altitude: 2100 meters above sea level / 6,889.8 feet.
  • Distance traveled: Approximately 27 kilometers / 16,941.9 miles.

The fourth day is the most magical of all: Machu Picchu day. We will wake up at 3:30 a.m., very early, to catch the first bus that will take us to Machu Picchu and witness the sunrise over the ruins.

Your guide will spend about 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu. You will then have time to explore the ruins on your own and, if you have booked this option, you can hike to Huayna Picchu (which requires a separate entrance ticket costing $15 per person). Finally, you will return to Aguas Calientes and take a train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will board a bus back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Tour: Visit to Machu Picchu.

Included

Not Included

Packing List

Money

Personal Documents

Sunscreen

Hat

Water

Camera

Sunglasses

Shirt

How to book the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4 days

To RESERVE your place in the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4 days with MACHU PICCHU ANDEAN, follow these simple steps:

  1. Click on the “BOOK NOW” button: and our booking application will open.
  2. Select your departure date: Choose the day that best suits your schedule for the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4 days.
  3. Provide Personal Information: Fill in the necessary information for each participant, making sure the information is accurate and complete.
  4. Payment: The final step is to make your payment. You can pay conveniently using your credit or debit card.

Once we have confirmed your reservation, we will send you a confirmation to make sure everything is well organized. Rest assured that all assigned start dates are guaranteed.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the dry season, from April to October, when there is less rain and hiking conditions are ideal.

The climate can vary, but is generally cool in the morning and warm during the day. The rainy season is from November to March.

$350 USD
per person
Price
$380
Offer
$350 USD
Book at once, pay a deposit and complete later.
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