Salkantay Trek 5 Days

Today you will get an early start on this adventure. We’ll pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco at 4:00 a.m. and travel for approximately two hours to have a quick breakfast in Mollepata Town. Our transportation includes blankets in case you need to sleep a few more minutes. After feeding and resting a bit, we’ll drive for another hour to the starting point of the trek in Challacancha.

Before we start our trek, you will meet the muleteers and cooks who are part of the team and do a final check of your luggage. Then, we will begin our relatively easy 3-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where our first camp is located. Along the way, you will enjoy beautiful glaciers and a deep valley. Also, you will see that an Inca water channel follows us most of the way and is still used by farmers in the area . This section of the trek has a length of 7 km / 4.35 miles.

Once in Soraypampa, you’ll have some time to get settled into your confortable igloo in our Sky Camp and enjoy your first lunch cooked by our talented chefs. There’s no doubt you’ll be amazed by their talents in the middle of the mountains. Once you’re full of energy, we’ll begin our afternoon trek up to Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), often called the jewel or gem in the mountains, and you’ll see why once you reach the top.

The round trip is around 2:30 hours long and covers 3 km / 1.86 miles. The distance may seem short, but, due to its high altitude, you may get tired. You need to go slowly. When you reach the stunning lagoon, you’ll have plenty of time to catch your breath, enjoy the fantastic scenery and contemplate its turquoise waters in contrast to the snowy backdrop. The views here are truly like something out of dreamland.

Once we return to camp, you will have time to enjoy a delicious dinner while watching the sunset behind the mountains. It’s hard to describe the energy of this place, but the inner peace is as close as it gets. Then it’s time to head back to your Sly Camp for a good night’s sleep and contemplate the constellations.

As the first rays of sun illuminate the landscape, we welcome you with a steaming cup of coca tea. A nutritious and delicious breakfast follows, setting the stage for our ascent to the trek’s highest point, Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). This challenging climb along a winding trail spans approximately between 3 to 4 hours and covers a distance of 7 km / 4.34 miles.

Upon reaching the Salkantay Pass, you’ll behold the most awe-inspiring vistas of the valleys surrounding Salkantay Mountain, which stands majestically at 6,271 m / 20,574 ft, the second-highest peak in Cusco and revered as one of the Inca gods, known as Apus. The panorama also showcases other magnificent peaks: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After absorbing this breathtaking scenery and revitalizing yourself, we’ll embark on a 6 km / 3.72 miles descent via a rocky trail to our lunch spot at Wayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft). While savoring a delectable meal prepared by our chef, you’ll be treated to the area’s stunning landscapes.

Following lunch, we continue our descent into the valley, covering a 8 km / 4.97 miles stretch that takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Here, you’ll notice a dramatic climate shift as we enter the “cloud forest.” This marks our transition from the snowy mountain peaks to the lush Peruvian Amazon jungle. In this region, you’ll encounter unique wildlife and vibrant landscapes, a stark contrast to the snowy glaciers just hours earlier. Additionally, the weather becomes notably warmer.

Your longest day of hiking concludes as you arrive at our Andean Huts camp in Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft). A well-deserved, hearty dinner awaits before you retire to your cozy cabin for the night

In the morning, our journey leads us to La Playa, offering mesmerizing views of the jungle landscape. As we trek, you’ll encounter the unique flora and fauna of this región we meet also locals who are farmers and cofee productors too. Upon reaching La Playa, our chefs will prepare a delightful lunch, and you’ll have the opportunity to witness a captivating coffee demonstration and you can taste also the local cofee good quality.After lunch you will walk about t more hour to our final Camp,rest of the afternoon free(optional activities Hot Springs or Zipline),Dinner and rest.

After a good breakfast we will ascend the mountain to do Llactapata Trail that is an original Inca Trail,conection between Salkantay and Machupicchu at Inca Times.We are gonna see the original Inca Steps,walls and some Incan Storages and rooms along the trail,about 13 km distance,2.30 hours up the we have the inca Place Llactapata from where we can see Machupicchu from the back side,Aobamba Valley,nice views around,Machupicchu and Huayna Picchu MountainThen,we walk down about another 2.30 hours  to the Hidroeléctrica train station, where we are gonna have our lunch,after that we will walk along the railroad and the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes about 3 hours.If you prefer, you can take a train for US$35.(it is optional)

During the hike, you will observe avocado, banana and coffee plants, as well as various birds, including the cock of the rock “Peru’s national bird”You will follow the trail of Professor Hiram Bingham, who “rediscovered” Machu Picchu after centuries of concealment.

After about 3 hours of a nice hike almost flat along the train track side you will arrive to Aguas Calientes,Town where you will be in a nice hotel with private bathroom, hot shower, WiFi, breakfast and luggage storage during your visit to Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, you can rest or explore the town before having dinner at a restaurant. Aguas Calientes is cheery and quiet, with no cars.

Dinner is aroun 7:00 p.m., and the  Tour guide will brief you on the plan for the next day’s visit to the Inca city, which will start early at dawn.

Today is the day you’ve eagerly awaited since you embarked on this journey – your visit to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising early in our hotel after a peaceful night’s sleep, we start this final day before dawn to beat the crowds and savor the gentle morning light bathing the monumental stones. The entrance opens at 6:00 am, and we aim to be among the first to step inside.

From Aguas Calientes, a bus will transport us to the Inca citadel, where we’ll enter and marvel at its extraordinary construction. Once inside, your Tour guide will lead a comprehensive two-hour tour, taking in the most significant features: houses, temples, terraces, and agricultural fields, among others. The Inca’s ingeniousness, crafted without modern tools, iron, or steel, continues to mystify us today.

The ancient culture expertly organized this sustainable and picturesque community on the mountainside, even engineering canals and aqueducts to supply water through its streets. When Hiram Bingham was shown this site by a Peruvian guide, it was nearly unrecognizable, buried under dense vegetation and disrepair. It has since undergone cleaning, restoration, and gained global recognition and preservation.

Following your remarkable guided tour of the citadel, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on additional hikes to Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843 ft), requiring advance booking. These vantage points offer breathtaking views over Machu Picchu, among the world’s finest panoramas.

Make sure to return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before catching your train back to Ollantaytambo. The departure time will depend on availability. In Ollantaytambo, our private transport will be ready to take you back to your accommodations in Cusco about 2 hours. Now, you can revel in a well-deserved rest, although your heart will continue to soar high in the Andes like a condor for years to come.