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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu

from $750.00$700.00

Salkantay Trek is the second most popular trek at Cusco Region, if you want to combine Andes and Cloud Forest, this hike is perfect for you.

Salkantay is a challenge trek but so enjoyable, and our itinerary is completely different from the others because you don’t meet much people on the trail. Nature is just unique.

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    • Jungle
    • Mountain
  • Activity Level Challenging
  • Group Size Large Group
    14
All about the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

Salkantay Trek is the second most popular trek at Cusco Region, if you want to combine Andes and Cloud Forest, this hike is perfect for you.

Salkantay is a challenge trek but so enjoyable, and our itinerary is completely different from the others because you don’t meet much people on the trail. Nature is just unique.

 

TOTAL DISTANCE: 60km / 36 miles.

Day1:  12 km/7.2 miles, 7 hours approx.

Day2:  16 km /10 miles, 10 hours approx.

Day3:  14 km/ 8.4 miles, 6 hours approx.

Day4:  15 km/10 miles, 9 hours approx.

Type of trek: Nature, Cultural and history adventure and much more.

Min. Altitude: 1850 m / 5920 ft.

Max. Altitude: 4650 m / 14880 ft.

Weather: From May to October dry season, from November to April wet    season.

Hot Spring: 3rd Day, Optional at Santa Teresa Town.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
  • Transportation
  • Guide, Horse men
  • Meals
  • Entrance fees to Machupicchu
  • Bus tickets to Machupicchu
  • Train tickets and transfer from Cusco at the beginning of the trek and from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco
  • Cook and complete staff for the trek
  • Tents and duffle bags for the trek where you pack 7 kilos maximum.
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Sleeping bag – $ 20 USD per person per trip (be clean and warm)Air mattress – $ 20 USD per person per trip (mattresses Therm-a-Rest)Walking sticks – $ 15 per pair for the ride (which may extend professional Polo)Personal Carpa $ 30 USD – (only shop is for people traveling alone)

    Vistadome Upgrade – $ USD 57 per person (round only)

    Huayna Picchu – $ 35 USD per person (Please request when booking your Trek)

    Machu Picchu – $ 30 USD per person (Please request when booking your Trek)

    Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes

    Tips for the crew, guide, cook and porters of our staff.

  1. Day 1 SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE - SALKANTAYPAMPA – HUAYRAMANCHAY

    We will pick you up from your hotel around 5am. And drive for around 3 and half hours to Soraypampa (3,850 m/12,467 ft), this is the beginning of our trek and also this is the place to meet our horsemen and horses. Before arriving to Soraypampa you will have amazing views of Humantay Mountain and also the beautiful valley.

    Soraypampa is also our breakfast place. Right after breakfast we will start with the official hike lasting about 3 hours round trip up and down, in which you will visit the famous Humantay lake. It is so amazing and comes from the Humantay glacier (5700m/ 18240ft). It is a good thing to visit the lake and appreciate the glacier, the lake is not that busy because most of the groups take the normal path, so we are the only ones who do these extra expeditions, and your experience will be unique.

    After this, we return to the trailhead and start the hike to Salkantaypampa (4100m) for around 2 hours. We will enjoy the views of Salkantay Mountain.

    After this we are going to hike for around 1 more hour until our lunch spot Soyrococha (4,400 m /14,332 ft).

    After our lunch we are going to continue for around 1 more hour until Salkantay Pass and we are going to have time to have pictures of the Salkantay Pass.

    We are going to hike for around 3 more hours until Huayramachay (our campsite)

    • Meals: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, Happy hour, Dinner
    • Hot water bottles for the night
    • Lowest Altitude: 3900 m/ 12480 ft
    • Highest Altitude: 4650 m/ 16240 ft
    • Distance of walking: 12 km/7 miles
    • Approximate walking time: 7 hours
    • Level of Difficulty: Challenging
    • Geography: Dry Mountain
  2. Day 2 WAYRAQMACHAY – QOLCAPAMPA - PLAYA

    It is our challenges day. (Around 10 hours), and it will be mostly downhill. We will wake up early in order to have more time on the trail. Wake up time will be with your amazing Coca Tea to your tent. We will start to trek around 5:00am. We will descend for around 4 hours to reach our lunch spot called Qolqapampa  (2900m or 9500ft). This part of the trek will be in the jungle “cloud forest” and also it’s warm and humid. After Lunch  the hike will be mostly gradual up and down to the camping site. We will be mostly hiking through the jungle from the cloud forest to rain forest and along the way; you will see many waterfalls, coffee and fruit plantations and much more. Our Tour Guide will explain more about the things around included the Inca History. Today is warm and humid basically all day.

     

    • Meals: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, Happy hour, Dinner
    • Hot water bottles for the night
    • Lowest Altitude: 2,900 m/ 9,280 ft
    • Highest Altitude: 3900 m/ 10,880 ft
    • Distance of walking: 16 km/10 miles
    • Approximate walking time: 10 hours
    • Level of Difficulty: Challenging
    • Geography: Dry and humid Mountain
  3. Day 3 PLAYA – LUCMABAMBA-LLACTAPATA

    Happiest day for us, It will be the shortest day of our hiking, because we will only hike 6 hours (14 kilometers) to reach the camping site and also the trail is gently. We will start to trek around 7:30am, and the hike will be mostly gradual up and down to the camping site. We will be mostly hiking through the jungle from the cloud forest to rain forest and along the way; Our Tour Guide will explain more about the things around included the Inca History. Today is warm and humid basically all day. After Lunch at Lucmabamba we can do an incredible coffee tour at the plantation adjacent to the campsite. We will begin by browsing the fields, learning about the different types of beans, and picking our own beans. You will definitely have the best experience drinking the local coffee and if you want to buy some coffee you can purchase from the people. There are also several fields of tomatoes and avocados which our chef will pick for our dinner.

    After Lunch we are going to Hike for an original Inca Trail for around 3 hours uphill until reach Llactapata . The views are spectacular and also you will appreciate how the Inca trails used to be in the Inca times and learn all about. The hike is intense and at the same time enjoyable.

    From Llactapata you will be able to see part of the Machu Picchu city, Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu Mountain, and Salkantay Mountain and much more, the experience is unique being in here no everyone does this hike to reach this Inca site, and the professional Tour Guide will explain all about.

    After that we are going to hike 20 more minutes to our campsite, you have free time to enjoy the view, relax, etc.

    Trip overview:

    • Meals: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, Happy hour, Dinner.
    • Lowest Altitude: 2000 m/6400 ft.
    • Highest Altitude: 2900 m/ 9280 ft.
    • Distance of walking: 14km/9 miles.
    • Approximate walking time: 7 hours.
    • Level of Difficulty: Moderate.
    • Optional hot spring at Santa Teresa Town.
    • Geography: humid Mountain.
  4. Day 4 LLAQTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN

    This is a shot day. We are going to leave our campsite for around 8am and hike for around 2 hours until our lunch place is nearby hydroelectric station (1800m or 5900ft). After lunch, you will say goodbye to you chef and porters, this is the time where you organize tips for them. For us it is very important how happy you are about the service, in this case tipping is optional.

    After this little ceremony with your team, we will walk 2 and half hours to Aguas Calientes. The hike will be by the train track with amazing views of Machu Picchu, Huayna picchu, Urubamba River, and the amazing rain forest. Arrival time to Aguas Calientes at 2p.m. Once we arrive, your tour guide will take you to your hotel. Our Dinner will be in a restaurant to celebrate complete our hike.

     

    • Meals: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, Dinner.
    • Lowest Altitude: 1800 m/ 5760 ft
    • Highest Altitude: 2850 m/ 9120 ft
    • Distance of walking: 15 km/10 miles
    • Approximate walking time: 9 hours
    • Level of Difficulty: Moderate, challenging.
    • Geography: Humid Mountain.
  5. Day 5 AGUAS CALIENTES- MACHU PICCHU- CUSCO

    This is the most important day. You will get up and have breakfast early at the hotel, because the first bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30am. The Inca ruins Machu Picchu opens at 6:00am. Your guiding tour at Machu Picchu will take 3 hours approximately.

    After your tours you can climb Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain if you booked it in advance. Once you have done Machu Picchu, you take a bus back to Aguas Calientes. You will meet up with your tour guide in Aguas Calientes town to get your train ticket, or you can collect your ticket in Machu Picchu.

    Your transportation back to Cusco will be by train and bus. From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo town, you will take a train, which will take 1 hour and half. After that, from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, you will go by our private van, which will take 2 hours.

    All transportation in Cusco will be to your hotel.

    • Meals: Breakfast.
    • Lowest Altitude: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
    • Highest Altitude: 2,400 m/ 7,800 ft
    • Area : Humid.