Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – 5 Days

DAY 1: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA (MARCOCCASA) – SORAYPAMPA

We will begin the Salkantay Trek by picking you up at 5:00 AM at your respective Hotel. Surely, you will have enough time to sleep in the car as we drive through Mollepata (3,000 m. / 9842,52 ft.) in order to reach the community of Marcoccasa (3,400 m. / 11155 ft.). If you want you can choose to have an optional breakfast in Mollepata.

In Marcoccasa, we will meet up with our cooks and muleteers, take a quick rest, stretch from the drive, and start the hike to Soraypampa. Quickly, you will realize how breathtaking this magnificent valley is, surrounded by the majestic Apu Salkantay with a staggering 6,264 m. / 20551 ft. and to its side is the beautiful Apu Humantay, which reaches an equally impressive 5,217 m. / 17,116 ft., there is not much more needed to be awed by nature.

Arriving in Soraypampa (3,900 m. / 12,795 ft.), we will eat a delicious lunch to recharge our energies, take a good rest, and optionally recommend you to hike up to the Humantay Lake (4,220 m. / 13,845 ft.). The estimated hiking time to the Humantay Lake is about 2hrs but the emerald waters of the glacial lake are worth all the effort.

Recap Day 1 of the Salkantay Trek:

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAULLAY

On the second day, we will start with a delicious and energizing breakfast, in order to fully prepare us for the challenging hike of this day. Thereafter, we will ascend the Salkantay pass, reaching a peak of a remarkable 4,600 m. / 1968,5 ft. above sea level. This hike can be challenging, so remember to take it easy and take the time you need. All the more so, to relish fully some of the most exquisite views of the snow-capped Apu Salkantay (6,264 m. / 20551 ft.).

Once we reached the peak, we will take a moment to fully rejoice in this experience, appreciate the effort we have put in to ascend the pass, and marvel at the captivating beauty of the mountains. This is an unforgettable moment, thus we will leave you enough time to take some pictures and some good deep breaths to fully experience it.

Hereafter, we will start to descend to Chaullay (3,350 m. / 10991 ft.). The scenery will quickly change into beautiful, lush vegetation, with a wide variety of vines and moss entwined with old native trees and bushes. The climate will slowly get warmer as you descend further down and finally reach Chaullay, where we will take a good rest, have a delicious dinner, and have well deserved good night’s sleep.

Recap Day 2 of the Salkantay Trek:

DAY 3: CHAULLAY – WIÑAYPOCO – LA PLAYA – LUCMABAMBA

The third day is dedicated to learning and being awed by the particularly abundant vegetation of this region of Peru. We will start by descending down through an extraordinary forest, full of orchids, bromeliads, and a seemingly endless variety of plants and flowers. Here the local communities grow their crops and you will be able to see countless plantations of coffee, cacao, and fruit trees.

We will pass by Wiñaypoco (2,650 m.) and La Playa (2,100 m.) in order to reach our second camp in Lucmabamba (2,000 m.). Here we will offer you in the afternoon the opportunity to get into contact with the local rural families who will teach you about the cultivation and treatment of coffee plants.

They will teach you about the different varieties of coffee plants, about their special tastes, and that it can take about 3 to 4 years for a coffee plant to bear fruits. Furthermore, due to the botanical characteristics of coffee, it is often grown in mountainous areas, where the widespread use of mechanical harvesting is not possible and thus they are generally picked by hand, which can be a labor-intensive and difficult process. The family will show and explain to you the entire coffee preparation process, from planting, to roasting, to enjoying it.

Recap Day 3 of the Salkantay Trek:

DAY 4: LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Note: Depending on the group’s preferences, it is possible to change the itinerary and visit the hot springs of Cocalmayo in Santa Teresa (1,830 m. / 6004 ft.) at an additional cost, instead of Llactapata.

We will start the fourth day with a delicious breakfast in order to fully recharge. Then we will set off to hike a part of the famous Inca trail. We will ascend through a gorgeous lush green forest until we reach the archeological site of Llactapata (2,650 m. / 8694 ft.). Here you will have the most stunning and dazzling view of Machu Picchu and the Vilcanota Canyon, as you will see the whole mountain range just in front of you, onto which Machu Picchu thrones on a crest so majestically that it seems nearly unreal. You will have enough time to appreciate this special place, be mesmerized by the Inca architecture, take some pictures, and have a quick rest before we start to descend.

On our journey down, you can hear an impressive variety of birds chirping, and with some luck maybe even spot some birds or smaller animals, while you are continually surrounded by the abundant vegetation of the forest. We will walk down until we reach “la Hidroeléctrica” (1,950 m. / 6398 ft.), where we will take the train to Aguas Calientes (2,050 m. / 6726 ft.). Here we will eat a tasty dinner and then go to our hotel to have a good night’s sleep to recharge for the next day.

Recap Day 4 of the Salkantay Trek:

DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO

After a good breakfast, we will take a tourist bus up to Machu Picchu (2,400m.) where we will arrive at approximately 7 o’clock. There, you will have a guided tour through the citadel of Machu Picchu. Our specialized and professional guides will teach you all about the life, culture, and history of the Incas, and are at your disposal for all your inquiries that may arise during the tour.

We will also give you enough time to explore Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu (2,750 m.) on your own so that you can fully indulge yourself in this magical mystical place. Explore, rejoice, and be mesmerized!

After the visit to Machu Picchu, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where we will indicate to you the departure time of the train back to Ollantaytambo. Then we will leave you some free time until the train’s departure to explore the town of Aguas Calientes on your own. Feel free to stroll around in this little cozy town, visit some shops, treat yourself to a nice lunch or maybe even go to the hot springs. Enjoy these last moments in this warm and comfortable climate.

At the previously indicated time, we will meet and take the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there we will travel back to the city of Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel, thus ending this unforgettable and special experience.

Recap Day 5 of the Salkantay Trek:

INCLUDES

• High-quality service
  • Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English; other languages only if previously requested)
  • Professional cook and assistant
  • Horses and mules to carry up to 7 kg of a client’s personal belongings/luggage
  • Emergency horse
  • First aid kit and oxygen bottle

• Transportation
  • Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco to Mollepata/Marcoccasa (Day 1)
  • Transporation of your personal belongings/lugagge from Lucmabamba to the “hidroeléctrica” trainstation (Day 4)
  • Train ticket from “hidroeléctrica” trainstation to Aguas Calientes (Day 4)
  • Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (Day 5)
  • Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Day 5)
  • Bus ticket from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (Day 5)
• Accommodation
  • In campsites with high-quality camping equipment (professional tent: Doite Top 4, for 2 people), mattresses, dining tent with table and chairs, hygiene services)
  • 2-star Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance Tickets
  • Entrance Ticket to Salkantay National Park
  • Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu
• Meals: 4 x Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Snacks (If you are vegetarian, please notify us in advance)
• Cooked Water is provided, but you need to bring your own bottle or buy water on the way

TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Breakfast on the first day
• Lunch and Dinner after Machu Picchu on the last day
• Sleeping bag (if you don’t have one, we offer high-quality rental sleeping bags)
• Consettur bus ticket to return after the visit from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (We recommend doing this by foot, as it is a beautiful walk to end the visit, it takes about 1 hr. Alternatively there is the possibility of buying a ticket and it costs $ 12.00 per person)

WHAT TO BRING

• Backpack
• Rain poncho -> keep in mind that the weather can be very cold and humid; in this case, wet clothes do not have the time to dry
• Sleeping bag
• Clothes for hot and cold weather (e.g. short and long sleeve shirts, trekking pants, Wool or cotton socks, warm jacket, etc.)
• Trekking shoes
• Swimsuit and Sandals for Hotsprings
• Sun protection (hat & sunscreen)
• Insect repellent, hand sanitizer gel, toilet paper
• Water bottle or water purifying tablets
• Camera (waterproof or wrapped in a plastic bag), flashlight, and extra batteries
• Additional snacks: Cereal bars, chocolate, nuts, etc.
• Original passport and if applicable student card «ISIC» (for the entrance to Machu Picchu)
• Extra money in soles (Peruvian money)

Contact Us

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

We have price alternatives that accommodate all budgets, prices per person, expressed in US Dollars.

Make your quotes and reservations by email [email protected], you can also communicate with one of our sales executives at the telephones detailed below, we will be happy to assist you.

Phone – WhatsApp: +51 969 787 221
Phone – WhatsApp: +51 986 994 218

HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?

To start the reservation process, please send us the following information:

To confirm reservations it is required to pay 50% in advance and the other 50% can be paid upon arrival at your destination.

PAYMENT METHODS