SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS

You will get up early today so we can pick you up around 4 am. You will travel in our comfortable transport so you can sleep a little longer during the trip.

After 2 hours, we will make a short stop in Mollepata for breakfast. 

After breakfast, the journey continues in our transport to Soraypampa for another hour. Once in Soraypampa, you will meet the muleteers and horses, marking the start of the Salkantay trek. Before beginning the trek, all equipment and duffel bags will be handed over to the muleteers and horses. The trek from Soraypampa to Humantay Lagoon begins at an altitude of 3,900 meters and ascends to 4,200 meters, where the lagoon is located. The initial part of the trek consists of a gradual ascent for approximately one hour, followed by a steeper climb during the final hour. The total trek to the lagoon takes approximately two hours.

Upon arrival at Humantay Lagoon, you will have free time to enjoy the breathtaking views, take photos, and listen to the guide’s explanations. The stay at the lagoon typically lasts between 1 and 1.5 hours, weather permitting. After visiting the lagoon, the descent to Quiswarniyoc Camp begins. This part of the trek consists of a 1-hour downhill hike, followed by a 45-minute walk on mostly flat terrain.
Upon arrival at Quiswarniyoc Camp, usually around 2:00 PM, you will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the kitchen staff. After lunch, the guide will escort you to your respective dormitories for a well-deserved rest. The afternoon after lunch is free of scheduled hikes, allowing you to take short walks and explore the vast Quiswarniyoc area, enjoying the majestic views of Salkantay Mountain, which rises directly opposite the camp. Around 6:00 PM, a hot dinner will be served. After dinner, you will receive important information about day 02 of the trek, which involves reaching the highest point of the entire route.

Meals:  Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
Accommodation:  Glass-roofed cabin
Difficulty level:  Moderate
Walking distance:  7 km (approximately 6 miles)
Walking time:  5 to 6 hours
Camp elevation:  4000 m (1323 ft)
Starting elevation:  3800 m (12,467 ft)
Highest elevation:  4200 m (13,780 ft)
Weather forecast: Expect cold and windy nights.

Today we’ll wake you with the first light of day with an energizing cup of coca tea to get you going. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast before we begin our trek to the highest point of the route, the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 meters above sea level.

You will hike 7 km for 3 hours. It is a challenging ascent along the “Trail of the 7 Serpents,” so named for its winding path. Upon reaching the summit, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding valleys, as well as the snow-capped Salkantay mountain (6271 m), the second highest in the Cusco region and one of the Apus (Incan deities).

You will also be able to see the snow-capped peaks of Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After enjoying the views and resting, the 2-hour descent to the lunch spot in Huayracmachay (3850 m) will begin, offering fantastic views.

This section of the trail is rocky and gravelly, offering wonderful views of the valley. After a revitalizing lunch, you’ll venture into the edge of the Amazon rainforest, also known as the “Cloud Forest.” This section is 8 km long and takes about 3 hours.

Along the way, you’ll enjoy a magical rainforest and witness the rapid and dramatic transformation of the landscape, from the Andes to the Amazon. You’ll discover colorful scenery, unique wildlife, and native plants. You’ll also find that the climate becomes much warmer here.

After a long day of hiking, you’ll be happy to arrive at the Collpapampa campsite (2900 m). You’ll enjoy a hearty meal before retiring to our Andean cabins for a peaceful night’s sleep in the small village.

You’re sure to sleep well tonight!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.
Accommodation: Sky Andean Huts.
Difficulty level:  Challenging.
Hiking distance:  22 km (14 miles).
Hiking time:  9 to 10 hours.
Camp elevation:  2800 m (9186 ft).
Starting elevation:  4000 m (13,123 ft).
Highest elevation:  4630 m (15,191 ft).
Weather forecast:  Expect some chill.

After a restful night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast, we began day 3 of our  Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We started our approximately 5-hour hike through the Peruvian rainforest, traversing numerous ascents and descents. This section of the trek takes us through the cloud forest where you can enjoy lush landscapes.

During the hike, we’ll see rivers, wild orchids, and coffee, banana, and avocado plantations. You’ll also get to taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla! Our guide will then take us on a coffee tour where we’ll visit a coffee-farming family and participate in coffee preparation and tasting, which is also included in our trek.

Once in Lucambamba, we’ll enjoy our last lunch with our mountaineering team. After relaxing and resting a bit more, our transport will take us to the Hydroelectric train station.

Next, we’ll follow the train tracks, surrounded by the lush vegetation of the area, alongside the Urubamba River. If you feel tired, you have the option (not included) of taking a train to Aguas Calientes (US$ 34.00).

In this tropical paradise, we will see avocado plantations, banana and coffee plants, and various types of birds, especially the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru.

After a 2-hour hike, we’ll arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes. Here, we’ll head straight to our hotel. Your room will have a private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, breakfast, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

You can relax a bit before dinner or stroll through this charming place reminiscent of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it’s an especially peaceful spot.

At 7:00 pm we will have dinner at a local restaurant and get ready for our final destination, the world wonder: MACHU PICCHU!

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel stay in Aguas Calientes
Difficulty level:  Difficult
Hiking distance:  25 km (15 miles)
Hiking time:  8 hours
Camp elevation:  2,040 m (6,693 ft)
Starting elevation:  2,800 m (9,186 ft)
Highest elevation:  2,800 m (9,186 ft)
Weather forecast:  Hot and humid during the day, cool at night

Today you will experience one of the most anticipated moments of your trip: a visit to Machu Picchu , one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . A magical place that combines history, mystery, and spectacular landscapes in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.

To make the most of the experience, you will start the day very early, allowing you to avoid the crowds and explore the Inca citadel in the tranquility and golden light of the early morning hours, the best time to admire Machu Picchu in all its splendor.

After ascending to the citadel, you will enjoy a guided tour of approximately 2 hours , where you will discover the main sectors of this impressive archaeological complex: sacred temples, agricultural terraces, palaces, priests’ dwellings, the famous Intihuatana (sun clock) , the industrial sector and the ancient farming fields.

You will be amazed by the advanced architectural and engineering knowledge of the Incas , a civilization centuries ahead of its time. Despite lacking modern tools, they managed to build a city perfectly integrated into the mountain, with a sophisticated hydraulic system of aqueducts and canals that still functions today.

At the end of the guided tour, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace and connect with the unique energy of the place. Optionally, you can take additional hikes such as:

• Huayna Picchu (2,720 m above sea level)

• Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m above sea level)
  (both require prior reservation and have an approximate duration of 3 hours round trip)

You can also opt for gentler routes such as the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or the Inca Bridge , ideal for those who wish to continue exploring without great physical demands.

If you prefer something more relaxed, this will be the perfect time to rest, take unforgettable photographs and contemplate one of the most impressive views in the world , thus closing an experience that you will remember forever.

After visiting Machu Picchu, your return to Cusco will depend on the return option you have booked.

The return trip is by bus.

You need to be at Hidroeléctrica by 2:00 PM (a 2-hour hike from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes) and take the bus to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco is around 10:00 PM.

The return trip is by train.

Take the train back to Ollantaytambo (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes). From there, take the bus to Cusco, arriving in approximately 2 hours.

If your booking includes the MP ticket, you can choose between the 2 available times.

If your reservation does not include a ticket to MP, you can opt for the $90 train. You can purchase it when you buy your MP ticket in MP Pueblo. Train schedules depend on price and availability.