SALKANTAY TREK 5D-4N TO MACHU PICCHU + LLACTAPATA TREK

They will get up early that day so we can pick them up around 4 am. They will travel in our transport and after 2 hours, we will enjoy 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
Hiking distance: 7 km (approximately 6 miles)
Hiking 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 thrilled to arrive at our campsite in Collpapampa (2800 m). You’ll enjoy a hearty meal before heading to the Sky Huts campsite for a peaceful night in the small village.
You’re sure to sleep well tonight!

Meals:  Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
Accommodation: Sky Andean Cabins
Difficulty level:  Challenging
Hiking distance: 23 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

Today you will be woken up at 6:00 am for your coca tea and then breakfast before leaving the camp. Our first destination will be La Playa, and we will hike through the Santa Teresa Valley.

Today you’ll enjoy a more leisurely hike with more downhills than uphills as you immerse yourself in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including bananas, coffee, and avocado.

At La Playa (2060 m / 6759 ft), we’ll have the Coffee Class, where a local family will guide you through the entire coffee-growing process, from planting to harvesting and roasting. This area is famous for its coffee, and you’ll even have the opportunity to prepare and taste your own freshly brewed cup.

After the coffee class, we offer an optional zipline activity. This is not included in the price; it costs $30 USD per person. This adventure takes you across the valley and includes five ziplines (ranging from 750 meters to 1 km each) over the Salkantay River and a thrilling 350-meter Tibetan bridge suspended more than 500 meters above the ground. It is safe and professionally operated. At the camp, we will share a delicious lunch before heading to the Cocalmayo Hot Springs (optional). The additional cost for visiting the hot springs is approximately S/.40 soles, which covers round-trip transportation and the S/.10 soles entrance fee. The Cocalmayo Hot Springs are about a 50-minute bus ride from the camp. We will spend a couple of hours relaxing in the clear, natural hot springs before returning to the camp for afternoon tea and a hot dinner.
This activity is optional, so if you prefer to relax at the campsite, you’re welcome!

Once you’re ready for bed, after dinner of course, you’ll settle in for the night at another of our exclusive camps, the Jungle Domes Camp.

Meals:  Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner.
Accommodation:  Jungle Domes.
Difficulty level:  Easy day hike.
Hiking distance:  16 km (10 miles).
Hiking time:  4-5 hours.
Camp elevation:  2000 m (6562 ft).
Starting elevation:  2800 m (9186 ft).
Highest elevation:  2800 m (9186 ft).
Weather forecast:  Hot and humid during the day, cool at night.

You’ll be eager to lace up your hiking boots for your final day of trekking after a hearty breakfast. This morning you’ll hike a section of the world-famous original Inca Trail!

After a 2-hour climb and fascinating views of the Santa Teresa Valley, you will arrive at Llactapata (2,700 m above sea level), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata is the first Inca site you’ll see during the trek, and you’ll learn all about the mysteries of this ancient culture and this extraordinary place. You’ll even have the opportunity to admire Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu for the first time from here.

Your guide will tell you the whole story of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

Afterwards, you’ll hike downhill for two hours, where you’ll have a couple more opportunities to admire the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu along the way, which will whet your appetite for tomorrow. We’ll stop for lunch at Hidroeléctrica (1800 meters above sea level).

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$40.00).

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 the highlight of our last day of adventures:  MACHU PICCHU!

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Hotel stay in Aguas Calientes
Difficulty level:  Difficult
Hiking distance:  24 km (15 miles)
Hiking time:  8 to 9 hours
Camp elevation:  2,040 m (6,693 ft)
Starting elevation:  2,000 m (6,562 ft)
Highest elevation:  2,800 m (9,186 ft)
Weather forecast:  Hot

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for since you started the trail. You’ll finally visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Machu Picchu!

You’ll need to get up early today to make sure you avoid the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the early morning light.

After ascending to the Inca citadel, you will enjoy a 1.5-hour guided tour of this incredible ancient site to see temples, terraces, palaces, priests’ houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the cultivated fields.

You will be impressed by the engineering ingenuity of the Incas, who were far ahead of their time and are still a mystery in many ways today.

They didn’t have the tools we use today, but they were still able to build and organize their community on a mountainside and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

After the tour, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the site at your leisure. You can choose to climb Huayna Picchu (2,720 m) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m) (advance booking required), which takes approximately 3 hours round trip. You can also choose to climb to the Sun Gate (2,729 m) or the Inca Bridge.

Alternatively, you can explore other areas more thoroughly or enjoy a well-deserved rest while contemplating one of the best views in the world.

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.