SALKANTAY PASS TREK AND HUMANTAY LAKE 2D – 1N
Stile:
Trekking
size group:
15 People
Age min:
18
Nivel Fisico:
Moderate
Tour description
The 2-day hike to the Salkantay Pass is a short yet epic experience, ideal for those who wish to keep exploring the Andes beyond Machu Picchu. This tour takes you through breathtaking landscapes: snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, and the famous Humantay Lake, alongside the imposing Apu Salkantay.
During this adventure, you will cross the majestic Salkantay Pass at over 4,600 meters above sea level, enjoying panoramic views that will stay with you forever. A unique getaway that combines nature, comfort, and an authentic connection with the energy of the Andes.
Itinerary
After picking up all participants from their respective hotels, we depart from Cusco at around 5:15 a.m. on an approximately 2-hour journey to the village of Mollepata. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast and pay the 20 soles entrance fee to the local municipality. We will then continue by transport for an additional hour to Soraypampa, where we will stop at our campsite to leave extra luggage.
From Soraypampa, we will begin an uphill hike of about 2 hours to the stunning Humantay Lake. Once there, you’ll have plenty of time to explore, take photos, and listen to our guide, who will share the cultural and natural significance of this turquoise-water gem. After enjoying this magical place, we will descend for about 2 hours to the Andean Camp in Soraypampa, where a fresh and nutritious lunch awaits us.
After lunch, you’ll have free time to enjoy the spectacular surroundings. Those seeking a bit more adventure can take a short hike to the Salkantay Viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the region. If you prefer to rest, you can relax and recharge for the next day in a comfortable cabin equipped with a mattress, pillow, and sleeping pad.
Located at 4,000 meters above sea level, the Soraypampa Camp is an exclusive and scenic spot offering short trails, mountain views, waterfalls, and the presence of llamas—perfect for unforgettable photos. It’s the ideal place to disconnect, renew your energy, and fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the Andes.
The second day of the trek is the most challenging and rewarding, as it takes you to the highest point of the entire Salkantay Trail, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and a visit to the pristine Salkantay Lake.
At around 5:00 a.m., you’ll be gently awakened with a comforting cup of coca tea, followed by time to reorganize your gear and prepare for an energizing breakfast served at 5:45 a.m. Shortly after, we will begin the hike with an ascent toward the Salkantay Pass, which reaches 4,630 meters above sea level (15,190 ft). The climb to the summit takes approximately 3 to 4 hours at a steady and manageable pace.
Once at the top, you’ll have time to enjoy panoramic views, take memorable photos, and listen as your guide shares stories and spiritual insights about the Apus, the sacred mountain spirits of the Andes. You will also take part in a brief Andean ceremony in honor of these protective deities.
After this profound experience, we will begin a descent of approximately 2.5 hours back to Soraypampa, where transportation will be waiting to take us to Mollepata for a well-deserved lunch. After the meal, we will return to Cusco on a journey of about 2 hours, arriving in the city at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Included
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Round-trip transportation Cusco – Soraypampa – Cusco
Enjoy a comfortable and hassle-free journey. You will be picked up at a designated point in Cusco and transferred to Soraypampa, then returned to Cusco at the end of the tour. -
5 delicious meals included
The package includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner, all prepared by experienced chefs. Meals feature local flavors and are designed to keep you energized throughout the adventure. -
Professional tour guide
A friendly, knowledgeable professional guide will accompany the group, ensuring your safety while sharing fascinating information about the region’s history, culture, and natural wonders. -
Unique night in Andean refuges
The highlight of the trip: you’ll spend the night in an exclusive Andean sky hut with panoramic views of the mountains and starry skies — a truly unforgettable and immersive lodging experience. -
Duffle bag
During the briefing, you will be provided with a duffle bag where you can pack up to 6 kg of personal belongings. This service allows you to hike comfortably carrying only your daypack. At the end of the trek, when you return to Cusco, you can leave the bag with us without any inconvenience.
No Included
Humantay Lake entrance fee The entrance fee charged by the local government of Mollepata (20 soles per person) is not included and must be paid in cash at the lake entrance. Please note that this amount is subject to change, so it’s recommended to verify the current rate before your trip.
Personal expenses and optional activities
Any additional expenses such as personal purchases, snacks, or drinks not included in the package, as well as optional activities, are the traveler’s responsibility.Sleeping bag
You may bring your own sleeping bag or rent one from us for USD 15.
Pack List
- Backpack (to carry water, snacks, camera, sunscreen, valuables, jacket, rain gear, etc.)
- Sleeping bag rated to at least -10 °C
- Trekking poles
- Thermal clothing, T-shirts, pants
- Down jacket
- Portable charger
- Original passport
- Warm hat or beanie
- Sun hat
- Scarf
- Gloves
- More than one T-shirt (long sleeves are better if you have them)
- Layers (sweater, fleece)
- 1 pair of long pants (if you have leggings, you can wear them underneath)
- Hiking shoes
- Rain gear (pants, jacket; if you don’t have these, you can buy a rain poncho)
- Small headlamp
- Small towel
- Shorts
- Sunglasses
- Toothbrush and other personal toiletries
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Sandals / Flip-flops
- Water bottle
- Swimsuit
- Snacks (such as chocolate, cereal bars, candies, nuts, energy bars, etc.)
- Cash in Peruvian soles
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EXCELENTE A base de 12 reseñas Publicado en Tripadvisor kieranlthompsonVerificada Top Salkantay & Machu Pichu Trip We organised our trip with the company before arriving in Cusco. Vidal was our guide and he offered a fun and insightful Salkantay Trek. We had great food on the trip for each meal. It was obvious that Vidal would have gone out of his way to adapt the trip to any of our needs ! We were advised by Vidal that we could buy tickets for Machu Pichu when we arrived in Aguas Caliantes the afternoon before our desired date. This was great advice as the tourist offices release 1000 tickets each day in person and we were able to get Circuit 2 tickets. I had the company recommended to me by a friend who went on the trek last year. Id pass on the recommendation to anyone else who wishes to do the Salkantay trek. Cheers !Publicado en Tripadvisor Eilis MVerificada Amazing experience from start to finish! We booked the 5 day Salkantay trek via Vidal thanks to our friend that has done it the month prior. Vidal was incredibly helpful and friendly, explained everything and even met us at our hotel for the briefing the day before and popped by to collect the bags and see how we got on once we arrived back from Machu Picchu. Our guide on the trek was Oscar and he was fantastic, very knowledgeable and had funny. Kept us entertained and motivated on rainy and hard days. Best hike I’ve done and was all made easy thanks to Vidal and Oscar.Publicado en Tripadvisor AtticusVerificada Best 4 days of my trip Wow what a 4 days! I have to say the trip was even better than expected. Vidal completely made our experience. Such a warming character that made our trip that much better. Gracias Vidal!!!Publicado en Tripadvisor Clara WegnezVerificada Salakantay with bidal ☀️🏔️ I had such an amazing experience doing this trek. The views were stunning, the food and hostels very nice. But Bidal sure made the trip unforgettable! His good energy and talks were inspiring, motivating and interesting. I really feel like the we had a sincere connexion, we just had such a good time together, I will never forget those 4 days!Publicado en Tripadvisor Josue CVerificada La mejor experiencia 100% recomendado Muy recomendable el Salkantay trek 5 días lo cual es full de experiencias increíbles y vistas impresionantes lo recomiendo hacer el Salkantay trek hacia machu picchu con MACHUPICCHU DESTINATIONSPublicado en Tripadvisor Daydream50371221517Verificada Super expérience !! Vidal a été un super guide et il a rendu notre expérience formidable ! L'organisation était parfaite et nous avons adoré toute l'aventure que nous recommandons fortement !!Publicado en Tripadvisor Lucy HVerificada Vacaciones perfectas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hice el trekking Salkantay 5D/4N con MACHUPICCHU DESTINATIONS y fue una experiencia increíble. Excelente organización, guías muy profesionales y atentos, comida deliciosa y paisajes espectaculares durante todo el recorrido. Todo estuvo muy bien coordinado y la llegada a Machu Picchu fue el cierre perfecto. 100% recomendable, sin duda volvería a viajar con ellos.Publicado en Tripadvisor Safari47050082033Verificada More Than a Trek🤩 We booked this tour and were genuinely very positively surprised. Vidal is an excellent tour guide, especially well suited for young and active groups. He is funny, keeps the atmosphere relaxed, and at the same time explains the history of the Inca in a clear and engaging way. You can really tell that he has a lot of experience and knows how to motivate and lead a group. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to have an unforgettable experience on the Salkantay Trek.🥾 Ps: Don’t underestimate the power of the pisco at the hot springs🤪 Moritz&Felix🇦🇹Publicado en Tripadvisor Dominik LVerificada ⛰️🏞 We went with a group of 4 friends. The trips can be exausting but its definitely worth the nature and views! Vidal was the best bestpossibal guide. Very funny and motivating, helped with everything. All in all we had a great time together.Publicado en Tripadvisor Bastian GVerificada Alles super Beste Reise. Super freundlich und top strukturiert. Kann ich jedem weiter empfehlen! Auf Fragen waren immer Antworten da