Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu  is the second best option for those travelers who want to go to Machu Picchu, offering a totally full of natural scenes tour, passing through the foothills of the majestic Salkantay snow mountain, colorful villages where Spanish is the second language, and where the Andean people still maintains traditions that date back to ancient times. Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek  tour will take less visited places and with very little presence of tourists, allowing truly come into contact with the Andean world and interact with people.

If you have a love for adventure and enjoying some of the best hiking routes in the world, our Salkantay Trek 5 days is for you. It combines the most exciting trekking trails with the most incredible scenery you can imagine. Join us on your own, in a couple, or as part of a group.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Trip Highlights

  • Enjoy a spectacular trek to Machu Picchu through the majestic Peruvian Andes
  • Explore Machu Picchu with expert, local tour guides
  • Soak in views of snow-capped Andean peaks and awe-inspiring ruins sites
  • Enjoy the incredible turquoise Humantay lagoon
  • Get to know the Inca culture, its rites, and offerings with coca leaves to the most important mountains and divinities
  • The Salkantay Trekking offers the possibility of getting to know the life of the local people. You can also interact with the guides and muleteers who accompany you, sharing with them long cultural talks.
  • Enjoy the thermal baths of Cocalmayo, there is nothing better than quality thermal waters to regain strength and follow the hike to Machu Picchu.
  • The Salkantay Trekking allows you to enjoy Peruvian cuisine that has such diversity in terms of ingredients.

Inclusions of this tour

Lodgings
Andean Huts 3 nights, Hotel 1 night
Transport
Car, Van, Train
Team
Private Guide, Driver, Cook, Porter, Travel Agent
Meals
4 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 4 Dinner
Services
Entrance fees, Excursions, Water
Not Includes
What is not Included?
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Day 1

CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA

Challenging/Tough
4200 m
10 km
8 hrs

You’ll be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick up around 4 a.m, You’ll travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive. After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. We’ll then continue on to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

First, you’ll meet the cooks and horseman, as well as do a last equipment check. Then, we’ll be on our way. You’ll start with a 3-hour moderate walk to Soraypampa (3,900 masl/ 12,795 fasl), where we’ll be spending our first night. The first section is relatively flat with a slight bit of uphill through  a deep valley of glaciers. You’ll notice that a lot of the trail follows a  restored Inca water channel, wich local farmers still make use of today.

Once you get Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Andean Huts, where you will sleep this night. You’ll have a bit of time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the incredible Humantay Lake (4,200 masl / 13,780 fasl). This round trip takes 3 hours. There aren’t many places in the Andes quite as stunning as turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious and well deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset. Then you’ll be able to enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days | Inca Trail Expeditions

Salkantay Andean Huts

Day 2

SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY PASS - CHAULLAY

Challenging/Tough
4630 m
22 km
12 hrs

You’ll be woken up today at the first signs of daylight with an energizing cup of coca tea to get you going. Enjoy a nourishing breakfast before we set off on our trek to the highest point of the route; the Salkantay Pass (4,630 masl/ 15,190 fasl). You’ll be walking 7 km / 4.32 miles over 3 hours. It’s a difficult ascent up the trail of the 7 snakes, rightly named due to its winding path.

Once you reach the top, you’ll appreciate the most magnificent  view over the surrounding valleys as well as Salkantay Mountain (6,271 masl/20,574 fasl) sitting right next you; wich is the second highest in the Cusco. You can also observe Humantay, Tarcahuay and Pumasillo mountains. After you’ve taken in the views, you’ll start a walk downhill to the lunch spot in Wayraqmachay. Finally we will continue our trek down the valley with wonderful views, this section of the trail is rocky and gravely. Along the way you get some magical tropical forest and witness that changes quickly from the Andes to the Amazon. The clime this day becomes much warmer, with unique scenary and native plants.

Today we will camp in Chaullay ( 2,900 masl/ 9,514 fasl). You’ll be served a hearty meal in your Andean hut, and taking a peaceful night sleeping in the small village.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days | Inca Trail Expeditions

Salkantay Andean Huts

Day 3

CHAULLAY - COLPAPAMPA- LA PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA

Challenging/Tough
2800 m
18 km
8 hrs

After the breakfast, we will down to the village of la Playa. We will walk through the valley of Santa Teresa. You’ll enjoy a more leisurely walk with downs in the lush forest and rivers, waterfalls, orchids and many plantations of tropical fruits.

The path through which you walk will provide you with beautiful views, sometimes you can interact with the peasants of the area, who will explain the production process of their organic coffee, avocados, passion fruit , etc. You will also be able to learn more about the valuable product of the coca leaf, which was a leaf highly appreciated by the Incas and the oldest cultures of Peru. At noon we will arrive at the town of Lucmabamba (2,000 masl / 6,562 fasl) where we will spend the night.

In the afternoon you will have a extra time to explore this village and visit an organic coffee farm, especially for those coffee lovers. At the night  you will enjoy your delicious dinner in the Jungle plenty of wildlife, you will be able to hear the many sounds of the nature.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days | Inca Trail Expeditions

Salkantay Andean Huts

Day 4

LLAQTAPATA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES

Challenging/Tough
2000 m
25 km
10 hrs

Today you will enjoy the first glance of Machu Picchu from Llactapata. After you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning you’ll be able to walk along a bit of original inca trail to the inca ruins of Llaqtapata (2,700 masl/ 8,858 fasl). This section is a 2 hours uphill climb with fascinating views over the Santa Teresa valley. Llaqtapata is an Inca archeological site right in front of Machu Picchu. This is the first inca ruins you will see on the trek, and you will learn about the mysteries of the ancient peruvian culture. You even get to have your first exciting glance of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu from this natural lookout. Your guide will fill you in all the history of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share of this epic adventure.

Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 2 hours to the Aobamba valley, where is our lunch spot. Before we continue on to Hidroelectrica. Here you have 2 options:

1.- In case you consider is enough the walk for today, there is a possibility to take one train ride to the Aguas Calientes town (1 hour), wich extra cost is $ 34 usd per person.

2.- If you want to enjoy mor adventure and hiking to Aguas calientes is a flat walk along the side of the train tracks, wich takes around 3 hours.

At both options we will meet again in your hotel reception in Aguas Calientes at 5:00 pm, to enjoy our last dinner at a restaurant.

Note: During the rainy season the hike up to the Llaqtapata isn’t 100% guaranteed due to safety concerns. When there’s frequent heavy rain, this trail can become very dangerous.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days | Inca Trail Expeditions

Hostel in Aguas Calientes

Day 5

MACHU PICCHU - OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO

Leisurely/Moderate
2720 m
3 km
1 hrs

This day the tour in Machu Picchu will take place early in the morning, after getting ready at the hotel, we will take the bus at 5:30 am. After a trip along the road surrounded by vegetation and impressive views of the Putukusi mountain, we will arrive at the access point for the sacred sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
First, before passing the control, those who wish to use the toilets will be able to do so. Since there are no bathrooms inside Machu Picchu, if you are going to go outside once inside, unfortunately you will not be able to re-enter.
Our visit to the wonder of Machu Picchu will be through circuit number 2, since it is one of the most complete. On this tour you will be able to go up to the famous guardian’s house from where the postcard photo of Machu Picchu will be taken, then you will pass through the main gate, the ceremonial plaza, the Inca’s house, the ceremonial fountains, you will see the temple of the sun, but not up close; You can also access the pyramid where the sundial is located.
Continuing with the circuit you will arrive at the sector of the sacred rock, and finally you will visit the urban area where the royal houses of the Inca nobles were, and also the room of mirrors. After 3 hours of travel we will retire with our guide, and once outside you can have a drink or food. Because inside the complex is prohibited.
Then you can take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have enough time to have your lunch. At 2:30 p.m. it will be the time of the return train to the Ollantaytambo station, where your return transportation to Cusco awaits you, arriving at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days | Inca Trail Expeditions

Best season to travel

The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and November, when the weather is dry and bright, with more frequent rainfall occurring between November and April.

JANUARY Warm - Heavy Rain
FEBUARY Warm - Heavy Rain
MARCH Warm - Heavy Rain
APRIL Warm - Light Rain
MAY Hot
JUNE Hot
JULY Hot
AUGUST Hot
SEPTEMBER Hot - Warm
OCTOBER Hot - Warm
NOVEMBER Warm - Light Rain
DECEMBER Warm - Heavy Rain

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

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What to Bring for this tour

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Warm jackets
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Hydration bladder
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Wool socks
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Camera
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Scarf
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days First aid kit
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Hiking shoes
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Dry bags
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Trekking Poles
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Sun cream
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Snack
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Sun hat
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Bathing suite
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Rain coat
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Sandals
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Insect repellent
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Passport
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Down Jackets
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Toilet paper
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Daypack
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Wool cap
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Head lamp
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Gloves
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Sun glasses
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Cap
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Extra cash
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days Trekking pants

Essential Trip Information

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