The Salkantay Trekking Machu Picchu is the number one alternative to the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The impressive Salkantay and Humantay Mountain, dominates your first two days, as you pass through the high puna landscape. On the third day, you descend to the warm cloud forest, to reach Machu Picchu town. The impressive magic citadel of Machu Picchu visited on the fifth day of the trek. The Salkantay Trekking Machu Picchu was recently named among the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ 18:20h Perurail train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
✔ Tourist transportation from Ollantaytambo - San Francisco Plaza Cuzco.
✔ Lunch
✔ Tourist transportation to the Trail-head
✔ Dinner
✔ Breakfast
✔ Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
✔ 3 nights camping - 1 night hostel in Aguas Calientes downtown
✔ Masterchef and cooking equipment during the Salkantay trek
✔ Local certified Tour Guide along the Salkantay trek
✔ Drop-Off Near San francisco Cusco downtown
✔ Pre-briefing about the trek to Salkantay with the Guide
✖ Sleeping bags ($30) and Walking sticks($20) available for rent in Cusco
✖ Extra expenses: first day Breakfast, Lunch and dinner on the last day
✖ Train from Hidroelectrica to Machu Picchu town $34(tourist usually hike this part)
✖ Bus from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu and vice-versa ($24) (tourists usually hike this part)
✖ Entrance tickets to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.
✖ Note: Your extra luggage can be stored at your hotel or our office during your trip
✖ Entrance fee Humantay Lake 7$
Pickup Locations
1. Hotel Garcilaso II
2. Wild Rover Cusco
3. Hotel Monasterio San Pedro
4. Loki Cusco
5. Hotel Cusco Jungle
6. Hilton Garden Inn Cusco
7. Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel
8. Hotel Polo Corporativo
9. Ukumari Hostel
10. Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas
11. Selina Plaza de Armas Cusco
12. Hotel Golden Inca
13. Ukukus Hostel Peru
14. Sonesta Hotel Cusco
15. Jw Marriott El Convento Cusco
16. Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco
17. El Mercado
18. Pariwana Hostel Cusco
Additional Info: Once you have booked your hotel in Cusco let us know ahead for the briefing at your Hotel
Itinerary
CUZCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAGOON (MEALS: L, D) CAMP.
1
Salkantay Trail
Today we pick you up between 4:45 - 5:00 am and travel by tourist-class bus to Mollepata (2,900m) where you can stretch your legs and buy snacks. Continue by car to Challacancha where we will make final preparations and double check our equipment. Embark on a 3-hour walk that will take us to Soraypampa (3,920m) where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains. Hike up to Laguna de Humantay (approx. 1.5 hours each way) for more incredible views of the Andes mountains and then return to camp for the night. Our first campsite is located at 3,920m and is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip. Take some time to rest up and enjoy your first night immersed in nature. Have dinner and go to sleep early.
Duration: 19 hours
SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAWLLAY. (MEALS: B, L, D) CAMP
1
Salkantay Trail
We will have breakfast at around 5:00 am and begin our 4-hour walk to the highest pass on this trek (4,650m) located halfway between 2 huge mountains: Salkantay (6,267m) and Humantay (5,900m). (Optional horse rental available to reach high pass for approx. 100 – 120$). From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible with a possibility of snow here. After a 2-hour downhill hike, a well-deserved lunch will be served at Huayracpampa, followed by another 3-hour trek to our campsite at Challhuay or Colcapampa as we near the beginning of the high jungle region at 2,900 meters.
Duration: 10 hours
CHAULLAY – SANTA TERESA. (MEALS: B,L,D) CAMP
1
Salkantay Trail
After breakfast at 6:00 am, we start trekking for the day through the upper jungle crossing the Santa Teresa River and a variety of little brooks. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will have lunch at La Playa (2,200m) and continue by car to Santa Teresa town (1,700 meters), our camp for the night, with a warmer climate. After a rest, we have the option do the zip line activity and visit the hot springs in Santa Teresa town (extra cost) and enjoy the well-deserved soothing water, a real treat after 3 hard days of trekking! Dinner and rest.
Duration: 6 hours
LUCMABAMBA - LLACTAPATA - HIDROELECTRICA- AGUAS CALIENTES (MEALS: L, D) HOSTEL
1
Salkantay Trail
After your breakfast at 5:00am we will drive to the trail-head Lucmabamba, this monging you will be able to walk along a bit of a original world famous inca trail after a 2 hour uphill climb a fascinating viewa over the Santa teresa valley, you will reach llactapata (8,858f) an inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu Llactapata os the first inca site you will see on the trek. Your guide will fill you in on all the history of the inca while you take all the photos you want to share your awesome experience. Along the way you will see couple of peeks of mountain and ancient rock used as a sundial, which worked together with the sundial stone at Machu Picchu. There were used to measure and read the winter solstice, meaning the beginning of the farming season for the incas. then you will freach the train track that lead to aguas calientes, once in the small town, you will enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend the night in a confortable hostel.
Duration: 10 hours
EXPLORE THE MAGICAL CITADEL OF MACHU PICCHU AND RETURN TO CUSCO
1
Machu Picchu
Today the highlights of your expedition “Machu Picchu”. After early breakfast, we will start the hike or catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu starting at 5:30 am. The bus will take 30 minutes to get to the checkpoint. Once you arrive, your guide will introduce you to Machu Picchu. You will head directly to a beautiful place to see the sunrise and to take pictures. Your guide will walk you around the citadel for about 2h. At the end of the tour, you will have free time to yourself, if you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain (must be booked in advance – Optional hike no mandatory) as it sells out and costs ($90 per person), which will take no more than three hours round-trip. You should start heading to the bus line to head back to Aguas Calientes around noon and get your lunch before to catch the train, as your train will leave at 18:20 or 19:00h. After two hours, you arrive at Ollantaytambo station and from there, a bus to Cusco City.
Duration: 8 hours
Additional info
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
