The challenge Salkantay Trek Tour to Machu Picchu via Llactapata is one of the most popular alternatives hikes to Machu Picchu after the classic Inca Trail, which is included among the 25 best treks in the world by the National Geographic Magazine. The Salkantay Trek tour is a great option for those people who didn’t get the entry to the Classic Inca Trail, moreover, Salkantay does not have entry limitations (for the moment), also offers you the opportunity to see the landscapes, snow-capped peaks like Salkantay, Humantay, lakes and more that can see only there.
Day 1: Drive from Cusco to Soraypampa & Hike to Humantay Lagoon – Suyrucocha camp.
Day 2: Hike to the Salkantay pass & descend into the Cloud forest of Llucmabamba.
Day 3: Exploring the Coffee farm and hike to the first views of Machu Picchu from Llactapata
Day 4: Views of sunrise over Machu Picchu – descend to Hydroelectric & walk to Aguas Calientes.
Day 5: Explore the citadel of Machu Picchu & back to Cusco
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ 3 nights of camping and 1 night in hotel
✔ Tour Leader for the all tour
✔ Camping equipment such as: tents, tables, chairs, etc
✔ All Transportation like: bus, consetur bus, Expedition Train
✔ Entrance for Machu Picchu archeological site, Humantay Lake & Salkantay Trail.
✔ 5 breakfast, 4 Lunch, 4 Dinner. Those meals are prepared by our chef.
✖ Tips for the team
✖ Sleeping bags (20 USD), poles (15 USD), air mattress (20 USD).
✖ Entrance for the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (30 USD).
Pickup Locations
1. Estancia San Pedro Hotel
2. Kaaro House Cusco
3. Hotel Piedmont
4. Yuyay Apartaments Cusco
5. Cultural Guest House
6. New Day Hotel
7. Sol Andino
8. Vitoque 611
9. Hotel San Pedro Plaza
10. Inkarri Guesthouse
11. Ayenda San Cristobal Premium
12. Luna De Oro Hotel
13. Hostal Kuntur Cusco
14. Cusco City Lodge
15. Runa's Inn Cusco
16. Hotel Casa Faustina Boutique
17. Anahuarque Hotel Boutique
18. Katari Hotel at Plaza de Armas
19. Casa Cavassa Centro Historico Cusco
20. Qori Cusco Inn
Additional Info: We will pick you up from your hotels
Itinerary
Cusco - Soraypampa - visit the Humantay Lagoon - Suyrucocha camp
1
Our team will pick you up at Cusco hotel early in our private car to travel for about 3 hours to Soraypmapa (3930m-12,849 ft). Here we will have our first breakfast provided by our chef.
Duration: 60 minutes
2
Humantay Lake
Later, start the Trek with an hour and a half ascending to the Humantay lake (4230m / 13,878 ft). After enjoying this, start our way back to Soraypmapa by the same trail.
Once we arrive at Soraypmapa will have our lunch and see more trekkers of the traditional Salkantay Trek. Once we finish the lunch, continue our ascent hike by 2 hours more to our basecamp located at Salkantay Pampa at (4200m / 13,780 ft).
Finally, after a relax we are going to have a tea time and an explanation about the Andean constellations also will show you in the sky some of them if the weather allows, all it before our dinner and to go bed.
Note: This day we leave early to anticipate the big groups, because after 8:00 am lots of groups arrive and the places are crowded.
Duration: 5 hours
Hike to the Salkantay pass & descend into Cloudy Forest.
1
Salkantay Trail
We will wake up you with hot drinks in your tent and great views of the Andes. After an energetic breakfast starts the challenging part of the Salkantay Trek with 2 hours of a gradual uphill until the summit of the trail at 4600m (15,091 ft). From this spot, the views are magical at 360° and sometimes is possible to see some avalanches. After pictures will have an explanation about the Apu Salkantay (6240m / 20,472ft), also will see the Salkantay Lagoon who caused a big avalanche in 2020 that destroyed the trail and towns around.
After begins our downhill hike towards Wayracpunku where we will have our delicious lunch, Along this trail is possible to see some wildlife like Chinchillas, Mountain Cara Cara falcons, some condors flying if are lucky and fog coming up to the Peak from the deep of the forest sometimes.
Finally, 3-hour downhill hike from the highlands with cold and dry air to our second campsite located at (2870m /9,416 ft) right in the cloud forest with humid warm.
Duration: 9 hours
Exploring the coffee farm and first views of Machu Picchu
1
Mirador de Llactapata
We will hike in a gradual downhill for about 3 hours to reach the famous town called Llucmabamba to have our delicious lunch. The trail has beautiful views of the green valley, you may see some birds, flowers, orchards, ferns, bananas, granadilla farms, and trees everywhere.
At Llucmabamba we are going to visit a local organic coffee farm to have a brief introduction about the coffee in this region, the importance for the locals, and we will taste a freshly-brewed coffee. Later our chef will serve us and delicious food.
After lunch, a short nap and begins a 3 hours gradual uphill hike by the original Inca trail towards one of the most beautiful campsites at the cloud forest called Llactapata at (2720m / 8924 ft). Llactapata is an ancient Inca small town from where we will have stunning views of Machu Picchu with the sunset to the distance.
After tea time and dinner we have another more option to see the Andean constellations in the sky.
Duration: 8 hours
Views of sunrise over Machu Picchu - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes
1
Aguas Calientes
After an early delicious breakfast over the mountain with stunning views of Machu Picchu, begin our downhill trek towards the hydroelectric, this is a 2-hour easy section with views like waterfalls, mountains, and wildlife as parrots.
Once we arrive at the Hydroelectric station our team is waiting for us ready with the last lunch to enjoy our delicious food, after is time to say thanks and goodbye to all the team that supported us along the Trek.
After, start our last stretch of the Trek with direction at Aguas Calientes town, this is for another 3 hours next to the Urubamba River following the railway. This section is interesting because was used by the American professor Hiram Bingham when he rediscovered Machu Picchu.
Once we arrive at Aguas Calientes town the tour leader will take you to the hotel for your registration and relaxation. At the scheduled time we will go for our dinner at a local restaurant.
Duration: 6 hours
Explore the citadel of Machu Picchu & back to Cusco
1
Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu
Finally arrived to Machu Picchu archeological site. We will visit in the morning, we will go to the bus station to line up to take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu at 5:30 AM.
Once you are in Machu Picchu archeological site, the guide will head to the watchtower area which is a beautiful to take photos. Then the guide will introduce the history and explore this amazing citadel for 2 hours on a walking tour, seeing the most important areas, in all these places will explain you the function and importance.
At the end of the tour at the archeological site, those who have booked the extra entrance to the Mountain of Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will be ready to begin the climb to those mountains. When you have done this extra hike, you will back directly to Aguas Calientes for lunch on your own.
Finally, we will take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station, where our driver will be waiting for you outside and take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Additional info
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• 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
