Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu - 5 day tour

By most argued to be the best alternative route to the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu. This beautiful but strenuous hike brings you across one of the highest and most imposing mountains of the Peruvian Andes; the sacred mountain of Salkantay (6271 masl). According to some authors the name of this mountain is a contraction that comes from ‘Salqa’’= ‘huraño’ or ‘wild,’ and ‘Antay’ = to produce ‘celajes’ or ‘avalanches.’

The trek offers a wide variety of magical landscapes including Quechua communities, Inca ruins, jungles with a wide range of animals and medicinal plants and overwhelming snowy mountain peaks with breath-taking sights. The trek requires a reasonable level of fitness. However, age should not be a barrier for anyone! With the highest point of 4650 masl, the most important factor is to be well-acclimatized to the high altitude. With professional guides, we guarantee a life changing experience during this tour!

Itinerary

Day 1: Cuzco - Soraypampa

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Day 01: Cuzco – Soraypampa
At the first day, we will pick you up at your hostel in Cuzco at 4:30 a.m. We will take you for a 3 hour drive by bus to Mollepata (2900 masl). Here, we have to pay an entrance fee of 10 soles per person. At this point, the 5 hour walk to our first base-camp in Soraypampa (3920 masl) will begin! During the hike we will come across beautiful scenery. Once arrived in Soraypampa, true hikers can choose to climb up and down for 2 hours to Humantay lake; you will surely be astonished by the turquoise lake at an altitude of 4200 masl.

Stop At: Humantay Lake, Cusco 08002 Peru
Lago Humantay is a beautiful turquoise lake on a height of 4.200 meters above sea-level. The lake is created in between glaciers which gives its impressive appearance. The mountain tops of the Peruvian Andes are often covered in snow, together forming this unique landscape.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Soraypampa - Chawllay

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Day 02: Soraypampa – Chawllay
After breakfast, our longest hike is about to start. At this day, we will walk for 21 kilometers, with a hike-duration of 9 hours including breaks. We will reach the highest point of 4650 masl with a beautiful view assured. After a 6 hours walk, we will have lunch in Huayracmachay (3912 masl). After 3 more hours walking to Chawllay (2900 masl), we can finally set camp and sleep in our tents to prepare for the next day.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Chawllay – Santa Teresa

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
We will start our day with a breakfast at Chawllay. Then, we will walk 6-7 hours to Santa Teresa. This day, you will have the opportunity to participate in zip-lining and/or swimming in the hot springs. Both activities are optional to participate in – if you do not want to do these activities, you do not have to pay for them. We will have our base-camp in Santa Teresa or in a place nearby and we will sleep in tents.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Today, we will walk from Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes, which takes approximately 6 hours. We will have our lunch halfway our walk, in a restaurant in Hydroelectric. We will arrive around 4 p.m. in Aguas Calientes. Here, we will have some free time to discover this nice city.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu

Pass By: Salkantay Trail, Peru
This is our last day – the day we will visit the Machu Picchu! We will wake up around 3 a.m. and start our walk around 03:30 a.m. and we will start to climb the stairs to the Machu Picchu around 4 a.m. You have the opportunity to leave your backpacks at the beginning of the entrance for around 5 euros. After the climbing of the stairs, which takes around 1 to 2 hours, we will visit the Machu Picchu from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. The earlier you book at our website, the higher the chance that we can arrange morning tickets instead of afternoon tickets for your visit at the Machu Picchu. Because of the new Unesco regulations, you can choose to go directly into the Machu Picchu with a guide for 2 hours or to have first some free time and afterwards enter the Machu Picchu without a guide (which means that sometimes you have more time to stay in Machu Picchu). Around 10:30 or 11 a.m., you should start on your hike downwards to catch your train or bus. You will be back in Cuzco around 10 p.m.

Stop At: Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Region
Hidden between the high peaks of the Andes are the majestic ruins of the sacred Inca City Machu Picchu. Enclosed between steep mountain peaks it remained undiscovered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. The steep path to the mysterious site is still intact and can still be discovered through the spectacular, strenuous Inca Trail. There are different theories about the function of the city, but the most plausible is that it was a retreat for kings and other high-born people. A visit to this highlight of South America will stay with you for a lifetime!
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.