Considered one of the best treks in the world, the Salkantay Trek 5 Days 4 Nights designed with unbeatable views of the snow-capped mountains of Humantay and Salkantay. Walk off the beaten path, following our unique trekking route where you will visit two incredible turquoise glacial lakes, Humantay and Salkantay.
Hike the Andes Mountains with its spectacular landscapes and views of the colorful valley landscapes and camp at our private campground, which is more remote, less crowded and off the beaten track. You will also visit the fascinating ruins of Llactapata, where you will have a spectacular view of Machu Picchu, a day before visiting our wonder of the world, Machu Picchu.
The Salkantay trek 5 Days 4 Nights is not only envelop by the beautiful mountains, lakes, local villages and rarely visited Inca sites, but you will also see some wonderful destination that are on many travelers’ bucket list, such as Humantay lake and the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Join us on this Salkantay Trek and allow Info Machu Picchu to be your agency on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
You will have through briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Salkantay Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
We start to pick up you on the hotel around 05:00 am, the bus driving taking 2 hours to Mollepata through the bus is clearly to see the white snow capped mountain like Salkantay and Humantay, the holy Gods of the Incas, the spectacular scenic on the upper part and lower valleys with colorful landscape.
Two hours driving at head the first stop in Mollepata town there are toilet facilities, souvenirs and optional short breakfast, to soon continue at Challa Cancha the trail head. There we will meet with our support staff. There we will organize all the equipment, horses and mules.
Around 9:30 a.m. we will start our trek to Soraypampa (3850 m.a.s.l) the first section of the path are paved rock trail there are the old water channel still supply to new habitants, the begin is 8 km in 3 hours to Soraypampa the lunch place as well base camp.
After lunch and nap to continued hiking up to the Humantay lake (4200 masl) 3 km in 2 hours round trip, bottom the glacier the most spectacular views to the back ground valley and sunset, Soraypampa is located on the middle of the glaciers valleys at night clear appreciate the constellation on the sky.
Today, nature will change drastically from dry sceneries to snowy peaks and tropical areas. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start the most difficult part of the trek. We will start the hike around 6:30 in the morning.
We will hike to a place called Salkantaypampa, Soyrococha, then go toward the left side of the snowy peaks of Humantay located next to the Apu Salkantay. At midday, we will be on the highest point (4617 meters above sea level). We will appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6264 masl) which is known as the second highest point of the Cusco region.
We will have our lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. The walk downwards is on a serpent shape trail and a rocky gravel path to get to the Huayracmachay lunch spot. In the afternoon we will enter the upper part of the amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2miles) hike in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick forests. This hike is truly beautiful, there are decorated the hills with colorful sceneries and a lot of wildlife and native plants.
The forests are most times of the year warm or have a temperate temperature. When finishing this magnificent hike we finally arrive at Colpapampa Village (2900 masl), our base camp in the high jungle.
At 6:00 am. we will start our trek to La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. We will be hiking for approximately 6 hours. During the hike we’ll see waterfalls, wild orchids, but also coffee, banana and avocado plantations. Here you can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit.
We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “forest cloudy brow” where waterfalls, thermal hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the famous bird called “the Cock of the Rocks” this bird is the national bird of Peru.
After lunch at La playa, we will hike for approximately 1 hour to our base camp called Lucmabamba (2400 masl). We will explore the tropical forest for a little while and have a lovely visit at an organic coffee farm.
Here you can taste the coffee prepared by the local people. Coffee is the main farming industry of the local people here in the jungle and they farm many hectares of coffee to export to the USA, Asia and Europe. Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, but it wasn’t until the Spanish invaded Cusco that it was brought to this region. We will also explore an orange and an avocado plantation.
******* On this day you may enjoy the Hot Springs – not included in the price.
The chef of the trek will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea served in your bed. You will get ready for today’s activity while enjoying your last prepared breakfast by the trek chef.
We will begin the hike early and you will get the opportunity to enjoy a small part of the famous Inka trail! After a climb of 2 hours with amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley we will arrive at the Llactapata Inca site right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site we will see of the Lost City of the Incas and a very special place to enjoy and spend time.
We will be able to see not only the Machu Picchu ruins from this spot, but also the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. We will explore this Inca site with the guide and he will continue the history lessons about the Incas of this beautiful country and of course you will have plenty of time to take as many photos as you want.
After the Llactapata ruins, we will continue our Salkantay Trek with a 2 hours downhill hike. At this hike you’re always able to have views of Machu Picchu until we arrive at the Hidroelectrica train station which is our lunch place. The most impressive part of this area is the natural waterfall of 300 meters high which generates the electricity for the region of Cusco.
We will then arrive at the famous Intiwatana. Intiwatana is an ancient rock used as a sundial in the ancient Inca times. According to history, this old Inca stone used to work with the famous sundial stone in Machu Picchu. These could measure and read the winter solstice which was the beginning of the new farming season for the Incas. After we pass this small Inca site we will reach the train rails.
Next to the rails there is a nice path to walk on; this path will take us approximately 3 hours. After the 3 hours we will arrive at Aguas Calientes, which is located at the foot of Machu Picchu. This section is very interesting because it is the trail that was used by the American Professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost.
On our last day, you will get up very early to visit one of the 7 wonders of the World ¨Machu Picchu¨. At 5:30 am. We will go directly to the line to wait for the first buses to Machu Picchu.
We will arrive at the gate when the sky lights up and ascend to the top of Machu Picchu, while taking in the impressive views of the city. On a clear morning, the sunrise over Machu Picchu is magnificent; This moment is unforgettable.
Our tour guide will take you on a 2-3 hour guided tour, where we will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience.
If you have booked Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price – must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $75 per person).
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.
Prices are valid from March 2024 through January 2025. All prices quoted are $USD
A group tour means that it is open for other trekkers to join you. This means that your group will have varying hiking and fitness abilities. All our guides are experts on how to keep the trek moving and happy no matter how fast you hike.
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
