Salkantay Trek 05 Days / 04 Nights

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Humantay Lake – Salkantaypampa

Your adventure begins early in the morning as you leave Cusco and drive through the scenic landscapes of the Andes to Mollepata, a small mountain town. Along the way observe the white snowcapped mountains of Salkantay and Veronica: both considered to be Holy Gods of the Incas. See glimpses of the upper and lower valleys with their colorful landscapes. After 3 hours and half of driving, we will make the first stop in the town of Soraypampa (the starting point of our hike), where there are toilet facilities and enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by our chef. There we will meet with our support staff, organize all the equipment, horses and mules and we will have an introductory meeting.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. begin our trek to Humantay Lake (4200 m /13779 ft). With both flat and uphill this is a great way to start our Salkantay Trek. On arrival explore the lake for about 30 minutes, enjoying the breathtaking views before hiking back to Soraypampa where you will have lunch. Later continue hiking to Salkantaypampa (4150 m / 13615 ft). Salkantaypampa is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, with nighttime so dark, makes it a perfect spot to appreciate the constellations in the sky.

• Elevation Gain: 731 m / 2398 ft.
• Elevation Loose: 388 m / 1272 feet.
• Walking Distance: 8 km / 4.97 miles
• Trailhead Elevation: 4300 m / 14,107 ft.
• Highest point: 4200 m/ 13,779 ft.
• Hiking hour: 5 hours roughly.
• Trailhead Elevation: 3,920 meters / 12,860 feet.
• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult.
• Campsite Elevation: 4,220 meters / 13,779 feet.

Day 2: Salkantaypampa – Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa

This morning wake up will be at 5:00 am with hot coca tea brought to your tent. Enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast and immediately begin hiking up to the highest point of the Salkantay trail (4620 masl – 15,255 ft). The distance is a of 5 km we should take around 3 hours. After taking in the views, ascend through the rocky valley, observe the magnificent Salkantay Mountain peaks (6217 masl – 20,341 ft). If we are lucky see chinchillas on the trail.

Salkantay Mountain is considered the second-highest mountain of the Cusco region and one of the main Inca Gods known as “Apu Salkantay”. This part of the trek is the most difficult. On reaching the summit, you will feel a sense of accomplishment on reaching the top.

The next 3 hours are spent heading downhill on the serpent trail along gravel and rocky path to reach Huayracmachay, our lunch spot. In the afternoon we will arrive at the upper part of the rain forest, also called a “cloud forest”. We will cover 9 km in 3 hours until to get Ccolpa pampa Village (2900 masl – 9,514 ft) our base campsite. In the second half of the day during the descent, we will observe the thick forest which is decorated with colorful orchids and native plants. The majority of the year the weather is warm and pleasant.

• Elevation Gain: 562 m / 1843 ft.
• Elevation Loose: 1900 m / 6233 feet.
• Walking Distance: 18 km / 11,185 miles
• Hiking hour: 10 hours roughly.
• Trailhead Elevation: 4,220 meters / 13,779 feet.
• Campsite Elevations: 2900 meters/ 9,514 feet.
• Difficulty: Difficult.
• Highest Point: 4,650 meters / 15,235 feet.
• Accommodation: Tents.

DAY 3: Collpapampa – Playa – Lucmabamba

This morning wake up early with coca tea! Next, we have breakfast and afterward start hiking to la Playa. Hike through the thick jungle, following the riverbank of the Salkantay River. On the route, we stop at several family villages to enjoy the local fruits (passion fruit, banana, coffee, avocado, mango, orange, and papaya). If we are lucky, we maybe able to observe the famous bird called “the Cock of the Rock” along the way.

Today, the trail distance is 16 km with a hiking time of around 7 hours until we reach Lucmabamba, our base camp. Lucmabamba is a small town surrounded by coffee plantations and can provide the basic facilities (toilet, electricity, shopping, and souvenirs) which also serves as our lunch point. In the afternoon we get the chance to harvest coffee beans. In the evening, roast your beans, grind them and at the end you will prepare your very own Expreso. Another evening under the stars with a gourmet meal and time to reflect.

• Elevation Gain: 229 m / 751 ft.
• Elevation Loose: 999 m / 3277 feet.
• Walking Distance: 15 km / 9,32 miles
• Hiking hour: 6 hours roughly.
• Trailhead Elevation: 2,900 meters / 9,514 feet.
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Accommodation: Tents

Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes

Today we need to start early to avoid the mid-day heat. While hiking, we will pass through coffee plantations, enjoying the lush jungle tracks to Llactapata. From here we follow a wide, well-preserved, and original Inca trail which once ran all the way to Quito. On our way to Llactapata, see a multitude of butterflies, citronella, orchids, rocky streams, and stunning views of the Santa Teresa Valley. From the pass, we can see Machu Picchu with a view just as fabulous as that from Intipunku, the famed Sungate. From the pass, it is a short walk to Llactapata. Still covered under vines, jungle vegetation, and trees, we will explore the site, hearing its history from our guide before descending to the Rio Aobamba and on to the Hidroelectrica where we have our last lunch with our amazing cook. Saying goodbye to our wonderful crew, we will take a train to the town below Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes. Once in town, we check into our hotel before enjoying our final night as a group with a delicious dinner and an early night before our adventure to Machu Picchu in the morning.

• Elevation Gain: 828 m / 2716 ft.
• Elevation Loose: 1054 m / 3458 feet.
• Walking Distance: 12 km / 7,45 miles
• Hiking hour: 6 hours roughly.
• Difficulty: Difficult.
• Maximum Altitude: 2040 masl/6.6929 feet.
• Minimum Altitude: 2900 masl/9.5144 feet.
• Accommodation: 3* Hotel Aguas Calientes
• Train from Hidro to Aguas Calientes: 45 minutes.

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Day 5 is the most magical day with a visit to Machu Picchu. Wake up early have breakfast at your hotel, take the bus up to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise over the ruins. Once we are at the Machu Picchu checkpoint and shown your passport, you will then enter to Machu Picchu. Our guide will take you straight to the classical picture viewpoint, the perfect spot for photographs.

The guide will spend around 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu. At Machu Picchu, you will see the breathtaking ruins of an ancient Inca city perched high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Surrounded by lush green peaks and misty clouds, this site features stone structures, including Royal residences, temples and terraces. See the Temple of the Sun and experience firsthand the Inca Spiritual life. Witness the panoramic views of the Urubamba River below, creating an unforgettable blend of natural beauty and historical wonder.

Later if you have booked in advance you can hike to Huayna Picchu. (This is a separate entrance ticket that costs $70 per person). Take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, have time to have lunch and explore before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a bus back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you back to your hotel around 7 pm.

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Tour: Visit Machu Picchu.