Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: 5-Day Ritual & Adventure Tour
$910.00 / private service / 2 people
Did you miss out on the Inca Trail? Don't miss out on any more adventures! Join one of our group tours to Machu Picchu, where you'll experience the site from different perspectives surrounded by valleys, grasslands, glaciers, cloud forests, and jungles. You can also relax in excellent hot springs at the end of your trek!
Apu Salkantay: Guardian of the Andes
This trek highlights the majestic Salkantay Mountain, one of the highest and most revered peaks in Peru at 20,540 feet above sea level. Its Quechua name means "the untamed," and rightly so; its presence commands respect and awe. To the Andean communities, Salkantay is an apu, a guardian spirit that protects and governs the valleys. Its energy is intensely felt during the ascent. As you walk in its shadow, you will experience the way its imposing, snowy silhouette merges with the sky, symbolizing power, wisdom, and spiritual connection.
A Journey Through Ecological Zones and Transforming Landscapes
The Salkantay Trek is distinguished by the diversity of its landscapes and altitudes, offering travelers a unique experience. In a short time, you will witness a remarkable ecological transformation.
The high-altitude grasslands (punas), located in mountainous regions, provide breathtaking panoramic vistas and fresh air, making them an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts. Glacial lakes, such as Humantay Lagoon, have a mystical atmosphere and reflect the sky and surrounding mountains in their turquoise waters. You will also have the opportunity to observe the vegetation of the páramo and the rainforest, where Andean winds converge with tropical aromas. Finally, you will arrive in the high jungle, which is characterized by lush vegetation, a warm climate, and abundant wildlife. This gradual transformation modifies the environment and accompanies travelers on a process of physical and spiritual adaptation. Each natural environment seems to prepare travelers, both physically and emotionally, for the experience that awaits them at Machu Picchu, a jewel of Peruvian architecture and culture.
Cultural Immersion and High-Altitude Coffee
During the journey, passengers will stay in family-run lodges managed by local communities, allowing them to experience authentic Andean hospitality firsthand. They will have the opportunity to savor exquisite dishes prepared with local ingredients and hear fascinating stories about the region. They will also learn about the daily lives of the families who inhabit these lands.
A highlight of the trip is a visit to a high-altitude coffee farm. There, passengers will learn the techniques of harvesting, roasting, and preparing artisanal organic coffee alongside local producers. These producers combine ancestral wisdom with sustainable practices, demonstrating their commitment to environmental conservation and product quality. This activity represents the perfect union of nature, tradition, and flavor.
Machu Picchu: The Sacred Destination
The journey culminates in the mythical Inca city of Machu Picchu, which is perched between mountains and shrouded in clouds. After crossing valleys, high-altitude grasslands, and jungles, reaching this inland destination is a remarkable achievement. Each wall, temple, and terrace conveys the ancient wisdom of the Incas, who demonstrated an exceptional understanding of constructing in harmony with the natural environment and the stars.
Overview
- Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa (Humantay Lake)
- Day 2: Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Huayracmachay - Chaullay
- Day 3: Chaullay - Collpapampa - La Playa - Lucmabamba
- Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
- Day 5: Machu Picchu
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa (Humantay Lake)
We start the day with picking you up at your hotel or hostel at 05:00 am. We’ll drive for around 4 hours, crossing Anta, Mollepata and end up at Challancha. Through the windows of the bus you can clearly see the white snowcapped mountains of Salkantay and Huamantay: the holy Gods of the Incas. But also the spectacular scenery of the higher situated areas and the lower valleys with colorful landscapes. After two hours driving there will be a quick stop in Mollepata town. At Mollepata there are toilet facilities, souvenirs shops and an optional short breakfast. When this short break is over we will soon continue to Challacancha, which is the start of our trail. There we will meet with our support staff. The staff will organize all the equipment, horses and mules. Around 9:30 am. we will start our trek to Soraypampa (3850 MASL – 12631 ft). The first section of the path is a hike over a few deep valleys. At some parts of the trail the old water channel can still be seen. The channel still supplies water to the farmers in the lower valleys. The beginning of the trek is 7km (4.35miles) hiking in 3 hours to Soraypampa, where we will have our lunch at the basecamp. After the lunch and a quick nap we continue hiking up to the Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 ft). This is a 5km (3.1miles) round trip which we will walk in a total of 2 hours. At the Humantay Lake the bottom of the glacier can be seen, and also the most spectacular views of the background with the valley at sunset. Soraypampa is located in the middle of the glacier valleys and at night the sky is so immensely clear that we can really appreciate the stars, constellations and even shooting stars.
Walking Distance – 12km / 7.45 miles
Starting Elevation – 3350 meters / 12477 feet
Highest Elevation – 4600 meters / 15090 feet
Campsite Elevation – 3850 meters / 12477 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Lunch, Dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)
Accommodation: Camping
Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory
Day 2: Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Huayracmachay - Chaullay
After an early wake up with the first daylight at 05:30 am. and a quick breakfast we soon start hiking up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15,255 ft). The distance is a 7km (4.34miles) tough ascent in 3 hours, between the rocky valley bottom and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6200 MASL– 20,341 ft). When we finally reach the top we can and definitely will appreciate the spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. The Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca Gods called “Apu”. After reaching the top of the pass there is a 5km (3.1miles) and 2 hours downhill hike towards the camp for our lunch. 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 Chaullay Village (2900 MASL – 9,514 ft), our base camp in the jungle.
Walking Distance – 22 km / 13.7 miles
Starting Elevation – 3800 meters / 12467 feet
Campsite Elevation – 2750 meters / 9022 feet
Maximum Altitude: 4650 meters / 15255 feet
Difficulty: Challenging - Moderate.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Snack and afternoon tea)
Accommodation: Camping
Adventure: Absolutely
Day 3: Chaullay - Collpapampa - La Playa - Lucmabamba
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 – 7874 ft). 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.
Walking Distance – 18km / 11.2 miles
Starting Elevation – 2750 meters / 9022 feet
Campsite Elevation – 2400 meters / 7874 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Adventure: Absolutely
Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
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 Huaynapicchu and the 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 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.
Note that, You can take the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes town (extra money to spend) and miss the beautiful scenary of these 3 hous hiking
Walking Distance – 18 km / 11.2 miles
Starting Elevation – 2450 meters / 8038 feet
Campsite Elevation – 2000 meters / 6561 feet (Aguas Calientes hostel)
Difficulty: Easy
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hostel
Adventure: Absolutely
Note: During the rainy season the hike up the Llactapata Trail is not 100% guaranteed due to safety reasons. When heavy rains are frequent, this trail becomes very dangerous.
Day 5: Machu Picchu
The highlight of the trek, Machu Picchu! We will wake up early at the hotel. This is better for visiting Machupicchu, before the mass of people arrive. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 6:00 am. until 17:00 pm. We will take the bus to Machupicchu (Buses leave since 5.30am) and enter the city really early with a lot fewer tourists than during the midday. Here we will have a 2 hours guided tour through this incredible ancient city. We will visit temples, palaces, priest houses, a sundial, the industrial sector and the farming fields. After this guided tour you are free to climb up to Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain (book in advance to get your tickets!). Both mountains take approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Or for the less adventurous you can trek to the sun gate, which is the main entrance of the Inka Trail. You’ll stay and enjoy the city for more than 7 hours in the afternoon. We will organize the train ride at 18:20 pm. back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then a bus ride to Cusco to arrive at approx. 22:00 pm. The bus will drop you off at your hotel/hostel in Cusco.
We recommend that you bring:
- Your Original passport. (ISIC student card if you've booked as a student).
- Comfortable back pack. (There are no porters in this trek).
- Water to drink (2 liters, no plastic bottles)
- Camera, binoculars
- Rain jacket in rainy season -December to March
- Change of clothes
- Basic personal toiletries: Deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, small towel, handky, Antibacterial wet wipes.
- Hat or cap for the sun is essential, Sunscreen with sun protection
- Insect repellent for mosquitoes (Malaria or Yellow fever have not been reported)
- Comfortable hiking boots, sneakers or sturdy shoes.
- Money in soles or dollars. (ATM´s or cash machines and travellers cheques in Aguas Calientes are more expensive to change.)
Map of Apu Salkantay Ritual Trek
Included & Excluded
You will find detailed information about the services included in our tours and hikes below. Please read the list of inclusions and exclusions carefully.
- Professional bilingual tour guide.
- Assistant guide. (for groups bigger than 8 people)
- Pick up from hotel.
- Return transportation (bus to start of trail and tourist train back to Ollantaytambo).
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
- 2 Bus tickets up to the Machu Picchu world heritage site and back down to Aguas Calientes town..
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 afternoon snacks (hot drinks, biscuits and popcorn) and 3 dinners (breakfast on day one, dinner and lunch in Aguas Calientes are not included).
- Dining tent with tables and chairs.
- Cook.
- 3 man tents (per 2 people).
- Sleeping mattresses.
- Horsemen and mules (they carry cooking and camping equipment and up to 5 kilos of tourists' belongings)
- 1 night's accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
- Extra oxygen.
- First-Aid kit.
- Spare blanket per tent.
- Single room and tent
- International and domestic flights
- Airport departure taxes or visa fees
- Excess baggage charges
- Additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Insurance of any kind
- Laundry
- Phone calls
- Radio calls or messages
- Sleeping bags ( You can rent it from us)
- Hiking poles (You can rent them from us)
- Headlights (You can rent it from us)
