Salkantay (6271 m.a.s.l.) is a sacred mountain that the Indigenous Incas called Apu, meaning “the protector” and was also known to them as the “wild mountain” because no one at the time had successfully hiked it to the summit. Today, Salkantay is one of the greatest trails to reach Machu Picchu and is renowned for its constant change in microclimates from the high Andes to the deep jungle. Hikers will pass and visit beautiful scenery and natural landscapes including mountains, vallies, lagoons (including the hike to Humantay lake) and rivers and will hike to an altitude of
4,600 m.a.s.l.
Included
A hot cup of coca tea every morning
Accommodation during hike: x1 night glass dome & 2 nights sleeping domes
Assistant guide for groups over 12
Boiled water provided for coffee and tea to accompany your meals at the campsites
Duffel bags (5kgs) to be carried by horse
Entrance to Humantay Lagoon/Salkantay hike
Entrance to Machu Picchu
First Aid Kit and Oxygen Bottle
Horses and horsemen (camping equipment, food & kitchen utensils)
Professional tour guide during hike and at Machuupicchu.
Tour briefing (day before hike between 5pm-7.30pm) in our office
Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Transportation from Cusco – Mollepata (start of the hike)
Transport of luggage from Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes
Transportation from Cusco (hotel pick-up) to start point
X1 night in a standard hostel, clean and safe with Wi-Fi, take-away breakfast, and a private bathroom with hot water. Hotel upgrades available at additional cost.
Excluded
Additional horse to carry extra weight (if more tan 5kg per person) –pre arrangement (USD35 per day)
Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu (USD 12 per person) (should you decide not to hike) – Pre or onsite payment
Bus from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes (USD 12 per person) (should you decide not to hike) – Pre or onsite payment
Bus from hot springs to Santa Teresa (around 40 soles per person round trip) – onsite payment
Entrance to the hot springs (soles 10 per person) – onsite payment
First breakfast in Mollepata (around soles 25) – onsite payment
Last dinner & lunch in Aguas Calientes (around soles 30-40) – onsite payment
Machupicchu Mountain – USD 55 person (tickets must be purchased/reserved in advance)
Waynapicchu mountain - USD 55 per person (tickets must be purchased/reserved in advance)
Sleeping bag (USD 20 per bag) and walking sticks (USD 20 per set) – reserved 24 hours prior to tour
Train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (should you decide not to hike) (USD 30) – onsite payment
Accommodation upgrade in Aguas Calientes – pre reservation and payment
Water (can be purchased along the way)
Suggested Packing List:
Backpack
Beanie, glovesa and scarf
Camara/Smart phone
Coca leaves
Extra cash for souvenirs, snacks etc.
Flip flops/sandals
Hat
Hiking shoes
Light clothes (for 3rd and 4th day of hike)
Mosquito repellent (40% DEET or more is recommended)
Plastic bag
Personal medication
Poncho
Small backpack (for day activities)
Snacks
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Swimwear
Toiletries
Torch/flashlight and batteries
Towel
Warm clothes
Water bottle
Waterproof jacket and pants/Raincoat
Itinerary
All tours can be done privately where you can set the departure time, add in or remove sites and most importantly go at your own pace. Please ask us for more information about availability and prices.
You will be picked up from your accommodation early in the morning (4:30am aproximately) and driven to the town of Mollepata, about 3 hours away from Cusco, where we will have breakfast. During this time you can provide us with a bag that weighs between 5kg-6kg, which will be carried by a horse. From here we will drive to Challacancha (3,380 m.a.s.l.) the starting point of the hike, where we will walk for 3 hours, passing the view point of Hornada Pata where the valley splits into two (Valley of Mollepata and Challacancha) until we reach Soraypampa (3,900 m.a.s.l.) our lunch stop and also first campsite.
After lunch and a little siesta, we will start the one hour and a half hike to Humantay Lagoon, located at 4,200 m.a.s.l. Here you will have time to visit and explore the place and take in the incredible view of Humantay mountain (5,450 m.a.s.l), which is part of the Vilcabamba chain of the Andes. We will then return to Soraypampa at around 6pm where we will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – COLLPAPAMPA Distance: 22km
Breakfast will be served early at around 5am. We will then start the first part of our hike (around 6km) passing by beautiful scenery of rocky snow capped mountains, switch back trails, and rivers and see local animals including alpacas and llamas. We will hike to the highest point of the trek, Abra Salkantay, where we can enjoy breathtaking views of the snow capped high Andes Mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet). Passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Huarachmachhay for 3 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet) where a well deserved lunch will be waiting for us.
After lunch, we will continue our hike for another 3 hours until arrive at Collpapampa campsite, where we will spend our secound night in domes. You will have time to relax until dinner.
DAY 3: COLLPAPAMPA – LUCMABAMBA Distance: 14km
We will have breakfast at around 6.00am ready to start hiking by 7.00am. You will note that the environment has changed from mountain conditions to more tropical/jungle. We will walk down to a river where we will follow the trail for around 6 hours. We will pass beautiful landscapes and natural plantations of passion fruit, papayas, coffee plants and avocados, until we reach Lucmabamba. We will arrive at our lunch point to rest a little. After lunch option to visit a coffee farm and participate in a coffee tour where you will learn about the production of coffee from the harvest to your cup. This activity takes around 2 hours. After the coffee tour option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included), where you can relax in the hot waters. We will return to our campsite in Lucmabamba at 6.00 pm for tea and a freshly prepared dinner.
Today, we will enjoy the sunrise in a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. We will have a nutritious breakfast and get ready for the next part of our trekking adventure: we will finally hike along a part of the original Inca Trail! We will walk up along the Inca Trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley.
We will then descend for around 2.5 hours, arriving at the Inca archaeological site of Llactapata. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the history of this place. We will also have our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. We will continue our descent until lunch and then continue our hike to Hidroeléctrica. From here you can choose to walk to Aguas Calientes for around 3 hours, or opt to board a train for $32.00 extra. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy our final dinner together at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a hotel.
DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU Very early after breakfast (approximately 05:00 a.m.), we’ll begin our hike to the citadel of Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas, and a Wonder of the World, which will take around 1.5 hours. At the designated time we will have a two-hour guided tour, visiting the most important buildings of Machu Picchu including the Inca temples and palaces.
For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time.
At the appropriate time, we’ll descend from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes where you will be able to have lunch before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo and from there, a shuttle bus back to Cusco.
