
5 Days 4 Nights
Medium
12 people
Salkantay
The Salkantay mountain is one of the tallest peaks in the Peruvian Andes and was recognized by National Geographic as one of the best treks to reach Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu offers views that are hard to match, even though the route is shared with other agencies — we do our best to make it an unforgettable experience for you.
Our hike starts from Soraypampa, heading uphill toward Salkantay mountain. Near this majestic peak, we set up camp with unforgettable views of the mountain and the stars at night.
The Salkantay route relies on horse support. As an agency, our team works with local horsemen from Mollepata — the starting point of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu — who support us throughout the hike.
Before the trip, you’ll have a briefing with our professional guide, who will give you detailed information and help with anything you need regarding the trek.
We will pick you up early from your hotel and head to the village of Mollepata, where we’ll rest for 30 minutes before continuing by bus for another hour to the base of Salkantay mountain.
After arriving at Soraypampa (3,900m), we’ll get ready for the long walk ahead of us. We’ll start with an hour-long walk to Humantay, a stunning lagoon below a snow-capped mountain. You’ll have time to explore and take photos before heading back down to Soraypampa to enjoy a delicious Andean meal prepared by our chef.
After lunch, we’ll rest for about 30 minutes at camp. Full of energy, we’ll continue walking for 4 more hours, passing mountains, animals such as donkeys and cows, and local people living at 4,200 meters. Little by little, we’ll make our way to the campsite at Soyrococha.
After a warm breakfast, we’ll be ready for a new challenge. We’ll start walking up Salkantay mountain (4,600m) and take in breathtaking views over turquoise-colored lagoons.
We’ll arrive at Huayracmachay pampa, where we’ll stop for lunch with a stunning view over the Vilcanota mountain range.
After eating, we’ll continue walking for 3 more hours to reach the campsite at Collpapampa. Along the way, you’ll notice the weather shifting, along with the surrounding vegetation and wildlife.
This part of the trek is much easier than the previous days, passing through lush vegetation like bamboo, in warm, humid weather. You’ll see plantations of coffee, avocado, oranges, bananas, papaya, passion fruit, and more.
There are many interesting stops along the way, especially the community of Lucmabamba (2,000m), where locals will show you how these fruits are grown and harvested. We’ll then continue enjoying the views until reaching the thermal (medicinal) baths, before heading to our campsite.
You’ll enjoy waking up in the middle of the jungle and listening to the birds before a delicious breakfast. Then you’ll walk for about 2 hours to Llactapata (2,750m), where you’ll admire Incan construction and get your first glimpse of part of the Machu Picchu ruins.
We’ll then descend to the bottom of the mountain and head to Hidroeléctrica for lunch. From there, we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the night before visiting Machu Picchu the next day.
You’ll wake up in your hotel in Aguas Calientes and enjoy breakfast at your own pace. Afterward, we’ll take the bus up to Machu Picchu for our guided tour of approximately 2 hours through the ancient citadel.
After the tour, we’ll head back down by bus to the town, where you’ll have free time for lunch at a restaurant of your choice. From there, we’ll walk to the train station for our return journey to Ollantaytambo and Cusco, bringing our adventure to a close.