Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 Days

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 Days

On this 4-day hike you overcome the highest point of the trek, which is the Salkantay Pass at 4,550 meters above sea level. You also enjoy amazing mountain scenery with snowy peaks, mountain lagoons and remote Andean villages.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - Soraypampa - Wayracmachay - Los Andenes

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Early in the morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel and head on a 3-hour ride to Mollepata. You'll stop for breakfast and can purchase some last minute supplies. Continue to Soyrapampa, the trail head where you'll meet your support staff who will help you pack all the gear on to the horses. Begin an uphill hike and to reach the highest point of the hike, the Apacheta path (4,590m). The Salkantay Mountain is at 6,271 meters above sea level and a powerful sight from this viewpoint. The rest of the trek on this day is easy as you descend to 2,890 meters and spend the night at the campsite.
Duration: 0

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Los Andenes - Luscamayo - La Playa

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
After breakfast, you'll continue hiking through the upper jungle and seeing flora, waterfalls and warmer weather. Pass through the Lluscamayo River and reach Lluscamayo after 5 hours to have lunch. Continue hiking for 3 more hours as you pass an awesome waterfall where you can catch your breath and take some photos. See the amazing landscape and diversity of birds. Finally, reach the village of La Playa and from this point you can choose from two options:

From La Playa, you can hike for 2 hours to Aobamba, where you camp. The next day, you'll hike for 4 hours to the Llacatapata ruins. After the visit you will descend for 3 hours until reaching the Hidroelectrica.

Santa Teresa Hot Spring - You can take a bus for a 1-hour ride that will take you to the town of Santa Teresa, the first real town you will find on the trail, that is also known for its hot springs just outside of town.
Duration: 10 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: La Playa - Llactapata - Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes

Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
The route up to Llacatpata is part of an aged Inca Trail which passes some villages of coffee and coca plantations, citrus tree orchids before extending to some exquisite high altitude meadows and then entering into an ancient forest close to the top. The scenery on the way up is the most varied and gorgeous than on the entire Salkantay Trek.

Close to the top, the trail changes to seemingly never ending stone steps as tall as park benches. The weather is cold and wet in the forest and then you walk down to the Llactapata ruins. In under 10 minutes you will get to the ruins and be amazed. Beyond the valley you can spot Machu Picchu. You'll then descend to the Hydroelectric plant on a 1-hour hike. From here the hike to Aguas Calientes is easy. On the way, you can hear the sound of a powerful waterfall will cool you down as you pass it by. Here, you will have lunch. The Hydroelectric plant is also the end of the railway line from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The hike to Aguas Calientes is down the railway tracks, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). It's a fun trek, along the tracks, with a wide path and is sheltered by jungle vegetation, trees and flowers. Reach Aguas Calientes and head to your hostel where you can have dinner at a restaurant and plan the next day. If you chose the Santa Teresa option, you have breakfast and after a short bus trip (1-hour) you hike for about 2 hours past the Urubamba River and onward to the Hydro Electric Station, where you have lunch nearby.
Duration: 0

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Early morning, you will get to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate before the crowds. You will trek for 2 hours up to the mysterious city of Machu Picchu and be one of the first ones to enter and revel in the view of the sun rising over the magnificent citadel. Enjoy a 2-hour guided hike of the city and then explore the site on your own. Return to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch (not included) and take the train back to Cusco.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.