Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights (alternative Inka Trail)

Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights (alternative Inka Trail)

"Salkantay" is the tutelary Apu (Mr. peak) of Cusco with 6271 m. altitude.

with this trip you’ll cross beautiful Andean places and we have the opportunity to observe Condors and Alpacas in their natural habitat. On this trip you will reach the beautiful and great Salkantay Mountain (6271 m), you can take a bath in natural hot springs from the depths of the earth, to see the Condor, various fruit trees and a variety of orchids, even better you can try the Peru tastiest coffee, enjoying the beautiful view of Machu Picchu from our campsite.

Salkantay trek is one of the greatest attractions of Cusco. The Cordillera Vilcabamba, where the massif of Salkantay is located, it’s a beautiful and secluded area, dominated by the Apu Salkantay it has many high snowy peaks, such as Tucarhuay (5,910 m.s.n.m.), the Veronica (5,682 m.s.n.m.) and Huacayhuilca (5,361 m.s.n.m.), among others, where you will meet new friends and Visiting the most important place of the route the Santuary of Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1: CUSCO- VISIT HUMANTAY LAKE & OVERNIGHT AT SKY LODGE DOMOS

Stop At: Humantay Lake, Cusco 08002 Peru
We pick you up from your hotel at 4:45 a.m. to take you by car 2 and half hours to Mollepata town where you stop to have breakfast (1rst breakfast by your self), after that we will keep driving to challacancha where you will meet the rest of the staff who will share this adventure with you (the horseman, cheff, etc) then you start the hiking, the first 25 minutes will be a little bit uphill to get the Water Channel where you will have a nice place with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – we will begin the Salkantay trek towards Soraypampa, wich is the first camping spot (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the all the trip) Then after a delicious lunch we will walk up towards to the beautiful Humantay Lake, where you will have great views, and a fascinating moment, after that we will walk down to your best campsite of soraypampa. The sky lodge domos (this first night you will enjoy of a incredible view of the sky)

1ST DAY: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)

Estimated walking time: 7-8 hours
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: The first night is in the sky lodge Domo

Day 2: SALKANTAY PASS - HUAYRACMACHAY - CHAULLAY CAMPSITE

Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
This is the the longest day of all the trip.

After a good breakfast you will start the walking around 05:30 am, the first 4 hours is uphill to get the highest point of the Salkantay Trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left.

From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. You will have enough time here to take pictures and appreciate the beautiful scenic of this place. There is a possibility of snow here!

After to rest, You will continue the trek (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where you will have lunch. After luch we will continue walking passing the start of the jungle until Chaullay, the second Salkantay Trek camping spot (3000m/9800ft).

2nd Day:Total distance: 19 km (aprox.)

Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation is in two-person tents

Day 3: LA PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA

Stop At: Banos Termales de Cocalmayo, 4 Km from Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa Peru
After a good breakfast, around 6.30am, we start walking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of little brooks for around 6 hours until La Playa. This day you will pass through valleys where you will have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits until the campsite in La Playa, where you will have the lunch. Free afternoon to rest or go to the hot springs

OPTIONAL: You can visit the hot spring of Colcalmayo, you will pay the entrance there around 5 dollars per person).

3RD DAY:Total distance: 16 km (aprox.)

Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation is in two-person tents

Day 4: LLACTAPATA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES (MACHU PICCHU TOWN)

Stop At: Mirador de Llactapata, Santa Teresa Peru
After a delicious breakfast, we will leave the campsite. We walk up on a original Inca Trail to Llactapata site where you have the chance to see Machupicchu far away (one of the most beautiful place to see Machu Picchu)
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
then you continue walking, passing a variety of crop plantations, coca, banana etc. until you reach the hydroelectric station, close to this place we will have lunch, then you keep walking about two and half hours along the train road until Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in a proper hostel.

There are hot springs in Machu Picchu town (entrance 10 soles) If you want you can visit this place, after the Salkantay trek will be relaxing.

4TH DAY:Total distance: 12 km (aprox.)

Estimated walking time: 5 – 6 hours
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: The accomodation is in a hostel in Machu Picchu Town

Day 5: MACHU PICCHU TOUR - RETURN TO CUSCO

Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Around 04:30 am you will start walking up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu which takes around one and half hours, if you doesnt want to walk you have the option to buy a bus ticket for 12 dollars (25-minutes by bus). At the entrance of Machu Picchu you need to show the original passport or identification document and the tickets that the tour guide will provided you in advance. You will visit Machu Picchu citadel and te most important areas of the Santuary with the tour guide, after 2 hours you have free time by your self. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft) you need to book this 4 months in advance (check availability with us)

After that, you have to go down to aguas calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo train station and then the bus back Cusco.

and those who return by bus they will have to walk back from Machupicchu to Hidroeléctrica (3 to 3.5 hours by walking) to take the bus back to Cusco (you must be between 2:30pm to 3:00pm in Hidroelectrica, wich means that you have to leave Machu Picchu around 11 am).

5TH DAY:Total distance: 4 km (aprox.)

Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hours
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.