Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Days)Return by Car

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Days)Return by Car

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is an alternative to the Inca Trail and considered by most to be the best alternative route (and maybe even better!). This magnificent trail is perfect for adventurers who wish to become personally integrated in changing ecosystems from one day to the next. You will walk through sweeping, magical landscapes of a snowy mountain paradise to a tropical jungle where you will find a wide range of animals and medicinal plants and flower varieties. Witness with your own eyes a living, but ancient, culture in remote villages hardly ever seen by foreigners!

The Cordillera Vilcabamba is an impressive mountain range extending over 260 km,. The snow-capped mountain Salkantay rises to 6271 MASL– 20574 FASL in height. It is an outstanding snowy peak, located less than fifty miles northwest of the city of Cusco in south-central Peru. Because of its proximity to the city, it is easily accessible by car and it has been climbed by professional mountaineers since 1952.

Itinerary

Day 1: Challacancha - Sorayapmpa

Stop At: Salkantay Trek, Camino Inca Salkantay, 08640, Peru
We start the day picking you up from your hotel at 4:30 am. Then we will travel in a tour bus, passing through the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo and arriving at Mollepata (2900 meters/ 9500 feet) around 7:30 am. Here we will have our first breakfast and we can leave our 7 kilos for our riders. After, we will take a 1 hour shuttle ride to Challacancha (3380 meters/ 11,090 feet). From this point, we will begin our 3 hour hike, arriving at Soraypampa (3900 meters /12,800 feet) around 1:30 pm. There we will eat our first lunch and set up our first campsite. After lunch, we will go to the beautiful Lake Humantay.

LAKE HUMANTAY: After a 1 and ½ hour ascent, we will arrive at the impressive Lake Humantay (4220 meters/13,850 feet) where we can enjoy the turquoise color of the lake and the snowy Humantay Mountain peak. Then we will make our 40 minute descent to our campsite in Soraypampa for tea time, which is at approximately 6:00 pm and after we will eat a delicious dinner prepared for us by our chef. Finally, we will spend the night in our tents.

(12 km/ 7.4 miles) – 5 hours
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight camping

Day 2: SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – CHAULLAY

Stop At: Salkantay Trek, Camino Inca Salkantay, 08640, Peru
At 5:00 am we will eat a nutritious breakfast so that later we can continue our hike. We will leave from Soraypampa at 5:30 am and hike for 3 hours to the highest point at Abra Salkantay, where we can enjoy views of the snow capped mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4650 meters/ 15,250 feet). As we pass thorugh Salktanaypampa and Soyrococha, we stop to see a small lake, then we will begin the descent towards Huarachmachhay (3 hours) (3800 meters/ 12,470 feet). Here we will eat lunch and then we will continue the hike, taking note of the drastic change in landscape. After, we will continue our descent towards Chaullay (3 hours) (2900 meters/ 9500 feet) where our second campsite will be.

(22 km/ 13.7 miles) -10 hours
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight camping

Day 3: CHAULLAY – PLAYA SAHUAYACO – SANTA TERESA

Stop At: Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa, Sacred Valley, Cusco Region
We will have breakfast at 6.00 a.m. and shortly after begin hiking for 5 ½ hours through the jungle over many ascents and descents. In this area we will pass by many coffee and orchid plantations as well as many other plants used for medicinal purposes. We will arrive at our lunch spot in Playa Sahuayaco where we will have a buffet lunch and take a bus (which is included) to our campsite in Santa Teresa. Here you have the option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo (Santa Teresa), which is not included in the package. We will return to our campsite at 6.00 pm for tea and later dinner.

(14 km/ 8.7 miles)- 5 hours
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight camping

Day 4: SANTA TERESA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Stop At: Aguas Calientes, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Region
In Santa Teresa we will begin the day with breakfast at 6:30 am and be ready to continue our hike for 3 hours towards Hidroeléctrica where we will have lunch in a restaurant. After lunch we will continue our hike for 3 more hours towards Aguas Calientes where we will stay in a hostel and have dinner at 6.30 pm.

(22 km/ 13.7 miles) – 6 hours
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Stop At: Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Region
The grand finale! We will wake up very early this morning for our visit to Machu Picchu, where we will have a guided tour of the citadel to see and learn about temples, terraces, and all of the incredible stone structures that make Machu Picchu a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour you will have free time for more photos and to continue exploring on your own. For those who have previously selected to climb *Huayna Picchu Mountain or *Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group: 9am to 11am)

After your tour in the park you will return to Aguas Calientes and walk to Hidro Eletrica from where you will be taking the transport back to Cusco.
Duration: 5 hours

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