Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days/ 4 Nights

Today, our adventure hike will take us through a diverse range of environments – you will experience everything from dry landscapes to snowy peaks to tropical areas.

After breakfast at 06:00 am, we will start the most challenging part of the trek. First, we will reach the small village of Salkantay Pampa and then follow the left side of the snowy peaks of Umantay. Around 10:00 am, we reach the highest point of the trek (4600 m.a.s.l.). At this point, we will take some time to appreciate the most spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay (6264 m a.s.l.).

We then continue our hike to Huayracmachay, where we enjoy lunch. After a short rest, we will continue hiking for approximately 3 hours, then arrive at our campsite at the bottom of the beautiful Chaullay Valley (2920 m.a.s.l.). As you will discover, this valley is the doorway to the cloud forest and the jungle! At our campsite, we will recover from the hike with a hot coca tea and then rest until dinner at 07:00 pm.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

Around 06:30 am, after breakfast, we will start our 6-hour trek to Playa Sahuayaco (2200 m.a.s.l.). During this period, we observe the local flora and the agricultural fields of the coca, banana, passion fruit, and coffee plantations. In addition, we will pass the town of Collpapampa.

Continuing our hike, we will pass through the jungle called Forest Brow, where we will walk surrounded by fruit-bearing trees, a varied flora, and many birds. If we are lucky, we will be able to observe the famous Peruvian national bird, the “Cock of the Rocks”.

We arrive at Playa Sahuayaco around 01:00 pm for lunch. We take a short rest under the great trees and then take a bus to the hot springs of Cocalmayo in Santa Teresa, one of the cleanest hot springs in the area of Cusco. You will have the opportunity to dip in the hot water a few times before we have dinner at 07:00 pm. We will camp beside the hot springs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

You’ll have another early start today, but the freshly brewed coffee and the chance to take another dip in the thermal baths will make it a lot easier.

After breakfast at the camp, you prepare for the next stage of your journey — an hour-long private transfer to Lucmabamba, where you intersect with the Inca Jungle Trail. Once you disembark from the vehicle, you will begin the day’s trekking, continuing along the same trail as the previous day. Recently discovered and confirmed as the original path used by the jungle tribes to transport supplies to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Your guide will explain the history and significance of this trail as you ascend the stone stairway to the top of the hill. Once you reach the peak of the mountain, you will see the ancient archaeological site of Lactapata, and you will take your first glance at Machu Picchu, flanked by the peak of the snow-covered mountain Salkantay. Your guide will give you a tour of these ruins, explaining their purpose and highlighting their interesting architectural features.

After the tour, you will continue your hike along the trail, descending to the Aobamba River and passing a variety of crop plantations along the way. Once you reach the river, the trail continues for approximately two hours until you reach the train station in Hidroelectrica, where you will enjoy your lunch. After lunch and a short rest, you will take the three-hour walk following the route of the train tracks leading to the town of Aguas Calientes.

On arrival in Aguas Calientes, your guide will escort you to a comfortable family-room hostel with private bathrooms, where you can enjoy your dinner and rest ahead of your following day’s visit to Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is a unique and fascinating place, famous not only for the entry point to Machu Picchu but also for the hot springs for which it is named Aguas Calientes (= hot springs). Apart from that, you can also spend some of your time exploring the small town and visiting the sights in it.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Margarita’s House

You will have your breakfast early in the morning. Then we start our last day by climbing the hill to the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Avoiding the crowds, you will be the first visitor of the day. Your tour guide will take you around the vast ruins for about 3 hours, providing a comprehensive explanation of their historical significance and place within the Inca Empire. After this, you have some free time to wander around.
Machu Picchu is the best-known of all the archaeological Inca sites, as it is recognised worldwide! Experts believe the citadel was constructed around the mid-15th century by the Inca Pachacuteq and rediscovered by the American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911.

The guided tour of this fascinating place will be an unforgettable experience! You will visit the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial and the Burial Grounds. (according to the time of your entrance fee)

We offer optional hikes in Machu Picchu with an additional ticket.

You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, only 400 entrance tickets are available per day; therefore, you must let us know in advance if you want to do the hike so we can reserve your ticket at an additional cost of US$60.00.

Since Huayna Picchu sells very quickly, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as an optional alternative climb. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded, but not less beautiful! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.

La Gran Caverna is a ceremonial site in Machu Picchu; admission is US$ 60.00 per person.

Also, there is another road to Inti Punku, the SUN GATE, which is the traditional end of the Inca Trail (a 3-hour hike), US$60.00 per person.

You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a 1-hour hike). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$ 49.00 per ticket.

After time in the sanctuary, we take one of the frequent buses back down to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch. If you prefer not to take the bus, you can walk through the beautiful jungle, which will take you 45 minutes.

At 7:00 pm, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist bus to Cusco. If you want to return to Cusco in the early afternoon, please let us know so we can book an early train at 2:30 pm.

Meals: Breakfast

• Times cited in this itinerary are approximate; walking time depends on the group. The guide can change the lunch and camping spots depending on the group´s progress.
• The guide can choose their preferred route – this might not correspond exactly to the described route.
• We can arrange an extra night in Aguas Calientes if you let us know in advance, so that we can change your train ticket for the following day.
• The cost of the Hotel will depend on your request.
• The Salkantay Trek is one of the most spectacular and varied hikes around Cusco.