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SALKANTAY TREK LOW PRICE  5D / 4N

Cusco Treks

TYPE TRIP

Hiking/Trekking

SEASON

January – March

DIFFICULTY

Difficult

DISTANCE

70 km (43.497 mi)

 OVERVIEW

The iconic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is often seen as the best alternative to the Inca Trail. The high altitude experience takes you from Snow capped Andes down to the cloud forests and culminates at Machu Picchu.

National Geographic Travel Magazine has voted Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu as one of the best 25 treks around the world. With jaw dropping views at every turn, the trail offers a bit of everything.

The experience begins high up in the Andes. It takes you through some local communities and down to the tropical region.

The highest point of Salkantay Trekking is Salkantay Pass at 4600 meters above sea level. We highly recommend you to spend a few days in Cusco before the trek to avoid altitude sickness.

Route

Route

Day 1.  Cusco – Mollepata – Soroypampa – Humantay lagoon 

Day 2. Soraypampa – Salkantay pass – Collpapampa

Day 3.  Collpapampa – Lucmabamba

Day 4. Lucmabamba – Llactapata –  Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

Day 5. Machupicchu – Cusco

HIGHLIGHT DESTINATION

Itinerary

Day 1. Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa - Humantay lagoon

Today, your trekking adventure to Machu Picchu finally starts! Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 am. We will drive together with the group to Mollepata (approx. 3 hours), where we will have a nutricious breakfast. We will then drive one more hour to Challacancha (3,380 meters/ 11,090 feet), the starting point of our hike, passing the view point of Hornada Pata where the valley splits into two (Valley of Mollepata and Challacancha). The beginning of the trail will take us through some beautiful valleys. After a three hour hike, we arrive at our campsite in Soraypampa (3,900 meters/12,800 feet) at approximately 13:30 pm. We will have time to relax and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our cook.

Later, we will finally visit the famous Humantay Lagoon! After 1.5 hours of hiking, we will arrive at the lagoon (4,220 meters/ 13,850 feet) with incredibly blue-green water and the snowy Humantay Mountain peak behind it, making it one of the most impressive places in the Andes Mountains. We will take some time to admire the breathtaking views and then descent to our campsite in Soraypampa. Arriving at approximately 6:00 pm, we will have tea and dinner, and spend the night in our beautiful glass cabanas.

Hiking Distance: 12 km/7.4 miles

Day 2. Soraypampa - Salkantay pass - Collpapampa

At 5:00 am we will enjoy a large breakfast so that we have a lot of energy for our hike today. Starting our trek from Soraypampa, we will ascent for 3 hours to the highest point of Abra Salkantay, where we enjoy breathtaking views of the snow capped high Andes Mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet). Passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Huarachmachhay for 3 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet). There, we will have lunch and then continue our descent for 3 more hours until we reach our campsite in Collpapampa. We will have tea and a delicious dinner prepared by our cook. Tonight we will sleep in our comfortable domes at the campsite.

Hiking Distance: 22 km/13.47 miles

Day 3. Collpapampa - Lucmabamba

After a rejuvenating night’s sleep, we start day 3 of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We begin our 5 ½ hours hike through the Peruvian jungle, passing over many ascents and descents. This part of the trek marks the cloud forest, where we will discover several coffee plantations, orchids and many natural plants used for medicines. We will arrive at our lunch point to rest a little. Here you have the option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included). We will return to our campsite at 6.00 pm for tea and a freshly prepared dinner.

Hiking Distance: 14 km/8.7 miles

Day 4. Lucmabamba - Lllactapata - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

Today, we will enjoy the sunrise in a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. We will have a nutricious breakfast and get ready for the next part of our trekking adventure: we will finally hike along a part of the original Inca Trail! We will walk up along the Inca Trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley. After a 2.5 ascent, we will arrive at the Inca archaelogical site of Llactapata. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the history of this place. Besides, we will get the chance to get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. We will go downhill for lunch and then continue our hike to Hidroeléctrica. You can choose to walk to Aguas Calientes for around 3 hours, or opt to board a train for $38.00 extra. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the village on the bottom of the magnificent Wonder of the World. Tonight, we will be staying at a hotel overnight.

Hiking Distance: 18 km/13.7 miles

Day 5. Machupicchu - Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for, ending up in one of the new Seven Wonders of the World Machupicchu, archaeological site.

We’ll  get up early in the morning around  4.30 a.m. to get  packed breakfast, then we will start to walk up to Machupicchu , it takes 1:30 minutes  aprox.; 30 minutes walking down to Puente Ruinas checkpoint where you will have to show your original passports +Machupicchu tickets and Student ID in case if you are students. After crossing Puente Ruinas, you will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 am.

The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way you’ll only need to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu because there isn’t allow to take big bag packs inside Machupicchu; There is  bus ride option  from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu  it takes approximately 30 minutes (12 USD ).

Once in Machu Picchu your guide will take you directly to the best panoramic view point to take the classic Machupichu’s picture then your local guide will show you around the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour you’ll learn more about the history and culture of this amazing Andean paradise.

After the guiding tour you will explore Machupicchu by yourselves You may hike Waynapicchu mountain it takes 2 hours or Machupicchu mountain which takes 3 hours (must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $60 per person) your guide will show you where to begin this hike. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depends on how you are going back to Cusco (train or car).

TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO BACK TO CUSCO

SALKANTAY BY TRAIN: Taking this option you are going to stay long time in Machupicchu citadel because train is leaving around 2.55 p.m. if you are planning to climb the extra Waynapicchu or Machupicchu mountains we recommended to take it this option definitely, because you will need it extra hours to do it; The return train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you right by the station’s exit door. They’ll be ready to bring you back to Cusco by car. The car ride to Cusco will be approximately 2 hours and will have you dropped off near to the main square in Cusco that evening around 7.00 p.m.

SALKANTAY BY CAR: Taking this option you are going to have less time to explore Machupicchu citadel and if you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will be very tight on time. Going back to Cusco by car you will need to leave Machu Picchu by 10:30 a.m. max.  and take the 3-hour walk back to Hidroelectrica by the rail tracks because there is not car road , in Hidro you will meet the car at 2:00 pm; This car option  is a longer trip which takes 6 hours aprox.  until Cusco city

If you are considering this option and planning to hike Waynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain, we recommend you  to stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco by car on the 6th day so that you can fully enjoy the experience.

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Important info

ACCOMMODATION

  • Instead of sleeping in small tents, we set up our spectacular and comfortable campsitesjust for you. On night 1 (Soraypampa), you stay in our amazing 2 people glass cabins, and on night 2 (Colpapampa) in private 2 people sleeping domes.
  • Last night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a 2-Star Hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hotel with Wi-Fi, take-away breakfast, and a private bathroom with hot water included. You can also upgrade to a higher quality hotel.

MEALS

  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (4x Breakfast, 4x Lunch, 4x Dinner).
  • Professional cook and cooking equipment. Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to freshly prepare your meals.
  • Our meals can be accommodated for any dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have certain preferences, so we can plan ahead.
  • A hot cup of Coca Tea every morning.
  • Boiled water provided for coffee and tea to accompany your meals at the campsites.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of your trek.
  • Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (only if you book by train)
  • Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco Plaza Regocijo (only if you book by train)
  • transportation from hidroelectrica to cusco.

LOCAL GUIDES & TEAM

  • English/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 12.
  • Horse and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. 
  • All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit with them, as well as an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies. 
  • We provideduffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 5kg per person).

ADDITIONAL

  • Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be between 5:00-7:30 pm at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
  • Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.

MEALS

  • Breackfast on the first day 
  • lunch and Dinner on the last day.
  • No water for treks included. Please carry enough water with you. Along the trekking road, you can buy more water bottles.

EQUIPMENT

  • Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you ($20.00 per person).
  • Trekking poles. Available for rent for $15.00 per person.
  • Additional horses to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 5kg per person.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. You can choose to add one of them to your trekking itinerary for $60.00 per person. Please let us know in advance, so we can check the availability.
  • Shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
  • Entrance to the Aguas Calientes hot springs.
  • Entrance fee to Mollepata village.
  • Entrance and transport to hot springs in Santa teresa.

OTHER

  • Tips for your guide, cook and the staff.
  • National or international flights.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
  • Original Passport and Original Green ISIC international student cards if you are students.
  • Water-resistant trekking shoes and sandals.
  • Warm clothing (thermal underwear, fleece, hat, gloves, socks).
  • Waterproof clothing (poncho).
  • Synthetic or cotton clothing (socks, trousers, shorts, t-shirts).
  • Sunhat and sunglasses.
  • Sun cream and insect repellent.
  • Water bottles such as Nalgene.
  • Basic medications.
  • Walking sticks.
  • Swimsuit and towel.
  • Personal items.
  • Personal snacks.

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From:

$115.00

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