Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Day 1. CUSCO – CHALLACANCHA- SORAYPAMPA – SKY LODGE – LAGUNA HUMANTAY

We will start the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco between 04:00 and 04:30 in the morning. Then we will drive you to Mollepata town. The journey will take around two hours and thirty minutes. At Mollepata, we will stop for breakfast. After breakfast, we will continue our trip to Challacancha. From here, you will trek to Sorayapampa Sky Lodge (duration: 3:30 hours approx. / 8 km).

• Total distance: Approx. 12 km
• Duration of Trek: Approx. 6.5 hours.
• Challacancha Altitude: Approx. 3,700 m.s.n.m
• Humantay Lagoon Altitude: Approx. 4,200 m.s.n.m
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Meals included: Lunch, snack, afternoon tea time and dinner

Day 2: SORAYPAMPA – ABRA SALKANTAY – HUAYRACMACHAY – CHAULLAY

You will be woken up at 05:30 in the morning. We will serve you breakfast before starting our day. The second day’s Salkantay Trek will take you to the highest point of the 5-day Salkantay Trek, Abra Salkantay. Abra Salkantay pass is at 4650 meters. The distance from our campsite to Abra Salkantay is seven kilometers, which can be covered in four hours.

The trek path will be through rocky and steep terrain in the middle of the valley. On this section of the trek, you will be rewarded with a sight of Apu Salkantay peak. Once at Abra Salkantay pass, you will have a fantastic view of the valley below, sandwiched between the snow-capped peaks.We will start descending from here to Huayracmachay, where lunch will be served.

After lunch, we will trek for another two and a half hours to our campsite in Chaullay.

• Total distance: Approx. 17km
• Trek Duration : Approx. 10 hours and 30 minutes
• Soraypampa Altitude: Approx. 3,900 m.s.n.m
• Salkantay Abra Altitude: Approx. 4,650 m.s.n.m
• Huayracmachay Altitude: Approx 3,900 m.s.n.m
• Chaullay Altitude: Approx 2,900 m.s.n.m
• Difficulty Level: Hard
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, snack, etc.
• Accommodation: Camp

Day 3: CHAULLAY – LA PLAYA

At 06:00 in the morning after breakfast, we will start trekking through the cloud forest. You will be walking along the trail lined with typical plants. On this section of the trek, you will get to see many farms growing avocados, granadilla (a tropical fruit), and passion fruit. On the next section of the trek, you will see beautiful landscapes. Here you will be trekking along small waterfalls and wild orchid plantations. We will then reach a small village called La Playa, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will have a guided tour of the nearby coffee farm. Later that day, you can rejuvenate by taking a dip in the Cocalmayo hot springs.

• Total distance: Approx. 20km
• Trek Duration: Approx. 6 Hours and 30 Minutes
• Chaullay Altitude: Approx 2,900 m.a.s.l.
• La Playa Altitude: Approx 2,064 m.s.n.m
• Lucmabamba Altitude: Approx 2,000 m.s.n.m
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, snack
• Accommodation: Camp

Day 4: LA PLAYA – LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES.

After having breakfast at the campsite, we will start our two-hour trek to Llactapata. Llactapata is part of the Inca Trail. Once we reach the Llactapata archaeological site, our local guide will give you a guided tour. You will also get a panoramic view of the Urubamba valley below and Machu Picchu in the distance. From here, we will descend to the Hydroelectric plant for lunch. After lunch, you will hike to Aguas Calientes town along the railway tracks. This is the same route that the renowned American professor Hiram Bingham took when he rediscovered Machu Picchu.

• Total distance: Approx 29km
• Trek Duration: Approx. 9 hours
• Llactapata Altitude: Approx. 2,800m.s.n.m
• Hydroelectric Altitude: Approx. 1,890 m.s.n.m
• Aguas Calientes Altitude: Approx 2,060 m.s.n.m
• Difficulty level: Moderate or challenging
• Meals included: Lunch, snack, afternoon tea time and dinner
• Accommodation: Lodging

Day 5: MACHU PICCHU

After an early breakfast, you will have the option to hike along a section of the Inca Trail for an hour and a half to Machu Picchu or take a bus (USD 12 each way, 25-minute ride).

Once at Machu Picchu, our local expert will provide a two-hour guided tour of the Inca site. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the citadel at your own pace. Alternatively, you can visit the Sun Gate, which offers a captivating view of the renowned Inca ruins.

You can also visit the Inca Bridge. If you have booked a hike up Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, our guide will direct you to the entrance.

At the designated time, you will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Our representative will meet you there and transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco. We expect to arrive in Cusco around 10:00 PM.