Cusco: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu | 5 Days/4 Nights

Listed by National Geographic as 1 of 25 “World’s Best Treks”! Salkantay Trek takes you off the beaten path.
Spend 5 days exploring glacier mountains, picturesque lakes such as Humantay and Salcantay Lake, and passes through the Amazon jungle, making this one of the most beautiful and interesting treks in all of Peru.

Itinerary:

• Day 1 : CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – LAGUNA HUMANTAY – QUISWARNIYOC
Pick up from your hotel in Cusco around 5:00am to drive you to Soraypampa where the 2-hour walk to the Humantay lagoon begins. Once arrive at the lake, free time to visit and explore the place, then descend for 2 hours to the Quiswarniyoc camp to enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take a walk to the Salkantay viewpoint, from where you can appreciate the sunset.
Then back to the camp, where you will have dinner and spend the night in the MOUNTAIN SKY HUT, an exclusive camp

• Day 2 : QUISWARNIYOC – ABRA SALKANTAY – CHAWLLAY
Wake up at 5am with a coca tea and breakfast, it is time to start hiking up to the highest point of the trek 4630 m. This will take 3 to 4 hours of uphill hiking at a regular to slow pace. After a long break, you will go down 2 hours to Wayracmachay for lunch and continue for 3 hours of downhill hiking to the camp, Chaullayto. which is located at 2,900 meters and marks the beginning of the Peruvian Amazon.

• Day 3: CHAULLAY - LA PLAYA - SANTA TERESA
On the third day, you will wake up around 6am in the beautiful and warm jungle, with a delicious breakfast. We’ll begin our 5-hour hike along the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River, after 5 hours of hiking we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco. After the last walk, you will have a relaxing time in our campsite.

• Day 4: SANTA TERESA – LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES
This day starts with a walk to Lucmabamba where we start the 3-hour uphill hike along the original Inca trail until the Inca ruins of Llactapata and enjoy a view of Machu Picchu. Afterward, we’ll hike downhill for 2 hours, arriving in Hidroelectrical, where you will have lunch with much-earned rest. The final part of the hike is a 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in the small town, we’ll take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final supper at 7:00 pm in a local restaurant.

• Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Last early wake-up, to get ready for the hike to Machu Picchu. After passing the first checkpoint, we will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate, and begin the visit in the famous Inca site, where you will learn everything about The Lost City of The Incas. Then explore Machu Picchu on your own and climb one of the mountains if you booked the extra ticket.

Then you will start the long return to Cusco, by train or by car, depending on the option you have chosen (we recommand request us by Train)

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.