The Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days

Day 1 Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Sky Camp

Highlight of the day: Get ready for one of the most incredible views you will ever have: the glorious and spectacular Humantay Lake.

Hike to the Jewel in the Mountains through the Salkantay Trek

You will be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick you up around 4:00 a.m. You will travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive. After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. We’ll then continue to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

First, you’ll meet the cooks and horsemen and do a last equipment check. Then, we will be on our way. You will start with a 3-hour moderate walk to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we will be spending our first night. The first section is relatively flat, with a slight uphill through a deep valley of glaciers. You’ll notice that much of the trail follows a restored Inca water channel, which local farmers still use today. This section is 7 km / 4.35 mi overall.

Once in Soraypampa, you will get settled in at our exclusive Sky Camp, where you will sleep this evening. You’ll have time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the incredibly beautiful Humantay Lake (4,200 m /13,780 ft).

This round trip takes about 3 hours and covers 3 km / 1.86 mi. It’s not far, but you need to take things slowly at this altitude. You’ll have some time to enjoy the fantastic scenery once you get to the lake. There aren’t many places in the Andes quite as stunning as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. You’ll feel like you’re in a fairy tale!

Back at camp, you will enjoy a delicious and well deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset in your company. You can’t describe the energy here, but you’ll feel its peacefulness for yourself once here. Then, it’ll be time to turn into your Sky Camp igloo. From the glass roof, you’ll be able to enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets and wake up to see the Apu Salkantay watching over you.

• Meals: Lunch And Dinner
• Accommodation: Sky Camp
• Difficulty: Moderate To Challenging
• Walking Distance: 10 Km / 6.21 Mi
• Walking Time: 5 To 6 Hours
• Starting Elevation: 3,800 M / 12,467 Ft
• Min. Elevation: 3,800 M / 12,467 Ft
• Highest Elevation: 4,200 M / 13,780 Ft
• Campsite Elevation: 3,900 M / 12,795 Ft

Day 2 Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay (Andean Huts)

Highlight of the day: Feel the energy and great power of the Salkantay mountain; the top hike will be worth it.

The Stunning Salkantay Pass and Descent to the Amazon Jungle

Today you will wake up with the light of the day’s first rays and an energizing coca tea to start the hike. Enjoy a nourishing breakfast before we set off on our trek to the route’s highest point, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). You’ll be walking 7 km / 4.34 mi over 3 hours. It’s a difficult ascent up the ‘trail of the 7 snakes’ rightly named due to its winding path.

Once you reach the top, you’ll appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys as well as Salkantay Mountain sitting right next to you (6,271 m / 20,574 ft), which is the second-highest in the Cusco region and one of the Apus (Inca Gods). You can also observe Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo mountains. After you’ve taken in the views and enjoyed a rest, you’ll start the 7 km / 4.35 mi walk downhill to the lunch spot in Huayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), from where you can enjoy fantastic views.

This section of the trail is rocky and grave, and you get some wonderful views down into the valley below. After a reenergizing lunch, you will be entering the edge of the Amazon jungle, also known as the cloud forest.’ This part is 8 km / 4.97 mi and takes around 3 hours. Along the way, you enjoy a magical tropical forest and witness how quickly and dramatically the landscape changes from the Andes to the Amazon. You’ll spot colorful scenery, unique wildlife, and native plants. You’ll find the climate becomes much warmer here.

After your longest day of hiking, you’ll be pleased to reach our campsite at Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft). You’ll be served a hearty meal before hitting the hay in your Andean hut for a peaceful night’s sleep in the small village. You’re sure to sleep well tonight!

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner
• Accommodation: Andean Huts
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Walking Distance: 22 Km / 13.67 Mi
• Walking Time: 10 Hours
• Starting Elevation: 3,900 M / 12,795 Ft
• Min. Elevation: 2,900 M / 9,514 Ft
• Highest Elevation: 4,630 M / 15,190 Ft
• Campsite Elevation: 2,900 M / 9,514 Ft

Day 3 Chaullay – Collpapampa – La Playa – Lucmabamba – Jungle Domes

Highlight of the day: Explore the lush jungle and learn all about coffee and the process in the plantations. The aroma in the air is heavenly.

Jungle Adventure and Coffee Experience in the Salkantay trek

Today you will be woken at 6:00 a.m. for your tea and breakfast before leaving the campsite. Our first destination will be La Playa, walking through the Santa Teresa Valley. You’ll enjoy a more leisurely walk today with more downs than ups as you soak in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, coffee, and avocado.

We’ll pass through a small village called Collpapampa, and after, descend through a valley where you’ll observe waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit trees, and plenty of flora and fauna. You might be lucky enough to see the national bird of Peru, the ‘Cock of the Rock.’

In La Playa, we will devour a tasty lunch before we head to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), just another hour away. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, especially perfect for those who are coffee lovers. Even if you are not a fan of a cup of coffee, the smell in the air is delicious. This is the primary agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia, and Europe. You will also visit avocado and orange plantations.

After dinner, of course, you will go to bed for the night in one of our exclusive camps, Jungle Domes. While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with Mother Earth.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner
• Accommodation: Jungle Domes
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Walking Distance: 18 Km / 11.18 Mi
• Walking Time: 5 To 6 Hours
• Starting Elevation: 2,900 M / 9,514 Ft
• Min. Elevation: 2,000 M / 6,562 Ft
• Highest Elevation: 2,900 M / 9,514 Ft
• Campsite Elevation: 2,000 M / 6,562 Ft

Day 4 Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Aobamba – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

Highlight of the day: Visit the fascinating Inca archaeological site of Llactapata. Get your camera ready for your first glimpse of Machu Picchu!

Enjoy Your First Glance of Machu Picchu from Llactapata

You will be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking after you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning, you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original, world-famous Inca Trail! After a 2-hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata is the first Inca site you’ll see on the trek, and you’ll learn all about the mysteries of this ancient culture and the extraordinary site. You even get to have your first exciting glance at Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu from here. Your guide will fill you in on all the history of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 1:30 hours, getting another couple of peeks at the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, along the way – only making your anticipation for tomorrow stronger. We stop for lunch in Aobamba before we continue, for a half-hour, to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). One of the most impressive sites in this section is the 250-meter-tall artificial waterfall, which generates electricity for the entire city of Cusco.

Once in Hidroelectrica, you have two options: 1) If you’re tired out after all the trekking, you can opt to board a train to Aguas Calientes (not included). If you want to enjoy the last stretch of the trek, you can take the flat walk along the side of the tracks to Aguas Calientes, which takes around 3 hours. It will be one more chance to embrace the warm jungle surroundings as you hike.

Along the way, you’ll see Intihuatana, an ancient rock the Incas used as a sundial, which worked together with the sundial stone at Machu Picchu. These were used to measure and read the winter solstice, meaning the beginning of the farming season for the Incas. Next, you’ll reach the train tracks that lead to Aguas Calientes. Once in the small town, you’ll enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Note: During the rainy season, and for safety reasons, the hike up the Llactapata Trail isn’t 100% guaranteed. When there’s frequent heavy rain, this trail can become very dangerous.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Walking Distance: 25 Km / 15.53 Mi
• Walking Time: 8-9 Hours
• Starting Elevation: 2,000 M / 6,562 Ft
• Min. Elevation: 1,800 M / 5,906 Ft
• Highest Elevation: 2,800 M / 9,186 Ft
• Accommodation Elevation: 2,040 M / 6,693 Ft

Day 5 Aguas Calientes | Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Highlight of the day: Get ready for the experience of a lifetime that will allow you to travel back in time to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: The magnificent Machu Picchu.

Tour of the Incredible Incan Citadel: Machu Picchu

Today’s the day you’ve been waiting since you first set foot on the trail. You’ll finally visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! You’ll need to be up early today to make sure you beat the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the early morning light.

Once in the Inca citadel, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours through the most relevant sectors of this incredible ancient site. You’ll see houses, temples, terraces, and crop fields, among others. You will be impressed by the intelligence of the Incas in terms of engineering work, which was way ahead of its time and remains a mystery in many aspects.

The Incas did not have the tools we use today, but they could still build and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

Bonus Fact: When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and disrepair. It’s since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by people from every corner of the globe.

After your tour, you can choose to go to Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843 ft); these tours will take you 2 and 3 hours up and down, respectively (tickets must be booked in advance).

Make sure you’re back in Aguas Calientes for a spot of lunch before boarding your train to Ollantaytambo, which leaves at approximately 2:55 pm (subject to availability). Our private bus will collect you from the next station and drive you back to your hotel in Cusco at around 8 pm. You can now put your feet up and enjoy much needed rest; however, your heart will still beat the Andes rhythm for many weeks, months, and years to come!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Difficulty: Easy
• Optional Activities (Difficulty – Duration): 2-3 Hours Exploring Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu Site Elevation: 2,430 M / 7,972 Ft
• Optional Mountains: Moderate To Challenging
• Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation: 3,000 M / 9,843 Ft (3 – 4 Hours)
• Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,720 M / 8,924 Ft (2 Hours)
• Huchuy Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,497 M / 8,192 Ft (1.5 Hours)