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Tour Details

The 5 days Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco is the best alternative to the Classic Inca Trail. 5 Days Salkantay Trek starts in the Andes, amidst the snow capped peaks and goes up to 4600 meters (highest point) before descending to the tropical forest.

We also have Three Days and Four Days Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, ideal for those with less time wanting to get a glimpse of the experience. However, the five days trek is a complete package. This 5 Days Salkantay Trek perfectly combines culture and natural beauty.

You will get an insight of the life in the Andes. On our way, we will also be visiting some farms and interact with the farmers.

Make sure that you are properly acclimatised before the trek.

Departure & Return Location

Cusco Hotel Transfer

Departure Time

06:30 AM

Price Includes

Professional Guides
Briefing: The night before your trek, you will come to our office for your briefing.
Porters & Horsemen: We include a personal porter, who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag containing your personal items.
Emergency Horse: All of our Alternative Treks include an extra horse for our clients to use if they need a break from trekking.
Hotel: The trek will include three nights of camping and one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu.
Transportation: All your transportation is included in this trek. You will be picked up directly from your hotel around 4:30 a.m. (unless you are staying in Ollantaytambo before the trek) and brought to the trail head to begin your trek.
Equipment: We have the best equipment. We use Eureka Timberline 4 person tents that are shared by only two people. You will have a spacious dining tent to enjoy your meals in.
Food: Our chefs cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have raved about. We honour all food restrictions. Be sure to remind your tour guide of any food restrictions at the beginning of your trek. Lunch the last day is not included.
Water: Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, we will supply all the water needed.
Extras: Every trekker receives a small pillow to sleep with, a foam mattress for insulation, a day pack cover to protect their things while hiking and a rain poncho. We will work hard to create your best vacation.
Satellite Phones: Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and our team. While we are prepared and all our guides are trained for most of the issues clients have on the mountain, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital or friend helps everyone feel assured that they are safe.

Price Excludes

Sleeping bag: USD $25
Inflatable air mat: USD $20
Walking sticks (pair): USD $20
Huayna Picchu Mountain $ 35

Things To Carry

Passport
Valid, GREEN ISIC card (if you booked as a student)
Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbacks are encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 litres.
Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
2-3 wicking t-shirts
2-3 hiking pants
4 sets of undergarments and 4 sets of hiking socks,1 Fleece
1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
1 Rain jacket, pants,1 sun hat,1 wool hat
Headlamp: essential
Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
Quick dry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger
Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean - might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
Large plastic bags: to help organise and keep clean from dirty
Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least
Sunscreen, face moisturiser, bug spray, handsanitiser, wet wipes, toothbrush and paste, toilet-paper
Personal medication
First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc

Tour Schedule

DAY 1: 04:30 – 05:00 Pick up from your hotel
05:00 – 08:00 Transfer from Cuzco to Sorayapampa
08:00 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 14:00 Hike to Salkantay Pampa; lunch
14:00 – 17:00 Trekking; arrival to the campsite “Wayracmachay”
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner and overnight
DAY 2: 06:00 – 07:00 Breakfast
07:00 – 11:00 Trekking to Colpapampa
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 18:00 Downhill to “ La Playa” or Sahuayacku
18:00 – 18:30 Arrival at the second camp site
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner and overnight
DAY 3: 06:00 – 06:30 Breakfast
06:30 – 13:00 Trek to Santa Teresa; lunch
13:00 – 18:00 Downhill to Llactapata
18:00 – 17:30 Arrival at the third camp site (optional: hot springs)
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner and overnight
DAY 4: 06:00 – 07:00 Breakfast (Coca tea)
10:00 – 12:00 Downhill to the Hydroelectric Plant
14:00 – 17:00 Trek from Hydroelectric Plant to Machu Picchu town
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner and overnight in Machu Picchu town
DAY 5: 05:30 – 06:00 Bus from Machu Picchu town to Machu Picchu
07:00 – 14:00 Tour of Machu Picchu, relax and free time
15:00 – 15:30 Return to Machu Picchu town (time depends on the train's schedule)
16:00 – 18:00 Return by train from Machu Picchu town to Ollantaytambo (time depends on the train's schedule)
18:00 – 20:00 Back to the Cusco city (time depends on the train's schedule)

Itinerary

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

We will start the 5 days Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco between 0400 and 0430 in the morning. Then we will be driving you to Mollepata town. The journey would take around two hours and thirty minutes. At Mollepata, we will stop for breakfast.
After breakfast, we will be continuing our trip to Challacancha. From here, you will be trekking 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 2SORAYPAMPA - ABRA SALKANTAY - HUAYRACMACHAY - CHAULLAY

You will be woken up at 0530 in the morning. We will be serving you breakfast before starting our day. The second days Salkantay Trek will be to the highest point of the 5 days Salkantay Trek to Abra Salkantay. Abra Salkantay pass is at 4650 meters. The distance from our campsite to Abra Salkantay is seven kilometres which could 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 sight of Apu Salkantay peak.
Once at Abra Salkantay pass, you will have a fantastic view of the valley below sandwiched in the snow capped peaks.
We will start descending from here to Huayracmachay where lunch will be served.
After lunch, we will be trekking for another two and a half hours to our camp site 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
Food included: Breakfast, lunch, snack, etc.
Accommodation: Camp

Day 3CHAULLAY - LA PLAYA

At 0600 in the morning after breakfast, we will start trekking through the cloud forest. You will be walking through the trail rimmed with typical plants. On this section of the trek, you will get to see many farms like Avocado, Granadilla (Tropical fruit) and passion fruit.
On the next section of the trek, you will get to see beautiful landscapes. Here you will be trekking along some small water falls, wild orchids plantations.
We will then reach a small village called La Playa where we will stop for lunch. After having lunch, you will be having a guided tour of the nearby coffee farm. Later that day you can rejuvinate by taking a dip in 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
Food included: Breakfast, lunch, snack
Accommodation: Camp

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

After having breakfast in the campsite, we will start our two hours trek to Llactapata. Llactapata is a part of the Inca Trail. Once we reach Llactapata archeological 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 at a distance.
From here, we will be descending to Hydroelectric plant for lunch. After lunch, you will be hiking to Aguas Calientes town along the railway tracks. This is the same route that the renowned American professor, Hiram Bingham took while 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 5MACHU PICCHU

complete guided tour for two hours. If you have booked to hike upto Huyana Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, please advise us so we can organise the schedule accordingly.

At a designated time, you will be taking the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Once in Ollantaytambo, our representative will meet you and organise your transfer back to Cusco. You will be reaching Cusco at around 10:00 PM.