Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu | Trekking Salkantay Machu Picchu
Description
Our Salkantay Trek 5 days is a customized alternative trek to the usual Inca Trail. Not on the usual Inca trail path, this is an innovating adventure for action travelers who want a little more solitude and credibility. With more impressive views, the Salkantay to Machu Picchu Trek gives you the privacy and peaceful reflection such a sacred path deserves.
The legendary trek has been chosen as one of the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. It is a hike easily accessible to everyone, with no limitations or permits required (at least for the moment). The Salkantay Trek is an antique and out-of-the-way path way situated in the same area as the Inca Trail where huge frosttopped mountains infringe with abundant tropical rainforest. It is one of the most interesting and important Inca Trail's alternatives due to its wide range of flora diversity, various ecosystems, remote Andean villages, view of the snow-capped Salkantay Mountain as well as for the Llactapata site laid on top of a mountain, just behind the Machu Pichu Mountain. This trail finally reaches Aguas Calientes, located at the foothill of the historical and archaeological site of Machu Picchu, from where we hike in early morning up to lost city of the Incas to see the sunrise above it. Then our tour guide will takes us around this incredible Incan citadel. Remeber, Trekking Salkantay is a 5-day hike through spectacular corners, they say it is the alternative to the well-known Inca Trail but this one is a bit more "wild". Are you ready now??
What to Expect
Salkantay Trek Overview
Sustainable Tourism: At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities.
If you book this trip, you will sponsor the reforestation of native plants in the community in Cusco
Salkantay Operator: Tierras Vivas Travel
Service Level: Comfortable, tourist-class accommodation, tourist-class train, and private transport.
Trek's Difficulty: 3 - Moderate to difficult; Some points are high and low-altitude hike.
Age Requirement: 4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Salkantay Permits: It is included in your hike.
Crew: A professional Tour Guide.
Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner, 3x afternoon tea.
Transportation: Private van, 1x train.
Accommodation: Campsite (3 nights) and Hotel, 1 night. During the Salkantay Trek, you will spend a night in a comfortable hotel with a private bathroom.
Meeting and Starting Point
Departure Point: We pick you up from your hotel (please check the Starting Point & Pick-Up section under the Essential Info bookmark).
Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day prior to the trek.
Briefing Time: From 5:00 to 6:00 pm.
Return Point: Cusco - our driver will drop-off at your hotel/hostel/Airbnb apartment.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A FEE FOR MONEY TRANSFER IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE!
Quick Itinerary
Day 01: Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha -Soraypampa
05:00 a.m. Pick up from your hotel and transfer Cusco - Mollepata
07:30 a.m. Breakfast at Mollepata
08:00 a.m. Start ride uphill to Challacancha ( km. / 1h 30 min. approx.)
09:30 a.m. Start ride uphill from Challacancha to Soraypampa ( 7 km. / 4 hrs approx.)
01:30 p.m. Lunch at Soraypampa
03:00 p.m. Trek Soraypampa - Humantay Lagoon (4 km. / 2 hrs. approx.)
05:00 p.m. Back to campsite
05:30 p.m. Tea time
06:30 p.m. Dinner
Overnight at Soraypampa Campsite
Day 02: Soraypampa - Salkantay Mountain - Huayracmachay - Chaullay
05:30 a.m. Breakfast
06:00 a.m. Start uphill from Soraypampa to Huayracmachay (12 km. / 4 - 5 hrs. approx.)
12:00 p.m. Lunch at Huayracmachay
01:00 p.m. Start downhill from Huayracmachay - Chaullay (9 km. / 3 hrs. approx.)
05:00 p.m. Arrive to Chaullay campsite
06:00 p.m. Tea time
07:00 p.m. Dinner
Overnight at Chaullay campsite
Day 03: Chaullay - La Playa
06:00 a.m. Breakfast
06:30 a.m. Start downhill to Playa Sahuayaco (15 km / 5 hrs. approx.)
12:00 pm. Lunch
06:00 p.m. Tea time
07:00 p.m. Dinner
Overnight at La Playa campsite
Day 04: La Playa - Llactapata Mountain - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes
06:00 a.m. Breakfast
06:30 a.m. Start uphill to Llactapata ruins ( km. / 4 hrs. approx.)
10:30 a.m. Guided tour of Llactapata ruins
11:00 a.m. Start downhill from Llactapata to Hydroelectric power station (km. / 4 hrs. approx.)
03:00 p.m. Lunch near the Hydroelectric power station
03:30 p.m. Start walking from Hydroelectric power station to Aguas Calientes (10 km / 2 hrs. approx.)
05:30 p.m. Arrive to Aguas Calientes
06:00 p.m. Dinner at Aguas Calientes
Overnight at a hotel in Aguas Calientes
Day 05: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
04:00 a.m. Breakfast
04:30 a.m. Start uphill from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu citadel ( km. / 1h 30 min. approx.)
07:00 a.m. Guided tour at Machu Picchu citadel
09:00 a.m. Free time in Machu Picchu
02:00 p.m. Bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (30 min. approx.)
04:22 p.m. Train trip from Aguas Calientes to ollantaytambo (schedule subject to availability)
06:10 p.m. Arrive to Ollantaytambo Train Station
06:20 p.m. Transfer from ollantaytambo Train Station to Cusco (2 hrs. approx)
Highlights of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu |
View the Salkantay Mountain |
Explore the Humantay Lake |
Discover the Humantay Glacier |
Hike to the Sun Gate |
Discovery and exploration of the beautiful landspaces of the trek |
Guided tour of the Incan site of Llactapata |
5 day trek with experienced tour guide, chef, horseman and horses |
Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel |
Salkantay Trek: Camping Equipment Included
Why to Choosing Salkantay?
If you’re looking for adventure and a challenge but also want privacy and authenticity, this is the trek for you! You need to know that making this trek is extremely difficult, but in reality anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can do it. The overall trail distance is around 40 miles from the start to the finish point, which allows you to have the opportunity to see more of this fantastic region than you would see on the Inca Trail.
Do I need to book Salkantay Trek in advance?
This trek has departures 100% guaranteed, but train tickets and entrance to Huayna Picchu mountain is subjet to availability. For that reason, Tierras Vivas recommend book in advance, in the High trekkers season, it is very difficult find spaces available the train ticket and entrance to the lost city!
Not destroy the Salkantay Mountain with your trip
Salkantay Trek: Be responsible towards nature! |
Every day, there are 500 traveller during this beautiful Salkantay Path and there are local tour operators built igloos and camping from solid materials without responsibility. They are distroying the landscapes and usually the all travellers help to this devatations. We recommend to reserve with responsibility. Not destroy this Sacred Mountain with your trip! |
Why choose Tierras Vivas as your tour operator?
- A liscensed tour guide for 8 trekkers, two licensed tour guides from 9 up to 16 trekkers.
- Specialist operators for international tour companies;
- Highly experienced english speaking guide.
- Inclusion all equipment for your trek (sleeping bag, thermarest mattress, etc)
- Clean quality brand new camping equipment, 2 people per tent (4 season tents)
- Tents are of the brand MOUNTAIN PASS 3XTE designated for 4 seasons. We provide with 3 person capacity tents; however, just 2 trek participants use it! In this way,
- Oxygen bottle and first aid kit
- Nutritious, well-balanced, hearty and healthy buffet meals with fresh, high quality ingredients, high in energy value and prepared carefully to avoid illness.
- Drinking water since the second day to fill up your water container for the day hike
- Daily afternoon tea
- Gentle wake up each morning! with a hot drink (coca tea, chocolate, coffee, etc)
- We catter for any food restriction
- Private Transportation to head trail
- Comfortable sleeping foam roll matts (inflatable)
- Tierras Vivas hires peruvian professional staff like guides, assistant guides, chefs, and porters and pay them with good wages far lots better than other tour companies do.
Salkantay Trek Tours TripAdvisor - Reviews
Tierras Vivas is a fully licensed tour operator and has 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. The copy of our Salkantay Trek Tours Tripadvisor reviews below proves our experience and enthusiasm to offer our customers the best trip to the 5 day Salkantay Trek.
Check our Salkantay Trek Tours Tripadvisor comments below:
Unforgettable journey with Tierras Vivas
Salkantay Trek 5 days
Elena D. wrote a review: "This tracking was my first experience. And it was very successful. Self-testing, beautiful nature, completely unusual way of life. The team that accompanied us greatly helped us on the trip. Guide Edy is a very attentive, responsive and patient person. With a good sense of humor. Every day hi told us about details of the action plan for the next stage. The accompanying team did everything to make us comfortable: woke up whit hot cocatea,fed us deliciously, setting up tents etc. Тhank you so much for everything!!!"
Salkantay Trek: Amazing Guide!
Travel Guy wrote a review: "I did the Salkantay 5-day Trek 2 weeks ago and had an amazing time! The views were amazing and so was the overall experience. Most notably, the 5-star food and our wonderful guide Alvina. She was incredible and helped us out with everything we possibly needed. Thanks for a great experience!"
Day 01: Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha -Soraypampa
We rise about 5 am. and go from Cusco on bus for about 4 hours to Mollepata village (2900 meters above sea level). You will arrive around 7.30 am, we stop for 45 minutes and have breakfast in a restaurant if the group wants (not included in cost) and can buy some last minute supplies. (not included)Then we continue our ride uphill, for 1 more hour until we reach Challacancha (the trail head).
There we meet our support staff, who will pack the equipment on the horses and mules. We need to have 2 backpacks. One which will carry all our personal items(up to 5kg) that will go on the horses and a daypack with just necesities that you will carry. From there we hike for about four hours to Soraypampa, which is burrowed between the snowy mountains (3850 meters above sea level), on a trail which is a mixture of uphill, downhill and flat path, during which we will have sweeping views of the impressive Salkantay, other snowy mountains and the valley of the Apurimac River. We reach our campsite, where we have lunch. After lunch we will climb the Humantay Mountain for 2 hours to visit the incredible Humantay Lake, a superb lake in the mountains and we then descend back to camp at Soraypampa. There you will find the dining tent set up for afternoon tea with tea, mate de coca, coffee, chocolate etc. You can rest and later are served dinner.