Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Salkantaypampa – Soyroccocha

Departing from Cusco at dawn, we enjoy a 3-hour bus ride that leads us through the beautiful landscape to the little mountainside villages of Soraypampa.  This is the beginning of our hike. We meet out horsemen and pack the cargo horses with our belongings. We kickoff the hike walking through the breathtaking landscape of Soraypampa for two hours, then rest for lunch below the Nevada Humantay and Salkantay peaks at 5800m/19315ft and 6250m/20812. From here, we continue our journey for two more hours to reach our first campsite, Soyroccocha at 4500m/ 14980ft.

Elevation: From: 3400m – 11320ft / 4500m – 14980ft  

Walking Distance: 6.7 km / 4 miles
Considered: Moderate 

Weather: Warm then Cold

Day 2: Soyroccocha – Ccolpapampa

After an early breakfast, we start trekking uphill to pass Portachuelo (4650m/15480ft), passing through wonderful scenery set between two glaciers. Along this passage, we appreciate the magnificent views and we may also be lucky enough to see vizcachas -a rabbit-like animal related to the chinchilla, and condors in their natural habitat. From here we will descend into the hot, tropical climate of the cloud forest for lunch in Rayanpata at 3395m.  After lunch we advance further into the cloud forest where you will really appreciate the distinct change in altitude, by noting the diverse birds and flowers of each zone. Our second campsite is assembled at Ccolpapampa, 2890m/ 9,550ft.

Elevation: From: from 4200m /13860ft to 4650m / 15340ft

Walking Distance: 16km / 10 miles
Considered: Moderate

Weather: Cold in winter warm summer and humidity 

Day 3: Ccolpapampa – Playa or Santa Teresa

We awake to a warm breakfast at 6:00 am to hit the road again. We progress downhill for 5 hours, flowing alongside the Santa Teresa River. It’s a beautiful landscape with opulent vegetation and glorious waterfalls. We picnic in a local village then hike for 4 hours to lunch at La Playa 2100m. For our third night, we will sooth our muscles in the hot springs and camp onsite. 

Elevation: From: 2840 MT -9370 ft. / 2100mt – 6900ft.

Walking Distance: 20 km /12.5 miles
Considered: easy 

Weather: warm 

Day 4: La Playa/Santa Teresa – Aquas Calientes

Today we have the delightful pleasure of a leisurely walk through coffee, banana and other fruit plantations until we reach the village of Santa Teresa, then uphill for 3 hours to llactapata. We will tour the archeological site then proceed on down to the train station at Hydro Electrica, a hydroelectric facility on the Vilcanota River. Lunch will be served before the hour train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes at the foot of the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. 

Elevation: From: 2100 mt. – 6900ft.

Walking Distance:  4km. – 2.5miles
Considered: easy

Weather: warm and humidity

Day 5: Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu – Cusco

We suggest arranging an early wakeup call in order to summit Machu Picchu early enough to enjoy sunrise. You’ll have breakfast at the hotel and then we will take the bus up to the Machu Picchu site. Please coordinate meeting point and hour with your trekking guide the night before. There are fantastic photo opportunities once you enter Machu Picchu and weather permitting, scenic views of sunrise over the Andes. Your guide will you to visit the most important places in the Machu Picchu complex for two hours. Following, if you have booked permits to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, you will have the opportunity to climb this mountain (which will be during the second slot, at 10 a.m. and finish around noon). Be sure to take bus back down to Aguas Calientes plenty of time because there is a big line to catch the bus down to town. Here you can have lunch at one of the many restaurants. You will then walk to the train station back to Ollantaytambo where a bus will be waiting to bring you back to Cusco. Your guide will accompany you to your hotel.

Note: The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain entrance tickets are not included in this trek therefore you must inform us in advance so we purchase tickets for you at an additional cost.

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Included

• Fluent English/Spanish guide that is very knowledgeable of the surrounding region and its customs.
• Private transfer from and to your hotel.
• Pre-departure briefing at your hotel the night before your trek.
• Camping equipment, dining tents with tables and chairs, where you enjoy delicious meals, camping tents to sleep.  (We will provide a list of items you should bring when you book).
• Sleeping Thermarest, but sleeping bag you need to bring with you or you can rent it from us.
• Porters who will carry the gear & cook
• Portable toilet
• You have a daily meals, breakfast, lunch or box lunch and dinner. Water, tea and coffee are including with the meals.
• All train and bus fares.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
• Overnight lodging in Aguas Calientes at the 3 star hotel
• Our rent prices for equipments for the whole trek is

Sleeping bag 20 $
Walking Sticks 15 $

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Not Included

• Meals that are not referenced in the itinerary.
• Alcohol drinks
• Sleeping bag
• Travel Insurance
• Tips for your guide are not included and are optional

Note: The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain entrance fees are not included in this tour and you must inform us in advance if you are interested – so we can purchase the tickets for you. There are limited permits provided each day by the Peruvian government and it is common for them to sell out. Also if you want to spend another day in Machu Picchu – just let us know. It is easy to extend your tour an extra day.

Pricing

Pricing is primarily dependent on how many people are in your group. The amounts listed below are general rates so you can get an idea of how much things cost. These rates may go up or down based on a few different things (we’ve listed some common items below). When you reach out to request a booking, we will give you a specific rate quote at that time.

We recommend to take

• Original passport (International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
• Sleeping bag suitable for temperature of trip
• Day backpack for things needed during the day
• Comfortable walking boots
• Rain Gear: poncho/a good rain jacket for wet season
• Canteen or camel back
• Warm jacket for cool evenings
• Woolen sweater or fleece
• Trousers, one waterproof of one normal
• Shorts
• T-shirts or light cotton shirts
• Hat with brim
• Walking pool
• Flash light/head torch (the campsite has its own light but you will need this in your tent
• Personal medications
• Insect repellent
• Sun screen
• Binoculars, camera and film
• Extra money for drinks, tips, souvenirs etc (soles or dollars)
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries
• Travel insurance is essential
• Plastic bag for wet or dirty clothes.