Salkantay Trek 5 Days 4 Nigths

Day Salkantay Trek is one of the most scenic and adventurous ways to reach Machu Picchu, with the 5-day trek offering the best options. It has 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.

When you book this tour with us, you will enjoy the best services at affordable prices. We offer exclusive camps with newly built Mountain Sky Huts, glass igloos, professional knowledgeable guides, and supporting staff, we have all-inclusive itinerary options to make sure you do not miss a thing. We will pass by brilliantly blue lakes, reach heights up to 4,630 meters, and pass by the waterfalls, rivers, and hot springs. We will also trek through the original Inca Trail to the Llactapata ruins, where you will have a fantastic view of Machu Picchu from a different angle, motivating you to finish the final stretch before you make it to the famous lost city of the Incas.

DIA 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – LAGUNA HUMANTAY – QUISWARNIYOC

After picking up everyone from their respective places or hotel, we will leave Cusco around 5:45 am and start our 2-hour drive to the town of Mollepata. Once in Mollepata, we will stop to have a delicious breakfast and pay the entrance fee of 20 soles to the local municipality (this is not included in the tour price).

Once finished, we will continue by car for another hour to Soraypampa where we will meet with the muleteers and horses who will carry our equipment, food, and 7 kilos of each hiker’s personal belongings during the trek. From there, we will start the uphill hike to Humantay Lake, reaching it after about 2 hours.

When you arrive at the lagoon, you will have a couple of hours to explore, take photos, and listen to our guide to explain the significance of Humantay Lagoon.

After, we will hike downhill for 2 hours and have lunch at our exclusive camp, Quiswarniyoc. After lunch, you will have free time to explore the beautiful area and for an optional hike to the Mirador of Salkantay for panoramic views of the entire area. If you are tired, you can just rest in the Mountain Sky Huts or in the glass igloos, which come equipped with glass doors, pillows, a sleeping pad, and the illumination of the night sky.

Quiswarniyoc is an exclusive, private camp located at 4,000 meters. A unique area offers additional, short hikes, fantastic mountains viewpoints, and waterfalls.

DIA 2: QUISWARNIYOC – ABRA SALKANTAY – CHAWLLAY

The second day of the trek is the most difficult, as it consists of 20 kilometers of trekking and takes you to the highest point of the whole trek, 4630 meters above sea level. The cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca tea as you take your time to repack and get ready for the nutritious breakfast that will be served around 5:45 am. After 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.

Once you are at the highest point, you will have time to enjoy the mountains, take pictures, learn about the mountain gods, and take part in a small traditional Andean ritual for the Apus mountain god. You will then start hiking down for 2 hours before we rest with a delicious lunch and continue for 3 more hours of downhill hiking to the second camp, Chaullay, which is located at 2,900 meters and marks the beginning of the Peruvian Amazon. At camp Chaullay, we will provide you with your camping equipment, hot tea, and dinner.

There is also an optional hot shower offered by locals that can be used for 10 soles. You can also buy some drinks such as beer, soda, water.

DIA 3: CHAULLAY – LA PLAYA – AGUAS TERMALES – SANTA TERESA

On the third day, we will wake up in the beautiful (but warm) jungle. We will wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea as the cooks are preparing the delicious breakfast.

Around 7:00 am, we will 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.

Along the trail, you will see plantations for coffee, bananas, avocados, Coca, passion fruit, and more. Once we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, we will take local transportation to the third campsite, Santa Teresa, which is about a one-hour drive.

At camp, we´ll share a delicious lunch before heading out to the hot springs of Colcampayo (optional).

Colcampayo is about a 15-minute car ride from camp. We will spend a couple of hours relaxing in the natural, clean water of the hot springs before heading back to camp for tea time, a warm dinner, and a group bonfire.

All of these activities are optional, so if you would rather lay back and relax at camp—you are certainly welcome to!

DIAS 4: SANTA TERESA – LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Llactapata is an Inca ruin located along the Salkantay trail, which you will have the chance to visit on the fourth day. From Llactapata, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a unique angle. For this beautiful trek, we will start with an early breakfast, around 5:30 am, before taking local transportation for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba.

Upon arrival, we will start the 3-hour uphill hike along the original Inca trail until we arrive in the Inca ruins of

Llactapata once at the Inca site you will have plenty of time in Llactapata to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountain, and if the weather is good, you’ll get one more glimpse of Salkantay Mountain.

Afterward, we will hike downhill for 2 hours, arriving in Hidroelectrical for a nutritious lunch and 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 will take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final supper at 7:00 pm in a local restaurant. After dinner, we will head to bed, anxious for our final day and ultimate reward: Machu Picchu.

DIA 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Early in the morning, we have to take the bus from Machupicchu village to Machupicchu arqueological site.

We need reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 am.

Be at Waynapicchu entrance at 7 am. Climbing Waynapicchu usually takes 4 hours, 2 for climbing up, 30 minutes for splanation of the place and 1 to 1 hour 30 muntes to climb down.

After the visit of Waynapicchu we are going to have time to visit Machupicchu citadel during another 1 hour, where you will learn everything about The Lost City of The Incas.

After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you are going back to Cusco (train).

WE OFFER YOU 1 OPTION FOR RETURNING TO CUSCO AFTER VISITING MACHU PICCHU

SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS RETURN BY TRAIN:

The train is a beautiful way to return to Cusco and allows you more time (about 6-7 hours) to visit Machu Picchu. If you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we strongly advise you to take the train, as these hikes require a minimum of 3 hours to complete. You will need to return to Aguas Calientes in time for your train at 14:55 pm. (subject to abailability) You may want to give yourself extra time, as some people like to explore the town. You’ll ride the train for about 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes town, where you will then switch to a car and finish the final 2 hours of the trip, arriving in Cusco around 19:00 pm.

INCLUDED:

• 5-Day Salkantay trek briefing at 7:00 pm a day before the departure at Machu Picchu Reservations office (or hotel).
• A duffle bag to pack 7 kilos of your belonging that will be carried by horses during the trek.
• English speaking professional tour guide.
• Professional chef and cooking equipment.
• Horses for carrying up to 7 Kilos of personal luggage and other required equipment
• Private transportation to head of Salkantay trail
• 4 breakfasts
• 4 lunches
• 4 dinners
• 3 nights of camping
• Personal pad (double foam – 2.5 inches thick)
• Transportation from La Playa to Santa Teresa
• Transportation from Santa Teresa to Lucmabamba to do the Llactapata trek
• Vegetarian/Vegan options available on request with no additional charges
• First-Aid equipment and oxygen bottle for emergencies

NOT INCLUDED

• Travel insurance
• Extra expenses
• Tips

PACKING LIST FOR THE SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS

A backpack to carry water, some snacks, a camera, sunscreen, valuable things, Jacket, rain gear, etc. We recommend bringing a backpack of 25 – 30 liters, but if you like to can bring a daypack or any size of the backpack as long as you feel comfortable with it.

• Original Passports
• Wool hat or beanie
• Sun hat
• Scarf
• Gloves
• 3 – 4 t-shirt, if you have long sleeve better layers (sweater, fleece)
• 2 – 3 pairs of long pants if you have leggings, you can do on leggings
• Hiking shoes
• 2 – 3 pairs of wool socks
• Rain gear (Pants, jacket, if you do not have you can buy a rain poncho) is crucial, especially for the wet season.
• A small headlamp
• A small towel
• Shorts
• Sunglasses
• Toothbrush and other personal toiletries
• Toilet paper
• Sun cream
• Insect repellent
• Sandals / Flip flops
• Waterbottle
• Swimwear
• If you have thermal clothing you can take them which is not that important, you will use them at least for the first night which is at 4000m
• Some snacks such as chocolate, cereal bars, candies, nuts, energy bars, etc
• Extra Cash in Soles

IMPORTANT: Remember that we will provide you with a duffle bag on the briefing day which you can use to pack 7 kilos of your personal belongings that you will take to the trek which are going to be carried by horse during the entire trek. It means that you will do the trek carrying your small backpack with things you need for the day hike and you will have access to the duffle bag at each camping place.

• From 320 US dollars in shared or group service