Go off the beaten path to explore the natural gems of Salkantay & Humantay mountains, this hike will take you to some truly stunning scenery, breathtaking snowcapped mountains, picturesque valleys, beautiful lakes, waterfalls, rural villages, and camp in a mountain in front of Machu Picchu.
The Ultimate Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days and 4 nights Why TreXperience? Day by day Summary: Day 2: SalkantayPampa -Hayrajpunku – Collpapampa (18km, 9hrs) Day 3: Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata (16km, 8hrs) Day 4: Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes (14km, 6hrs) Day 5: Machu Picchu (Beat the crowds!) – 4hrs After breakfast, we take the early buses up to Machu Picchu for the sunrise, visit the Sungate or Inca Bridge and then we explore Machu Picchu with your guide. Once you finish, you will take the Panoramic train and bus back to your hotel in Cusco Not Included Price per person: 580.USD Extra hike after the guided tour in Machu Picchu: Huayna Picchu – Tickets cost an additional $75 per person. To hike this mountain, we need to book far in advance; climbing takes 2 hours round trip Montaña – Tickets cost an additional $75 per person. You need to book in advance, is the highest mountain around Machu Picchu with a total of 3 hours hike round trip To book a tour you need to make an initial payment of 200.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online in full or installments up to 30 days prior to start the tour or in cash on our office upon your arrival. * The initial payment is fully refundable up to 30 days prior to the start of the tour
Day 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE – SALKANTAYPAMPA TreXperience team will pick you up from the door of your hotel around 4:30 am (depending on your location) and drive for 3.5 hours to the trailhead at Soraypampa (3900 m / 12794 ft) – arriving approximately at 8:30 am, in Soraypampa surrounded by mountains, you’ll enjoy the first perfect breakfast prepared by your chef, then meet the team of porters, horsemen, chef, led by the tour guide to later start the Salkantay TreXperience! The first part starts with a 2-hour walk up until you reach the stunning glacial lake of Humantay (4200 m / 13779 ft), once at the lake, you’ll have time to explore the surroundings and relax enjoying the beautiful vistas of this spectacular turquoise water lake, then continue down to lunch place for 2 more hours where the chef is waiting to serve you a delicious meal prepared using organic local products from the area. Along the way, you’ll see a variety of flora and fauna such as the Andean goose (the love birds), deer and vizcachas (which look a lot like a rabbit). After lunch, you’ll continue for two more hours along a beautiful valley with meandering streams until reaching Salkantay Pampa (4000 m/13123 ft), this basecamp offers you an unobstructed view of Salkantay Mountain and the sky at night. Get ready for dinner, stargaze, and sleep under a million stars. Day 2: SALKANTAYPAMPA – WAYRAMPUNKU – COLLPAPAMPA Wake you bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea admiring the spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains. After breakfast, you’ll start the ascent for 2 hours to the highest point of the Salkantay Trek at 4630 m (15190 ft), once on top, you’ll take some time to explore and enjoy the area and even visit a beautiful lake at the base of Salkantay Mounatin. It’s then another 3-hour downhill hike to the lunch place at Wayracmachay (3900 m/ 12795 ft). On the way is possible to see Vizcachas (Lagidium Peruanum), a unique type of Chinchilla endemic to Peru. After a well-earned lunch, you’ll get ready for the final stretch of the day, 3-more hours of downhill from the highland where the air is dry and cold, into the lush cloud forest where weather is warm and humid. This is for sure one of the fastest changes in temperature and landscape that you will experience. The campsite is located next to the village of Collpapampa at 2770m (9087ft). Day 3: COLLPAPAMPA – LLUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA Enjoy a leisurely time at the village while admiring the view of the mountains you left behind. After breakfast you’ll prepare for the most beautiful day of this expedition to the legendary citadel of Machu Picchu, hiking along narrow paths, following the river, passing wooden bridges, waterfalls, granadilla & banana plantations, until you arrive at Lucmabamba (2000 m / 6600 ft) for lunch. Today’s lunch is special, after hiking for about 3 hours, taking a van the last part, you’ll get ready to participate in a Pachamanca, an ancient traditional underground stone barbecue, after burying the food, you will visit the organic coffee farms and prepared you own cup. The cooking takes about 45 minutes then you sit down to enjoy the different delicacies like the Cuy (Guinea pig), different types of potatoes, fruits, vegetables prepared like locals. Once fed and re-energized, get ready for a final 3-hour climb along an ancient Inca Trail to Llaqtapata, a small citadel located in a mountain top at 2750m (9022ft) where you’ll catch the first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the distance, this place was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and lost again until recently. You’ll be camping right in front of Machu Picchu, when you open your tent, you will be able to see the sunrise and sunset over Machu Picchu if the weather allows. Day 4: LLACTAPATA – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES Open your tent and the first you see is Machu Picchu in another mountain in front of you while your trekking team offers you a cup of coffee or coca tea. After breakfast, it’s an easy 2-hour down-hill to the hydroelectric station where you’ll have the last brunch offered by the trekking chef, say goodbye to them, and hike the final last stretch of the Salkantay TreXperience to Aguas Calientes. The last part it’s a 3-hour hike along the railway, following the Urubamba river upstream, This section of the trek is steeped in history as you’ll stop at Mandor Botanical gardens, visited by Hiram Bingham, who found a farmer named Arteaga living in the area, he will be the first to take the American to Machu Picchu in 1911. You’ll visit Arteaga’s farm that is home to a variety of endemic birds such us the Rupicola Peruviana (locally known as the cock-of-the-rock), parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, and orchids. Once in Aguas Calientes, your guide will take you to your hotel, shower, visit the city, hot springs. In the evening you’ll have dinner in a local restaurant as you plan the next and most important day. DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU (Arrive with the first ones) Today is the most important day, visiting one of the new seven wonders of the world, a city that was abandoned for unknown reasons during the 16th century by the great Inca Empire. Wake up early, have breakfast in the hotel, and take the first buses to catch the sunrise in Machu Picchu. Your tour guide will take you on a tour to the most important temples, palaces, plazas, explain the mysteries that hides this spectacular Inca city perched in this impossible mountain peak. The guided tour takes about 3 hours and then you will have time to explore by yourself the magical or either climb Huayna Picchu or Montaña (Machu Picchu Mountain). After finishing with the citadel, you need to take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch, collect your belongings from the hotel, and take the Exclusive Panoramic trains back to Ollantaytambo and our private van back to Cusco. The TreXperience Team will drive back to your around 7:30 PM
Pre-departure briefing Permits To Machu Picchu Transportation Experienced tour guides Camping equipment Porters Food Water Medical kit Extras Satellite phones Taxes and fees All hikers need a warm sleeping bag for camping during the trek. We recommend a sleeping bag that keeps you warm during temperatures as low as -10C. Air mattresses and trekking poles are optional but recommended. If you don’t want to bring all these bulky items from home, you can rent them from us. If you are interested in any of the other extras listed below and would like further guidance or information, then please contact the TreXperience Team. We will be happy to arrange any of the below extras for you.
ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS: FOR YOUR DAYPACKS: Below is a list of items that we highly recommend you keep with you at all times in your backpack. Remember you will be carrying this with you every day of the trek, so we recommend you bring a good quality daypack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger backpacks cannot be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS: TreXperience will provide you with a duffel bag in which you can pack any items that you won’t need to keep with you during the day. Our porters will carry this bag for you throughout the trek. Please note this bag should weigh a maximum of 7 kg including the weight of your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). When rented from us, these two items weigh approximately 3 kg. During the Inca Trek, you will travel through different temperatures as you climb/descend, it can also be cold at night when at the campsite. Therefore layers work best!
Overview
The Salkantay Trek is the second most popular route to Machu Picchu – after the Inca Trail – and it’s not difficult to see why. You will be able to see the Humantay Lake, snow-capped mountains, the cloud forest, organic coffee farms, visit Llaqtapata, and finish the trek at Machu Picchu.
* Travel with an authentic Local Tour Operator from Cusco city
* We offer complimentary airport pick up and drop off
* We are the only company that offers PACHAMANCA demonstration
* We offer a real camping experience with tents and hot showers
* We camp at Llatapata on day 3, a mountain in front of Machu Picchu
* Support Social Project while traveling
* Come back to Cusco on the last days in the exclusive Panoramic trains.
Day 1: Cusco – Humantay Lake – SalkantayPampa (12km, 6hrs)
We pick you up in your hotel located in Cusco and travel for 3 hours to the trailhead, after breakfast, we hike for 2 hours to Humantay Lake at 4200mts, and then lunch, then we go for 2 more hours uphill to the basecamp at 4000 meters
Wake up with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy breakfast with the mountains, then hike up to Salkantay pass at 4630mts for 3 hours and 2 more down to lunch. The second part is a 3 hour downhill until the 2nd campsite at 2800mts
Wake up in your tent and breakfast, we start hiking along the cloud forest for 3 hours, lunch is a special PACHAMANCA underground hot stone barbecue and coffee tour, After lunch, 3 hours up to Lllaqtapata located on top of a mountain right in front of Machu Picchu
Wake up and when you open your tent you will see Machu Picchu, today is a 2-hour downhill to Hidroelectica for brunch and continue another 3-hrs to Aguas Calientes, We spent the night in a Hotel, Gringo Bills or similarIncluded
* Cancellations within 30 days to 24 hours, 50% of the Initial Payment is due
* Cancellation with less than 24 hours, the initial payment is at full loss
* All the remaining payments will be refunded to your credit card (transfer fees might apply)Full Itinerary
What's Included?
INCLUDED
TreXperience welcomes you to our Cusco offices on the evening before your trek for a pre-departure briefing. The briefings take place at approximately 6:00 pm. TreXperience understands that many hikers may be nervous or inexperienced, and so the briefing is an opportunity to meet your guide(s) who will talk you through what to expect over the coming days. Our guides are very approachable and experienced, so feel free to use this opportunity to ask them any questions you may have.
All admission permits are included. To obtain all relevant licenses for your hike, we will require a photocopy of your passport. We kindly request you share this with the team as soon as you book your trek.
TreXperience offers a door to door service; we will pick up from your hotel on the morning of the trek and drop off back at your hotel on the last day. All required transportation throughout the trek is included, as well as the train back from Aguas Calientes. We use the exclusive panoramic trains on the way back as a treat after a long hike. Also, TreXperience offers a complimentary transfer service to and from the airport and your hotel.
TreXperience team are fluent English speakers and are incredibly experienced professional tour guides from the local area. We provide a single guide for groups smaller than eight people and a second guide for groups with eight people or more. We very much enjoy sharing our extensive knowledge of local history and culture with you along the trek. All tour guides are proficiently trained in high mountain rescue. We are committed to ensuring all clients have the best possible TreXperience!
TreXperience provides the best possible equipment to all clients, as well as staff, to maximize your experience. We use Eureka Timberline 4 men tents that are shared by only two people.
Our porters carry all belongings that you don’t need in your daypack up to a maximum weight of 7 kg. Additionally, our porters carry all food and equipment. You will find your tents and the campsite prepared for you on arrival, so all you need to do is worry about enjoying the hike!
TreXperience are proud of their highly talented chefs who never fail to cook up a delightful feast despite being in the middle of the Andean Mountains! All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided each day (except lunch on the final day), and the food is both delicious and plentiful. We cater for all dietary requirements so please let us know of your needs. We will keep those energy levels high with snacks each day, and we make sure you have a tea/coffee every morning to wake up and every afternoon to unwind.
All drinkable water – from your first lunch to your last breakfast – will be provided (you need to supply your water bottles/camelback, and we recommend carrying at least 2L). The water is boiled, filtered, and cooled before it is distributed.
All TreXperience guides have received training in first aid and high mountain rescue. In the event, a guest requires medical attention while on the trek, our staff will be able to assist you. A medical kit is kept with the team at all times. In an extreme case of a severe medical emergency, you will be evacuated to the nearest medical center.
We are committed to ensuring your trip is as comfortable as possible. We, therefore, provide hand towels, pillows, hand sanitizer, hot water for washing, drinkable water, snacks, daypack covers, and rain ponchos. All these additional comforts are included in the price of your trek.
To ensure your safety and in case of an emergency, we are the first trekking company to introducing satellite phone technology.
All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in the listed price.NOT INCLUDED
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS
Packing List
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