Go off the beaten path to explore the natural gems of Salkantay trek and Humantay Lake. Explore stunning scenery, breathtaking snowcapped mountains, picturesque valleys, beautiful lakes, waterfalls, rural villages, and camp in a mountain in front of Machu Picchu.
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. Student Discount: Day 1: Cusco – Humantay Lake – SalkantayPampa (12km, 6hrs) 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 Additional hike after the guided tour in Machu Picchu: Huayna Picchu Mountain – Tickets cost an additional $75 per person. To hike this mountain, we need to book far in advance; climbing takes 2 hours round trip Machu Picchu 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
Day 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE – SALKANTAYPAMPA Start the Salkantay Trek with a pick-up from your hotel’s door 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. Once in Soraypampa, surrounded by mountains, you will 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 will have time to explore the surroundings and relax, enjoying this spectacular turquoise water lake’s beautiful vistas. Then continue down to lunch place for two more hours where the chef is waiting to serve you a delicious meal prepared using local organic products from the area. Along the way, you will 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 will 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 will start the ascent for 2 hours to the Salkantay Trek’s highest point at 4630 m (15190 ft). Once on top, you will 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). Along the way, it is possible to see Vizcachas (Lagidium Peruanum), a unique type of Chinchilla endemic to Peru. After a well-earned lunch, you will get ready for the day’s final stretch, 3-more hours of downhill from the highland where the air is dry and cold, into the lush cloud forest where weather is warm humid. For sure, this is 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 will 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 unique and a highlight of the Salkantay Trek. After hiking for about 3 hours, taking a van the last part, you will get ready to participate in a Pachamanca, an old traditional underground stone barbecue. After burying the food, you will visit the organic coffee farms and prepared your 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 will catch the first glimpse of Machu Picchu from a distance. This place was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and lost again until recently. You will 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. You will 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 will 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 will visit Arteaga’s farm, home to various 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 will have dinner in a local restaurant as you plan the next and most important day of the Salkantay Trek. DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU (Arrive with the first ones) Today is the most important day of the Salkantay Trek. It is visiting one of the world’s new seven wonders, a city 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 tour to the most famous temples, palaces, and plazas and explain the mysteries hiding 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 the magical or 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
Overview
Highlights of the Salkantay Trek
Price per person: 590.USD ….Get a 10% discount using TX2020, valid for a limited time.
To book the Salkantay Trek, you need to make an initial payment of 50.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or Cusco with any credit card at no booking fees at all.
All travelers under 17 will have a $30. If you are 25 years old or under at the time of traveling, you can get the 30$ discount with your student ID. Please advise by email to give you a code for the discount.
Day by day Summary of the Salkantay Trek:
We the Salkantay Trek at 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 two 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 two 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 similar
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