SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU

After a good night’s rest, you will wake up before dawn for breakfast. The muleteers will bring your duffle bags to the next campsite. We will start with a 1.5-hour steady uphill hike to the famous Humantay Lake. Once at the lake, enjoy the views of the crystalline-blue water. You may also see the first sun rays peeking through the snow-covered peaks.

Then, we will begin our way back and continue to the lunch spot in Soyroccocha for about 3 hours on a gradually ascending terrain. On the way, places like Salkantay Pampa will let you enjoy the outstanding views of the surrounding peaks and snow-covered mountains. After lunch, we will continue for about an hour until the Salkantay Pass (altitude: 4650m/15252ft), which is the highest point of the trek. Enjoy the views here with a hot beverage.

From the Salkantay Pass, we will hike down for 3 hours to our campsite in Wayracmachay. Upon arrival, your tents and duffle bags will already be there. Enjoy a happy hour with hot chocolate and coffee, followed by dinner. If the weather allows, you may enjoy a brief introduction to the visible Inca constellations. This will be a cold night, so make sure to wear very warm clothes.

Walking Distance: 22 km / 13.6 mi
Elevation Gained: 850m/2788ft
Elevation Descended: 850m/2788ft
Weather: Cold, windy, rainy in the wet season

Overnight at campsite.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The staff will wake you up early with a hot beverage to start the day. You might see the sunrise over the peaks of the glaciers and the clouds, rising from the green cloud forest. You will have time to pack and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

At around 7:00 a.m., we will hike downhill for about 4 hours until our lunch spot at Ccollpapampa (altitude: 2700m/8856ft). At this time, you will notice the microclimate and the fauna and flora changes: from cold glacier views to warmer green jungle surroundings. You will see different species of orchids, also ferns, begonia flowers, and even hummingbirds.

After lunch, we will hike for about 4 hours on a gradually downhill terrain to the next campsite called La Loreta (altitude: 2400m/7872ft). On the way, witness beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and the flora and fauna. Here, there is another tropical forest microclimate, where local people farm coffee, passion fruit, papayas, oranges, and avocados. Once at the campsite, you will enjoy a free hot shower and jacuzzi. You can also walk around the ecological garden to see coffee, avocado, chilies, tomatoes, and pineapples. Dinner will be accompanied by the views of the Salkantay river.

Walking Distance: 22 km / 13.6 mi
Night Elevation: 2400m/7872ft
Elevation Descended: 1400m/4592ft
Weather: Warm and hot at lower elevation

Overnight at campsite.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a delicious breakfast, you will start the shortest and the most exciting day of the trek. Today you will explore the tropical forest, and you will visit a local, organic coffee farm, where you can see the orange and avocado plantations and taste some of the freshly-brewed coffee. We’ll have an incredible lunch and a cooking class at the coffee farm.

Then, we will continue to Llactapata by hiking along a section of the Inca trail for approximately 2.5 hours, where you will enjoy amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley. Here, you will get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu and you will also have a guided tour of Llactapata Inca site. The last leg of the day’s hike will be 15 minutes downhill to the campsite.

You will see that the campsite is a great place to admire the sunset and sunrise over Machu Picchu. There will be some time to relax with cold beverages, before the happy hour with tea and coffee, followed by a delicious dinner. Once the stars come out, enjoy the Milky Way and the Inca constellations.

Walking Distance: 12 km / 7.45 mi
Campsite Elevation: 2700m/8856ft
Elevation Gained: 400m/1312ft
Weather: During daytime hot and humid, chilly at night

Overnight at campsite.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The team will wake you up early with a hot drink. After breakfast, start the day with a 2-hour downhill hike with views of Machu Picchu until Hidroelectrica Station. The most impressive part of this area is the natural waterfall of 300 meters high that generates electricity for the region of Cusco. Here, you will enjoy the last lunch prepared by the trekking chef, before continuing to the famous Intiwatana (sundial rock). According to history, this Inca stone used to work with the legendary sundial rock in Machu Picchu to signal the winter solstice, which meant the beginning of a new farming season for the Incas.

Next, we will continue on the path that runs alongside the train tracks for about 3 hours, leading us to the town of Aguas Calientes. This path was used by Hiram Bingham when he rediscovered Machu Picchu.

On his way, he met the local farmer Melchor Arteaga, who eventually guided him to Machu Picchu. You will hike past Melchor Arteaga’s farm. Here, you will see many species of flora and fauna, the national bird called ”cock of the rock”, toucans, parrots, and orchids. Finally, upon your arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will check in at the hotel, and we will meet for dinner at a restaurant.

Walking Distance: 14 km / 8.7 mi
Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2040m/6692ft
Weather: Hot

Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your tour guide will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel. To get the most out of the day, we encourage you to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (first bus departs at 5:30 a.m.). This allows you to get ahead of the crowds. After the 30-minute bus ride, you will explore Machu Picchu citadel together with your guide (duration: 2.5 hours / Machu Picchu altitude: 2430 m / 7970 ft).

Note: For dramatic views of the landscape that surrounds Machu Picchu, you can hike on your own either the Huayna Picchu Mountain for about 2 hours (entrance schedules: 7:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m.), the Machu Picchu Mountain for 3–4 hours (entrance schedules: 7:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m.), or the Huchuy Picchu Mountain for 1 hour (entrance schedules: 10:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.). These treks are optional and not included in the price.

Afterward, you will take the bus down, and you will head towards the train station on your own to board the Expedition train* (tourist class), that will take you to the Ollantaytambo station (1.5 hours). Finally, we will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco (a 2-hour ride approx).

*You can request an upgrade to the Vistadome train (superior class). Please contact your Travel Advisor for more information.

Meals included: Breakfast.