The Salkantay Trek is one of the most scenic trails in Peru that we have to get to Machu Picchu. It has glacier mountains, picturesque lakes like the Humantay Lake and the Salkantay Lake, the Amazon area make this hike beautiful to walk through, until you reach Machu Picchu.
We take you through the different types of landscapes and attractions to enjoy the beauty of the Peruvian Andes. In this Salkantay trekking tour, you will enjoy the best service from Machu Picchu. We offer you the best places to camp, and the trips are guided by professional guides and the best itinerary to enjoy spectacular places like the Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Mountain and the pass that is 4630 m above sea level. On the second day, you reach the highest point of the entire trek to start descending to the Amazon area with rivers, waterfalls and hot springs.
The Santa Teresa area has Inca trails that go to the Llactapata ruins from where you will have a fantastic view of Machu Picchu from a different angle, one day before arriving and finally heading to the lost city of the Incas. If you have enough time in Cusco, we recommend the five-day options because you will not miss anything on this tour to Machu Picchu.
The Salkantay trek is one of National Geographic 25’s “World’s Best Hikes”. Choose the right company to be with you on your Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Get the support of a professional team of trekking experts. The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is an alternative to the Inca Trail and is considered by most to be the best alternative route (and perhaps even better!).
This magnificent trail is perfect for adventurers who want to personally integrate into the changing ecosystems from one day to the next. You will walk through magical landscapes from a snowy mountain paradise to a tropical jungle where you will encounter a wide range of animals and medicinal plants and varieties of flowers. Witness with your own eyes a living but ancient culture in remote villages almost never seen by outsiders! The Cordillera Vilcabamba is an impressive mountain range that stretches over 260 km. The snow-capped mountain Salkantay rises to 6271 MASL- 20574 FASL in altitude. It is an exceptional snow-capped peak, located less than fifty miles northwest of the city of Cusco in south-central Peru. Due to its proximity to the city, it is easily accessible by car and has been climbed by professional mountaineers since 1952. To complete the Salkantay Trek, you should have a reasonable level of fitness, but age should not be a barrier. The most important thing is to be well acclimatized to the altitude. The highest you will be during the entire time is (4, 650 MASL – 15092 FASL). Two days of acclimatization before the trek are ideal for visiting the city of Cusco, its nearby Inca ruins and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
We will pick you up between 4:30 am and 5:00 am to finally start the Salkantay Trek 5 Days. After an approximately 2-hours drive, we will stop in Mollepata for a delicious breakfast, and then continue our journey to Challacancha (3800 m/12457 ft), which is the starting point of our hike.
We will hike for about 3 hours towards the Soraypampa base camp, located at 3,900 meters (12,800 ft.) above sea level, and enjoy a nutritious lunch.
We will then head towards the famous Humantay lake (4,220 m/13,850 ft) and admire the incredible views along the 1.5 hour walk. The landscapes are exuberant and full of colors according to the season of the year. You will be able to enjoy the green valleys full of vegetation and incredible sceneries offered by the Humantay and Salkantay Andes mountains, while our local guide will share his knowledge about the history and interesting facts.
Besides, you will have enough time to explore this unique place on your own. We will descend to our base camp in Soraypampa where we will enjoy a hot cup of coca tea, and have a freshly prepared dinner by our cooks.
At 5:00 am, we will enjoy a large breakfast to ensure we have plenty of energy for our hike today. Starting our trek from Soraypampa, we will ascend for 3 hours to the highest point, Abra Salkantay, where we will enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-capped high Andes Mountains, including Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet).
Passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, we will discover a beautiful small lake and then begin our descent towards Wacracmachay for 3 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet). There, we will have lunch and continue our descent for 3 more hours until we reach our campsite in Collpapampa.
We will have tea and a delicious dinner prepared by our cook. Tonight, we will sleep in our comfortable domes at the campsite.
Hiking Distance: 22 km / 13.47 miles
After a rejuvenating night’s sleep, we start day 3 of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. We begin our 5 ½ hour hike through the Peruvian jungle, navigating many ascents and descents. This part of the trek takes us through the cloud forest, where we will discover several coffee plantations, orchids, and many natural plants used for medicinal purposes. We will arrive at our lunch point to rest a little and take a coffee tour.
We will spend the night in our private jungle domes. Here, you have the option to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included). We will return to our campsite at 6:00 pm for tea and a freshly prepared dinner.
Hiking Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Today, we will enjoy the sunrise in a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. After a nutritious breakfast, we will prepare for the next part of our trekking adventure: hiking along a section of the original Inca Trail! We will ascend along the Inca Trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley. After a 2.5-hour ascent, we will arrive at the Inca archaeological site of Llactapata. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the history of this place. Additionally, we will get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain.
We will descend for lunch and then continue our hike to Hidroeléctrica. You can choose to walk to Aguas Calientes for around 3 hours or opt to board a train for an additional $38.00. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the village at the foot of the magnificent Wonder of the World. Tonight, we will stay overnight at a hotel.
Hiking Distance: 18 km / 11 miles
This is the day you’ve been waiting for the chance to visit one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu.
We’ll rise early, around 4:30 a.m., to have a packed breakfast. We’ll then start our hike up to Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 1.5 hours. We’ll descend for 30 minutes to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint, where you will need to show your original passport, Machu Picchu tickets, and Student ID if you are a student. After crossing Puente Ruinas, you will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 a.m.
The hotel will hold your bags for you while you are at Machu Picchu, so you only need to bring a small backpack with essentials, as large bags are not allowed inside Machu Picchu. There is also a bus option from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 30 minutes and costs $12 USD.
Once in Machu Picchu, your guide will take you directly to the best panoramic viewpoint for the classic Machu Picchu photo, then guide you through the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this tour, you’ll learn about the history and culture of this amazing Andean paradise.
After the guided tour, you will have time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You may choose to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain (2 hours) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3 hours). These hikes must be booked in advance, as they sell out quickly and cost $65 per person. Your guide will show you where to begin the hike. The amount of time you spend at Machu Picchu will depend on your choice of return transportation to Cusco (train or car).
🛏️ Accommodation
We offer our comfortable private glass domes and Sky Domes, surrounded by mountains and nature. As night falls, be amazed by a breathtaking starry sky a spectacle you can only experience far from the city.
Night 1 (Soraypampa): Stay in our amazing sky domes designed for two people.
Night 2 and 3 (Colpapampa and Lucmabamba): Enjoy the comfort of private domes for two people.
Last night in Aguas Calientes: Accommodation in a 2-star hotel with Wi-Fi, takeaway breakfast, and a private bathroom with hot water. You can also upgrade to a higher-quality hotel.
🍽️ Meals
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners).
Professional cook and cooking equipment. Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare your meals fresh.
Meals can be accommodated for dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have certain preferences.
A hot cup of Coca Tea every morning.
Boiled water provided for coffee and tea to accompany your meals at the campsites.
🚗 Transportation
Transportation from your hotel near Cusco’s Historic Center to the starting point of the trek.
According to your choice, the return will be by train (from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) or by car (from Hidroelectrica to Cusco).
Tourist transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (Regocijo Square).
👥 Local Guides & Team
English/Spanish speaking professional guide.
Horses and horsemen to carry camping equipment, food, and kitchen utensils.
All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit and an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies.
We provide duffel bags for your personal items (up to 5 kg per person).
📝 Additional
Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide at our office to go over all the details of your tour. The briefing will be between 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00 the day before departure.
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and Salkantay Trek included.
🍴 Meals
Lunch and dinner on the last day.
No water for treks included. Please carry enough water with you. You can buy more water bottles along the trekking route.
🎒 Optional Activities
Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain for $65.00 per person. Please let us know in advance to check availability.
Entry to the Aguas Calientes hot springs.
📝 Other
Trekking poles available for rent for $20.00 per person.
Additional horses for luggage exceeding the 5 kg per person limit.
Tips for your guide, cook, and staff.
Shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu ($12.00 per person).
National or international flights.
Travel insurance.
Sleeping bags ($20.00 per person).
Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.
The Salkantay trek is all about the Salkantay pass. This 4580 m altitude is the highlight of the trek and one of the reasons why the Salkantay trek is not easy. You may suffer from altitude sickness while doing this trek. Below, we will tell you what you can do to prevent it from happening to you. The Salkantay trek was named after the Salkantay mountain, also known as Salcantay or Sallqantay, in Quechua. It is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range and is called the wild mountain. This is because the word Sallqantay means something like wild, uncivilized or invincible. Now do you understand why we ask if you are Sallqantay enough?
We hope we didn’t scare you with the previous paragraph. You might think that the Salkantay trek is extremely difficult. Don’t worry, it is not. You won’t be climbing mountains like Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro. None of the itineraries of the Machu Picchu treks are designed for mountaineers. They are designed for tourism, which means that all people with moderate fitness are capable of doing them. The same applies to the Salkantay trek. It is not easy, but it is not very difficult to accomplish either. When considering doing the Salkantay trek, you just need to be aware of a few things. We list them here.
Spend at least one extra day in Cusco to get used to the altitude.
The second day of the Salkantay trek is the hardest.
Don’t rush it. Enjoy it.
Once you cross the Salkantay pass, it gets easier.
To get the most out of your trip, you should always take it as easy as possible. This is not a mountain race, so it is best to take your time to enjoy the scenery. You don’t spend every weekend in the Andes. Take plenty of snacks and hydrate adequately. The higher the altitude, the more water you need and one of the benefits of trekking is that you burn a lot of calories. 😉 If you have difficulties on the first day of the Salkantay trek, you should know that you can rent a horse for the second day. This can help you to relax when climbing the Salkantay pass. You will not need any help for the rest of the trip. You will enjoy it more
If you are thinking of doing the Salkantay trek, it is good to know what weather conditions you are in. The Cusco area in Peru has two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from April to October and the driest months are June, July and August. The latter is also the busiest season. Don’t worry, it is not like the classic Inca Trail, so you don’t have to worry too much about permits.
CONTACT
chaskitrek2@gmail.com
Address: Calle del Medio N° 135 Plaza de Armas Cusco – Perú
Phone: +51 984 295 630
Phone: +51 984 556 303
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. &
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
RUC:
10416206606
BUSINESS NAME:
CHASKI TREK
Chaski Trek is a professional licensed adventure and cultural tour operator and is owned by a Peruvian family. With the assistance of our well-trained team of professional tour guides and office staff we do our best to offer our clients a high quality service.
Our office is located right on the beautiful Plaza de Armas in the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.
Our office is located right in the beautiful Plaza de Armas of the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.