5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

At 5:00 am, enjoy a hearty breakfast to fuel your day of trekking. Starting from Soraypampa, You’ll pass through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha, where you’ll discover a beautiful small lake. you’ll ascent for 3 hours to the highest point of Salkantay Pass (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet). From this vantage point, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the snow-capped Andean peaks, including Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After a History time by our expert Mountain Guide at the Salkantay Pass, you’ll begin your descent to Huayramachay for 2 hours (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet), where you’ll have lunch after that you will continue your trek for another 3 hours to your campsite in Collpapampa through the upper jungle the begining of the Amazon rainforest. You’ll enjoy tea and a delicious dinner prepared by your chef. This evening, you’ll sleep in comfortable dome tents at the campsite.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Distance Covered: 22 km / 13.6 miles
• Walking Time: Approximately 8-9 hours
• Starting Elevation: 3,900 meters / 12,800 feet
• Highest Elevation: 4,650 meters / 15,250 feet (Salkantay Pass)
• Accommodation: Campsite domes at 2,850 meters / 9,350 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
• Climate: Warm with moderate winds during the day, and cool nights
• Sights: Salkantay Pass and the beginning of the Amazon Jungle, Lush Vegetation

After a restful night’s sleep, you’ll start the third day of your Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a delicious breakfast. You’ll embark on a 5.5-hour hike through the Peruvian jungle, Amazon rainforest featuring numerous ascents and descents. This part of the hike introduces you to the cloud forest, a tropical area where you’ll encounter coffee plantations, orchids, and various natural plants used for medicinal purposes. You’ll reach your lunch stop to rest. Here, you have the option to visit the hot springs in Cocalmayo, Santa Teresa (not included). Afterward, you’ll return to your campsite by 6:00 pm, where you’ll enjoy tea and a freshly prepared dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Distance Covered: 14 km / 8.7 miles
• Walking Time: 4-5 hours approximately
• Starting Elevation: 2,850 meters / 9,350 feet
• Camping Elevation: 2,000 meters / 6,561 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Climate: Hot, warm, and humid, in a tropical area
• Sights: Amazon Jungle, Coffee Tour, and Medicinal Hot Springs

Today, you’ll wake up to a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and various plantations, including banana, avocado, and coffee. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast and prepare for the next part of your trekking adventure: a walk on a section of the original Inca Trail. You’ll hike on this trail, enjoying beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley. After a 2.5-hour ascent, you’ll reach the Inca archaeological site of Llaqtapata. Here, your local Mountain Expert Guide will share insights into the history of the place. You’ll also have your first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. After descending for lunch, you’ll continue your hike to Hidroeléctrica. You can choose to hike to Aguas Calientes for approximately 3 hours or take a train for an additional $36.00. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, you’ll savor a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in the village at the foot of the magnificent Wonder of the World. For the last night of the trek, you’ll stay in a hostel.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Distance Covered: 22 km / 13.6 miles
• Walking Time: 8-9 hours approximately
• Starting Elevation: 2,000 meters / 6,561 feet
• Highest Elevation: 2,700 meters / 8,858 feet (Llaqtapata Inca Site)
• Accommodation: Hostel in Aguas Calientes at 2,050 meters / 6,725 feet
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Climate: Hot, very humid, and tropical
• Sights: Inca Trail, Llaqtapata (Machu Picchu view point)

The Grand finale of your adventure! You’ll rise early in the morning to visit the famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a Masterpiece of Inca Architecture, featuring various neighborhoods, plazas, streets, buildings, astronomical observatories, and agricultural terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911, by American explorer Hiram Bingham. You’ll embark on a Guided Tour to explore and learn about Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After the guided tour, you’ll have free time to take photos and further explore this magical place.

For those who have previously selected to hike either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so during your designated time (1st group: 6 am to 8 am, 2nd group: 9 am to 11 am).

In the afternoon, you’ll return to Aguas Calientes. You’ll have some free time for lunch (not included), providing an opportunity to explore local restaurants. Then, you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo, departing either at 2:55 pm or 6:20 pm. During the return journey, you’ll enjoy the incredible scenery of the Sacred Valley. Upon reaching the train station, our transfer staff will pick you up and drop you off at Plaza Regocijo in Cusco.

Start hiking around 4:30 am to “Puente Ruinas” for approximately 25 minutes. Puente Ruinas is the first checkpoint for hikers and opens at 5 am. Here, you’ll need to show your passport and Machu Picchu tickets. Cross the bridge and hike up the stairs to Machu Picchu for about 50 minutes. You will meet the team at the Main Gate of Machu Picchu Inca City before 6 am. Machu Picchu opens at 6 am. Note: You should allocate 1 hour and 30 minutes to hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes Town.

This ticket will allow you to visit Circuit 3, which is located in the lower part. With this ticket, you can explore the area of product storehouses, agricultural terraces, the urban sector, the Temple of Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Temple of the Sun, as well as the Inca House, among other places belonging to Circuit 3. After your visit, you can ascend to Machu Picchu Mountain, which involves a minimum 3-hour round-trip hike. During your ascent, you’ll have the opportunity to capture the classic photo of Machu Picchu.

This ticket allows you to visit Circuits 3 and 4, which are located in the lower part. These circuits will take you to the base of Huayna Picchu Mountain, the most popular mountain in Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 2 hours round trip. From its summit, you’ll be able to see and enjoy the beauty of Machu Picchu and the mountain bearing the same name.

With this ticket, you will visit Circuits 3 and 4, concluding at the entrance to the smaller mountain called Huchuy Picchu, which is located beside Wayna Picchu Mountain. Climbing Huchuy Picchu will take about 45 minutes round trip, perfect for those who wish to make a brief ascent, allowing you to view Machu Picchu from a different perspective. From this point, you can observe the Pyramid of the Sundial stone, Machu Picchu Mountain, among other sights.

This ticket allows you to visit Circuits 1 and 2, taking you to the upper platform where you can capture the classic photos of Machu Picchu. Afterward, you have the option to visit and admire the Inca Bridge