5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco city at 4:30 AM
and you will drive 3 hours to the trail head of Salkantay trail (Soraypampa 3,800 meters). where we meet the horseman and, after getting ready, begin the hike will begin a two hour climb to the most beautiful blue lake of humantay, located at the bottom of glacier mountain, then after exploring you will begin your return to the main trail and continue 2 hours towards our lunch spot. After lunch, we will continue a two hour hike to our first campsite, at Salkantaypampa (4,125 m). This is the highest campsite, so it should be a cold night, close to zero degrees Celsius.

Before enjoying a freshly prepared dinner by our cook, take time to admire the breathtaking views of Salkantay Mountain at sunset. If the weather allows, after dinner you can enjoy a sky full of stars and the stunning Milky Way.

After an early breakfast with amazing views of the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay and Humantay mountains, you will get ready for the day and begin the hike. we will continue uphill hike until we reach the highest point of the trek “Salkantay Pass” 4650 meters. While the trekking will be difficult, you can take many breaks and the views are defintely worth the hike: two different valleys and Salkantay Mountain is right in front of you. You might even see some avalanches from the Salkantay glacier (not at all close enough to cause you any danger). We won’t have much time to enjoy the views though, its still another 3 hours downhill to reach our lunch area called Wayracammachay at 3800 meters. The downhill part can be slippery so trekking poles are very handy to have for this part.

After Lunch with amazing views of the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay you will continue descending, After about 30 minutes of walking downhill, the microclimate will change and you will be entering the cloud forest. You will be walking downhill through this area for 4 hours until our camp site spot Ccollpapampa (2900 m).
Upon your arrival at the campsite your guides and porters will welcome you to your camp and show your tents, which will be already set up for you. You will have some time to relax, enjoy our social/happy hour and then dinner.

After a delicious breakfast, you will get started on your 5.5 hours hike. You will explore the tropical forest, Along the way you will explore beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and again, flora and fauna. This will be another micro-climate, called a tropical forest, where locals farm coffee, passion fruit, papayas, oranges and avocados. Lunch is always fresh and served family style (large dishes for you to enjoy as much as you like). After a short siesta you will jump in the small van to drive 30 minutes to Cocalmayu-hot springs (2400 m). The views while going by bus are of course amazing and you will be able to see the beautiful Santa Teresa valley. After you enjoy the natural hot springs will return to our campsite Lucmabamba to enjoy our dinner.

As part of our True Impact Experience, your guide will take you to a local family farm, where you’ll connect with the living culture of the Andes.

Learn how coffee, passion fruit, avocados, and bananas are grown using ancestral techniques that preserve organic farming practices. You will also have the opportunity to take part in the coffee-making process—from harvesting the beans to preparing your own fresh cup, guided by a local farmer.

Through our True Impact Project, we support educational initiatives for local children. Read more.

This is not a performance—it’s a genuine cultural exchange that creates a positive impact.

Without a doubt, one of the most meaningful highlights of your journey.

Our porters will gently wake you up with a hot glass of coca tea, coffee. Once you are ready for the day, you will have breakfast with amazing views of the valley, After breakfast you will hike uphill about 3 hours until you arrive to Llactapata incan archeological site where you will be able to see Machu Picchu for first time from other mountain, After photo photobombing will descend for 2 hours to Hitroelectrica for our last lunch with our hiking staff, Where we’ll say good bye to our team. then continue for 3 hours hike until we arrive to Aguas Calientes along the railway which in 1911 was explored by Professor Hiram Bingham when he was looking for the lost city of the incas. Along the way you may see some flora and fauna that are very authentic from the area such as the bird gallito de las rocas (cock of the rock). Gallito de las rocas is considered to be the national Peruvian bird. Hopefully you will see some woodpeckers, oropéndolas, avocado plantations. You will have some beautiful views of Machu Picchu from different angles as you approach as well.

Finally you will arrive to Aguas Calientes where your guide will take you to your hotel and give you some time to settle in and enjoy a well deserved hot shower. After dinner (not included), we recommend going to bed early to get up early morning the next day to explore Machu Picchu.

We will wake up early in the morning in order to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu. You will have a two hour guided tour by your private English speaking guide. After that, you will have time to explore Machu Picchu by yourself. Those who have tickets to huayna picchu will have time to climb the mountain, which takes approximately an hour and a half, round-trip. When you are done exploring, you can either take a bus, or walk, down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Following, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco, where you will be brought back to your hotel.