Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

We will pick you up from the hotel in Cusco between 4.30 to 5.00 a.m. to go by tourist bus to the town of Mollepata (2,900 meters above sea level), where we will arrive approx. at 9:00 hrs. for our breakfast. This day we will take a beautiful and scenic trip to Limatambo, during which we will have panoramic views of the majestic Nevado de Salkantay. We will also see a chain of impressive snow-covered mountains and the valley of the Apurímac River. We will meet our organization staff and load the equipment on the mules to begin our walk to Cruz Pata (3,200 meters above sea level). The approximately 3-hour walk will take us through Andean and traditional communities such as Cruz Pata and Challacancha, where we will stop to lunch approx. at 12:00 hrs. After a short break we will continue walking through the villages of Soraypampa (3,850 meters above sea level), arriving at approximately 5:00 p.m. Our dinner and first night of camping.

After a good early breakfast we will undertake the most difficult walk of the trip. We will leave at 7:00 hrs. and we will visit the site called Pampa Salkantay and then head towards the left side of the Humantay snow-capped mountain, located next to the Salkantay snow-capped mountain. At 12:00 hrs. We will be at the highest point (Abra de Salkantay, 4,600 meters above sea level). We appreciate spectacular views of the mountain and the imposing snow-capped Salkantay (6,264 meters above sea level), the second highest peak in the Cusco region, as well as the mountains of Humantay and Huayanay. After 1 hour of rest we will eat lunch for the day in the area called Huayracmachay (3,700 meters above sea level) and we will continue walking for approximately 3 hours towards the Rayanniyoc field or the Chaullay field (2,920 meters above sea level). Here we will have our second night of camping.

After breakfast we will resume our walk at 7.00 a.m. We will walk for 5 hours, observing the town called Collpabamba (3100 meters above sea level), immersed in the cloud forest or jungle eyebrow. On the tour we will see waterfalls, fruit trees, a variety of flora, coca and birds. Here we will be able to observe the banana harvest and the waterfall. If we are lucky we will be able to see the famous “Cock of the Rocks”. Next we will have lunch in Wiñaypoqo and enjoy an hour of free time to rest and continue the walk of approximately 3 hours until we reach the area called La Playa (2250 meters above sea level), appreciating the great variety of orchids along the way. We will continue our walk to the Town of Santa Teresa (1990 meters above sea level), arriving at approximately 4:30 p.m. Optional: Local transportation from La Playa to Santa Teresa and visit to the Cocalmayo thermal baths (10 minutes from the town of Santa Teresa). Dinner and camping in Santa Teresa.

After breakfast at 7.30 a.m. We will begin our 2.5-hour walk to the Hydroelectric plant (1,870 meters above sea level), observing fruit plantations such as banana, passion fruit, coffee, etc. along the way. We will also have the opportunity to observe the lost city of the Incas from afar: the majestic Machu Picchu. After lunch at Hidroeléctrica with all the staff, we will leave for the Town of Aguas Calientes. We can do this section on foot in approximately 2.5 hours or also by boarding the train that leaves at 4:30 p.m. and will take us in 45 minutes to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,050 meters above sea level). In Aguas Calientes we will have the option of going to the thermal baths, which are at a distance of 2 kilometers from the town. We will then return to the hotel for dinner and spend the night.

Very early we will walk or take the first bus to Machu Picchu to enjoy the sunrise in this magical place, before the arrival of other tourists from the city of Cusco. We will enjoy the tranquility of the lost city of the Incas on a guided tour (Approx. 2 ½ hours), through the most important places of this great city of the Incas, keep in mind that during the tour there are established routes for your visit. In the afternoon we will go down by bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly the town of Aguas Calientes), we will board our train to Ollantaytambo, and then take our transportation that will take us to the city of Cusco.