Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Day by Day Itinerary

• Day 1 Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa - Humantay Lake - Sky Camp

  You’ll be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick you up around 4:00 a.m. You’ll travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive. After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. We’ll then continue to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

  First, you’ll meet the cooks and horsemen and do a last equipment check. Then, we’ll be on our way. You’ll start with a 3-hour moderate walk to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we’ll be spending our first night. The first section is relatively flat, with a slight uphill through a deep valley of glaciers. You’ll notice that much of the trail follows a restored Inca water channel, which local farmers still use today. This section is 7 km / 4.35 mi overall.

  Once in Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Sky Camp, where you’ll sleep this evening. You’ll have time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the incredibly beautiful Humantay Lake (4,200 m /13,780 ft).

  This round trip takes about 3 hours and covers 3 km / 1.86 mi. It’s not far, but you need to take things slowly at this altitude. You’ll have some time to enjoy the fantastic scenery once you get to the lake. There aren’t many places in the Andes quite as stunning as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. You’ll feel like you’re in a fairy tale!

  Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset in your company. You can’t describe the energy here, but you’ll feel its peacefulness for yourself once here. Then, it’ll be time to turn into your Sky Camp igloo. From the glass roof, you’ll be able to enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets and wake up to see the Apu Salkantay watching over you.

  

  

  

  • Hiking distance

    10 km / 6.21 mi

  • Hiking time

    5 to 6 hours

  • Meals

    Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  • Maximum Altitude

    4,200 m / 13,780 ft

  • Accommodation

    Sky Camp

• Day 2 Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Huayracmachay - Chaullay - Collpapampa (Mountain Sky View)

  In the morning, you will wake up with the day's first rays and see the Apu Salkantay while enjoying an energizing coca tea. Afterward, you will have a nutritious breakfast before embarking on the 7 km trek for approximately three hours to the highest point of the route, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). It is a difficult ascent along the "path of the 7 snakes" because of its winding path.

  Once at the top, you will appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys and the Salkantay mountain right in front of you (6,271 m / 20,574 ft). It boasts the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, and it’s considered an Apu (Inca God). You will also be able to observe the mountains: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After enjoying the views and rest, you will start descending (7 km / 4.35 mi) to our lunch point at Huayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft). This section is rocky and steep but has impressive views of the surrounding valley.

  After a revitalizing lunch, you will enter the edge of the rainforest, also known as the "cloud forest." This section has a distance of 9.5 km / 5.9 mi and lasts approximately three and a half hours. Along the way, you will enjoy the verdant rainforest and witness how the scenery changes rapidly and drastically from the Andes to the Amazon. You will observe colorful landscapes, unique fauna, and native plants and feel the warmer climate.

  After a long day of hiking, you will be glad to arrive at Collpapampa for the night. Finally, we will serve you a hearty meal before resting at our exclusive Mountain Sky View Campsite.

  

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Mountain Sky View Campsite

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

  • Walking Distance

    23.5 km / 14.6 mi

  • Walking Time

    10-11 hours

  • Maximum Altitude

    4,630 m / 15,190 ft

• Day 3 Collpapampa - La Playa - Lucmabamba - Jungle Domes

  Today you’ll be woken at 6:00 a.m. for your tea and breakfast before leaving the campsite. Our first destination will be La Playa, walking through the Santa Teresa Valley. You’ll enjoy a more leisurely walk today with more downs than ups as you soak in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and many plantations, including banana, coffee, and avocado.

  We’ll pass through a small village called Collpapampa, and after, descend through a valley where you’ll observe waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit trees, and plenty of flora and fauna. You might be lucky enough to see the national bird of Peru, the ‘Cock of the Rock.’

  In La Playa, we’ll devour a tasty lunch before we head to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), just another hour away. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, especially perfect for those who are coffee lovers. Even if you are not a fan of a cup of coffee, the smell in the air is delicious. This is the primary agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia, and Europe. You will also visit avocado and orange plantations.

  After dinner, of course, you will go to bed for the night in one of our exclusive camps, Jungle Domes. While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with Mother Earth.

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Jungle Domes

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Walking Distance

    17 km / 10.56 mi

  • Walking Time

    5 to 6 hours

  • Maximum Altitude

    4,630 m / 15,190 ft

• Day 4 Lucmabamba - Llactapata - Aobamba - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

  You’ll be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking after you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning, you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original, world-famous Inca Trail! After a 2-hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

  Llactapata is the first Inca site you’ll see on the trek, and you’ll learn all about the mysteries of this ancient culture and the extraordinary site. You even get to have your first exciting glance at Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu from here. Your guide will fill you in on all the history of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

  Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 1:30 hours, getting another couple of peeks at the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, along the way - only making your anticipation for tomorrow stronger. We stop for lunch in Aobamba before we continue, for a half-hour, to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). One of the most impressive sites in this section is the 250-meter-tall artificial waterfall, which generates electricity for the entire city of Cusco.

  Once in Hidroelectrica, you have two options: 1) If you’re tired out after all the trekking, you can opt to board a train to Aguas Calientes (not included). If you want to enjoy the last stretch of the trek, you can take the flat walk along the side of the tracks to Aguas Calientes, which takes around 3 hours. It’ll be one more chance to embrace the warm jungle surroundings as you hike.

  Along the way, you’ll see Intihuatana, an ancient rock the Incas used as a sundial, which worked together with the sundial stone at Machu Picchu. These were used to measure and read the winter solstice, meaning the beginning of the farming season for the Incas. Next, you’ll reach the train tracks that lead to Aguas Calientes. Once in the small town, you’ll enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

  Note: During the rainy season, and for safety reasons, the hike up the Llactapata Trail isn’t 100% guaranteed. When there’s frequent heavy rain, this trail can become very dangerous.

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

  • Accommodation

    Hotel

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

  • Walking Distance

    25 km / 15.53 mi

  • Walking Time

    8-9 hours

  • Maximum Altitude

    2,800 m / 9,186 ft

• Day 5 Aguas Calientes | Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

  Today’s the day you’ve been waiting since you first set foot on the trail. You’ll finally visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! You’ll need to be up early today to make sure you beat the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the early morning light.

  Once in the Inca citadel, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours through the most relevant sectors of this incredible ancient site. You’ll see houses, temples, terraces, and crop fields, among others. You will be impressed by the intelligence of the Incas in terms of engineering work, which was way ahead of its time and remains a mystery in many aspects.

  The Incas did not have the tools we use today, but they could still build and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

  Bonus Fact: When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and disrepair. It’s since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by people from every corner of the globe.

  Make sure you’re back in Aguas Calientes for a spot of lunch before boarding your train to Ollantaytambo, which leaves at approximately 2:55 pm (subject to availability). Our private bus will collect you from the next station and drive you back to your hotel in Cusco at around 8 pm. You can now put your feet up and enjoy much-needed rest; however, your heart will still beat the Andes rhythm for many weeks, months, and years to come!

  

  

  • Meal

    Breakfast

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Walking Time

    8-9 hours

  • Maximum Altitude

    2,430 m / 7,972 ft