Cusco
Personas: 10
5 Days
$ 380 /por persona
This trek offers an alternative route to the classic Inca Trail, leading you through stunning landscapes and natural beauty, showcasing the flora and fauna of the region. You’ll traverse valleys and mountains before reaching the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu. Connecting Mollepata, Cusco with Machu Picchu, the Salkantay Trek is an ancient and remote trail where massive snow-capped mountains meet lush tropical jungles.
Itinerary
Hotel pickup (5:00 a.m.) and board the private bus to the town of Mollepata, approximately a 3-hour journey. Upon arrival, we’ll have breakfast and begin our hike for approximately 3 hours to Cruz Pata village, where we’ll have lunch. After lunch, we’ll continue our hike towards Soraypampa (3,800 m.a.s.l.), passing the first snow-capped mountain called Humantay. By around 5:00 pm, we’ll reach our first campsite where our chef will welcome us with some mate tea to recharge. After a brief rest at the campsite, we’ll have dinner.
Early in the morning, we’ll depart from our campsite after a hearty breakfast towards Salkantay mountain (4,600 m.a.s.l.), the highest point of the entire route. We’ll ascend this first pass for approximately 3 hours, where we’ll take a short break to enjoy the breathtaking views. Along the way, we’ll encounter several stone mounds called Apachetas and may spot condors, vizcachas, etc. Afterward, we’ll descend for about 2 hours to have lunch in the village of Huayracmachay, then continue for another 3 hours to reach Chaullay, where our second campsite is located. Dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast, we depart from Chaullay at 7:00 am to continue our hike towards Collcapampa. We’ll trek along narrow trails with abundant flora such as various types of orchids and cascades. After 5 hours of walking, we’ll finally arrive at Sawayaco, also known as La Playa, where we’ll have lunch and take a bus to the village of Santa Teresa, which is approximately a 1-hour drive. We’ll arrive in Santa Teresa in the afternoon. After a short rest, we’ll visit the thermal-medicinal baths, where our exclusive campsite is located, providing you with the most beautiful night of the entire trip.
At 7:00 a.m. after having a hearty breakfast, we’ll board transportation to Lucmabamba. Here, we’ll admire the Wilcamayo River (sacred river), different types of fruits, trees, and plants native to the region. We’ll begin the ascent along an ancient Inca trail to the Llactapata sector for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, then descend to the hydroelectric plant for an hour and a half, and finally take a flat path for about 3 hours to reach Aguas Calientes. We’ll spend the night in a beautiful and cozy hostel.
On our last day, you’ll need to rise very early to prepare for the highlight of the trip, the majestic Machu Picchu. First, we’ll travel for about 20 minutes to Puente Ruinas, pass the first checkpoint, then begin our ascent for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (450 meters ascent) approximately, along a trail that leads directly to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day, you can see the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu; a truly unforgettable moment.
Your guide will provide a comprehensive 2 to 3-hour tour of the city before leaving you at Machu Picchu or allowing you to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (tickets must be booked in advance). After the tour, we’ll begin the descent towards Puente Ruinas for approximately 45 minutes. Finally, we’ll continue on foot to the town of Hidroeléctrica (3 hours of flat walking), where your transportation will be waiting for you to board the bus back to the city of Cusco (approximately 7 hours).
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