Experience The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu . This 4 days  Trekking adventure will take you on a historic section of Inca trail through 15 different Eco-systems, while you traverse a mountain pass over 15,000 feet, explore villages where locals still maintain age-old traditions and re-discover the mystical beauty of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of the Inca Empire.

The Salkantay adventure, it is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, as well as the most interesting and exotic variety of flora and fauna, all in the company of new friends and like-minded souls.

Daily Summary:

Day 1: Cusco To Soyroccocha
Day 2: Soyroccocha to Collpapampa
Day 3: Collpapampa to Lucmabamba – Hidroelectrica train station – Aguas Calientes
Day 4: Aguas Calientes / Machupicchu to Cusco

Day 1

Cusco To Soyroccocha

We leave Cusco at 06.00 am in a private transportation and start a scenic bus ride to our trail starting point at Challacancha. Along the four-hour drive, we cross the town of Limatambo (2100m/6888ft), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the time of the Inca Empire. We leave Limatambo and drive up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River, to reach Mollepata (2800m/9184ft), then Cruzpata (3100m/10168ft) and finally Challacancha, where we meet our wranglers and horses. After a short introduction we start our hike, following the paths of the locals on a soft ascent towards the base of Mt. Salkantay (6271m/20569ft). After lunch in Salkantaypampa, we start our sometimes steep 2 hrs ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4200m/13776ft). This will be a cold night so very warm clothes are essential.

  • Level : Moderate, mostly up hill
  • Duration : 4 Hours of hike
  • Location : Cusco to Challacamcha, to Soyrococha Andean landscapes
  • Description : Andean landscapes
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
  • Night at : Camping
Day 2

Soyroccocha to Collpapampa

We depart early after breakfast and start a 1,5-hour ascent, which brings us up to the Salkantay Mountain Pass (4525m/14842ft) where, besides enjoying stunning views of the surrounding glaciers and the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range with the South face of Salkantay towering above us, we may also observe chinchillas and condors in their natural habitat. From this point, we start descending towards a more tropical climate and into the so-called cloud forest, Along the route, we can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, which is approximately 6 meters wide. A long though easy descent along the Salkantay River, brings us late afternoon to our second camp at Qollpapampa (2890m/9479ft), a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in.

  • Level: Moderate, mostly down hill
  • Duration: 8 Hours of hike
  • Location: Soyrococha to Colpapampa
  • Description: Andean landscapes glaciers and Semitropical landscapes
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner included Camping
  • Night at: Camping
Day 3

Collpapampa to Lucmabamba - Hidroelectrica train station - Aguas Calientes

Today we continue our hike with an easy walk along the Santa Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. We pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko, the bustling small town of La Playa and finally our third camp at Lucmabamba (2,100m/6888ft). On the way we can see plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado, as well as exuberant local flora. We enter spectacled-bear territory and we will probably be accompanied by flocks of parrots as we descend. After lunch we will drive to the hidroelectrica train station, were we will board the train to the town of Aguas Calientes.

  • Level: Moderate, mostly down hill
  • Duration: 5 Hours of hike
  • Location: Collpapampa to Lucmabanba – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
  • Description: Andean landscapes and Subtropical landscapes
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner included
  • Night at: Hotel Hatun Inti Classic Aguas Calientes
Day 4

Aguas Calientes / Machupicchu to Cusco

We wake up early and take bus up to the ancient Inka ruins of Machupicchu, upon arrival in Machupicchu you will have a guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. You will then have free time to walk around, climb up the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it (please note that there are only 400 visitors allowed per day), or visit the Temple of the Moon or the impressive Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall.

  • Level: Moderate, mostly up hill
  • Duration: 2 Hours of hike
  • Location: Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu
  • Description: Cultural contact, Andean landscapes and Inca remains
  • Meals: Breakfast, included
  • Night at: Casona de Yucay Sacred Valley

This tour include

Hotel Nights:

  • 01 Night Hatun Inti Classic Machupicchu town

Trek Includes :

  • Pre-departure briefing
  • Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transportation to Challacancha (starting point of the trek)
  • Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field. Eureka Timberline 4 Outfitter tents are employed when double accommodation is requested and Eureka Timberline 2XT for single travelers
  • One inflatable sleeping pad per person
  • One pillow per person
  • Dining tent with tables and chairs
  • Kitchen tent
  • Toilet tent with biodegradable toilet facilities
  • English speaking professional and official tourist guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)
  • Chef and cooking equipment
  • Pack animals (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment) — days 1 to 4
  • Pack animals to carry personal gear up to a maximum of 9 kg per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag) — days 1 to 4
  • 1 emergency horse every 6 persons — days 1 to 4
  • Wranglers – days 1 to 4
  • Accommodation for all our staff
  • Meals (03B, L 04, 04D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost
  • Filtered boiled water from lunch time on 1st day onwards
  • Bio-degradable personal hand soaps
  • Bio-degradable dishwashing detergents used by our kitchen staff
  • Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
  • First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
  • Train ticket from the Hydroelectric power plant to Aguas Calientes (day 4)
  • 1D Machupicchu entrance fee
  • RT Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes (day 5)
  • Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
  • Transfer train station-hotel in Cusco
  • 24-h guest service: please ask for the emergency number available during your time of visit

What is not included 

  • Sleeping bag that you can rent in cusco from our office.
  • Breakfast on the first day
  • Lunch and dinner on the last day: after the guided tour at Machupicchu, you can enjoy free time to further visit the ruins and choose to have lunch either in Machupicchu or in Aguas Calientes at your own expense.
  • Huayna Picchu entrance fee: if you would like to climb this mountain an additional fee of US$ 30.00 per person applies
  • Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

What we recommend that you bring 

  • A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
  • Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
  • Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
  • Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
  • Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
  • Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
  • Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
  • Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
  • Sun block
  • After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
  • Insect repellent — minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
  • Handkerchiefs
  • Toilet paper
  • Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
  • Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
  • Optionally: water-sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
  • Small towel
  • Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
  • Cash in soles and/or US$
  • Original passport
  • Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
  • Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)

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