Five-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - Group Service

We will leave Cusco at around 4:30 am by bus to the town of Mollepata (2,900 meters) where we will arrive at about 8:00 am. Here, we will stop for last-minute supplies, a quick stretch and restroom break, before continue upwards by bus to Challacancha, the starting point of our trek.

At Challacancha, we will meet with our support staff, load our equipment onto horses and mules, and by 9:00 am, we begin our walk towards Soraypampa (3,900 m). During this part of the trek, we can have (weather permitting) panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay and Humantay mountains.

By midday its time for a classic Peruvian lunch. After lunch, our trail continues upwards toward Humantay Lake, turquoise waters right at the foot of the glacier. Upon descending back to our camp, our tents as well as dinner will be ready.

Today, the landscape will change drastically from barren alpine to snowy peaks and tropical areas. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start the most difficult part of the trek. We set out at around 7:00 am. We will hike to a place called Salkantay Pampa, continuing left and upward toward the face of Salkantay.

By midday we will reach the highest point of the trek (4,600 m). The views from here are breathtaking. From here, we can not only see Salkantay (6,264 m) but also the surrounding peaks and valleys below.

Around 1:00 pm, we will have lunch in the area called Huayracmachay. After a trek of about three hours, we will arrive at our camp in Challway (2,920 m). Later in the evening we will enjoy a well-deserved rest and dinner.

We will start our trek through the high jungles early in the morning. After about five hours, we will arrive at Playa Sahuayaco near the town of Collpabamba, traversing an altitude known as the “Eyebrow of the Amazon,” where waterfalls, fruit-bearing trees, and diverse flora and fauna manifest in absolute abundance.

If we are lucky, the famous Andean bird known as the “Cock of the Rocks’ may appear to bless us with its beauty. Once at Playa Sahuayaco, we will rest and have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our trek downstream for a few more hours until we arrive at the town of Lucmabamba, which is our last campsite and also the beginning of the Inca Trail to Llactapata.

This morning, we will gradually hike upwards for about two hours to the archeological site of Llactapata, an impressive center with connections to Machu Picchu and Sayacmarka. We will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful Inca site before descending to the Hydro-Electrica (hydro station) which takes roughly one and half hours.

From there, a gentle three-hour walk will bring us to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will check in to a hotel for the night. After check-in and freshening up, we will meet up again for dinner together at one of the many restaurants in town.

Our last day together starts very early. We will wake up at around 5:00 am for breakfast and catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It is important to start early today to avoid the main crowds and also see the citadel during the first rays of morning light.

Our guide will start the day with a tour of the most important locations, altars and constructions around Machu Picchu. During this walk, he will also share with you what we know about the history of this place and the people who lived here. If you still feel like you have energy after the previous days, now is the time to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Once you have toured Machu Picchu, a bus will take you back to Aguas Calientes for lunch. After lunch, we will board the train to Ollantaytambo and from there continue by bus to Cusco.