Salkantay Trek

We’ll start the journey by driving to Challancha for around four hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata along the way. Through the windows of the bus you’ll clearly see the white, snow-capped mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay—two colossal gods of the Incas. The panoramic views of contrasting the high peaks and low valleys across all directions provides spectacular scenery throughout the drive.

We will start the trek from Challancha. Here, meet our support staff who will organize all of the equipment and cargo mules. Around 9:30 am, we will trek to Soraypampa (3,850 m).

The first section of the path takes us over a few deep valleys along the side of a mountain. At some parts of the trail, an old aqueduct can still be seen, which still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. We will trek 7 km in three hours to Soraypampa where we will have our lunch at the base camp of Salkantay.

After lunch and a short rest, we hike up to the unforgettable Humantay Lake (4,200 m). This is a 5 km round-trip, which we will walk in a total of three hours. The area is one of the most beautiful in all the Andes with unbelievable blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay.

Because Soraypampa (our camp) is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, the sky is so immensely clear at night that you can truly appreciate the stars, constellations and even comets shooting across it. Take a moment to re-center your spirit and reflect on your life in the profound silence and tranquility of Soraypampa!

Start your trek at daybreak and head up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4,650 m). The trek 7 km with difficult ascents in three hours between the rocky valley base and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m). From the top of the pass, get spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains.

Continuing from this climax of today’s trek, there is a 5 km downhill walk to the Huayracmachay lunch campsite. The walk downwards is on a serpent-shaped, rocky gravel path. Arrive at Chaullay Village (2,900 m) for a much-deserved rest after our long day of trekking. This is our base camp in the jungle as we continue to make our way to Machu Picchu.

We will start our trek to the small town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. You will be able to soak up this new, lush landscape during our six hours of hiking today.During the hike, we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids and plantations of coffee, banana and avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit of the region along the way.

We will also see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” marked with waterfalls, hot springs, fruit-bearing trees and a variety of flora and fauna. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beautiful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks”.

Like previous mornings, the chef of the trek will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea. Get ready for today’s activities while enjoying your last prepared breakfast by the talented trek chef. We will begin the hike early, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a small section of the famous and highly acclaimed Inca trail.

After a climb of two hours with amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley, we will arrive at the Llactapata Inca site right in front of Machu Picchu. We will be able to see not only the ruins of Machu Picchu from this spot, but also Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.

After the Llactapata ruins, we will continue our trek with a two-hour downhill hike. On this part of the trail, you will be able to view Machu Picchu until we arrive at the Hidroelectrica train station for lunch. One of the most impressive sites in this area is the 300-meter-tall natural waterfall, which generates electricity for the entire region of Cusco.

After lunch, we will arrive at Intiwatana, a famous ancient rock used as a sundial by the Incans. Afterwards, we will meet the train tracks leading to the town of Aguas Calientes.

Note: During the rainy season, the hike up the Llactapata Trail is not 100% guaranteed due to safety concerns. When heavy rains are frequent, this trail becomes very dangerous.

Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the new seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu!

The Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint is open from 6 am to 5 pm. We will hike up to Machu Picchu (a bus ride is optional) and enter the hidden royal citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a two-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priests’ houses, the sundial, the industrial sector and the farming fields.

After the tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (be sure to book in advance to get tickets). Each mountain takes approximately hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is the trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail.

You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than seven hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for a train ride to Ollantaytamboa at 6:20 pm. A private bus will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel (not included) in Cusco at about 10:00 pm.

Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!