Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N (Start Trek on Day 2)

Arrival Day

Today you´re free to arrive at the time that fits you the best. Upon arrival, reach your accommodation, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure!

Cuzco to Mollepata to Challacancha, Trek to Soraypampa Camp (3,920m) (L/D)

Today we pick you up at 05:30am and travel by tourist-class bus to Mollepata (2,900m) where you can stretch your legs and buy snacks. Continue by car to Challacancha where we will make final preparations and double check our equipment. Embark on a 3-hour walk that will take us to Soraypampa (3,920m) where we will have lunch with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains. Hike up to Laguna de Humantay (approx. 1.5 hours each way) for more incredible views of the Andes mountains and then return to camp for the night. Our first campsite is located at 3,920m and is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip. Take some time to rest up and enjoy your first night immersed in nature. Have dinner and go to sleep early.

Inclusions: Accommodation pick-up, Transfer Cuzco - Challacancha, 1N Camping, Meals 1L/1D (14km, 6hrs)

Trek to Challhuay or Colcapampa Camp via High Pass (4,650m) (B/L/D)

We will have breakfast at around 6:00 am and begin our 4-hour walk to the highest pass on this trek (4,650m) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Humantay on the left. (Optional horse rental available to reach high pass for 100 - 120 soles). From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible with a possibility of snow here. After a 2-hour downhill hike, a well-deserved lunch will be served at Huayracpampa, followed by another 3-hour trek to our campsite at Challhuay or Colcapampa as we near the beginning of the high jungle region at 2,900 meters.

Inclusions: 1N Camping, Meals 1B/1L/1D (22km, 910hrs)

Trek to La Playa, Transfer to Hydroelectric Station, Trek to Aguas Calientes (B/L/D)

After breakfast at 6:30 am, we start trekking for the day through the upper jungle crossing the Santa Teresa River and a variety of little brooks. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We will have lunch at La Playa (2,200m) and continue by car to Santa Teresa town (1,700 meters) with a warmer climate. From here we will take another car to Hydroelectric Station (40 minutes) and then walk 3 hours to Aguas Calientes. There are internet cafes, cafes with board games and cards, plenty of shops and places to relax. Optional train transfer from Hydroelectric Station to Aguas Calientes is available for an extra cost.

Inclusions: Car La Playa - Santa Teresa Town - Hydroelectric Station, 1N 3* Hotel Aguas Calientes, Meals 1B/1L/1D. (24km, 9hrs)

Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cuzco(B)

Catch one of the first buses (05:30 am) to Machu Picchu (25-minute ride) in order to appreciate the magnificent city in the early morning light as the mist dissipates. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city on your own. If you still have energy you can also climb Huayna Picchu (to be booked in advance at an extra cost). Return to Aguas Calientes by bus. Take the train back to Ollantaytambo and a bus to Cuzco. You will be dropped off late in the day at the Plaza San Francisco.Upon arrival you will need to make your own way to your accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF MACHU PICCHU GUIDED SITE VISIT: The one and only, the most spectacular (and not to mention most popular) archaeological site in all of South America. Your guide will take you on a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu walking you through the most important sites and covering the history of the place. Then you will have free time to explore on your own and take pictures at your leisure. When you decide to head back down to Aguas Calientes, there are buses departing every 15 minutes from the entrance or you can take the walking trail down if you feel like another 1 hour stair stepping downhill to Aguas Calientes town.

Take and OPTIONAL hike up the steep peak named Huayna Picchu, which is located inside the Machu Picchu archaeological site. This sometimes muddy peak takes about 45 - 60 minutes to hike up and awards you with unforgettable views of Machu Picchu from a coveted perspective. Keep in mind that if you want to take this optional hike, you must now purchase your ticket at least 2 weeks in advance for an additional cost in order to get one of the 400 passes (200 people are allowed up at 7:00am and 200 more at 10:00am). Please send us an email directly to request this extra ticket.

Inclusions: Round trip Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu, Train Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo, Bus Ollantaytambo - Cuzco, 2-hour Machu Picchu Guided Visit, Meal 1B