Salkantay trek 4 days | Guiding Cusco

Overview

SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHUPICCHU 4DAYS

SUMMARY.

This is the second most travelled trek to Machupicchu. It has a duration of 5 days or 4 days, passing many ecological levels having as main attraction the nature. The most important thing is to get very close to the Salkantay mountain and then descend to where tropical fruits such as bananas, papaya, etc. grow. Also on this route you can have a tasting of arabic coffee that many people are dedicated to this agriculture, passing a small stretch of Inca trail called llactapata from where you could see machupicchu. and after all this attraction arrives to machupicchu.

HIGHLIGHTS

the natural hot springs of cocalmayo.
High Andean communities of salkantay.
Tropical fruits.
Lakes, mountains with glaciers.
Plantations of: coffee, avocado, banana.
Orchids.
Part of Inca trail.
Machupicchu.
Book with confidence and flexibility.

DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF SALKANTAY TREK 4 DAYS.

DAY 1: cusco – mollepata – lake humantay – soraypampa.

The tour starts with pick up from your hotel in Cusco. Transport to Mollepata, where you will have breakfast in a family’s house, prepared with local products. Afterwards you will camp in the middle of two beautiful mountains: Salkantay and Humantay. Under thousands of stars.

DAY 2: soraypampa – salkantay pass – huayracmachay – chaullay.

The most difficult day will be this day. As you will also reach the highest point of 4,630masl. Arriving very close to the second highest mountain in Cusco. After an ascent you will have an intense descent of 1700 meters. Here the vegetation changes completely and you will arrive at the camp of Chaullay.

DAY 3: chaullay – wiñaypocco – playa – hidroelectric – aguas calientes

This is the most beautiful day where you can see vegetation such as: fruit plantations, orchids, some medicinal plants, etc. after coffee tasting you will continue by car to hydroelectrica and then walk for another 3 more hours.

DAY 4: aguas calientes – machupicchu – ollantaytambo – cusco

A long awaited day for everyone as this day will be Machupicchu from very early in the morning you will get ready to go up with your tour group to explore the wonder of the world and then back to Cusco and so ends this 5 day adventure.

Itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO – CHALLACANCHA – HUMANTAY LAGOON – SORAYPAMPA.

The tour begins with a 4:30 am pick up from your hotel and then we will drive for 2 hours in our private transportation to Mollepata, where we will have breakfast in a restaurant. As we travel through curvy roads in the Andes, we will be able to observe native villages such as Iscuchaca and Limatambo, the surrounding valleys and the famous snow-capped mountain of Salkantay. We continue in our transport for 1 more hours until we arrive to Challacancha, the starting point for the beginning of an incomparable adventure. We get our belongings ready and send them with our muleteer, while we start the trek towards Soraypampa, place where we will have lunch. After this stop we continue with the hike to the beautiful Humantay Lagoon (4,200 masl /13,779 ft.). We arrive to Humantay, we observe and take all the pictures, listen to the information given by our guide and then we return to Soraypampa where we will camp for the night.

Meals: Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
Lodging: Local huts.
Distance: 14kms / 8.7 miles
Difficulty: Challenging

Day 2 SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – HUAYRACMACHAY – CHAULLAY – COLLPAPAMPA

THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAIN OF SALKANTAY AND THE CHANGE OF NATURE.

We wake up at 5 am, 5:30 am to enjoy an energizing tea to start our hike, from Salkantay to Machupicchu, we enjoy our breakfast to start the hike, a difficult ascent by the path of the 7 curves, until we reach the Salkantay Pass (4,630 masl / 15,190 feet). Place where we will be able to appreciate beautiful views of the snow-capped mountain of Salkantay (6,271 masl / 20,574 feet). The second highest mountain in the Cusco region, we will also be able to observe the Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pasajillo Mountains, after enjoying this wonderful mountain we will continue with our hike.

As we advance we will find native villages like Rayampata and Huayracmachay with an incredible nature, place where we will have lunch, after this brief stop and rest we will continue with the walk through a cloud forest and rocky path observing the change of nature, a living and unique flora. Then we will arrive to Chaullay where we will have a brief stop and then we will head to our camp in Collpapampa, place where we will spend our second night.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
Lodging: Local huts.
Distance: 21kms / 12.6 miles
Difficulty: Challenging

DAY 3 COLLPAPAMPA – WIÑAYPHOCO – SAHUAYACO BEACH – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES.

Today is a very challenging day, and our mountain chef knows it and therefore wakes us up with a cup of coca tea to fill us with energy to meet this challenge. We have breakfast and continue our hike to the high jungle of our Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu. Along our hike we will be able to observe a change of vegetation with an incredible flora and fauna which you will only see in this journey, in this path we will see coffee plantations, bananas, avocados, we can also taste the exotic fruit of the area such as the passion fruit.

We continue with our hike until we reach the last lunch prepared by our mountain chef, as well as the process of the elaboration of organic coffee since it is a grain to have an essence in our cup. We rest for a moment and then continue our hike to hydroelectric, where we will begin a walk along the train tracks surrounded by beautiful vegetation. In this journey you have the option to take the train which has an extra cost of $37.00 per person or continue along the train tracks until you reach Aguas Calientes if you are very exhausted.

After having made the decision to walk along the train tracks, the approximate time of 3 hours to reach Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu village), we will arrive at an accommodation (Hotel) where you can rest as you deserve, take a relaxing shower. In the evening, we will meet for dinner at a restaurant, place where the guide will also give indications for the next day which is the most important day, visit to Machupicchu.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner in a restaurant.
Lodging: In a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Distance: 23kms / 14 miles
Difficulty: Challenging

DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO.

This is the most important day after a 3-day trek, the day you will never forget.

After breakfast, which is included in the hotel, you can decide to walk or take the bus up to the Machupicchu Sanctuary where you will receive a 2 hour guided tour with our professional guide. After the two hours of the guided tour, you will have some free time to enjoy the wonder of the world, and if you have mountain or Huaynapicchu you can do after the guided tour of the citadel of Machupicchu. After your visit and having enjoyed every corner of this beautiful wonder you will decide to take the bus or take a short walk of 1 hour and a half to return to Aguas Calientes to their respective office and then take the train that will lead to Ollantaytambo where our transport will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the city of Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast included at your hotel.

Includes

INCLUDED

Briefing: The night before your trip, our guide will give you information about your Salkantay Trek.
Transportation
Professional Bilingual Guide: All our guides are graduates of the institutes and universities licensed in our Cusco, who grew up and were raised with teachings that our ancestors left us that is to show their culture.
Guided tour of 2h of the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Bus tickets down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.
Food: we adapt to the type of food you have, whether vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, ETC.
03 breakfasts.
03 lunches.
03 dinners.
Water: The kitchen service will provide us with cold boiled water to fill your travel containers.
Expedition tourist train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. It will be in a miniban of the company Guiding Cusco.
First aid kit.
Duffle bag for your 5 kilos: a suitcase for you to organize 5 kilos that you will take to the Inca Trail among them: change of clothes for 4 days and sandals to be able to rest every day in camping places.

NOT INCLUDED

First breakfast, last lunch.
Expenses during the tour.
Bottle of water.
Walking sticks, (you can rent with us).
Sleeping bag, (you can rent with us).
Air mattress, (you can rent with us).
Tips for the staff on the trail: tips are always appreciated, but always according to your satisfaction, it may not be customary for you, but it is of considerable importance to the people who cared for your food and health during your Inca Trail vacation.

What to Bring

Original passport
Good backpack (small and comfortable)
Water storage: (Camelbacks or 2-liter water bottle).
Comfortable hiking boots (light, good soles)
Trekking poles

What will you have in your backpack during the Inca Trail trek?

You need to bring a small and comfortable backpack for hiking. We recommend not to exceed 25 liters; this is for Machu Picchu where large backpacks will not be allowed.

Water: We provide drinking water every day after the first lunch. For the first morning, you should bring 2 liters of water.
Rain gear (rain jackets, rain pants, waterproof hiking gloves, ponchos).
Sun protection (sunscreen, sun hat)
Hat, warm gloves
Camera, extra batteries, soles
Alcohol gel
Toilet paper
Extra money for souvenirs, drinks and tips.

What will you carry in the duffel bag?

During the Salkantay Inca Trail Tour, porters will carry up to 5 kg of your personal belongings. With your sleeping bag and air mattress 7 kg; this equipment you can bring your own or rent from Guiding Cusco

4 t-shirts (long sleeve, preferably absorbent t-shirts)
3 comfortable walking pants
4 sets of underwear
4 sets of hiking socks
1 warm jacket – very cold at night
Comfortable camping shoes (sandals or sneakers)
Camping towels (quick drying). Small hand towels are provided.
Soap (in a sealed container)
Battery charger (enough for the 6 days)
Plastic bags: to organize clean and dirty things.
Sleeping bag (-10C °), you can bring your own or rent it in GUIDING CUSCO
Ear plugs for the night
Toiletries, Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Personal medication
First aid kit: Band-Aid’s, moleskin, etc.

Price

“Salkantay trek to machupicchu” can leave any day of the week, from march though january. We stop operating in february, becouse of rainy season, maintenance of the route and campsite.

PRICE 2024

Group Price: US$ 380.00 per person
REQUIRED pre payment: US$ 200.00 per person.
BALANCE. (CUSCO): US$ 180.00 (Usually paid in cusco 2 or 3 days before the star of your adventure)

This small group adventure is guaranteed to opérate whit just 2 people.

The payment can be made through the Openpay link that has an additional charge of 5% for online deposit, and half of the payment will be made without any additional charge as it will be in our offices or directly to the staff in charge of Guiding Cusco that will visit your hotel.

HOTEL IN AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN.

Most treks to machupicchu ends in aguas calientes town, so you will spend the last night in a hotel in the town. rather tan camping (including a shared room in a standard 3-star hotel). If you need a hotel upgrate or prefer a sigle room, you can pay an extra fee. Please enquire for more details.

EXTRA HIKES AROUND MACHUPICCHU.

Complementary services and upgrades you can include in this trip:

HUAYNA PICCHU mountain(highly recommended): US$ 70.00
MACHU PICCHU mountain: US$ 70.00
HUCHUY PICCHU mountain: US$ 50.00
Single supplement(hotel at aguas calinetes town). US$ 35.00
Extra night at aguas calientes town. US$ 60.00
Vistadome train (from aguas calientes town – ollantaytambo). US$ 70.00
Porter Extra: $60 (up to 10 kilos).

EXTRA EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREK OF SALKANTAY 4 DAYS

Additional ítems you can rent for this trip:

Sleeping bag: US$ 20.00
Trekking poles(1 pair): US$ 20.00
Inflatable mattress. US$ 20.00

PRICE GUARANTEED

Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the Price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. So please , before booking , ensure you have read all our important tour information.

STUDENT DISCOUNT.

Student discount apply to anyone 17 years old or younger. To receive the discount, we requirea copy or clear photo of the Passport at the time of booking. It must be valid and not expire within the travel dates.

US$20.00 off

“Salkantay trek with inca trail to machupicchu” can leave any day of the week, from march though january. We stop operating in february, becouse of rainy season, maintenance of the route and campsite.