Salkantay Trek 5 Days with Andean Cooking Experience

This day marks the beginning of our great adventure to the wonderful Salkantay. We will pick you up from your respective hotels between 4:15 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and our transportation will take us to the stopping point, where we will have breakfast (Mollepata) at a local restaurant. After breakfast, we will continue for 45 to 55 minutes to the Devil’s Balcony. We will begin our hike at the Devil’s Balcony, the starting point for Humantay Mountain (5,381 meters above sea level). Humantay Lake is at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level. The distance to reach this destination is 7 km/5 miles (ascent only). The hike takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on your pace and physical condition. Once we arrive at Humantay Lake, we will have time to explore it, get to know it, and enjoy the majestic turquoise lake. We will then return to Soraypampa, where we will have lunch and time to relax in the afternoon, appreciating the natural beauty of our Soraypampa canyon. We will have dinner, receive information for the next day, and rest up for the great challenge ahead.

Hiking distance: 14 km
Duration: 6 hours
Camp altitude: 4,150 msnm
Maximum altitude: 4,200 msnm
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea, dinner
Lodging: Camping
Difficulty: Challenging

This is the most impressive day of the trek to Salkantay. We wake up very early with a delicious cup of coca tea at 5:00 a.m. Breakfast will be at 5:30 a.m. After breakfast, we will receive our final instructions and set off on the Salkantay Trail with sure steps and great confidence for approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on your physical condition. We will make a few stops for short breaks to acclimatize gradually. After an arduous journey, we will arrive at the Salkantay Pass, and it is here where we will have the best time to enjoy this wonder of nature, the snow-capped Salkantay (6,435 meters above sea level), the highest point. Here we will have time to explore and learn more about this snow-capped mountain of Salkantay, the Salkantay Pass (4,634 meters above sea level). And it is here that we will ask permission to pass through its trail and continue on our way to our lunch spot, Wayracmachay, where we will also have our cooking class presented by our professional high mountain chef. Each person will prepare their own lunch, which is a unique and great cooking experience in the mountains on the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. After finishing our cooking class and enjoying our lunch, we will continue descending at our own pace, witnessing the beautiful sights of our natural surroundings. Each point of descent is impressive. This trail will be our route until we reach our camp in Chaullay (2,900 meters above sea level), where a delicious dinner prepared by our mountain chef awaits us. We will also receive information about the next day. After dinner, we will rest up for the next challenge.

Hiking distance: 19 km
Duration: 9 hours
Camp altitude: 2,800 msnm.
Maximum altitude: 4,630 msnm.
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, Cooking Classes – Lunch, tea, dinner.
Lodging: Camping
Difficulty: Challenging

We will wake up early today and have an energy-packed breakfast to fuel us for the day, although it will be a gentler, more relaxing day. We will go on moderate hikes, where we will observe the Santa Teresa Valley, with its wonderful flora and fauna, arriving at our camp for lunch. We will relax and have time to learn about the production and processing of organic coffee and cacao and taste them. If we still have time, we can visit the Cocalmayo hot springs (transportation to Colcamayo can be arranged with your guide and other travelers who wish to visit this relaxing place). If you visit the Cocalmayo Hot Springs, please make sure to return for dinner, which will be served at 7:00 p.m., where we will also receive information for the following day.

Hiking distance: 16 km
Duration: 6 hours
Camp altitude: 2,750 msnm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate

This fourth day is the longest. We don’t get up early, but we recharge our batteries with the last breakfast prepared by our mountain chef. We say goodbye to them and set off on the Inca Trail, as we will have to climb up to the archaeological center and viewpoint of Llactapata. We will have an uphill hike of approximately 3 to 3.5 hours to the Machu Picchu viewpoint, where we will be able to see the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, Huayna Picchu Mountain, and Machu Picchu Mountain. After visiting Llactapata, we will carefully descend using our walking sticks to the hydroelectric plant, where we will have lunch.
After lunch, we will relax for a moment and continue with the last leg of our hike from the hydroelectric plant to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). This hike takes approximately 3 hours along the side of the railroad tracks, although you also have the option of taking the train. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, we will head to our 3-star hotel to rest, take a relaxing shower, and continue with our itinerary. We will have dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes and receive instructions from our guide for the following day.

Hiking distance: 24 km
Duration: 9 hours
Maximum altitude: 2,840 msnm.
Camp/Hotel altitude: 2,000 msnm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: 3-star hotel
Difficulty: Moderate