Salkantay Trek, Waking Up With Machu Picchu

The Salkantay trek that we offer goes beyond the local cabins and is a great hike.

You can enjoy our exclusive glass cabin overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu where you can appreciate the sunrise and sunset of Machu Picchu.

You will enjoy our coffee farms, and different family houses, each with its own way of life.

We are not great companies but we are great people with a great love for our History and customs.

Season: March 1 to January 15.

Tour Price Per Person

^$360^USD

5 Days / 4 Nights
Salkantay Trek Independet, Waking Up With Machu Picchu

Tour Type: Trekking/hiking, cultural, adventurous

Good For: Those in moderate shape or better

Difficulty: Challenging due to elevation

Considerations: You will always have a saddle horse to ride in the most difficult section (Soraypampa - Paso Salkantay)

HIGHLIGHTS

Our 5-day trip is an experience that goes beyond an incredible hike through the Andes. Each lodge and family home have an incredible history or experience to share with you and make you feel at one with the community.

On the first night, you will stay in Salkantay Lodges with some privileged views of the majestic Salkantay Glacier. On the second night, you will stay in a local house, full of culture and tradition, not to mention, hospitality. On the third night, you will spend in Llactapata lodges which are situated just in front of Machu Picchu. In the evening you can appreciate the sun set over Machu Picchu and the following morning, the spectacular sunrise.

No additional costs that surprise you

We include emergency horses in the most difficult sections, all the drinking water you may need, renewable energy so you can charge your cell phone, private rooms with private bathrooms, incredible views from the comfort of your room, typical foods, local families that they will surprise you with their experience and way of living day by day, at the end of each day you will have a hot shower.

The most important:

You are not subject to large groups, you enjoy the walk at your own pace to get the most out of your experience.

Hiking the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in Peru

ITINERARY

DAY 01
Cusco - Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa (Humantay Lake)

We will pick you up from your hotel between 5 am and 5:30 am in our private car, which will take you to the community of Mollepata, approximately 2.5 hrs traveling time. In Mollepata, my family will be waiting for you in the restaurant “La Casona”, where you will meet the founder of “Refugios Salkantay”- Mercedes Sotelo and where you will have the option to have some breakfast if your hotel didn’t provide you breakfast in Cusco. (Optional). After breakfast, we will take you in our van to Challacancha, which is approximately 1 hour away. Your large backpack will be left with our driver who will take it to the lodge in Soraypampa. You only need to take what you need for a 2-hour hike.

Start of the hike:

A member of the Refugios Salkantay family will show you the trailhead from Challacancha to Soraypampa (7 km / 4,35 miles). The first section of the hike is ascending a zigzag trail for approximately 30 minutes until we reach a water canal. This water channel will follow our trail to Soraypampa. This is a route usually only hiked by trekkers in the area. Continue along the canal to Soraypampa and the first house we see belongs to Refugios Salkantay, which is found next to the trail and so close, you can reach out and touch it! Here you will be treated to a coca tea and shown to your rooms. You will have a private room with a private bathroom, and hot shower and we also provide fresh towels. Once you have settled in, you will have the opportunity to try some local cuisine. We cater to all dietary requirements, allergies, or preferences.

After lunch we will have a short rest then one of the Refugios Salkantay family will take you to the trail once more, towards Humantay Lagoon (4200 meters /13779 feet). This is a return trek along the same track of 5 km /3.1 miles) and approximately a 3-hour hike. This is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Andes with an incredible turquoise, glacial lake, reflecting the stunning glacier of the Humantay Mountain and also one of the most sacred mountains in Inca mythology, the Apu Salkantay. This excursion will help you to acclimatize for the rest of the Salkantay Trek. We will then return to the lodge where an aperitif will await you, followed by a delicious dinner.

Total walking distance: 12km / 7.45 miles.

Starting elevation: 3,380 meters / 11,089 feet.

Highest elevation (Humantay Lake): 4,300 meters /14,107 feet.

OVERNIGHT: Refugios Salkantay: 3,850 meters /12,631 feet.

Approximate night-time (outside) temperature at the lodge: 0 - 5°C.

Difficulty level: Moderate

Approximately 5 hours.

Food (Lunch - Dinner)

Wifi

Hot shower

Cell phone charging

Bed

Moderate (10 km / 6,20mil)

Towels

5 hours
DAY 02
Soraypampa - Salkantay pass – Lucmabamba (Family Home).

5:00 am will be your wake-up call and we will bring you coca tea. At 5:30 am a delicious breakfast will be waiting for you in our dining room.

(Your main backpacks will be taken by mule, and someone from our family, to the next Salkantay lodge, and for the rest of the trek).

At 6 am we will start our day’s hike to the highest pass on the trail, the Salkantay Pass at 4650 meters/ 15,255 feet. The distance is 7 km /4,34 miles and includes a difficult ascent of 3 hours around the base of the magnificent Salkantay Peak at 6271 meters/ 20574 Feet) and up a rocky valley.

If you are feeling tired or suffering from attitude symptoms at any point, please don’t worry, we will have an emergency horse and a muleteer with a first aid kit, with you at all times, for anything you need.

Once we arrive at the highest pass, we will then start the descent of approximately 2 hours. The route is rocky and gravely with incredible views over the valley. We will then reach the village of “Huayracmachay”. Here you will see a flat part of the trail and you will see a small house where they are selling water and have bathroom facilities …. please keep going for 10 minutes more and you will see a white house on the left-hand side of the trail, with a large “Refugios Salkantay“ sign. This is where you will stop for lunch. If it has rained or if you are feeling the cold, we have a heater where you can warm up and dry your clothes. :)

After lunch, we will continue hiking, with our mules, and we will reach the high jungle area of Amazonas, also known as the cloud forest. This is approximately 10 km. downhill walk. (6.2 miles) and will take about 3 hours. This trail is wide, passing through a highly vegetative area with lots of tree cover. This is an incredibly beautiful part of the trail with lots of flora and fauna and with panoramic views, extensive wildlife, with native plants and flowers. These forests for most of the year are quite warm and tropical with high temperatures at certain times of the year. We will then arrive at the village of CHALWAY (2,900 metros / 9,514 pies).

On arrival, our private car will be waiting to take us to Lucmabamba, about a 1 hour’s drive. At this point, we will now have dropped in elevation and be in the high jungle region and we will head to our lodge for the night and meet our local family. You will have a private room and a private bathroom with hot and cold showers. You will also enjoy a traditional dinner before resting for the evening.

Total walking distance: 22km /13.67 miles.

Starting elevation: 3850m /12631 feet.

Max elevation: 4660m / 15,288 feet.

OVERNIGHT: Lucmabamba Lodge: 2400 meters / 7874 feet.

We include an emergency horse if altitude sickness affects you or if you are tired during the most difficult section (Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass)

Approximately 8-9 hours

Difficulty: Challenging

Weather: Cold

Food (Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)

Wifi

Hot shower

Cell phone charging

Bed

Challenging (22 km / 13,67mil)

Towels

9 hours
DAY 03
Day 3: Lucmabamba (Family Home) - Llactapata Inca Trail- Llactapata (Lodge In Front Of Machu Picchu)

You will enjoy a traditional breakfast made from local products. Our car will then collect us and will take us on a half an hour journey through coffee plantations and local fruit plantations, to take us to the best hot springs in the region of Cusco (Cocalmayo), where we will relax for a couple of hours.

We will then visit the coffee farms which belong to the Refugios Salkantay family. The coffee from this region is considered one of the best in the world. If you are a coffee lover this will be a phenomenal experience for you! You will sample a recently prepared coffee made from the freshest coffee beans, recently toasted and ground. We will then pass through the banana, granadilla, yucca, and avocado plantations. At the end of the visit, you will enjoy a local lunch made from the products that have been picked by yourselves …an unforgettable experience!

After lunch we will continue on our way, hiking to Llactapata, along an original Inca trail for about 2-3 hours. En route, we will visit the Inca site of Llactapata, where we will see incredible views of the Santa Teresa Valley. At the Llactapata Pass, we will arrive at the family home of the Sra. Susana, Sr. Pedro, and their son Elio will welcome you and show you to your rooms. From your room with a purpose-built glass roof, you will be able to see Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of the Machu Picchu Mountain and the Huayna Picchu Mountain. At dinner time, we will make a bonfire and enjoy a well-earned glass of wine (an incredible experience!).

Distance walked: 8.km / 4.97 miles.

Starting elevation: 2400 metros / 7874 feet.

OVERNIGHT: Llactapata Lodge: 2700 meters / 8858 feet

Weather: During day time hot and humid, chilly at night

Difficulty: Easy

Approximately 4 hours

Food (Breakfast - Lunch)

Wifi

Hot shower

Cell phone charging

Hotel Bed

Challenging (25 km / 15,53mil)

Towels

9 hours
DAY 04
Llactapata (Glass Roof) - Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes.

You will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu, from your bed! If it is cloudy, please don’t worry, at some point, the sky will clear and you will enjoy your first views of Machu Picchu.

A delicious breakfast will be waiting for us and after breakfast, we will continue on our descent, arriving at the Inca site of Llactapata… just in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site on the way to the mysterious lost city of the Incas! After the visit to the Llactapata ruins, we will continue our hike, descending for about 2 hours. On this part of the descent, we will have a continuous view of Machu Picchu until we reach the hydroelectric train station, where we will have lunch.

One of the most impressive sights in the area is the natural waterfall which powers the electricity for the whole Cusco region! Here we will cross the river on an impressive hanging bridge.

Upon arrival at the hydroelectric station, you will have lunch at a local restaurant and your backpacks will also be waiting for you.

You will continue to the path on the train tracks. The hike along the train tracks will be approximately 3 hours and will lead to the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of the valley of Machu Picchu. This part of the hike will be interesting as it was the trail used by the American professor, Hiram Bingham, when rediscovering Machu Picchu.

We include your hotel in Aguas Calientes and your breakfast the next day.

This is where we say GOODBYE and where the “Refugios Salkantay” services finish.

Walking Distance: 14 km

Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 meters

Weather: Hot

Accommodations:

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging.

Approximately 5 hours

Food (Breakfast)

Easy

Store Luggage at Hotel
DAY 05
Day 5: Machupicchu - Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain (Optional) Return To Cusco

You will need to arrive early at Machu Picchu which means waking up really early! The entrance to Machu Picchu is open from 6 am. until 5 pm. You can choose to hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, which is a hike of about 2 hours. OR you can take the shuttle bus up to the archaeological site for $12 USD (one way) which takes 30 minutes.

If you wish to hire the services of an official guide, you will find many at the entrance to Machu Picchu, who form groups for a guided tour. The cost is usually around s/.20 soles per person for a group tour and around s/. 150 soles for a private tour. A guided tour usually lasts 2 hours for this mystical site. A regular entrance ticket will only allow you to visit for about 2 -3 hours. When you enter Machu Picchu you will head to the principal viewpoint. Here you may take your idyllic, postcard photos of Machu Picchu. After seeing the sunrise (weather permitting).

You will visit the most important sites and temples inside the archaeological site. At the end of the tour, you will have some time to take photos, or if you have reserved the permit to climb Huayna Picchu/Machu Picchu Mountain, to climb your respective mountain. These permits need to be reserved ahead of time and cost $70 Usd per person). If you haven’t reserved a mountain climb, you can hike to the Sun gate (1.5 hours approximately) or even to the Inca Bridge (45mins).

The citadel of Machu Picchu has many steps and uphill climbs.

Approximately 4 hours.

Machu Picchu: Easy to moderate • Please note: Huayna Picchu tickets are subject to availability. Please ask your Refugios Salkantay specialist for details upon booking.

Machu Picchu Mountain may be hiked as well, instead of Huayna Picchu Mountain. This hike is more challenging and takes four hours minimum, round-trip (at an extra cost of $70 USD per person).

Food (Breakfast)

Easy

Store Luggage at Hotel

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INCLUSION

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        Included in the Package:
      
Hotel Pick up in Cusco.
Private transport (Cusco - Mollepata / Mollepata - Challacancha.)
Hot shower at all lodges.
Fresh towels and soap are provided at all lodges.
Rooms in private cabins: Soraypampa, Lucmabamba, Llactapata, Aguas Calientes. We have double rooms, twin rooms, and triple rooms.
Mules And horsemen to carry your personal items for 100% of the route except (Hidroeléctrico - Aguas Calientes).
We include porters on days 3 and 4 (you will be accompanied by porters as this trail is not suitable for the mules)
First Aid kit in all lodges.
All meals are included during the hike until the last day when we reach Hydroelectric.
Sleeping bags are NOT required as we provide plenty of blankets at each lodge.
We also provide a natural walking stick for the hike at no extra cost- one stick per person.
Water is provided. (Bottled).
WiFi Free
All our Refugios have renewable energy to charge their cell phone.
Coffee tour

        Not Included in the Package:
      
First breakfast in Mollepata
Entrance fee to Salkantay Trail (S/.10 per person)
Machu Picchu entrance ticket. (www.Machupicchu.gob.pe)
Return train: (Machu Picchu - Ollanta) www.perurail.com / www.incarail.com
Return to Cusco (Ollanta - Cusco) (There are “collectivos” for s/15.00 soles per person /Private transport: S/ 100 for 4 people, as you leave the train station).
No services inside Machu Picchu

      2 Options to Return to Cusco form Aguas Calientes:
      
Train: (AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO) There are many different train times for trains back to Cusco. Then from Ollantaytambo – Cusco, Buses all day until 8pm approx, which will leave you in the Plaza San Francisco -2 blocks from the Plaza de Armas.
Bus. A 3-hour walk along the train tracks (Aguas Calientes - Hydroelectric) then a public bus /minibus - 6 hours Approx. (Hydroelectric - Cusco)

        What to Bring:
      
Hiking boots: comfortable and sturdy with non-slip soles that fit well.
A change of clothes – please be prepared for every type of weather from cold and hot, to wet and dry.(It is important to remember to pack only what is necessary.)
Spare, dry socks are a necessity.
Rain gear: a waterproof jacket and pants to protect from rain. You can buy a rain poncho almost everywhere but best to do so in Mollepata for around $1.50 USD.
Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: to protect from the sun and wind at high altitudes.
Insect Repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although there is no recorded malaria in the area, bites can be itchy.
Sandals to allow your feet to rest.
Swimsuit (if you want to enjoy the thermal springs).
Original Passport and student cards.
Flashlight or headlamp:
Please bear in mind that knives or anything with a sharp metal point will be confiscated in Machu Picchu.
Cash! – Enough for snacks, tips, souvenirs, - bring in small denominations - no large notes.