Best Tours to Machu Picchu
4 day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
60 reviews
Tour Overview
This lovely and varied salkantay trek sky dome to machu picchu (about 50 km) is the “soft option” from Challacancha, as the pass is lower (although it is still a hard 4,750m (15,580ft) and then a bit more difficult). is mostly downhill through forested valleys, above deep ravines, which end at 1,500m. The trek on the second day from Soray goes steeply uphill for half an hour, then comes to a series of zigzags (Siete Culebras is the local name of this strech). At the top of the seventh switchback the terrain levels out under Salkantay´s lateral moraine, and drops gently down to the small laguna Soirococha. The pass you see above is, alas, a false one; the main pass is a little further on, but the view of Salkantay looming above you more than compensates for the effort. The real pass at 4,750m is reached after 3-4 hours from the moraine, and is marked by a pile of stones , “well know as Apacheta by the locals”, which grows daily as each traveller adds his pebble to thank the APUS for a safe trip. Then the trail descends to the left –hand side of the valley, becoming indistinct in swampy areas. And then comes a place named Huayracmachay “eye of the wind”, from here we will have a great chance to see the beautiful Pyramid-shape of Humantay behind as you drop below the tree line, know as LA CEJA DE SELVA (“Eyebrown of the Jungle”), and walk through groves of bamboo with many orchids and other flowers and lots of hummingbirds, spectacular waterfalls, a small hot spring at Collpapampa the right place to lock out for the parakeets that abound in this area as well. and the we go to take a local bus in order to get santa teresa where we will enjoy the hot springs which is 45 minutes from this town .and then will see Machu Pichu and waynapichu mountains and then the last day will see finally the inkan city of Machu Picchu.
Tour itinerary
Day 1: Challacancha - Soraypampa
Day Itinerary
We pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. to drive for about 2.5 hours to Mollepata where we will have breakfast in a local restaurant after the breakfast we will drive for 40 minutes more to Challacancha where we start our Salkantay trek . As soon as we are at Challacancha the cook and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we start hiking the first hours will be a little bit uphill to get The Inca Chanel where we will have a panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – just the start! We will begin our Salkantay trek towards Soraypampa for another 2 hours, our first Salkantay Trek camping spot at our new Domes so we will have lunch here and take a little rest at the Domes then by the afternoon we will have a trek for about 2 hours to go to the Humantay Lake (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) we will be very close to the second highest Salkantay snow capped -mountain of Cusco. and of course we will pass a night in our new Domes which have great confort, hot shower and private toilets.
- 1st DAY:Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)
- Estimated walking time: 7-8 hours
- Maximum altitude point: 3,800 m (aprox.)
- Campsite altitude: 3,800 m (aprox.)
Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay – La Playa Domes
Day Itinerary
After having our Salkantay Trek sky dome breakfast we start walking about 5:30 am ,because this day will be the longest day the first 4 hours is uphill to get the highest point of the Salkantay Trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here. After a rest, we will continue our walk (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the start of the jungle until we reach chaullay where we will take a transport to la playa Domes Base Camp.
- 2ND DAY:Total distance: 19 km (aprox.)
- Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours
- Maximum altitude point: 4,650 m (aprox.)
- Campsite altitude: 2,750 m (aprox.)
Day 3: La Playa Domes – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes
Day Itinerary
After breakfast, at 6.30am, we will start walking through the upper jungle towards Llactapata (original Inca Trail about 2 hours to get the top from there you can see Machupicchu after that walk down for about 2 more hours towards Hydrolectrica after having lunch we start walking 2 more hours by taking the railrodad to Aguas Calientes.
- 3RD DAY:Total distance: 16 m (aprox.)
- Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours
- Maximum altitude point: 2,750 m (aprox.)
- Campsite altitude: 1,600 m (aprox.) salkantay trek to Machu Picchu
Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day Itinerary
Salkantay trek important day ,We wake up early morning about 4:30 to have the breakfast in the Hotel and leave to catch the first bus which leaves 5:30 to Machupicchu (25-minutes long) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun is rising. A walking Guiding tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your Guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top. Then you will take the train around 2:00pm,4:00pm or 6:20pm according to the train Availability so you will arrive to Ollantaytambo after 2 hours travelling so A private transport will wait for you and will take you back to Cusco to your Hotel.
- Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hours
- Maximum altitude point: 2,700 m (aprox.)
Incluido / Excluido
Professional bilingual tour guide whole tour
Entrance fees to The salkantay Trek Mollepata.
Entrance fees to Machupicchu 4th day
Bus Consettur Up-hill Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Briefing time about the Salkantay Trek One day before Hotel or office Manu National Park Peru
Second day andean ceremony, offering to the mother earth with coca leaves
Maximum number of paxs 02 to 08 paxs maximun.
Collection from your hotel (we pick you up from where you are staying) 4:30 am
Private transport to Soraypampa ( trailhead)
Expedition train back to ollantaytambo (can be at 14:30 pm, 14:55pm or 18:20 pm leaving from Aguas calientes).
Private transport back from Ollantaytambo to Cusco hotel.
Food: *3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks (hot drinks, and popcorn) and 3 dinners
Professional Cook
2 or 3-people Dome Capacity 3 beds
Camping equipment (2 domes capacity, cooking and eating dinning Dome. Chairs and tables)
Horseman , mules or porters (they just carry cooking stuff and camping equipment) and 6 kilos from your personal stuff
6 kilos of your personal belongins to be carry by the horses
1 night accommodation in our 3 stars Hotel at Aguas Calientes(private room,cable tv, wi fi) Night 03
First Aid kit
Vegetarian/special diet options available
Travel Insurance
Last day lunch
Personal equipment
Beers
Entrance to the Hot spring in Aguas Calientes
