5 Day Salkantay Trek
5 Day Salkantay Trek
5 Day Salkantay Trek
5 Day Salkantay Trek
5 Day Salkantay Trek5 Day Salkantay Trek5 Day Salkantay Trek5 Day Salkantay Trek

5 Day Salkantay Trek

Cusco - Cusco
Trekking

Get ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime with this 5-Day Salkantay Trek! After spending some time in the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, join us on the Salkantay Trek to the World Wonder of Machu Picchu – one of the best alternative routes to the majestic Inca citadel.

Be captivated by a stunning view of Humantay Lake and marvel at the imposing Salkantay Mountain as you traverse through the fascinating cloud forest. Enjoy your nights in comfortable accommodation and savour some of the tastiest food around – in the middle of the mountains! Experienced guides will be with you all along, teaching you about the rich history and remarkable nature of this region. Come enjoy this route with comfort and great company! Reserve Online.

 

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Tour Details

  • Duration5 Day
  • Type TripTrekking
  • Group Size12 people máximum
  • LanguagesEng, Esp,
  • SeasonYear around
  • DifficultyHard

Experience

Why us

  • Reliable tour operator, certified guides, and drivers. Guaranteed Quality!
  • Personalized assistance before, during, and after the trip
  • Explore the hidden spots to take that epic photos.

    Summary

    Travel Route

    Day 1: Cusco/Mollepata/Challacancha/Soraypampa/Humantay Lake/ Sky Camp
    Day 2: Soraypampa/ Salkantay Pass/Huayracmachay/ Chaullay/Andean Huts
    Day 3: Chaullay/Colpapampa/La Playa/Lucmabamba /Jungle Domes
    Day 4: Lucmabamba/ Llactapata/ Hidroelectrica/ Aguas Calientes
    Day 5: Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu/ Ollantaytambo/ Cusco

    [See the Itinerary – Next Tab]

     

    Technical Details

    Starts at: Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
    Ends in: Drop off to your hotel off Cusco
    Name: The Short Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu Tour 4D3N
    Total Hiking: 75km/ 46.59 mi
    Altitude: 4630 m/ 15190 ft.

     

    Tour Destinations

    Cusco
    Mollepata
    Challacancha
    Soraypampa
    Humantay Lake
    Sky Camp
    Soraypampa
    Salkantay Pass
    Huayracmachay
    Chaullay
    Andean Huts
    Chaullay
    Colpapampa
    La Playa
    Lucmabamba
    Jungle Domes
    Llactapata
    Hidroelectrica
    Aguas Calientes
    Machu Picchu
    Ollantaytambo
    Cusco

    Itinerary

    Day 1 Cusco/Mollepata/Challacancha/Soraypampa/Humantay Lake/ Sky Camp

    Be ready for Salkantay Trek 5 Days! You will be pick around 4:00am! Travel comfortably with blankets in our transport for some more rest before we make a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. After two hours, we’ll continue on to Challacancha to start the hike!

    After meeting the cooks and horsemen, and doing a last equipment check, you’ll be ready to begin your adventure! Start off with a moderate three-hour walk to Soraypampa (3,900 m /12,795 ft), your first stopping point for the night. This section is relatively flat with a slight bit of uphill through a deep valley of glaciers. You’ll notice that much of the trail follows an ancient Inca water channel, which local farmers still make use of today! This segment is 7 km (4.35 mi) overall.

    Once you arrive at Soraypampa, you’ll settle in at our exclusive Sky Camp for the night. Take a bit of time to rest after having your first lunch in the mountains. Then head out on the hike up to the incredibly beautiful Humantay Lake (4,200 masl/13,780 fasl), feeling refreshed and ready to go!

    The round trip to Humantay Lake will take around 3 hours and covers 3 km/1.86 mi – it’s not a long walk but you need to take things slowly at this altitude. Once you arrive, you’ll have some time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. The turquoise waters against the backdrop of the Humantay glacier is something you won’t find anywhere else in the Andes!

    Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner with a beautiful sunset as your company. You can’t describe the feeling you get here, but you’ll understand it once you arrive. Then it’ll be time to settle in to your Sky Camp igloo, with a glass roof that looks out over a night sky full of stars, constellations and comets. Wake up to see the Apu Salkantay watching over you – it’s an experience like no other!

    Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 Dinner

    Day 2 Soraypampa/ Salkantay Pass/Huayracmachay/ Chaullay/Andean Huts 

    Start your day with an energizing cup of coca tea to get you going and a nourishing breakfast. Then it’s time to set off on the trek to the route’s highest point, the Salkantay Pass at 4,630m/15,190ft. You’ll have to navigate 7 km/4.34 mi over 3 hours up the aptly named ‘Trail of the 7 Snakes’ – its winding path makes for a difficult ascent!

    Reach the top of the route and your eyes will be met with a magnificent view – valleys, Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m/20,574 ft), the second-highest in the Cusco region and one of its Apus, as well as Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. Take a break to appreciate all you see before heading downhill for 7 km/4.35 mi to Huayracmachay (3,850 m/12,631 ft) and an array of fantastic views.

    After a re-energizing lunch, you’ll enter the edge of the Amazon jungle, otherwise known as the ‘cloud forest’. This 8 km/4.97 mi stretch will take around 3 hours and features a magical tropical forest with a dramatic landscape change from the Andes to Amazon. Witness colorful scenery, unique wildlife, and native plants as you find the climate becoming much warmer!

    After a long day of hiking, you’ll be relieved to reach Chaullay (2,900 m/9,514 ft) where a hearty meal awaits you before settling in for the night with your Andean hut and peaceful village.

    Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 Dinner

    Day 3 Chaullay/Colpapampa/La Playa/Lucmabamba /Jungle Domes

    You’ll be woken at 6:00 am for tea and breakfast before setting off from the campsite. Your first destination is La Playa, where you’ll walk through the Santa Teresa Valley. Enjoy a more leisurely, picturesque stroll with more downs than ups as you take in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and various plantations including banana, coffee, and avocado!

    Passing through a small village named Colpapampa and descend through the valley to observe waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit trees and plenty of flora and fauna. With a bit of luck, you might even catch sight of Peru’s national bird – the Cock of the Rock!

    In La Playa, you’ll devour a tasty lunch before making the hour-long trek to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6.562 ft). This will be your camp for the night and you’ll have the afternoon free to explore its lush tropical surroundings, visit an organic coffee farm (which is especially perfect for those who are coffee lovers), take in the delightful smell of oranges and avocados in their many plantations and more! The main farming industry in the jungle exports products to places all around the US, Asia and Europe.

    Once you’re ready for bed after dinner, you’ll be settling down for the night in one of our exclusive campsites – the Jungle Domes. Here, you’ll be able to hear the many sounds of nature and feel at one with the earth as you look up at the stars through the top of your dome-shaped bed.

    Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 Dinner

    Day 4 Lucmabamba/ Llactapata/ Hidroelectrica/ Aguas Calientes

    You’ll be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking after you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original, world-famous Inca Trail! After a 2 hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

    At Llactapata, you’ll be able to learn all about the mysteries of the ancient Inca culture and get an exciting first glimpse of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Your guide will be on hand to fill you in on all the history of the Incas, while you take photos to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

    After the trek down, you’ll get a couple more peeks at Machu Picchu. After lunch, you’ll head for Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). Here you’ll be able to see the impressive 250-meter-tall artificial waterfall that generates electricity for the city of Cusco – making your anticipation for tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu even stronger!

    Once in Hidroeléctrica, you have two options:

    If you’re tired out after all the trekking, you can opt to board a train to Aguas Calientes (US$ 34.00 extra).

    If you want to enjoy the last stretch of the trek, you can take a 3-hour flat walk along the side of the tracks to Aguas Calientes – giving you one more chance to enjoy your warm jungle surroundings as you hike.

    Along the way, you’ll see Inhuatana, an ancient rock that the Incas used as a sundial. It worked in tandem with the sundial stone at Machu Picchu to measure and read the winter solstice – signifying the beginning of farming season for the Incas. You’ll then reach the train tracks leading to Aguas Calientes where you will enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend a comfortable night in a hotel.

    Meals Included: 1 Breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 Dinner

    Day 5 Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu/ Ollantaytambo/ Cusco

    You’re finally going to visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! To make sure you beat the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the site in the early morning light, be sure to rise early.

    Once in the Inca citadel, enjoy a guided tour of roughly two hours through its most significant sectors. You’ll see houses, temples, terraces, crop fields and more – all showcasing the impressive engineering work of the Incas that remain an enigma in many ways even today.

    After your tour, you can choose to ascend either Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843) – these tours will take one and a half and three hours up and down respectively, though tickets must be booked in advance.

    Make sure you’re back in Aguas Calientes for a spot of lunch before boarding your train to Ollantaytambo, which leaves between 1:37 pm and 6:20 pm (subject to availability). Our private bus will collect you from the next station and drive you back to your hotel in Cusco at around 8 pm.

    Meals Included: No Meals Included

    What’s included

    • Informative meeting
    • Experienced Tour Guide
    • Private Camping Equipment
    • One Duffle Bag
    • Medical Kit/ First AID Kit
    • Extras Included in our Service
    • Customer Service 24/7
    • Satellite Phone
    • Accommodation in Private Campsites
    • Hotel in Aguas Calientes
    • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
    • Water on the trail
    • Wake up tea
    • Tea Time or Happy Hour
    • Snacks on the trail daily
    • One cloth snack bag per person
    • Products for hygiene
    • Private Transportation
    • TTrain Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Day 5)
    • One-Way Consettur Bus Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (Day 5)
    • Personal Belongings Transportation
    • Entry Ticket for Salkantay Trek
    • Entry Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site
    • Sleeping Bag (rent US$ 25.00 per person)
    • Walking Sticks (rent US$ 25.00 per person)
    • Huayna Picchu Mountain (The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person)
    • Machu Picchu Mountain (The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person)
    • Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco (Day 3)
    • Train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (Day 2) (US$ 34.00 per person)
    • Personal Hiking Clothing and Gear
    • Travel Insurance
    • Tips for our staff
    • Additional costs or delays beyond our control

    Not suitable for

    • Pregnant women
    • People with heart problems
    • People with poor physical condition

    What to Bring

    • Clothing suitable for weather conditions
    • Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
    • Headlamp and spare batteries
    • Warm jacket, waterproof rain gear, hat/beanie, gloves
    • Suncreen lotion, sunglasses
    • Sun hat and lightweight long pants
    • Hiking boots and/or shoes with good grip soles (tennis shoes are not recommended)
    • Backpack that fits your body size properly (30 to 40 liters is usually enough)
    • Water bottle or hydration reservoir with at least 2 liters capacity
    • Snacks like energy bars, nuts, dried fruits etc. (Optional)
    • First Aid Kit with basic items such as painkillers, band aids etc. (Optional)

    Important information

    Looking for more inspiration? Visit our gallery: Experience Peru. Before taking our 5 day Salkantay trek tour you should take into count the following information:

    Is it for me the Salkantay 5 days Trek?

    Perfect for those who are seeking a more daring adventure while scaling higher altitudes and enduring longer distances! Your journey includes the challenge of conquering the famous Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ), an ascent that is not too strenuous or daunting in spite of its grand elevation.

    How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Salkantay Trek?

    Its recommended take a two or three day prior to embarking on your journey to acclimatize and adjust your body to the altitude of Cusco, Peru. This will help you avoid any potential issues with altitude sickness during your life-changing trek! Even if you have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude, we still suggest having one day or two in Cusco for rest, recuperation from travels, and to take in the sights and sounds of this ancient city before setting off on your adventure.

    Informative meeting for getting ready to go to Salkantay´s Trek

    Held in our main office (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm the day before your tour begins, this meeting will last approximately 30-45 minutes and will provide you with helpful insight into the terrain, geography, and altitude you'll encounter. If you're unable to attend, please reach out to us via email, phone or in person.

    About the duffle bag for Salkantay 5 Days Trek

    Before setting off on your trek, take advantage of the duffle bag issued by us to fill with up to 7 kg / 15.4 lb of clothing for the three days. Our horses will do the heavy lifting and transport it along with the food and camping gear. Be aware that you won't have access until the end of each day. Make sure you have a large enough daypack to carry all essentials such as a warm jacket, raincoat, camera, sunscreen, snacks, and water (ideally 30-50 liters).

    Can I store my luggage during the trek in your office?

    Yes, store your main luggage with us or at your hotel prior to departure. If you have any valuable items, keep them in the hotel safe and get an itemized receipt for them; if you're concerned about security, put the items in a sealed and signed envelope. Get ready for an exciting journey with peace of mind!

    Pick up of guests

    Our pick-up service can come to your hotel in the Historical Center of Cusco on the day of your trek. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time during your brief meeting, but please note that it could take between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. As Cusco is made up of many narrow cobbled streets and steep slopes, we highly recommend selecting accommodations with easy access for cars and luggage transportation.

    About group tours

    Our group tours give you the freedom to explore and go at your own pace, even if that means someone else is faster or slower than you. But keep in mind, your guide will consult with everyone involved to decide if any changes can be made to the route.

    About strikes and demonstrations

    While strikes and demonstrations may occur in Peru, we always strive to keep your trip as originally planned. However, depending on the circumstances, changes in date or tour cancellations may be necessary for the safety of everyone involved. Our operations department will make sure to coordinate the new plans with you, your safety is our highest priority!

    Missing objects

    Keep your valuables safe and sound! Whether you're on the transport, at a restaurant, or out camping, always be aware of where you leave your things and remember to take them with you when you leave. You're solely responsible for your belongings during the tour, please keep an eye out and don't let anything get left behind!

    Frequent Questions

    Customize this tour

    This, and all the tours we offer online can always be customized, whether you are looking for upgrade alternatives, large groups, more flexible hours, have a special occasion (honeymoon, engagement), are a content creator, or are simply looking for something more private. We have all the alternatives to personalize your trip. Email us to info@visitsoam.com, leave us a message at +1 949 299 8915

    How To Pay And Book?

    How do you make a reservation?

    1. Choose your departure date from the calendar
    2. Select the number of passengers
    4. Click on the BOOK NOW button
    5. Fill in the information requested on the form
    6. Complete the secure online payment

    What are your payment methods?

    Our online payment methods are PayPal, Stripe (credit card payment), and bank transfers in the U.S. or in Latin America. The options have a use tax of 2% to 4%

    How and when will I receive the reservation confirmation?

    Once the payment is made, we will send you a tour confirmation email. If the travel dates are very close, we will contact you as soon as possible, if they are extended dates we will keep in touch by email or WhatsApp contact 3 to 5 weeks before.

    What happens if my reservation cannot be confirmed?

    99% of the reservations are usually confirmed, however, if there is the availability of hotels, services, or others, we will offer an alternative of dates, lodging, or services. In the event that we are unable to help, full refund policies apply.

    Is it necessary to reconfirm my reservation before the trip?

    No, the confirmation email in your inbox is enough to validate the adventure.

    How do I modify, update, reschedule or cancel my reservation?

    Any modification, cancellation, or update of data must be done by email by mentioning the unique reservation # code generated to info@visitsoam.com

    What happens if a booked service cannot be carried out due to weather conditions or reasons of force majeure?

    In case of force majeure such as natural disasters, bad weather, problems that put your safety at risk, or others, our team will contact you immediately to provide some alternatives.

    Booking & pricing

    100% money-back guarantee (see our totally flexible Terms & Conditions)

    Best price. Select # travelers w/ preferential discounts

    $ 595.00 $ 525.00 /person

    Departure:

    Where you will be

    Salkantay, Cusco, Peru
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