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Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 Days
4 days
About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - Soraypampa - Wayracmachay - Los Andenes
Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Early in the morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel and head on a 3-hour ride to Mollepata. You'll stop for breakfast and can purchase some last minute supplies. Continue to Soyrapampa, the trail head where you'll meet your support staff who will help you pack all the gear on to the horses. Begin an uphill hike and to reach the highest point of the hike, the Apacheta path (4,590m). The Salkantay Mountain is at 6,271 meters above sea level and a powerful sight from this viewpoint. The rest of the trek on this day is easy as you descend to 2,890 meters and spend the night at the campsite.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Los Andenes - Luscamayo - La Playa
Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
After breakfast, you'll continue hiking through the upper jungle and seeing flora, waterfalls and warmer weather. Pass through the Lluscamayo River and reach Lluscamayo after 5 hours to have lunch. Continue hiking for 3 more hours as you pass an awesome waterfall where you can catch your breath and take some photos. See the amazing landscape and diversity of birds. Finally, reach the village of La Playa and from this point you can choose from two options:
From La Playa, you can hike for 2 hours to Aobamba, where you camp. The next day, you'll hike for 4 hours to the Llacatapata ruins. After the visit you will descend for 3 hours until reaching the Hidroelectrica.
Santa Teresa Hot Spring - You can take a bus for a 1-hour ride that will take you to the town of Santa Teresa, the first real town you will find on the trail, that is also known for its hot springs just outside of town.
Duration: 10 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: La Playa - Llactapata - Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes
Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
The route up to Llacatpata is part of an aged Inca Trail which passes some villages of coffee and coca plantations, citrus tree orchids before extending to some exquisite high altitude meadows and then entering into an ancient forest close to the top. The scenery on the way up is the most varied and gorgeous than on the entire Salkantay Trek.
Close to the top, the trail changes to seemingly never ending stone steps as tall as park benches. The weather is cold and wet in the forest and then you walk down to the Llactapata ruins. In under 10 minutes you will get to the ruins and be amazed. Beyond the valley you can spot Machu Picchu. You'll then descend to the Hydroelectric plant on a 1-hour hike. From here the hike to Aguas Calientes is easy. On the way, you can hear the sound of a powerful waterfall will cool you down as you pass it by. Here, you will have lunch. The Hydroelectric plant is also the end of the railway line from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The hike to Aguas Calientes is down the railway tracks, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). It's a fun trek, along the tracks, with a wide path and is sheltered by jungle vegetation, trees and flowers. Reach Aguas Calientes and head to your hostel where you can have dinner at a restaurant and plan the next day. If you chose the Santa Teresa option, you have breakfast and after a short bus trip (1-hour) you hike for about 2 hours past the Urubamba River and onward to the Hydro Electric Station, where you have lunch nearby.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Early morning, you will get to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate before the crowds. You will trek for 2 hours up to the mysterious city of Machu Picchu and be one of the first ones to enter and revel in the view of the sun rising over the magnificent citadel. Enjoy a 2-hour guided hike of the city and then explore the site on your own. Return to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch (not included) and take the train back to Cusco.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
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Day 1: Cusco - Soraypampa - Wayracmachay - Los Andenes
Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
Early in the morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel and head on a 3-hour ride to Mollepata. You'll stop for breakfast and can purchase some last minute supplies. Continue to Soyrapampa, the trail head where you'll meet your support staff who will help you pack all the gear on to the horses. Begin an uphill hike and to reach the highest point of the hike, the Apacheta path (4,590m). The Salkantay Mountain is at 6,271 meters above sea level and a powerful sight from this viewpoint. The rest of the trek on this day is easy as you descend to 2,890 meters and spend the night at the campsite.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Los Andenes - Luscamayo - La Playa
Stop At: Salkantay Trail, Peru
After breakfast, you'll continue hiking through the upper jungle and seeing flora, waterfalls and warmer weather. Pass through the Lluscamayo River and reach Lluscamayo after 5 hours to have lunch. Continue hiking for 3 more hours as you pass an awesome waterfall where you can catch your breath and take some photos. See the amazing landscape and diversity of birds. Finally, reach the village of La Playa and from this point you can choose from two options:
From La Playa, you can hike for 2 hours to Aobamba, where you camp. The next day, you'll hike for 4 hours to the Llacatapata ruins. After the visit you will descend for 3 hours until reaching the Hidroelectrica.
Santa Teresa Hot Spring - You can take a bus for a 1-hour ride that will take you to the town of Santa Teresa, the first real town you will find on the trail, that is also known for its hot springs just outside of town.
Duration: 10 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: La Playa - Llactapata - Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes
Stop At: Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes), Signposted from main square, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Peru
The route up to Llacatpata is part of an aged Inca Trail which passes some villages of coffee and coca plantations, citrus tree orchids before extending to some exquisite high altitude meadows and then entering into an ancient forest close to the top. The scenery on the way up is the most varied and gorgeous than on the entire Salkantay Trek.
Close to the top, the trail changes to seemingly never ending stone steps as tall as park benches. The weather is cold and wet in the forest and then you walk down to the Llactapata ruins. In under 10 minutes you will get to the ruins and be amazed. Beyond the valley you can spot Machu Picchu. You'll then descend to the Hydroelectric plant on a 1-hour hike. From here the hike to Aguas Calientes is easy. On the way, you can hear the sound of a powerful waterfall will cool you down as you pass it by. Here, you will have lunch. The Hydroelectric plant is also the end of the railway line from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The hike to Aguas Calientes is down the railway tracks, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). It's a fun trek, along the tracks, with a wide path and is sheltered by jungle vegetation, trees and flowers. Reach Aguas Calientes and head to your hostel where you can have dinner at a restaurant and plan the next day. If you chose the Santa Teresa option, you have breakfast and after a short bus trip (1-hour) you hike for about 2 hours past the Urubamba River and onward to the Hydro Electric Station, where you have lunch nearby.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Early morning, you will get to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate before the crowds. You will trek for 2 hours up to the mysterious city of Machu Picchu and be one of the first ones to enter and revel in the view of the sun rising over the magnificent citadel. Enjoy a 2-hour guided hike of the city and then explore the site on your own. Return to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch (not included) and take the train back to Cusco.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing)
- Early morning transfer by private bus to Soraypampa
- Accommodation: Campsites (2 nights) and a Hotel in Machu Picchu (1 night)
- Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner and 3x afternoon hot beverages (please advise us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO extra additional cost)
- Professional bilingual Tour Guide
- Professional Cook
- Horseman
- Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 7 kg of each passenger's stuff
- An emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
- Water
- Camping equipment: Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks)
- Inflatable mattress
- A sleeping bag
- A blanket per person
- A pillow
- Day Pack Rain Covers
- Tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas
- Rain Ponchos
- Duffel bag (for your personal belongings)
- A T-shirt of the Salkantay Trek Map
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo
- Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Entry/Admission - Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu
Not included
- Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day
- International and domestic flights nor airport departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu (USD $25)
- A shuttle bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes Town (USD $12- one way, USD $24 - a round trip)
- Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory)
- Other extras not mentioned
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
55%
Sport
50%
Aquatic
30%
Reviews
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Very nice and advanturous trip to the mountains in 6 people group. Very qualified guide. :-
Beautiful tour. We had purchased a tour for 4 days and 3 nights and were placed with a group doing 5 days and 4 nights. This left some complications and some independent travel for our final days but was managed by the team.