Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days / 4 nights

After enjoying a freshly prepared breakfast, you will set off early for the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay Mountain. At 4,620 meters above sea level, it is the highest point on the trail and it usually takes 4 hours to walk to the top of the Salkantay Pass. For those explorers who wish to save their legs and prefer assistance on the mountain, there are many horses available at the start of the trail that will take you to the top, where you can sit back and enjoy the view while waiting for the rest of the group who have chosen to walk.

After rewarding yourself with a rest and taking as many photos as you like of the surrounding mountains and valley, you will begin the 2-hour descent down the other side to the lunch spot at Wayracmachay. After a chef prepares lunch, the last hike of the day is a 3-hour descent through the rainforest to our camp at Colpapampa. You will spend the second night sleeping in Indian huts after a hot shower and dinner surrounded by the majestic sounds and smells of the rainforest.

After a freshly prepared breakfast, we will leave Collpapampa at 6:00 a.m. to begin the hike to Granadilla. Here, the trail winds through the rainforest, alongside the colorful fauna typical of the area. After a 4-hour hike passing beautiful waterfalls and Amazonian rivers, we will take a vehicle to Lucmabamba where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will continue our 3-hour hike to Llactapata, where dinner will be waiting for us. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs or participate in a zip-lining activity in the nearby town of Santa Teresa. When you return from the afternoon activities, our chef will have dinner waiting for you before you rest for the night under the starlight.

After breakfast, you will begin the hike at 6:00 a.m. The 4-hour hike to the ruins of Llactapata takes you along the original Inca trail to the viewpoint at 2,860 meters above sea level. From here, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay. You will then descend for another 3 hours towards the Aobamba River, passing through imposing bamboo groves, local coffee plantations, and lush orchid forests. After crossing the river, you will have lunch at a restaurant in the village of Hidroeléctrica, next to the railway line that connects Cusco with Machu Picchu. The final stretch of the trail is an afternoon stroll alongside the railroad, walking the last three hours to the finish line in Aguas Calientes (the town of Machu Picchu). In addition to now being in the shadow of Machu Picchu, you will also be rewarded with dinner at a restaurant and a comfortable bed in a hotel.

Today is the most important day of the Salkantay Trek. You will visit one of the seven wonders of the world. We will start with breakfast at the hotel and take buses to arrive at Machu Picchu at sunrise. Once there, our expert guide will take you on a tour of the citadel’s highlights. The guided tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

After finishing with the citadel, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, have lunch, collect your belongings from the hotel, and take the train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, the team will take you back to Cusco aboard our private transportation.