Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 5 Days and 4 Nights

On the second day of Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, we’ll wake you up with a steaming cup of coca tea to get you going! Then, we’ll enjoy a nourishing breakfast while enjoying the spectacular view of Sunrise at Salkantay Mountain and awesome views around us before heading off on our trek for 1.5 hours to the height point of the route; the Salkantay Pass. Along the way, we’ll have a chance to spot vizcachas, the elusive Andean chinchilla that likes to jump and scurry among the rocks.

Once we reach Salkantay pass, the highest point on our trip (4,630 masl/ 15,190fasl). We’ll appreciate the most magnificent views of the of the massive snow-capped mountains over the surrounding valleys as well as Salkantay Mountain sitting right next to you (6,271 masl/20,574fasl), the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Apus (Inca Gods). We will also be able to see Humantay (5,850masl/ 19,192fasl), and Pumasillo (5850m) opposite you, a mountain that, interestingly, can be seen from a different angle from Machu Picchu. After you’ve taken in the views and enjoyed a rest, we’ll start walk downhill for about 2.5-3 hours towards Huayracmachay (3,850 masl/ 12,631 fasl) and stop for the lunch; the downhill is long and steady with stunning views.

The trail from Salkantay pass is rocky and gravely and we can get some wonderful views in to the valley below. After lunch, we leave the crowds behind and we’ll continue walking until we enter a small valley where we can appreciate the contrast of sceneries and we will also be able to see vegetation and notice the change of temperature. We’ll also enjoy a magical tropical forest and witness how quickly and dramatically the landscape change from the Andes to the lush high jungle. As we keep going down, we’ll spot colorful scenery, unique wildlife, native plants and flowers, some orchids, and birds such as hummingbird so on.

Once we arrive at our second camp, called Collpapampa (2870m /9,416ft), Peru Spirit Adventure staff will welcome you to your camp and show you to your tent so you can rest, where we are likely to be the only ones spending the night. Then, we’ll have our tea time, dinner, and rest. All meals included

• Walking Distance: 18 km/ 11.18 miles
• Total Walking Time: 8-9 hours
• Minimum Altitude: 2,870 masl/9,416 fasl
• Maximum Altitude: 4,630 masl/15,190 fasl
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner

After a rejuvenating night’s sleep and a nourishing breakfast cooked by Peru Spirit Adventure’s local chef, we’ll start the shortest but most exciting day of our Salkantay adventure. The first leg is a 20 min walk along a road before meeting up with the trail. From there we continue walking through the Santa Teresa Valley, descending to the ceja de selva, literally, the “eyebrows of the jungle”, enjoying incredible view of the river Alto Salkantay and lush landscapes as we go.

During our trekking route to Machu Picchu, we’ll enjoy a more leisurely walk with more downs than ups as we soak in the incredible variety of wildlife from birds, insects, and butterflies to orchids and bromeliads, as well as diverse flora and fauna manifest in absolute abundance. As we’ll continue our slow, easy descent for about 5 hours to La Playa Sahuayaco (2,100 masl/6,890 fasl), the landscape will change before our very eyes, with the eyebrow of the Amazon giving way to fruit trees, avocados, bananas and coffee plants.

In La Playa, we’ll have a tasty lunch. After lunch and a well-deserved rest, we’ll continue our trek for about 1 hour to the next campsite, called Lucmabamba (2,000 masl/6,562 fasl) – a great campsite to get away from the crowds, which is our last campsite and also the beginning of the Inca Trail to Llactapata Inca ruins.

In the afternoon at Lucmabamba, we’ll have a chance to explore to the coffee and fruit crops right next to the camp. During this visit, we’ll learn about different types of beans, the production of organic coffee, and the development of each sort of coffee, which is increasingly popular around the world. After this, we’ll be immersed ourselves in the coffee production process, from harvesting the coffee beans then to make the process of peeling and roasting, and grinding them, in a hands-on coffee-making experience. Later we’ll enjoy the fruits of our own labor and enjoy some freshly-brewed coffee! Later on, we’ll have a delicious afternoon tea and dinner. All meals included.

• Walking Distance: 15 km/ 9.32 miles
• Total Walking Time: 6-7 hours
• Minimum Altitude: 2,040 masl/ 6,693 fasl
• Maximum Altitude: 2,870 masl / 9,416 fasl
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner

This morning of our Salkantay trek in Peru, your Peru Spirit Adventure trekking team will wake you up early to get ready for the day’s activity and then enjoy your last breakfast prepared by your local trekking chef. This morning we’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original world-famous Inca Trail! After a 3 hours uphill climb through the jungle and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, we’ll descending to the interesting but largely covered ruins of Llactapacta (2,700 masl/8,858 fasl), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata is the first Inca site, we’ll see on this Salkantay trekking route to Machu Picchu, and we’ll learn all about the mysteries of the ancient culture and the extraordinary site. From Llactapata, we’ll have our first exciting glance of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, nestled in the saddle of the mountain opposite us. It’s a breathtaking view and an odd sensation to see such an important Inca site from a remote mountain top. Your guide also will fill you in on all the history of the Incas while you take all the photos you want to share your fantastic experiences with friends and family back home.

After enjoying the gorgeous scenery around and learning how was Llactapata ruins were originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time that he re-discovered Machu Picchu. We’ll walk downhill for 2.5 hours to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station (1840m / 6037 ft) where we will have our lunch made by our chef. We will then take the train to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) for about 1 hour, once we arrive we will go to the hotel to make the check in.

Afterward, at 7:00 pm, we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group at one of the restaurants (this dinner is not included) right after the dinner you will have a detailed briefing and recommendations for the next day, eventually we’ll return to your standard Aguas Calientes hotel to rest. All meals included, except the last supper.

• Walking Distance: 11 km/ 6.83 miles
• Total Walking Time: 6-7 hours
• Minimum Altitude: 2,040 masl/ 6,693 fasl
• Maximum Altitude: 2,815 masl / 9,236 fasl
• Accommodation: Hotel Cabaña or a similar hotel
• Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Today’s the day you’ve been waiting for since you first set foot on the 5 day Salkantay trek! To get the most out of the day we encourage you to have an early breakfast at your hotel before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (starting at 5:30 am) – the early visit allows you to get ahead of the crowds!

After driving for 25 minutes to the Inca citadel, we’re finally going to visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! Once in Machu Picchu your guide will take you directly to the best place to watch the sunrise and take photographs. After the photography session, you’ll enjoy a 2 hour guided tour of this incredible ancient site learning more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire while exploring temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields.

During this visit, you’ll be blown away by the Inca’s engineering ingenuity, which was away ahead of its time and still a mystery in many ways today. They didn’t have the tools we use today, but yet they were still able to construct and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

Once you finish the guided tour at Machu Picchu, you’ll have some time to yourself to enjoy the site as you please and wander around. Whether you have booked a climb to Huayna Picchu (2,720 masl/8,924 fasl) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 masl/9843 fasl), you will climb up the mountain after or before the tour (tickets must be booked in advance), Huayna Picchu climb takes no more than 2 hours round-trip, and Machu Picchu Mountain hike takes around 3 hours, up and down, your guide will show you where to begin this hike. There’s also the option of the Sun Gate (2,729 masl/8924 fasl) or Inca Bridge alternatively, you can explore other areas further or enjoy a very well-deserved rest looking out over one of the best views in the world.

After visiting Machu Picchu, you can take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, we recommend heading back to Aguas Calientes for a spot of lunch no later than two hours before boarding your train. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Cusco by the Expedition (tourist class) train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco. Meals not included, except breakfast which is included at hotel.