Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

9 Days

Overview

The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu presents a challenging yet immensely rewarding alternative path to reach the iconic Inca citadel. This remarkable hiking expedition through the rugged splendor of the Peruvian Andes offers adventurers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in breathtaking scenery and encounter diverse wildlife, crafting unforgettable memories that endure a lifetime.

Embark on this extraordinary journey by flying to Cusco, nestled in the Peruvian Andes, and serving as the starting point for hiking the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu, the preeminent archaeological wonder of South America.

Commencing amidst the towering peaks of the Vilcabamba mountain range, the trail meanders through varied landscapes, from verdant cloud forests to lofty mountain passes. En route, hikers are treated to awe-inspiring panoramas of snow-capped peaks, pristine mountain streams, and vibrant Andean flora and fauna.

The pinnacle of the trek is undoubtedly the majestic Salkantay Pass, towering at an elevation surpassing 15,000 feet (4,600 meters). Conquering this lofty summit rewards trekkers with sweeping vistas of surrounding valleys and peaks, including the majestic Salkantay Mountain itself.

Descending from the pass, the trail crosses remote Andean villages and ancient Inca ruins, offering glimpses into the rich cultural heritage of the region. Ultimately, after several days of trekking, the journey culminates in the breathtaking spectacle of Machu Picchu, nestled amidst mist-draped mountains.

Beyond a physical adventure, the Salkantay trek embodies a spiritual odyssey, fostering a profound connection with nature’s raw beauty and the Andean people’s rich history. It’s an experience that resonates deeply with all who embark on it.

Your accommodations will be thoughtfully chosen to ensure utmost comfort, while our local English-speaking guides, brimming with knowledge and expertise, will ensure a seamless and secure travel experience. Explore the detailed itinerary below to discover more about this once-in-a-lifetime expedition in Peru.

Tour Description

After your flight lands at Lima Jorge Chavez airport, follow the signs for immigration, then walk to the baggage claim area, and then get to customs. After clearing customs, you will be in the international arrivals area, where our staff, who will be holding a sign with your name, will welcome you and drive you to your hotel located in Miraflores, the nicest and safest area of Lima, facing the Pacific Ocean!

Private transfer from Lima airport to your hotel
Estimated driving time from Airport to Hotel: forty-five minutes

Upon arrival at your hotel, our staff will assist you with your hotel check-in and all you may need. You and our staff will schedule your pre-tour meeting.

Overnight in Lima at Miraflores Casa Andina Select Hotel – Superior Room
*Lima city is located at an altitude of 80 meters (262 feet) above sea level.

Estimated Flight time: one hour and twenty minutes.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Lima airport to board your flight to Cusco City. You will be assisted with your flight check-in, baggage drop-off, and then escorted to the entrance to the security check area. Notice that gates and departure times may change, please check the airport monitors.

Upon arrival at Cusco airport, follow the signs for the baggage claim area, after collecting your luggage you will be in the arrivals area, where our staff (who will have a sign with your name) will welcome you and drive you to your hotel located in the center of Cusco.

Private transfer from Cusco airport to your hotel
Estimated driving time from Airport to hotel: twenty-five minutes

Upon arrival at your hotel, our staff will assist you with your hotel check-in and all you may need. You and your guide will schedule your pre-Inca trail trek meeting.

Free afternoon to rest and adjust to the altitude.

Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Standard Hotel – Traditional Room
Meals included: Breakfast
*Cusco city is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level.

Day 3 :
Cusco

Free morning to explore Cusco at your leisure.

Cusco and nearby Inca Ruins tour
Hotel pickup time: 13:20 p.m.

This afternoon you are picked up from your hotel and join your tour group to visit the beautiful city of Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

You tour starts with a smooth walk to the main attractions of this Inca city, its main square known as Plaza de Armas, then the Cusco Cathedral which construction started in 1559 and has an impressive unique collection of more than 400 paintings from Cusco school made during the 16th and 17th century. Next, you walk through the narrow Inca streets close the Plaza and appreciate the massive Inca walls which are the foundations of Cusco city.

Your tour includes a visit to the most impressive Inca temples, Koricancha, which is known as the temple of the sun. During the Inca time, the walls of this temple were lined in sheets of solid gold and its courtyard was decorated with statues and ornaments of gold! You tour includes a visit to Santo Domingo Church built by the Spanish colonists.

After visiting the city of Cusco, we will head to Sacsayhuaman, an amazing Inca fortress which main walls perfectly fitted, were built with massive stones. You will learn more about the Incas’ secrets, we continue to Qenko, site of carved living rock then to Puca Pucara, an Inca lodging Site and finally Tambo Machay, known as the Baths of the Inca. At the end, you will have an amazing view of the Inca city and surrounding areas.

Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Standard Hotel – Traditional Room
Meals included: Breakfast.

Estimated hiking distance: 7.5 miles/12 kilometers
Estimated hiking time: six hours.

05:30 AM. Your day starts with an early morning pick-up from your hotel and a two and half hour-ride to Mollepata village located at 9,554 feet (2,900 meters) above sea level). Here we will have a short stop for last minute supplies and for a toilet break. We continue driving to Soraypampa (12,631 feet/3,850 meters) above sea level, the starting point of our trek. Here, we meet our support crew (Wranglers and horses), all our camping gear will be loaded on horses and mules.

Humantay Lake

We start with a two-hour hike to the beautiful Humantay Lake, located at 13,780 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level where we will enjoy an amazing view of the lake and the snowcapped peaks of Humantay and Salkantay.

After lunch, we continue our hiking adventure to our first campsite located in Salkantaypampa at 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level.

Overnight in Salkantaypampa Campsite – three-season tents
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Estimated hiking distance: 10 miles/16 kilometers
Estimated hiking time: ten hours

Today is your most challenging day on the Salkantay trek but the rewards are well worth the effort. You will reach the highest point of your lifetime adventure but enjoy the views of one of the highest mountains in the Peruvian Andes!

After having an early breakfast, we start our day with a hike through a zig zag steep road to Salkantay Mountain Pass (15,256 feet/4,650 meters) above sea level, here we will enjoy the most amazing views of the Salkantay, Humantay and other peaks. After a good break, we have a three-hour hike down to Huayracmachay campsite, where you will have a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we continue our hike for about four hours to our next campsite, on the way, you will see how the scenery and weather change from mountain landscape to cloud forest.

Finally, we arrive at Qollpapampa campsite located at 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level.

Overnight in Qollpapampa Campsite – three-season tents
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Estimated hiking distance: 9 miles/15 kilometers
Estimated hiking time: seven hours.

Today, we continue our trek into the jungle zone, crossing Santa Teresa valley, enjoying beautiful rainforest scenery, passing by beautiful waterfalls, observing bananas and avocados trees, coffee plantations, passion fruit fields and some orchids. Once at Playa Sahuayaco, we will take a bus to drive us to the hydroelectric train station. At around 1:30p.m., we will have our lunch at the hydroelectric. We will take a train from the hydroelectric to the town of Aguas Calientes (2000 meters above sea level). Here, you have the option of going to the thermal hot springs. Upon arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo, you will be accommodated at your hotel.

Overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo at Casa Andina Standard Hotel – Traditional Room
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
*Aguas Calientes is located at an altitude of 2000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level

Hotel pickup time: to be confirmed.

Today is the most exciting day of your life-changing Adventure, you will have a 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu city for an amazing adventure in this wonder.

Private Machu Picchu tour
Estimated guided touring time: two hours and half

This morning, you will explore this impressive Inca city and learn about the history of this site, who lived here, how it was discovered in modern times and why the Spaniards never found it. You will have some insight into the various features of this sacred city and have free time to really enjoy yourself alone in this spectacularly located site, an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever!

After visiting Machu Picchu, you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) where you will enjoy lunch and have free time in Machu Picchu Pueblo

Buffet Lunch in Toto’s House Restaurant

After lunch, you will board your train to the sacred valley.

Train journey from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Ollantaytambo

Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo train station, you will be met by our staff, who will be holding a sign with your name and driven to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Standard Hotel – Traditional Room
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Estimated flight time: one hour and ten minutes.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Cusco airport to board your flight to Lima city.

Upon arrival at Lima airport, follow the signs for the baggage claim area, after collecting your luggage you will be in the domestic arrivals area, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Miraflores area facing the Pacific Ocean.

Overnight in Lima at Miraflores Casa Andina Select Hotel – Superior Room
Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 9 :
Lima

Free morning to relax and explore Lima’s best cuisine.

Lima Tour

This afternoon, you are picked up from your hotel and start your adventure in Lima city. Your tour starts with a short drive to the city of the Kings and explore the beautiful monuments, Colonial houses adorned with Moorish-style balconies, their main Plazas like San Martin and Plaza de Armas, a view of the baroque cathedral, the Governors Palace, the Archbishop's Palace with its big carved wooden balconies, and a guided visit inside the convent of San Francisco which is home to the largest collection of religious art in the Americas. Underneath the convent lie extensive catacombs that served as the cemetery during the colonial period.

Your tour includes a visit to the beautiful olive tree park and “Park of Love” where you will have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean! After your Lima tour, you will be driven to Lima airport to board your flight home.

You will be assisted with your flight check-in, baggage drop-off, and then escorted to the entrance to the security check area. Notice that gates and departure times may change, please check the airport monitors.

Notice that gates and departure times may change, please check the airport monitors.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Includes/Excludes

Inclusions

  • English-speaking tour guides.
  • 24/7 Assistance during your entire trip in Peru.
  • Six nights of accommodation at selected Hotels with breakfasts, and two nights in three-season Tents.
  • Group four-day Salkantay Trail hike to Machu Picchu (Professional English-speaking guide, pre-departure information meeting, Three-season tents, sleeping pad, duffel bag, first aid kit, oxygen tank, cooking equipment, transfers, bus ticket Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes, Vista dome train ticket Aguas Calientes-Cusco, cook, horses support, Machu Picchu entrance fee.
  • Cusco City and its four nearby Inca ruins tour (Guide, transportation, and entrance fee).
  • Lima Tour (Guide, transportation, and entrance fee)
  • Round-trip airfare from Lima to Cusco.
  • All airport/train station-Hotel transfers in Lima and Cusco.
  • Confirmation of Domestic and International flights.

Exclusions

  • Meals not noted on itinerary.
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal insurance
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Gratuities

From
$2190 / adult

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  • April to November
  • Customizable
  • three-star hotels
  • 4,200 meters (13,780 feet)

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