Low angle of hiker standing in South America mountains

Peru Tours

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Sacred Valley Trek - Tour Extension

5 Days / 4 Nights per person*

from 1056

*Example by 4 travelers in 4★ accommodation, low season. Flights priced separately. Get a quote for 1 to 99+ below

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Summary

5 Days / 4 Nights

Enjoy the 88 km-long Salkantay Trail that will lead you to Machu Picchu through the Salkantay Pass, one of the most breathtaking trails in the Peruvian Andes. The Salkantay trail is a great alternative to the classic Inca trail in the Sacred Valley, and it includes the tour of Machu Picchu. Note: This is a tour extension, combine this trek with one of our full package tours.

FROM 946 Per Person

This tour includes:

All transfers to/from Cusco, including train
All tours, transfers, and entrance fees
Porters, cooks, guides on the trail
All camping and cooking equipment, including tents and sleeping pads
All meals prepared by camp cooks
English-speaking guide
Emergency medical kit, including oxygen bottle
1-Night accommodation in Aguas Calientes

This tour does not include

Sleeping bag (it can be rented in Cusco or beforehand)
A backpack for personal belongings
Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
Strong footwear, ideally trekking or sport shoes
Flashlight and batteries
Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
Sunblock
Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET
Snacks and water bottle
Original passport (better in a ziploc plastic bag)
Tips for porters, guides, and cooks

Highlights

Trekking & camping in the Peruvian Andes Mountains
Scenic mountains and views
Tour of Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1Cusco to Sayllapata to Soyrococha

At 6:00 AM we’ll pick you up from your selected hotel. We’ll leave by our private transport to Mollepata (2800 meters). We will enjoy a beautiful scenic journey through Limatambo, stopping for panoramic views of the Apurimac Valley, where you can have a breakfast in a typical restaurant. After that we’ll drive 1hour to our trailhead at Sayllapata (3 200 meters), where we’ll meet our “arrieros” (horsemen) and trek staff. For 2 1/2 hrs, we will hike through traditional Andean communities like Cruzpata, Challacancha, and Soraypampa (3750 meters), before stopping for lunch. After another 4 hours, we’ll arrive at our first campsite at Soyrococha (4200 meters).

Day 2Soyrococha to Huayraqmachay to Colpapampa

On the second day we’ll ascend to the highest point of our trek, Salkantay Pass (4600 meters). From this point we can appreciate the special views of Salkantay Mountain, a stunning snow-capped peak (6271 meters). We will have 3 hours of walking with spectacular views of the mountains Humantay and Huayanay, small lakes and moraines before arriving at our lunch site, Huayraqmachay (3700 meters). Then we’ll descend for 3 1/2 hrs to our second campsite, Colpabamba (2600 meters).

Day 3Colpapampa to La Playa

On the third day, the group will have 4 hours of easy, downhill hiking. We will be introduced to a high jungle location called Ceja de Selva, where coffee, coca and fruits plantations can be observed. There will be time to shower in a waterfall, take amazing pictures, and with luck we can observe the famous Peruvian National Bird “Gallito de las Rocas”. We will stop at La Playa (2250 meters) for lunch and then enjoy a free afternoon.

Day 4La Playa to Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes

After breakfast at 6:00 AM, we will take local transportation for 20 minutes to Lucmabamba. From there we start our fourth day’s hike, climbing for almost 3 1/2 hours to a recently discovered Incan place called Llactapata (2,700 meters), or ‘high town’ in Quechua. From there we have the first view of Machu Picchu, free time to enjoy the scenery, and then we descend to Hidroelectrica Train Station (Km 116), where we will have a delicious lunch. We continue walking for two hours more to Aguas Calientes (2,000 meters), where we will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 5Machu Picchu Tour & Return to Cusco

We will take an early walk or bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu for a 2-hour guided tour, plenty of additional free time to explore, and an optional climb to the mountain Huayna Picchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Sun Gate. After that, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. We have time for lunch and wait for the train to comeback. Transfer to the hotel.

Summary

Note: This is a tour extension, combine this trek with one of our full package tours.

Tour Highlights

Trekking & camping in the Peruvian Andes Mountains
Scenic mountains and views
Tour of Machu Picchu

Included

All transfers to/from Cusco, including train
All tours, transfers, and entrance fees
Porters, cooks, guides on the trail
All camping and cooking equipment, including tents and sleeping pads
All meals prepared by camp cooks
English-speaking guide
Emergency medical kit, including oxygen bottle
1-Night accommodation in Aguas Calientes

Not Included

Sleeping bag (it can be rented in Cusco or beforehand)
A backpack for personal belongings
Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
Strong footwear, ideally trekking or sport shoes
Flashlight and batteries
Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
Sunblock
Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET
Snacks and water bottle
Original passport (better in a ziploc plastic bag)
Tips for porters, guides, and cooks

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