Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - 5 Days

We will wake early today on The Salkantay Trek and have breakfast around 5:30 a.m. We have a long day of trekking ahead of us,  on our guided tour of Salkantay to Machu Picchu, through some of the most incredible scenery and natural beauty in all of Peru. This will be our most challenging day, as we ascend to the highest point on the Salkantay trek. 

We first make the climb to a mountain pass at 4,650 m (15,200 ft) – the highest location on the Salkantay trek. From here, we’ll have sublime views of two huge snow-capped mountains: Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. After a rest and time to enjoy the views while hiking in the Andes, we will continue our walk downhill on our Salkantay trek, through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. We’ll then set off again, trekking for about three hours through jungle-like scenery until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa, at 3,000 m (9,800 ft). If our group has made good progress, we might have time to push on to alternative campsites at Challway or Andenes. Wherever we decide to stop, we’ll set up the camp and prepare a big meal, a well-deserved reward after a hard day of trekking.

• Hiking Time: 8-9 hours approx.
• Hiking Distance: 16 Km / 9.94 miles.
• Lowest Point: 4100 m / 13,451 ft.
• Highest Point: 4,620 m / 15,157 ft.

Waking at 6: 30 a.m., we’ll have a hearty breakfast before setting off. Today, much of our trekking takes us through a region of jungle known as the “ceja de selva” or eyebrow of the jungle: the swathe of jungle that lies between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest.

Next, we’ll cross the Lluskamayo River on the Salkantay to Machu Picchu route, to find ourselves in a world of waterfalls, tropical fruits, and colorful birds. If we’re lucky, we might even see a cock of the rock, Peru’s national bird. The temperature will be much warmer here, and the various waterfalls and creeks provide plenty of opportunities to cool down with a refreshing splash in their crystalline waters.

We’ll stop for lunch and then continue trekking for three more hours, until we reach our last campsite at the village of La Playa, at 2,060 m (6,759 ft). At La Playa, you’ll have plenty of free time to relax and enjoy the nearby hot springs: the perfect way to soothe those aching muscles! Later we’ll have dinner and then turn in for the night, relaxed and ready for our final day of the Salkantay Trek..

• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours approx.
• Hiking Distance: 15 Km / 9.32 miles
• Lowest Point: 2,060 m / 6,759 ft.
• Highest Point: 2,770 m / 9,087 ft.

On our final day of trekking, we’ll have breakfast at 6:30 a.m. before setting off towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, and as we ascend we’ll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually, we will reach Llactapata, Inca ruins near Salkantay, which may have served as an important rest stop and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which is connected via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance, an inspiring sight indeed! 

After a rest and time to take photos, we will continue along a downhill trail for about two hours, passing plantations where coca, bananas, and other crops are grown. Eventually, we’ll reach the Hydroelectric Station, a well-known point along the Salkanatay trek to Machu Picchu, where we’ll have lunch. Then we will walk for a couple more hours until we reach Aguas Calientes, the lively town that sits below Machu Picchu. 

After checking in to your hotel you’ll have some free time, so you can explore the town and, if you like, visit the nearby hot springs. We’ll have dinner in one of the many great restaurants in Aguas Calientes, and then you can return to your hotel for an early night before our final day and our tour of the magnificent Machu Picchu. 

Hiking Time: 8-9 hours approx.
Hiking Distance: 18 Km / 11.19 miles.
Lowest Point: 2, 060 m / 6,759 ft.
Highest Point: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft.

To best appreciate Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.

We’ll then pass through the gates to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours and will take you to all the most famous and spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, and other key locations. (It will depend on the circuit that the Ministry of Culture determines).

As we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views of the agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. 

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Ollantaytambo/ Poroy. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you’ll end your incredible Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.