Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days

DAY 1: CUSCO - SAYLLAPATA - SOYROCOCHA.

We will pick you up this morning from your hotel and take you by bus 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 traditional restaurant. After breakfast we'll drive another hour or so to our trailhead at Sayllapata (3 200 meters), where we'll meet our “arrieros” (horsemen) and the trek staff.  From here we will climb two and a half hours through traditional Andean communities like Cruzpata, Challacancha, and Soraypampa (3750 meters), before stopping for lunch. After another 4 hours trek, we will arrive at our first campsite at Soyrococha (4200 meters).
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DAY 2: SOYROCOCHA - HUAYRAQMACHAY - COLPAPAMPA

On the second day we ascend to the highest point of our trek, Salkantay Pass (4600 meters).  From this point we can marvel at the special views of the sacred Salkantay Mountain, a stunning snow-capped peak (6271 meters).  After the pass we will have 3 hours of walking downhill, enjoying 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 another three and a half hours to our second campsite, Colpabamba (2600 meters).
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DAY 3: COLPAPAMPA - PLAYA

On the third day we will have 4 hours of easy, downhill hiking.  We will trek through the high jungle or "Ceja de Selva", eyebrow of the jungle, where coffee, coca and fruit 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 the elusive "Gallito de las Rocas".  We will stop at a village called Playa (2250 meters) for lunch and then enjoy a free afternoon.
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DAY 4: PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA - HIDROELECTRICA - 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 three and a half 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 in the ditance, and have free time to enjoy the scenery. We descend to Hidroelectrica Train Station (Km 116), where we will have our lunch.  We will then continue walking for two hours more to Aguas Calientes (2,000 meters), where you will check into your hotel.
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DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO.

We will take an early walk or bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu for a 2-hour guided tour and then have free time to enjoy this fabulous site at your leisure.  You may choose to climb Huayna Picchu, the peak that overlooks Machu Picchu and affords fantastic views and photo opportunities.  In the late afternoon you will board the train for your trip back to Cuzco.  You will leave the train at the last station before Cuzco, Poroy, for a more swift and convenient transfer by road back to your hotel.

Comparison of the Trains to Machu Picchu

This Salcantay Inca Trail trek can be combined with any of our other destinations, Cusco, Puno and Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, the Nazca Lines and Ballestas Islands and the Amazon Jungle. Just ask us to prepare you a quote.