The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu is an alternative to the Inca Trail and is considered by most to be the best alternative route – and perhaps even better! This magnificent trail is perfect for adventurers who want to personally integrate themselves into the changing ecosystems from one day to the next. You will walk through the magical landscapes of a snow-capped mountain to a tropical jungle where you will find a great variety of flora and fauna. Witness with your own eyes a living, yet ancient culture in remote villages that are almost never seen by foreigners.
The Vilcabamba Mountain Range is an impressive mountain range that stretches for 260 km. The snow-capped mountain Salkantay rises to 6271 m.a.s.l – 20574 feet high. It is an exceptional snow-capped peak, located less than fifty miles northwest of the city of Cusco in south-central Peru. Due to its proximity to the city, it is easily accessible by car and has been climbed by professional mountaineers since 1952.
To complete the Salkantay Trek, you must have a reasonable level of fitness, but age should not be a barrier. The most important thing is to be well acclimatized to the altitude. The highest you will trek is (4,630 MASL – 15,190 FASL). Two days of acclimatization before the trek is ideal for visiting the city of Cusco, its nearby Inca ruins, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
04:00 am
Each passenger needs a sleeping bag and walking sticks, they are optional but recommended, if you cannot bring these things, you can rent them:
Huayna Picchu Mountain:
Huayna Picchu is the mountain located next to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, it is a 45 minute hike to the top. The return is quite steep, if you are afraid of heights. This hike is an option after your tour in Machu Picchu, the cost of the entrances is $60.00 US dollars. The reservation must be made at least four months in advance due to its popularity.
We will start the day by picking you up from your hotel at 04:00 AM. After the first two hours of driving, we will quickly stop in the town of Mollepata to enjoy our breakfast (it’s included). then we will continue for 01 more hour until Challacancha, the starting point the trek. At around 09:00 AM, we will begin trekking to Soraypampa (3850 m – 12631 ft), the first campsite of our trip.
The first section of the trail takes us through some deep valleys along the side of a mountain. In some parts of the trail, you can still see an old aqueduct that still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. In this first section we will cover a distance of 7 km (4.35 miles) in 3 hours until Soraypampa camp site, where we will have lunch and rest. After lunch and a short break, we will walk to Humantay lake (4200 m – 13779 ft). This lake is one of the most beautiful places of this trek, with incredible blue-green waters that reflect the glaciers of the Apu Humantay mountain.
Finally we will return until we reach our camp located in Soraypampa, where our SKY DOMES are located. This night will be wonderful because you will sleep under the starry sky of the Peruvian Andes.
This day we will wake up very early to start what will be the longest day of the trek. After a quick but invigorating breakfast, we will begin the hike to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4630 m – 15190 ft). The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent in approximately 3 hours until we reach the Salkantay Pass. Then we will continue the 5 km (3.1 miles) downhill hike to our lunch spot which will be at Huayracmachay. This stretch of the trail down will be rocky with a lot of gravel. In the afternoon, after our lunch, we will enter to the upper part of the Amazon rainforest, which is also known as “the cloud forest.” This is a 10 km (6.2 miles) hike until we reach our campsite at Collpapampa village (2900 m) to have a well-deserved rest from our long day of hiking.
This day like previous days, we will wake up very early to enjoy breakfast and begin our hike to La Playa, walking through the thick jungle and following the riverbank of Salkantay river, along the way we will appreciate the flora and fauna of the area, once at La Playa we will enjoy our last lunch and be part of the coffee demonstration. Afterwards, we will take a transport that will take us for approximately 01 hour to the place called Hidroelectrica. There you can take a three-hours hike along the train track that runs through the warm cloud forest or board a train to Aguas Calientes (not included in the program). Once in the town, we will get in the hotel, have a relaxing shower and go out for dinner.
This will be a great day visiting one of the New 7 Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu! after a night of a good rest we will wake up and head to the bus station to board one of them which will take us to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, then you will receive a guided tour of approximately 03 hours, through the citadel visiting temples, terraces, palaces, the sundial, the industrial sector and the fields of crops. Be amazed by the engineering ingenuity of the Incas, which was far ahead of its time and even today is partly a mystery! After the tour you can choose to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain (if you book tickets in advance), finally you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes to enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant (not included), in the afternoon you must be at the train station to take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then take the bus back to Cusco.
The Salkantay Trek is an alternative to the Inca Trail, allowing you to explore changing ecosystems from a snow-capped mountain to a tropical jungle.
The Salkantay Trek lasts 4 days and 3 nights.
The highest altitude reached in the Salkantay Trek is 4630 meters above sea level.
The tour includes tourist transportation, professional guide, meals, accommodation in Aguas Calientes, and entrance to Machu Picchu.
The tour does not include sleeping bags, trekking poles, the bus down from Machu Picchu, and other extra costs.
Hike to Huayna picchu mountain is optional, costs $60 USD, and requires a reservation at least four months in advance.
I really liked this trek! The walk to the Salkantay Pass is difficult but rewarding. The views from there are incredible!