The interesting Salkantay Trek 05 days and 04 nights to reach Machu Picchu Inca citadel. This magnificent hiking route is in Cusco, Peru, within the Andes Mountains of Vilcabamba, Mollepata, Soraypampa, Challhua, and Santa Teresa.
Alternative Salkantay hiking Trail 5 Days to Machu Picchu; we start our adventure from Cusco; driving three-hour west of Cusco is Mollepata and Soraypampa, the starting point for the 5 Days Salkantay Trek Peru. The hiking trail leads to the high Andes in the direction of the Santa Teresa amazon jungle.
Around Soraypampa (3,923 meters/12,870 feet), we start our amazing adventure, passing Salkantay Pass, Chaullay of Collpapampa. Then we hike following the Totora and Chalan rivers, forming the Santa Teresa River. After arriving in La Playa Sahuayaco, you can choose to go to the hydroelectric power station via the Patallacta ruins or to the village of Santa Teresa. Salkantay’s 05-day hike is an incredible trekking experience through the Andes, jungle, and Machu Picchu. Join us and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime! 🙂
Is this Salkantay mountain trip right for me? AT A GLANCE
Day 1: Cusco – Humantay Lagoon – Soray Pampa
Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay-Pass – Challhuay
Day 3: Challway – La Playa – Lucmabamba
Day 4: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Return to Cusco
Highlights
🙂
We start the vehicular trip from the city of Cusco, heading northwest via Izcuchaca, Limatambo, and Mollepata. In Mollepata, there is a 30-minute stop for breakfast at one of the local restaurants, “optional, breakfast not included.” We continue along the dirt road until we reach the Soraypampa area.
In Soraypampa, we meet our muleteers and pack horses. We start the walk in the first section of the mountain until we reach the top of the turquoise lagoon of Humantay “we have incredible views of the Andes mountain range with its snowy peaks and groups of cattle.” We descend the same path until we reach Soraypampa to continue on the second section of the hike on the other side of the mountain until we reach our camp.
At dusk and night, we will see the Salkantay snow-capped mountain with its mountains; If the sky is clear, we can observe the Milky Way and recognize the Andean constellation, but already the starry night is beautiful, looking for some shooting stars.
Additional note; It’s pretty cold tonight! It does recommend bundling up with thermal clothing and bringing an excellent sleeping bag.
Salkantay Trek First Day Hike Summary
Upon waking up, our mountain cook brings us a cup of Coca tea to have the strength and conquer the highest point of the entire trek, the Salkantay pass. Before starting the walk, we have two trails that go to two different walking circuits; On the right, we have the connection route to the classic Inca Trail. The Salkantay way to Machu Picchu via hydroelectric power station is left.
On foot, our workers and explorers go the Salkantay route to the left. To get to the pass, we have 03 hours “of mountain regulation of the Salkantay path; every hiker has to be next to the mountain when the horses or donkeys approach, both going up and down because it could push us; that is why they are always there next to the peak. ”
Before reaching the Salkantay pass, we already have impressive glacier views. In the Salcantay pass, a sign marks the height “classic photo of the whole group.” After resting, we descend for 05 hours until we reach our camp in Collpapampa, “two hours through the Andes and another 03 hours inside the cloud forest”.
It is imperative to fit both walking shoes and poles because, along the hiking trail, we see incredible stones of all sizes but with stunning panoramic views every half hour. Outdoor adventure time, like hiking, is healthy for our bodies and mind.
Summary of Activities
Entering through the primary forest or jungle eyebrow, we observe tropical fruit plantations such as the passion fruit “granadilla,” organic red coffee, banana trees, wild berries such as the strawberry of the Andes, etc.
During the walk, we will always have the presence of the Aobamba river, which is the union of the Salkantay, Challhuay, and Totora snow-capped mountains; the color mix of the white river with the lush green vegetation makes the walk pleasant. Before arriving at the community of Wiñaypoco, we have a beautiful waterfall with its rustic bridge built of wood. There are several streams during the walk until we reach the tip of the Loreta highway – La Playa Sahuayaco. The last stretch of the walk follows the dirt track until we go to our Lucmabamba camp on the Llactapata Inca Trail.
A summary of Chapter Three
Optional: Travel to Santa Teresa.
We start our hiking activity early to avoid the sun, which is vital because it does locate in the jungle. Humidity, in a large percentage, makes us sweat a lot; that’s why we walk outdoors as much as possible. Two hours are hiking to get to the Llactapata pass. The Lucmabamba Inca trail does very well preserved; in the distance, you can see the valley and the town of Santa Teresa. Once at the top, we rest in the natural shade of the jungle “the area has several trees with dense vegetation.”
We descend for about twenty minutes to find the first views of Machu Picchu from a distance; When we arrive at the Llactapata ruins, you will see the mountains of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and part of the classic Inca trail on the peaks of the Aobamba valley. We continue our walk descending until we reach the suspension bridge of the Aobamba valley “the descent is quite steep; bring your poles.”
In the afternoon, we walk from the Inti Watana hydroelectric train station, located on the railway at kilometer 119, to Aguas Calientes, following the train tracks “for 02 and a half hours.” We spend the night in a two-star hotel in Machupicchu Pueblo.
A summary of Chapter Four
Adventures through the Andes from Salkantay, containing various microclimates, scenic landscapes, and different hiking terrains, make for a unique vacation to de-stress and escape the routine. We start the activities with the pick-up service at your hotel and then go to the bus station that will transfer us to the Inca citadel, “30 minutes of travel”.
At Machupicchu control, we present our electronic tickets on the walkers’ cell phones. We start the guided tour by going to the watchman’s house to have fantastic panoramic views of the Inca citadel. At the end of visiting and exploring the world’s seventh wonder, we board the shared bus service to Aguas Calientes and then travel by train to Cusco. In the town of Ollantaytambo, the private vehicle awaits us to continue the trip to Cusco; in total, there are 03 hours and 10 minutes of travel.
Summary
When you get to the POROY train station, Be met at the train arrivals area. Just look for a KONDOR PATH TOURS sign with your name on it.” Group name: Salkantay trek 05 days 🙂
🙂 Optional: For service upgrades, go to the pricing button and click on it.
No, there is no age limit, but if you are older, you should have a medical check-up before traveling and try to acclimate at altitude (see altitude sickness). We have had children as young as seven years old and people up to 68 years old many times, don’t worry; we are here to help you do it! When there is a will, if possible.
Yes, you can change the departure but not the date of entry to the citadel of Machu Picchu tickets are purchased well in advance; if you change the tour departure, your tour could become one of four or three days, depending on the program book. Remember to schedule your trip to Peru in advance to avoid problems and stay in Cusco 3 or 4 days before the trip). Please note that on this trip, you will meet people of different gender and nationality than yours; we are an agency that cannot guarantee the gender and ethnicity of our tourists.
We have an excellent kitchen that offers a fantastic variety of dishes:
Breakfast: Varies depending on the difficulty of the Journey ahead. Usually, a wide selection of products: oatmeal, eggs, pancakes, bread, and jam. You can have hot chocolate, coffee, English tea, and herbal tea (chamomile, lemongrass, tea, or traditional coca).
Lunch and dinner: always have a bowl of soup followed by a main course (chicken, meat, fish, etc., with rice or pasta). This is followed by dessert and a herbal drink for good.
Refreshments (Happy Hour): After the hike, every day, there will be hot drinks, popcorn, cookies, bread and jam, chocolate, milo, etc., etc. etc.).
Snacks: Before starting the hike for the day, you will be given – a piece of fruit, a chocolate bar, a packet of cookies, and some candy.
Vegetarian / unique diet options are available upon request (see below).
Yes, we offer vegetarian food. Please specify your dietary needs when making your reservation.
Yes, we provide water previously boiled for at least 5 minutes (water purification tablets are unnecessary). Therefore, you only need a bottle of water for the first part, for Lunch, the first day and then, from there, refill your bottles to Machu Picchu.
The tents for all our tours are for four people, but the modern man is very tall, and only two people fit in each tent, which allows more space and comfort. If you are traveling alone, you must share the tent with another person unless you request a private tent (single tent $25).
Tipping is a personal decision depending on the job performance of each person accompanying you on this trip.
All hostels and hotels in Cusco have a storage room to keep the tourists’ belongings; to make this trip, you must leave it in place.
We have a shallow rate of people returning once the trip has started. Our priority is to help you complete the trip; our guides are well-trained and have a first aid kit and emergency oxygen. Please don’t think this (that you are in good hands).
In Cusco, we only have two seasons rainy for six months and dry for 06 months; the dry season starts in April and October; the days are usually sunny and warm, but keep in mind that the weather is very variable in the high and mountain towns, from November to March rainy days and many unstable months, where the rains can be heavy.
Note: Temperatures are for the Cusco Valley 3400m. And temperatures change depending on altitude (higher altitude = cold or vice versa).
The train included in all tours is the (Expedition Service); the schedules are the available spaces in the wagons once the agencies make the full payment. The first train can be taken at 18:20 hours and the last at 22:50 hours: Salkantay Expeditions. Arrange transportation back to Cusco (by cab or bus).
Note: Trains are sometimes subject to change depending on Peru Rail train operators. If desired, the train can be modified for a better service with a corresponding price increase.
You must arrive before the city of Cusco, where it will be necessary to go with a guide to direct the way to make your adventure tours of Salkantay treks.
The Salkantay trek is located in Cusco, about 60 km northwest of Cusco. The proximity of Salkantay to Machu Picchu makes trekking around it an alternative to the Inca Trail.
You should bring a series of accessories for the trail. As a backpack that will be your companion during the five days of the tour, carry the following
The Salkantay trek is approximately 72 kilometers distributed over five days and four nights through beautiful Cusco to reach Machu Picchu.
Yes, the five-day Salkantay trek is available for all adventurers who want to travel to Cusco in 2023.
The best season to do the Salkantay trek is during the dry season in Cusco, which is during April and October.
No, the route is signposted, and the professional team you will travel with will ensure no incidents occur.
This is a five-day trek, where we will be going up and down trails for more than 70 kilometers in the known altitude of Cusco; for this reason, it is advisable to be prepared for the trek.
It will not be necessary to train hard, but it does help to do cardiovascular exercises, such as walking three times a week for at least three months before the tour.
Also, spending a couple of days acclimatizing to the altitude of Cusco before the tour will help us a lot.
To do the Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu, you should know that the level of trekking varies from moderate to complex. Therefore, it is recommended to be in good physical condition. In addition, it is recommended to use good trekking shoes, preferably that they are already molded to your feet; this will facilitate the walk and will not have any problems.
The best time to do the Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu with good weather is between April – October, as we have the presence of clear skies and smaller-scale rainfall. Mainly the driest months are between June – August, which is winter in the Andes. However, it is suggested to foresee the type of clothing to use during these months, because during the day you can enjoy the sun, while at night you can feel intense cold.
The number 1 reason we did the Salkantay trek was the environment you are in. You hike for five days in very different backgrounds. On other trekking tours, the walk to Machu Picchu, the environment often remains the same, becoming monotonous. This is not the case with the Salkantay trek at all.
With each step, the landscape changes, and the mountains reveal something new; the rolling clouds, the breathtaking terrain, the towering mountains, and the smiling locals.
There is something magical about walking in the area on the Salkantay trail. All you have to do is walk and enjoy. You have no stress, and there are not many things you must think about during your hike. Just enjoy the walk. Great, isn’t it?
You can book the Inca Trail by contacting us through the website or the following email info@kondorpathtours.com. You only need to fill out the reservation form and provide us with your personal information, such as full name, date of birth, Passport or Identity Card number precisely as indicated in your document, and the exact date of the excursion. Otherwise, please send your inquiry to our email info@kondorpathtours.com.
Salkantay trek It is not recommended because the conditions are not the best. The Salkantay Majestic hike is accessible to all hikers, but it is recommended to be accompanied by certified expert guides who know the trail very well.
No, We refer to security in terms of being robbed, assaulted, or similar during the route. We heard before doing this route that it could be, but it is false. The most significant danger you face is the altitude, so I recommend you look at this altitude sickness guide.
Yes and no. Acclimatized and in relatively good shape, I can do the Salkantay trek. It is a route that many people take, which can give you a clue that it is not about climbing the Himalayas. Still, it would be best if you were realistic with your physical condition and, above all, with your acclimatization level.
Yes, absolutely, yes. We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Cusco. Drink plenty of water (as much as it bothers us all, beer is not water), get plenty of rest, and take some walks to measure yourself. If you feel that your body reacts more or less regularly (considering that you are at more than 3500 meters above sea level), you are ready for the adventure.
Salkantay trek vs. Inca trail: Choose the Salkantay Trail Peru.
PRICES PER PERSON [USD] 2022 – 2023. We carry out this trekking circuit along the 5 Days Salkantay Trek trail.
GROUP TOUR:
$650 per person
Shared Group / A minimum of 03 people is required to open a new departure group. Walk with the KONDOR PATH TOURS!
PRIVATE TOUR:
02 participants $980.
03 participants $925.
04 participants $870.
05 participants $815.
06 participants $760
07 participants $705.
08 or more participants + $650
Private tours are available and priced based on group size.
Our alternative 5 Days Salkantay Trek ends in Aguas Calientes. The last night we stayed in a hotel instead of camping. The 3-star hotel does include the trek cost based on a shared room. If you want to improve the hotel category or other services, we have several options to choose from to upgrade the service at your request.
PER PERSON
-$30 Book on your own “It is possible to reserve this excursion without a hotel.”
Gringo Bill’s Machupicchu
+$25. DBL/MATRIMONIAL | +$43 Suite
Inti Punku Machupicchu
+$25. Standard | +$33. Superior | +$39. Junior Suite | +$63. Senior Suite
Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu
+$29. Traditional | +$35. Superior | +$45. Suite
Taypikala Boutique Machupicchu
+$35. Standard SGL/DBL | +$80 Suite
Jaya Suite Machupicchu
+$40.
El MaPi ByInkaterra
+$69. Superior Deluxe SGL or DBL | +$91. Suite SGL o DBL
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
+$244. Superior | +$271. Superior Deluxe |+$298. Junior Suite | +$389. Junior Suite Deluxe | +$488. Suite | +$555. Inkaterra Suite
By PeruRail / PER PERSON
+ $35 Vistadome train (MACHUPICCHU – POROY) Outbound Journey
+ $50.00 Vistadome train (MACHUPICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO) + Transfer to Cusco from Ollantaytambo
+ $445.00 Hiram Bingham train (Train MACHUPICCHU – POROY) Inbound Journey
+$75 Huayna Picchu
+$75 Montaña
+$60 RE-ENTRY TO MACHU PICCHU
This applies to the following services
Machu Picchu Fee
College students$25 off
Regulation of Machupicchu
1st. STEP
2nd. STEP | First down payment.
