Salkantay Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. and then pass through the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo, arriving in Mollepata around 8:00 a.m. After a short stop for a light breakfast, we will begin our first day of hiking with the support team. At noon, we will stop for lunch in the field near the Silcakancha area. After three hours of hiking, we will arrive at Soraypampa, where we will set up our camp for the night.

After a good breakfast in the morning, we will prepare to continue our hike (considered the toughest of the trip). Around 6:45 a.m., we will cross to a place called Salkantaypampa, and then head to the left side of the Umantay snow-capped mountain, which is near the Salkantay peak. We will arrive around noon at the highest point, at the Salkantay-Umantay pass (4,547 meters above sea level). From this point, we will have a breathtaking view of the Salkantay snow-capped mountains and glaciers. After about an hour of hiking, we will stop for lunch in the community of Huayrac, and then continue our descent into the cloud forest, arriving in Challway at around 5:00 p.m. This will be our second camp.

This day will be unforgettable due to the rich variety of flora and fauna we will encounter throughout the day. We will also visit a thermal spring in a small valley. Then, we will reach a place called Sahuayaco (Playa), where we will have lunch before taking transport to Santa Teresa. We will follow the course of the Salkantay and Santa Teresa rivers, observing various orchid species and large waterfalls. You will also see an extensive variety of coffee cultivation and fruit trees like bananas, pomegranates, and avocados. Finally, we will camp at Santa Teresa at approximately 4:30 p.m. (Optional visit to the Santa Teresa hot springs).

We will leave at 7:30 a.m. and walk for about 2 hours. We will pass through the old town of Santa Teresa, which was destroyed by a mudslide in 1997. Beyond that, we will see an underground river and from there, we will have a view of the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station, which generates the electricity for the city of Cusco. We will arrive at the Hydroelectric town, where we will have lunch and say goodbye to the support staff. Afterward, we will take the train from the Hydroelectric Station to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night at a hostel located in the town.

After breakfast, we will start the hike to the Machu Picchu Archaeological Center to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. We will have a guided tour for approximately 2.5 hours with the same guide who accompanied us throughout the trek. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the site, hike around the city, or climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the valleys and mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. Alternatively, you can visit the Temple of the Moon or the incredible Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we will descend to Aguas Calientes and take the return train, arriving back in the city of Cusco.