Salkantay Trail, Machu Picchu hiking

Salkantay trekking regulations

The price does not include the entrance fees to the Salkantay trail. This will cost you 60 Peruvian soles. However, the INC does not always charge these fees. Because of this we have made the decision not to include these fees in the overall price. However, if the INC decides to charge those fees please be ready to pay.

We advice to check the rules and regulations to enter the Machu Picchu complex.

The rapids of the Apurímac River is the perfect combination to connect with your hiking adventure.

Departure time: 5 am.

Highest pass: 4625 meters.

Grading V is very difficult, you need to have very high level of fitness for this trek!

Please note that the average walking hours per day, between seven and six hours, roughly 15 to 17 km a day.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay lake

In the morning, when the sun is just starting to warm up, your guide will meet you at your hotel. Then, you will be taken on a pleasant four-hour bus ride towards Mollepata, an attractive small town located at 2,850 meters – 9350 feet above sea level. In the areas around this village, there rises some of the most marvelous snow-capped mountain peaks that you will ever see. At the sight of the Salkantay chain, you will immediately want to take a picture: but just wait, there are more.  These mountains are some 6,270 meters – 20,570 feet above sea level. This trek takes you and the group about 6 hours when it is done, though we will have some time for brief rests. At every turn of the trip, you will see extraordinary sights and be aware that you are making memories that will carry you through the rest of your life. Along the road, we will have lunch and continue to Soraypampa, the first of our camps. The trek to our camp takes the vacationer six to seven hours.

There is always time enough to add an extra miles to hour hiking. While hour cookers will make delicious meals for you, your guide will take you to explore one of the new top attraction that this area has to offer the Humantay lake.

Meals: Lunch, snacks and dinner.
Trek difficulty: Intermediate.
Accommodation: Camping Tents at 3850 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.
Hiking distance: 12 km – 7.45 miles
Highest altitude: 3850 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Andenes

This is probably the most challenging part of the Salkantay trail, but our guides are trained to make it fall like an adventure!  Much of the trek is uphill in a terrain that has little vegetation. However, it is an amazing landscape and you will have seen nothing like it before and our guides will have stories and facts to help you understand what you are passing.

The highest point of this trek is the Apacheta path, which is about 4626 meters – 15177 feet feet above sea level. Here you can have a great view of the mountain and the surrounding region. Think of the photographs that you can take!

Salkantay means “wild mountain” in the local Quechua language. This is considered a sacred peak and the mother of all other mountains. Once you stand and take in the majestic view, you will understand why the mountain is so special to locals and everyone who visits it. After this point, the rest of the trek is easier. The landscape once more becomes green and you can enjoy beautiful trees and flora in a lush and green valley. Then, we start down the trail towards our next camp, Huaracmachay. Here you will have a great meal and a well-deserved rest while reflecting on the great adventures on the Salkantay trail.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, snacks and dinner.
Trek difficulty: Hard.
Accommodation: Camping Tents at 3850 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.
Hiking distance: 20 km – 12.5 miles
Highest altitude: 4626 meters – 15177 feet feet above sea level.

Day 3: Andenes – Sawayaco

This will be an easy day and not too demanding on those of all hiking levels. Today, we trek along rivers and climb ravines that offer matchless views of the Andes as well as a safe sense of adventure. We will trek until we reach a nice waterfall where you can rest and take some amazing pictures. Every few meters, there is something new to see. The weather is pleasant and there is plenty of shade, so you don’t have to worry about getting too hot. There is green vegetation everywhere and there are more cascading waterfalls. There are so many birds to see, and if we are fortunate you can see the Peruvian national bird, the Gallito de las Rocas. After a couple of hours hiking and after a nice lunch, we will reach the second camping place called Playa Sawayaco.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon snacks.
Trek difficulty: Medium.
Accommodation: camping in tents at 2400 meters – 7864 feet above sea level..
Hiking distance: 20 km – 8 miles
Highest altitude:  3850 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.

Day 4: Sawayaco – Patallacta – Aguas Calientes

On the fourth day you and our other guests have a healthy breakfast, we begin our trek on the Salkantay trail. The scenery is great, and we can wander though the lush rainforest. It is such a change from the mountains of earlier days. We can wander through rainforest coffee plantations, banana trees, oranges and avocados until we arrive at the entrance of a trail. This is going to lead us to Patallacta. Then after a trek of three hours, we arrive at the great Patallacta complex. Patallacta is Quechua means the ‘town on the hill’. This place will leave you speechless!

This place can offer the visitor a new perspective on Machu Picchu. Then after we take pictures while we rest and get ready for more hiking. After a trek of about two hours we arrive at Machu Picchu Hydroelectric. Then after a nice lunch of local foods, we trek for about two or three hours. Until we reach Aguas Calientes, this is a town below Machu Picchu. This takes 20 to 30 minutes, but we need you to note that the train ticket is not included in your overall price. The price of a ticket is $22 USD. In Aguas Calientes, you can rest in a great hostel and have a nice evening.

Meals: Breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Trek difficulty: Hard.
Accommodation: Hotel at 2040 meters – 6692 feet above sea level.
Hiking distance: 20 km – 8 miles
Highest altitude:  2700 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.

Day 5: Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the last day of the trip and the highlight of the trek for most people who have taken it. This is also the most important day on the Salkantay trail. On this day, we take an early bus to Machu Picchu before all the crowds of tourists arrive so that you can get some independent time where you won’t have to fight other travelers. If you are adventurous and you want to climb Huayna Picchu, which is the highest peak behind Machu Picchu there are two time-slots to do so: at 7 am and at 10 am. Only 200 visitors can enter, so you may want to make that decision early.

From Aguas Calientes, it takes 35 minutes until we reach Machu Picchu. This is amazing, and this is a day that you will never forget – so make sure that you take plenty of photos. In Machu Picchu, your guide will give you a two-hour guided tour and tell you stories and fables about the Complex. Later, the entire group meets up at Aguas Calientes to get the train that will take us back to Cusco. You will leave us and go home with memories of a great vacation and adventure.

Meals: Breakfast.
Trek difficulty: Moderate, hard if hiking to Huayna Picchu or Montaña (note this are not included in the price)
Hiking distance: 20 km – 8 miles
Highest altitude:  2700 meters – 12631 feet above sea level.

What’s included?

• Meals: Exquisite meals made of fresh ingredients. Four Breakfasts,  4 lunches and 4 dinners. The meals are all based on Peruvian cuisine.
• Machu Picchu: Entrance fees to Machu Picchu, bus ticket to and from Machu Picchu, guide tour. Optional for extra U$20 hike the Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Montaña.
• Transport: Private van to the start of the trail, train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
• Trekking:  You can have a great trek with us. We are experts and we have helped many to have dream vacations on the Salkantay trail.  Our guides speak English and are great guides and they can help you in any way. We also have horses to take your gear and we have an extra horse in case of an emergency. There is a horseman to look after the horses and all your needs. We provide you with, a kitchen, dinner and toilet tents, first aid kit, spacious 4 season tents and inflatable mattress.
• Accommodation: We offer our guests three nights of camping and one night at the hotel in Aguas Calientes.

What’s not included?

• Sleeping bag. It is advised that you bring your own sleeping bags. However, you may rent one from us at a cost of U$30 per trip.
• We do not include lunch on the 5th day.
• Entrance fees to the hot springs-
• Tips.
• Entrance to Humantay lake (U$ 25)

Please bring some cash with you for unforeseen expenses.

Salkantay trail – trek options

• Extra Horse: If you are someone who wants a more relaxing time- no problem because you can hire an extra horse for 40 dollars. The horse can carry your personal items and belongings.
• Hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: Huayna Picchu hike is the classic climb to the peak located behind  the city of Machu Picchu, the extra cost is U$20. It takes about 1 hours to climb and 1 hour to descend. The Montaña is an alternative hike in case entrance tickets will be sold out for Huayna Picchu. It takes about 1 hour 3o to 2 hours climb and 90 minutes descend.

Getting Ready

Try and improve your general fitness before the trek by doing some regular aerobic exercises. It is recommended that have 2 or 3 days off before you start any Machu Picchu hiking tours. This is to allow you to become acclimatized  to the conditions.

Rooms and hotels

The prices on our Salkantay trail are based on double occupancy hotel rooms tents and lodges.  If you are traveling on your own, we can help you to find some to share a room or tent to minimize the costs. All your companions in the tent or lodge will be the same sex. However, if you are traveling on your own and we cannot find you someone to share with we will cover the cost of the hotel room. However, if you decline to share with someone and want a private room, note this: YOU MUST PAY FOR YOUR ACCOMMODATION.

It is easy to get an upgrade at a hotel, just ask for more information.

In the price of $890, is accommodation in a 3-star hotel, you can find out more by clicking at the links below,

Eco Quechua Lodge is the finest accommodation in Santa Teresa, and our clients love it,

Hotel Rupa Wasi is the first choice. If this is not available, then our second choice is hotel Casita de la Luz. All our hotels are excellent. We make sure that all our clients receive the best.

To upgrade your hotel for your trip, feel free to contact us. We can also offer accommodation in 4 and 5-star hotels.

We offer the best Peru Tours, book with us for a trip of a lifetime. Our expertise and experience means’ that you can have an exciting trek that is safe and enjoyable.  We can help you to have an adventure of a lifetime on the Salkantay trail.