Home » Offered Tours » Alternative Inca Trails to Machu Picchu » Salkantay and Machu Picchu 5 days

Salkantay and Machu Picchu 5 days


  • Chaullay Bridge » Click to zoom ->

    Chaullay Bridge

  • Salkantay trail » Click to zoom ->

    Salkantay trail

  • Salkantay Fall » Click to zoom ->

    Salkantay Fall

  • Salkantay Soraypampa » Click to zoom ->

    Salkantay Soraypampa

  • Santa Teresa » Click to zoom ->

    Santa Teresa

Code: XA - 12.
Altitude: 1950 - 4600 meters / 6398 - 15092 feet.
High season: April - November.
Duration: 05 Days / 04 Nights.
Level: Hard.

*A minimum of 2 people is needed for this trek

This trek is a very good alternative for the Classic Inca Trails. It is a bit harder than those, but it is beautiful. For this trek you do not need to book in advance. 

This trek will combine perfectly the cultural and a natural attraction where we'll be able to enjoy fully the magnificent sights over Salkantay snow-peak...It's the domain of the Apu...The Mountain God that watches over Machu Picchu. This road will lead us straight back to Inca-times, accompanied by Apu Salkantay and Apu Humantay. For more information about Machu Picchu, click here

Program

1st Day - Cusco / Mollepata (Cruz Pata) / Sorayapampa

The day will start with the transport from Cusco to the village of Mollepata (3000m / 9843f). We will continue in the direction of Cruz Pata (3400m / 11155f), a place with a magnificent scenery of valleys, mountains and the most important snow-covered mountain tops, considering the ancient Incas, like the Humantay (5217m / 17116f) and Salkantay (6264m / 20551f). Our camp will be at the foot of the mountain Tucarhuay also known as Soraypampa (3700m / 12139f).
Transportation time: 4 hours.
Hiking time:7 hours in a cold climate.
Included are breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

2nd Day - Sorayapampa - Salkantay pass - Arayannuyic

In the morning we will have the most difficult part to the highest point of the trek called the Salkantay pass (4600m / 15092f), from where we will start our descend and have a little time to observe the change of the constant ecological level at Selva Alta "Yunga" to a pleasant climate with mosquitos; after this we will arrive at the camp called Arranyaniyuc (3450m / 11319f).
Hiking time: 8 hours.
Included are breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

3rd Day - Arayanniyuc - Wiñaypoco - La Playa

Basically this day is to descend through a dimmed forest, where the vegetation grows brightly, among this outstanding kindness for instance a great variety of Orquídeas, Bromelias, Bomareas etcetera. We will also meet with some ancestral families during the trek, for instance in Wiñaypoco (2650m / 8694f) and La Playa (2100m / 6890f), where our camp will be.
Hiking time: 7 hours, during a warm day with mosquitos, cold in the night.
Included are breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

4th Day - La Playa - Llactapata - Machu Picchu village

We will begin the early morning with ascending through the Inca Trail network to the archeological complex of Llactapata (2650m / 8694f). Here we will be in a scene of cloudy forest and will have an exceptional view over the Machu Picchu mountain, Waynapicchu etcetera, after which we will descend to the Hydroelectric station (1950m / 6398f). Here we will take the train in the direction of Machu Picchu village (2050m / 6726f), where we will spend the night in a lodge.
Hiking time: 6 hours, on a warm day with a lot of mosquitos.
Included are breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

5th Day - Machu Picchu village - Machu Picchu - Cusco

It is recommendable to visit the lost city of the Incas early in the morning; We will leave for the historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu (2400m / 7874f), getting to hear a lot of information about agriculture, astronomy and religion in former Machu Picchu, accompanied by a professional guide. After the guide finishes his service, everyone will have enough time to spend in the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, before meeting again in Aguas Calientes and taking the train to go back to Cusco.
The climate in Machu Picchu is warm with mosquitos. Breakfast is included. 

What you need to bring:

Backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat (we will provide you with this one), rainwear, complete change of clothing, sweater, jacket (something warm), water bottle and sterilizing tablets, flash light and batteries, broad - brim or peaked cap, sun block, insect repellent, toiletries and toilet paper. Selection of small snacks such as chocolates, dried fruit, biscuits, etc. Camera (wrapped in plastic bag) and extra money.

Also the Practical information might be good to read.

Group service

Included:

  • Transport from the hotel to Mollepata village
  • High quality camping equipment (Professional tent, Doite Cima 4, for 2 persons. Air beds, eating tent with table and chairs, bathroom tent).
  • Meals during the excursion (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea time / Option vegetarian).
  • Professional guide (English or Spanish)
  • Cook and assistant
  • Carriers and mules for all our equipment and everyone's bags
  • Emergency horse (for minimum of 3 persons)
  • Bus from la Playa to the village of Santa Teresa
  • Bus from Santa Teresa to the Hydro electronic station
  • Entrance to the National Park of Machu Picchu
  • Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
  • Train from the hydro electronic station to Aguas Calientes
  • Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco or tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
  • First-aid kit, oxygen bottle and safety rope
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

Not included:

  • Breakfast at the 1st day and lunch on the 5th day in Aguas Calientes
  • Bus goes downhill from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes where the train station is situated; additionally you can pay the cost of $6.00 for this service. Other possibility is a walk of an hour.

NOTE: Any increase on the part of the governmental authorities, or by the entrance of the National Park of Machu Picchu, we are committed to send a document to the client with the reasons for this.