The 4-day Salkantay Hiking to Machu Picchu is sure to ‘peak’ your interest as you walk between the towering peaks of Humantay and Salkantay mountain as you make your way to Machu Picchu. This is truly the experience of a lifetime! Did you know that the Salkantay Trek is listed as one of the 20 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine? Join us, and discover what it means to walk the sacred paths of the Inca. The Salkantay Hike to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in Cusco and it is undoubtedly the best alternave route to experience the original Inca paths. This trek takes you through many different types of landscapes. You will have the best opportunity to see the typical Andean landscape up to the snowcapped mountains, down to the tropical forests and finally even venture into the dense jungle. If you are thinking to do a hiking trip to Machu Picchu and you want to be close to the soul of the andes, close to the Andean communities and appreciate the beauful and diverse nature of Peru, the Salkantay Trek is highly recommended.
We start the day picking you up from your hotel at 04:30 AM. We will drive for around 3 hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata and ending up at Soraypampa. Through the windows of the bus you can clearly see the white, snowcapped mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay: two colossal gods of the Incas. You will also see spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama filling every direction you turn your eyes! After the first two hours of driving, you will stop quickly in Mollepata to take advantage of the toilet facilies, souvenir shops, and breakfast. You will then continue to Soraypamapa, the starting point for your trek. You will meet our support staff, and they will organize all of the equipment and cargo mules.
Around 09:00 AM, you will begin Your hiking up to the unforgeable Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 feet ). This place is one of the most beauful sights in all the Andes with unbelievable blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay. It seems like something out of a dream or fairy tale!
Then you will make your 1 hour descent and then 2 hour ascent to our Apu Salkantay Camp, There our cook will be waiting for you with a restorative lunch.
the background of the valley at sunset creates the most peaceful scene with an energy that can only be felt and not described! Because Soraypampa (where is placed our camp) is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, the sky is so immensely clear at night that you can truly appreciate the stars, constellations, and even comets shoong across the pitch blackness, uninterrupted by the hustle, bustle, or lights of the city. Take a moment this night to re-center your spirit and consider all the deep things of life in the profound silence and tranquility of Apu Salkantay camp.
At 5:30 am we will wake you up with a cup of coca tea, After a quick but energizing breakfast, you will start hiking up to the highest point of the trail the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15255 FT). The distance is a 7 km (4.3 miles) of difficult ascent in 3 hours between our Apu Salkantay Camp and the Salkantay Pass. When you reach the top of the pass, you will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. The magnificent snow-capped Salkantay (6271 masl – 20574 feet) is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”. Continuing from this climax of today’s trek, there is a 5 km (3.1 mile) downhill walk to the site for lunch. The walk downwards is on a serpent-shaped, rocky, gravel path which leads to the Huayracmachay lunch campsite. To rest on the way down, there is a perfect valley outlook that is absolutely stunning! In the afternoon after our meal, we will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2 mile) hike completed in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick and magical tropical forest. During this part of the hiking, you will noce a dramac change in landscape and the earth’s energy as we move from Andes to Amazon! This hike is truly beauful; the hills are decorated with colorful scenery, wildlife, and native plants. The forests are warm and tropical most of the year with temperate climates. At the end of this outstanding hiking, you will arrive at Chaullay Village (2900 MASL – 9514 FT) for a much-deserved reward of rest from our long day of hiking! Chaullay is our base camp in the jungle as we connue to make our way to Machu Picchu.
At 05:30 am, our mountain cooks will wake you up with a cup of coca tea,after you will have your breakfast, at 6:30 you will start your 3th day of your 4-Day Salkantay hiking, to the small town of La Playa where is placed our Coca Camp, During the hike we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit along the way! We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” where waterfalls, birds, fruit-bearing trees, and flora and fauna can be observed. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beauful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks,” the national bird of Peru! After a hearty lunch at our Coca Camp, we will take local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station. Here you will have two options: 1. If you are exhausted, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($33.00 extra). 2. If you are still eager to hike, you may walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. There is a nice path next to the tracks through the warm paradise of the cloud forest. This is the same trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu aafter centuries of it being lost to the outside world! Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a bit before dinner or stroll around this alluring place that has the feel of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it is an especially peaceful place to be. At 7:00 PM, you will have dinner at a local restaurant. All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the overnight stay at your hostel. In your private room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
considerd the most important day of the 4-day salkantay hiking, your excitement to get to know Machu Picchu will increase as we hike early in the morning through the forest to reach the site before most other tourists. You will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent wonder of the world while enjoying the beautiful sunrise from this once-in-a-lifetime viewpoint. Your group will learn about this mystical place on a 2-hour guided tour of the lost citadel of the Incas. Later on, you can choose to climb Wayna Picchu Mountain or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have booked your tickets in advance). After your visit to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, you will return to Aguas Calientes to take your return train to Ollantaytambo and then the tourist van to Cusco.
TRANSFER FROM THE AIRTPORT TO YOUR HOTEL:
The day of your arrival in Cusco we will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.
BRIEFING:
Prior to departure you will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be around 6:00 pm the night before your trip.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT:
Andean Huts, Star Domes,
bed with mattress, pillow, tables, chairs, cooking utensils, etc.
EXPERIENCE OF OUR GUIDES :
All of our guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience. They are professional, responsible, and all have a deep love and respect for mother nature and her mountains. They will make sure your trip is safe and enjoyable.
SATELLITE PHONES:
Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and our team. While all our guides are prepared and trained to deal with most issues clients have on the mountain. Being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps everyone feel assured that they are safe. Radios, which all our guides have, are limited in how far they can reach, so Machupicchu Trekking Peru has added Satellite Phones to every trek. Every guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us anywhere in the world. And they can be used by our clients for non-emergencies as well.
FIRST AID:
All of our guides are certified in high mountain first aid training. They always carry a first aid kit on our treks (including pills for altitude sickness, diarrhea, vomiting, cuts, and cream for muscle aches). They also carry extra oxygen in cases of emergency.
TRANSPORTATION:
ENTRANCE TICKETS:
ACCOMMODATION: CAMPSITE AND HOSTEL
We have camps set up in every designated CAMPING SITE, which include:
The last night accommodation that is included will be in a Hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes.
All of the rooms come with:
NOTE: If you wish to reserve your own hotel or work with a specifc hotel, let us know in advance so that we are able to coordinate the details.
FOOD:
4 BREAKFASTS, 3 LUNCHES, AND 3 DINNERS
Our talented chefs will prepare you a delicious and filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout your trek. Our clients have loved the food prepared for them on their treks, and our chefs are also able to accommodate any dietary restrictions (such as vegetarian or vegan) at no extra cost. Please let your guide know at orientation if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies so we can organize them ahead of time.
All of the food we offer is BUFFET SERVICE (except for the fourth lunch and fourth dinner, which are in tourist restaurants)
Acclimatize min. 2 days to the altitude of Cusco city before doing the walk. Thus, the symptoms of altitude sickness will be avoided.
Packing List.
Please read carefully the following information as it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the Salkantay Trek 4 Days.
You will be welcomed at the Cusco airport by one of our team and taken to your hotel (private services). Please ensure that you inform us of your flight details at least 14 days prior to your arrival. Look for our representative holding an dark blue board Machupicchu Trekking Peru at the arrival terminal. You must exit the terminal, in order, to find our representative (they cannot enter inside).
The best time to make the trip is in the dry season, that is, between May and October. The most advisable month is May since everything is still green after the rains. On the other hand, the coldest month is June.
First of all, a backpack, in addition to the one that will carry the horse, as well as a sleeping bag of at least -5 degrees. The clothing should be suitable for trekking in a highland climate, with heat during the day and very cold at night. To store clothes, bring 3 bags that allow you to keep clean clothes separate from dirty ones. Don’t forget personal hygiene items for 5 days of trekking, such as towels, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. Bring the medicines you consider necessary for headaches or altitude sickness, as well as band-aids for wounds or blisters. It is important to have a flashlight with batteries, especially for the last day, because we will wake up at 4:00 am. If you want to visit some communities, it would be a nice gesture to bring pencils, colors, pens, notebooks, or books that you would like to donate. Don’t forget to bring a good camera with a charged battery, as well as sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen.
It is important to acclimatize before starting the trek, arriving in Cusco 2 or 3 days in advance. Pills for altitude sickness also help and are widely used by tourists. You should drink plenty of water to hydrate the body, especially coca tea. It is important to eat light, that is, meals that are easy to digest, such as soups, vegetables, and carbohydrates that are not fried. Sleep as much as you can and you will feel much better. Keep your body warm and don’t forget to eat before you feel hungry, drink before you feel thirsty, wrap up warm before you feel cold, and rest before you feel exhausted.
During the whole Salkantay Trek 2 Days, you will travel with experienced and trained guides to assist you in any situation, ask all the questions you need to ask to be prepared, and have the best experience in the Salkantay trek!
Of course! During the Classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you. Please only pack what you will need for the trek!
FIRST, To book your adventure to Machu Picchu, select the tour or trek you would like to do and click BOOK NOW. Fill out a form with your personal information, after completing the form click on SENT YOU RESERVATION button, then we will send you by e-mail a payment link of US$ 200 plus the 5% commission per bank transaction.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase to Machu Picchu permits and entrance tickets without the following information:
Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
Gender
Passport number
D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
Nationality
*** We require clear photos of each participants’ passport at the booking.
SECOND, we require a deposit of US$ 200 per person in order to purchase permits for the Tour or Trek to Machu Picchu.
the fastest ways to send and receive money with fairly low fees, are through:
machupicchutrekking.pe@gmail.com
The balance, to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay IN CASH at our office with (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATM within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by your CREDIT CARD but you will have to pay a 5% service fee, to the iZipay collection company.
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number, you sent to us to book your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu permit. Your passport will be checked when you enter Machu Picchu, when you board the train. In case, you are renewing your passport, go ahead and send us a copy of your old passport to secure your permit and we can change it when you get your new passport. If so, please send us a copy of your new passport as soon as possible.
"We look forward to meeting you"
We recommend that you spend at least 2 to 3 days in the city of Cusco to help acclimate yourself and to avoid possible problems associated with altitude sickness during your trip. If you have already been to another destination with a high altitude before arriving to Cusco, we still recommend that you spend a full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and to enjoy the beautiful views of the city before departing for your trek.
In general Salkantay in known for its unpredictable weather, so no matter what time of year please come prepared for both warm and cold temperatures, and rainy and dry conditions. It helps to know what season you’re traveling in though and Salkantay experiences two main seasons, the rainy season (November-March) and the dry season (April-October).
During the rainy, warmer season temperatures average around 15°C / 60°F during the day and 5°C / 40°F at night. However, with a high chance of rain and wind at the Salkantay Pass, these temperatures may feel colder to you.
During the dry season the weather is sunny and clear and on average 20° C / 70 °F during the day but much colder at night, around -3 °C / 26 °F.
Also, after the second day, as we descend into the Peruvian Amazon basin, the weather changes to a more humid and warmer climate and these humid temperatures are consistent throughout the year.
We recommend two long-sleeve trekking shirts, two short-sleeve shirts, leggings or trekking pants, shorts, four pairs of underwear, sweatpants for the night, three pairs of hiking socks, a rain poncho, an insulated jacket for the Salkantay Pass, gloves, beanie, a hat with a brim, hiking boots, a bathing suit (if you plan to visit the hot springs), and slip on sandals to rest your feet at the campsites.
On the Salkantay Trek you will be permitted one personal daypack (a 30 to 50 L backpack is sufficient) and before your trek we will give you and one extra duffle bag from our office which can be used to carry your extra clothes and personal items.
Your weight limit for the duffle bag is 7 kg/15.4 pounds. Our horsemen will carry your duffle for you along with the food and the camping equipment. It’s important to keep in mind that you will not have access to your articles of clothing in this bag until the end of each day, since the horsemen and the horses will always be ahead of the group. Therefore, store the items you need immediate access to in your backpack and store the items you won’t need until the evening in your duffle bag.
The Salkantay Trek 4D/3N includes: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners. The only meals not included are breakfast on the first day and lunch/dinner on the last day after the tour of Machu Picchu.
We serve a variety of traditional Peruvian dishes including various natural teas with rice, chicken, beef, fish, pasta, salad, potatoes, eggs, pancakes, bread, and for lunch and dinner each meal begins with a soup.
Yes, vegetarian/vegan options are available. Let us know before your trek so we can accommodate and inform your chef.
Yes, you can rent sleeping bags from our office for 15 USD. They are down feather sleeping bags that work in temperatures as low as -10°C.
Yes, you can rent a pair of walking sticks from our office for 10 USD.
Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge.
We currently have ANDEAN HUTS and DOMES in each campsite. The cavins have a 4-person capacity but we only use them for 2 people per hut. We also include sleeping pads in all the tents.
In Aguas Calientes you will sleep in a hotel**.
If you have booked directly through MACHUPICCHU TREKKING PERU, we partner with ECO MAPI or HALLPA INN (3 minutes from the main square) in Aguas Calientes and you will be staying there. the hostels have hot showers, wifi, and comfortable beds.
The minimum group size is 2 people and the maximum group size is 16 people. In the case of 16 people the group will have guide assistant.
Chew coca leaves, drink coca tea or manzanilla tea (for stomach aches) at your campsites, and ask your guide for assistance. They are trained professionals equipped with the necessary aids to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude. They carry Sorochin pills, coca leaves, agua florida, and extra oxygen bottles.
Prior hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides are trained to assist hikers of all fitness levels and all trekking experience levels so you will never be left behind. Most important of all is to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.
Yes, on the second day during the assent from the Soraypampa campsite to the Salkantay Pass there is an option to rent a horse for 100 soles for the three-hour assent. Ask your guide for assistance, the horse can be rented at the Soraypampa property.
For additional expenses along the route, we recommend bringing 300 soles (though you most likely won’t spend it all) and in small bills too to be used at the campsites and along the trek.
Bathrooms are free at the campsites but cost 1 sol along the route. Keep small change on hand too for water bottles, snacks, and toilet paper along the route.
Other additional expenses include:
Hot shower at the Chaullay campsite (10 soles)
Cocalmayo hot springs in Santa Teresa (50 soles)
Zipline on day 3 of the Salkantay 4D/3N Trek (20 USD in our office, 30 USD to book at the campsite)
Optional bus that runs between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu entrance (12 USD one way, 24 USD roud trip)
Food/souvenirs in Aguas Calientes.
Note: Aguas Calientes is an expensive town, expect to pay ~30 soles per meal.
Tips for guide, horsemen, and cooks.
Both treks follow the same route up until day 3. After lunch on the 3rd day in Playa Sahuayaco, The 5 Days Salkantay trekkers take a 45 min bus to Santa Teresa where they will spend the night, with the option to go to the Cocalmayo Hot Springs in the evening and the Zip line the next day (day 4).
After lunch on the 3rd day in Playa Sahuayaco, the 4 Day Salkantay trekkers take a bus from the lunch spot to Hidroeléctrica. In Hidroeléctrica they will walk three hours to Aguas Calientes where they will spend the night in a hostel.
Also, the Salkantay 4D/3N trek covers a total distance of 60 km/ 37 miles and the Salkantay 5D/4N trek covers 72 km/ 45 miles.
Yes, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is included in all of our Salkantay tour packages.
In total you are permitted 3 hours in the park. The guided tour of Machu Picchu is approximately 2 hours after the tour you have 1 hour of free time to further explore the ruins on your own. KEEP IN MIND that regulations have changed and the tour in Machu Picchu is all a one-way path. That is, you cannot backtrack and revisit sites once you have passed them. In addition, once you exit the park you cannot re-enter. Therefore, take your time completing the route in Machu Picchu.
Yes there the option to take the bus that runs between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes. It is 12 USD one-way and 24 USD for there and back. Tickets can be purchased in Aguas Calientes, ask your guide for further assistance when you arrive.
First, send us an email asking about availability. Then, if available, select which mountain you would like to climb when you make your reservation online. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are an additional 50 USD each.
Huayna Picchu Mountain is home to the Temple of the Moon and is the famous mountain peak seen behind the ruins in all the classic photos of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is an approximately 45 minute climb with more ruins at the top and an incredible view of the Machu Picchu ruins down below. In total the visit to Huayna Picchu is approximately 2 hours. Huayna Picchu Mountain is an additional 50 USD.
Machu Picchu refers to the ruins, which you will already have an entrance ticket to and will visit on a guided tour. Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional hike within Machu Picchu that offers a much higher view of the ruins and overlooks the entire valley. Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional 50 USD.
If at any point you need to return to Cusco during your trek, MACHUPICCHU TREKKING PERU is not responsible for any refund and/or extra expenses for your return to Cusco. There are plenty of transportation options available at each campsite should a return be necessary. Ask your guide for further assistance.
Once you have made your reservation and initial deposit, you can cancel your trip at any time however we cannot refund your 50% deposit. One month before your trek, if you have already made your full payment and you decide to cancel, we can only refund 50% of your payment as your tickets to Machu Picchu and transportation tickets back to Cusco have already been purchased by this time and cannot be returned.
To book your adventure to Machu Picchu, select the tour or trek you would like to do and click BOOK NOW. Fill out a form with your personal information, after completing the form click on SENT YOU RESERVATION button, then we will send you by e-mail a payment link of US$ 200 plus the 5% commission per bank transaction.
Congratulations, adventure awaits you! Before your trek, please stop by our office in Cusco at 399 Santa Teresa Street to complete the second half of your payment in cash (can be paid in dollars or soles) and to receive your briefing a day before to start your hikking.
Groups of 5 or more receive a $20 USD discount per person.
door to door sevices - panoramic train
To book the 4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, you need to make an initial payment of US$ 300 per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments or in our Cusco office with any credit card.
Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are optional treks within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.
There are several extensions you can include to your 5-Day Salkantay trek. (group services)
It is important to acclimatize for at least 2 days and for this we recommend the following tours:
Day tours to do before your 4-Day Salkantay Trek
ALTERNATIVE TREK OPTIONS:
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