The Salkantay Trek is a favorite among hikers for the Humantay Blue Lagoon, glass cabanas, and our exclusive campsite overlooking the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu!
Considered to be one of the best treks in the world, the Salkantay Trek offers a variety of Peru ecosystems; from deserts and jungles, to mountain passes, and azure lagoons!
You’ll start this Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu at 3 p.m. local time on Day 1. That’s when you’ll meet your Andean Route trekking team and your adventure starts.
** Because you’ll likely be checked out from your hotel before the departure time, the meeting point for this Salkantay trek is at Andean Route’ office located close to the main square.
At 3 p.m. we’ll load into our private van for a 3.5 hour drive to the Glass Cabañas, in Soraypampa, which is located at 3,800 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). We’ll arrive at the Cabañas just in time for you to take photographs of the sunset over the glacier peaks.
At the Glass Cabañas your guide will settle you in your rooms before you enjoy dinner along with some hot drinks. This area is known for its beautiful views of the night sky so be ready for some unforgettable stargazing.
*When you book this Salkantay trek please choose the day you want to start the hike (so Day 1). Departure is the night before where you’ll stay at our private camping site and enjoy your first dinner prepared by your Andean Route chef.
After a good night’s rest, you’ll wake up early to enjoy your breakfast before your trek. During the morning there’ll be a short team introduction between all Salkantay trekkers and the Andean Route Staff to ensure a positive family-like experience.
Following the introduction, you’ll give your duffel bag to the muleteers to carry to the next campsite. The day’s hike will begin with a 1.5 hour steady uphill hike to the renowned Humantay Lagoon. The serene views of the crystalline-blue water of Humantay Lagoon are absolutely incredible. If the skies are clear you’ll see the first sun rays peeking through the snow-covered peaks.
And!… If you’re brave, you’ll have the chance to touch the almost-frozen water that locals believe can help you stay young forever! The advantage of visiting Humantay Lagoon in the early morning hours is the quiet surroundings with no other Salkantay trekkers besides those in your group. Due to the popularity of this location, this isn’t something everyone can enjoy!
After breathing it all in you’ll begin your way back to the starting point to continue to the lunch spot in Soyroccocha. This portion of the Salkantay hike will be approximately 3 hours on gradually ascending terrain. On your way, you’ll pass breathtaking places such as Salkantay Pampa, which means outstanding views of the surrounding snow-covered mountains. These views are what make the journey the destination.
After lunch made by your Andean Route local chef and a well-deserved rest, you’ll continue with you’re the next leg of your Salkantay hike. This next portion continues on for about 1 hour until you arrive at Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters above sea level. This is the highest point of the trek. The group will rest there and you’ll be served hot drinks while you enjoy the views.
From Salkantay Pass, you’ll be on the last leg of the hike for the day, which is a 3 hour downhill trek to the evening’s campsite, Wayracmachay. When you arrive at the campsite the Salkantay trekking staff will have your tents all set up and your duffel bags ready.
Andean Route’ team will provide you with warm water to get washed up from the day so you can change into some fresh warmer clothes for the night. Then there is a happy hour with hot chocolate and coffee followed by dinner. If the weather allows, you’ll get to enjoy the unbroken views of the sky along with a brief introduction to the visible Inca constellations.
Your Andean Route trekking team will wake you up early with a hot drink to help you start the day. Hopefully as you open your tent, you’ll be welcomed by the sunrise over majestic glacier peaks and clouds lifting from the green cloud forest. You’ll have time to pack up and enjoy a nice breakfast prepared by your local Salkantay trekking chef.
At around 7 a.m. you’ll hike for approximately 4 hours downhill until reaching the lunch spot at Ccollpapampa (2,700 meters above sea level). During this part of the Salkantay hike you’ll begin to notice the micro-climate as well as fauna and flora changes. You’ll go from cold glacier views to warm green jungle surroundings. There’ll be many different species of orchids to see as well as ferns, begonia flowers, and even hummingbirds.
After lunch and a well-deserved rest, you’ll continue your trek to the next private campsite called La Loreta (2400 meters above sea level). This hike will be approximately 4 hours on gradually downhill terrain.
Along the way, you’ll be able to explore beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and more new flora and fauna. You’ll be able to experience another tropical forest micro-climate where local people farm coffee, passion fruit, papayas, oranges, and avocados. When you arrive at the evening’s campsite your Salkantay trekking staff will be there to welcome you.
You’ll have time to enjoy a nice hot shower, hot Jacuzzi and perhaps even swim in our swimming pool. There’ll also be plenty of time to walk around our ecological garden to see some of the local coffee, avocado, chilies, tomatoes, and pineapples. Dinner tonight will be at our building with views of the Salkantay River. Then when you retire for sleep, you’ll be able to hear the Salkantay River.
After a delicious homemade breakfast cooked by Andean Route’ renown local chef, you’ll start the shortest but most exciting day of your Salkantay adventure. Today you’ll experience the most beautiful sights along your Salkantay trekking route to Machu Picchu.
You’ll explore the tropical forest and will visit a local organic coffee farm where you’ll have the opportunity to explore some of the orange and avocado plantations as well as taste some of the freshly-brewed coffee. During your visit to the coffee farm you’ll get a brief informational introduction to the region’s coffee history as well as its importance to the area.
Then you’ll continue with your Salkantay trek to Llactapata by hiking along a section of the Inca trail for approximately 2.5 hours. On your way to the Llactapata Inca site you’ll see amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley. The views you’ll be seeing along your hike today are impossible to put into words.
At Llactapata you’ll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. This includes the main archaeological sites Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore the Llactapata Inca site and take unforgettable photographs.
From here you’ll enjoy the last leg of your day’s hike with a 15 minutes downhill walk to your lunch and campsite area. This campsite is owned by a local family that only Andean Route has permission to stay at so you’ll enjoy more privacy than other Salkantay trekkers could.
You’ll find the campsite to be a great place to enjoy the sunset and sunrise over Machu Picchu. After lunch you’ll have some free time to enjoy the views and relax from hiking.
Before your Andean Route local chef serves you dinner, you’ll enjoy another lovely happy hour with tea and coffee. Once the sun has set then prepare yourself for another evening of unforgettable stargazing. You’ll see the Milky Way as well as the Inca constellations much in the same way as the Incan astronomers did to predict the weather.
Your Andean Route trekking team will wake you up early with a hot drink to help you start the day. You’ll get ready for the day’s activities and then enjoy your last breakfast prepared by your local trekking chef.
The day’s hike will begin with a 2 hour downhill path with unbeatable views of Machu Picchu until the Hydroelectrical Station that was built to harness the natural 300-meter high waterfall, which generates electricity for the region of Cusco. This waterfall is one of the most impressive features of this area.
From the Hydroelectrical Station you’ll continue to the famous Intiwatana (sundial rock). According to history, this Inca stone once worked with the legendary sundial rock in Machu Picchu to signal the winter solstice, which meant the beginning of a new farming season for the Incas.
Once you’ve seen the famous Intiwatana, you’ll continue on the path that runs alongside the train tracks for approximately 3 hours. This leads to the town of Aguas Calientes located at the foot of the valley of Machu Picchu. This part of the hike will be interesting as it was the trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham when rediscovering Machu Picchu.
On his way to discovering Machu Picchu Hiram Bingham met with local farmer Melchor Arteag who eventually guided him to Machu Picchu. On your trek, you’ll hike past Melchor Artaeg’s farm. Here you’ll see many species of flora and fauna and amazing local birds such as Peru’s national bird (called cock of the rock), Toucans, Oropendolas and Parrots. Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes you’ll relax and enjoy your packed lunch.
Then you’ll go to your hotel to enjoy a hot shower and then take the opportunity to visit the famous hot springs (10 soles, not included) of Aguas Calientes. In the evening you’ll be served your final dinner prepared by your Andean Route’ local trekking chef and you’ll have a chance to say goodbye.
Today will be all about Machu Picchu. To get the most out of the day we encourage every group to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (starting at 5:30 a.m.). This allows you to get ahead of the crowds.
The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way you’ll only need to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes approximately 30 minutes.
Once in Machu Picchu your guide will take you directly to the best place to watch the sunrise and take photographs. Your local guide will then show you around the main sectors of the citadel for a total of 2.5 hours. During this guided tour you’ll learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.
At the end of the guided tour you’ll have some time to yourself to relax and wander around. That is unless you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu* (must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $75 per person) your guide will show you where to begin this hike. The hike will take no more than 2 hours round-trip.
For your return from Machu Picchu we recommend heading back to Aguas Calientes no later than 2 hours before your train departure. The return train rode from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our Andean Route’ staff will be waiting for you right by the station’s exit door. They’ll be ready to bring you back to Cusco by car. The car ride to Cusco will be approximately 2 hours and will have you dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.
Machu Picchu Mountain may be hiked as well instead of Huayna Picchu Mountain. This hike is more challenging and takes three hours minimum round-trip (at an extra cost of USD $75 per person).
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