Information card
The Salkantay Trek by train is a popular alternative to the classic Inca Trail, and is a five-day trek that culminates with a visit to the Machu Picchu citadel. The Salkantay Trek takes you through breathtaking mountain landscapes, including the towering snow-capped peak of Salkantay mountain, which stands at 6,271 meters (20,574 feet). The trail also passes through remote Andean villages and provides the opportunity to interact with local communities.
One of the highlights of the trek is reaching the Salkantay Pass, which stands at an altitude of 4,650 meters (15,255 feet). This section of the trek can be challenging due to the altitude, but the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains make it all worthwhile.
After passing the Salkantay Pass, the trek descends into the jungle, where you’ll see a diverse range of flora and fauna. On the final day of the trek, you’ll take a short bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, where you’ll spend the day exploring the iconic Inca citadel. This trek offers a unique combination of challenging hiking and cultural immersion, making it a popular choice for adventurers looking to experience the beauty of the Andes and the wonder of Machu Picchu.
Price Includes
Not Included
We start the day picking you up from your hotel at 4:30 am. Then we will travel in a tour bus, passing through the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo and arriving at Mollepata (2900 meters/ 9500 feet) around 7:30 am. Here we will have to pay the s/ 20.00 soles entrance for humantay lagoon and our first breakfast , we can leave our 5 kilos for our riders. After, we will take a 1 hour shuttle ride to Challacancha (3380 meters/ 11,090 feet). From this point, we will begin our 3 hour hike, arriving at Soraypampa (3900 meters /12,800 feet) around 1:30 pm. There we will eat our first lunch and set up our first campsite. After lunch, we will go to the beautiful Lake Humantay.
LAKE HUMANTAY: After a 1 and ½ hour ascent, we will arrive at the impressive Lake Humantay (4220 meters/13,850 feet) where we can enjoy the turquoise color of the lake and the snowy Humantay Mountain peak. Then we will make our 40 minute descent to our campsite in Soraypampa for tea time, which is at approximately 6:00 pm and after we will eat a delicious dinner prepared for us by our chef. Finally, we will spend the night in our tents.
At 5:00 a.m. we will have a nutritious breakfast and then continue our walk, we start from the point of Soraypampa to the highest point Abra Salkantay (3 hours) where we can appreciate the imposing snow-capped mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo (4650m .snm) passing through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha where we will appreciate a small lake.
Then we will start the descent to Huayracmachay (3 hours) (3800m.snm) where we will have our lunch, then we will continue the walk where you will notice a dramatic change in the landscape, this walk is really impressive after continuing to descend towards Colpapampa (3 hours) (2900m.snm) where will be our second camp.
SORAYPAMPA-SALKANTAY-COLPAPAMPA (22 KM-10 HOURS)
We will have breakfast at 06:00 a.m., then we will walk for 5:00 a.m. along a path a (Ceja de Selva) with flat climbs and descents, during this trip we will enjoy coffee plantations, orchids, begonias , bromeliads and many natural plants used for natural medicine, arriving at our lunch point Playa Sahuayaco where we will have a ‘buffet’ lunch and board a bus to camp (Lucmabamba). Arriving at our camp, we will have the opportunity to visit the thermal baths located in Cocalmayo (Santa Teresa) which are not included in our package and we return to our camp at 6:00 p.m., for our tea and dinner.
COLPAPAMPA -PLAYA- LUCMABAMBA (14 KM. 5 HOURS)
The sunrise will be in a tropical area full of history and nature, we will have our breakfast ready to enjoy, we will continue our trip to Llactapata for 3 hours to the ruins, then we will descend to the hydroelectric plant for 2 hours where we will have lunch at the restaurant, then we will continue our walk through the tropical zone towards the town of Aguas Calientes for 3 hours and we will settle in the hostel and wait for our dinner in a restaurant.
LUCMABAMBA- LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES (18 KM, 7 HOURS)
We will get up very early in the morning to visit Machu Picchu, where we will have a guided tour of the citadel of Machu Picchu to visit temples, terraces, palaces and platforms, 1 hour walk from Aguas Calientes to the entrance to Machupicchu.
Then we return to the town of Aguas Calientes to wait for our train.
Expedition to Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
We recommend that you spend 2 days or 3 days in the city of Cusco to acclimatize to possible altitude problems during the trek. If you were in another destination with the same height as Cusco before arriving, we recommend that you spend a full day in Cusco, and you can enjoy beautiful views of the city before starting your hike.
Salkantay has two seasons, the rainy season (November-March) and the dry season (April-October).
During the rainy season, the daytime temperature is around 15 degrees, at night around 5 degrees.
During the dry season, the weather is sunny with a temperature of 20 degrees during the day, but it is cooler at night, around minus 3 degrees.
After the second day of lunch, we enter the jungle where the weather becomes hot and humid.
We recommend 2 long-sleeved trekking t-shirts, 2 trekking t-shirts, trekking pants, shorts, 4 underwear, night sleep pants, 3 pairs of socks, rain poncho, jacket for the cold and the rain, gloves, sun and cold hat, hiking shoes, swimsuit, sandals to be comfortable after each day.
During the Salkantay trek, we allow a personal backpack for the day (30-50 L. is enough) and during the briefing in our office, we deliver an additional sports bag (horse backpack) where you can carry your extra clothes and personal effects. Your weight limit is 5 kilos.
Our muleteers bring your extra 5 kilos to each camp. It is important to carry your personal belongings in your small backpack such as a camera, extra money, a passport and things that you will use during the day.
Salkantay 5d, 4n we include 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners. The first breakfast and the last lunch after Machu Picchu are not included.
What kind of food do they serve during the trek?
We serve traditional Peruvian dishes, rice, eggs, fish, meat, chicken, fries, bread, soups, traditional drinks such as tea, muña, coca tea, crepes.
While we offer vegetarian and vegan dishes, our chef specializes in all kinds of dishes.
Yes you can rent in our office for 15 dollars these are feather and is -10 degrees
Yes, we rent the pair for 15 dollars for the whole trek.
Yes, you can leave your luggage in our office during your hike.
In Soraypampa: We have glass huts, with mats 13 cm thick.
In Colpapampa: We have domes, with mats 13cm thick.
Lucmabamba: These are very comfortable tents for 4 people, but only 2 can sleep for more space and comfort.
In Aguas Calientes: you will sleep in a hostel.
The minimum group size is 6 people and a maximum of 15 people (In the case of the group of 15 people, you have two guides)
Coca tea for altitude and coca leaves or chamomile for stomach aches. If during the trek you experience altitude sickness, check with your guide that they are trained and have altitude sickness medication such as: Oxygen, sorochin pills, flower water
It is recommended but you do not need it. Our guides are trained to help people who have problems during the trek. The most important thing is to acclimatize.
Yes, during the second day to climb Salkantay Pass from Soraypampa, you can rent a horse for 3 hours, the price is 120.00 soles. Ask the guide for help, the horses are rented from the owners of Soraypampa.
For extra expenses during the trek, we recommend bringing 300 soles for extra expenses, but remember that you can’t spend all the money either.
Toilets are free in the camps but during the trek they are 1 sol. You will need to buy water and snacks during the trek, toilet paper.
Both hikes are the same route but on day 3 in Playa-Sahuayaco after lunch we will take a bus to Hidroelectrica for an hour and then hike for another 3 hours to Aguas Calientes where we will sleep in a hostel.
Salkantay trek 5 days (72 kilometers) after lunch from Playa-Sahuayaco we have the option to go Thermal waters of Cocalmayo to Santa Teresa for 45 minutes by bus to go and 45 min to return.
The private salkantay trek includes a personal guide, a chef, riders for individuals from 2 to 8 people maximum. (Snack, water, sleeping bag included). Hot water bus to Machu Picchu is included.
Yes, the entrance ticket for Machu Picchu is included in the Salkantay trek.
The Machu Picchu guided tour lasts approximately 2 hours, after the tour you will have free time to explore the ruins. Take into account that the rules change on the visit to Machu Picchu because you will no longer be able to return to the same place from which you have already visited.
If in case you have a reservation for Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain, you have time to return to Machu Picchu Citadel.
It is an option to take a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu for 12 dollars one way, you can buy it on the square in Aguas Calientes, ask your guide so he can help you when you arrive at Aguas Calientes.
First, email us to request availability. The price for one of the mountains is $20.
If you return from Cusco during the trek, the company is not responsible for additional expenses and reimbursement.
In each camp there is mobility to return to Cusco.
When you have made your reservation and full payment for your trek, we can only refund you 50% of your money and one month before your trek because we will have already purchased your train ticket and your entrance to Machu Picchu.
You must go to the website www.perou-cuzco-trek.com select the trek you want to do and click on book, when booking you will have to make a 50% payment by PayPal or Wester Union. Your reservation will not be confirmed without a cash deposit.
Congratulations, the adventure awaits. Before your hike, please go to the Cusco office, Garcilaso Nº Street, 210, C.C CASA DEL ABUELO, first floor, Ofc, 121 to complete the second payment in cash it is possible to pay in soles and dollars, finally you receive your trek briefing with your guide.
We are open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
+51 934 846 721
+51 999 333 167
+084 614654
[email protected]