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Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4-day/3-night Trek Trek map

ABOUT THE SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU:
This amazing trek runs beneath the sacred Salkantay mountain (6.271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes, passing through Quechua communities and lesser-known Inca ruins, to finally reach Aguas Calientes on the third day. The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machupicchu is visited on the last day of the program. This itinerary is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machupicchu.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to Chaullay

We leave Cusco at 04.00 am in a private transport and start a scenic morning bus-ride to our trail starting point at Soraypampa. Along the four-hour drive, we drive through the town of Limatambo (2100m/6888ft), an important point of access to the city of Cusco during the time of the Inca Empire, where the archaeological remains of Tarawasi are located. The road continues up a beaten track along the right shore of the Apurimac River and crosses the town of Mollepata (2800m/9184ft) and the small community of Cruzpata (2750m/9020ft) to finally reach Soraypampa (3500m/11483ft), the starting point of the trek where we meet our horsemen and horses. After a short introduction and a quick breakfast, we start our hike towards the base of Mt. Salkantay (6271m/20569ft), crossing Salkantaypampa, and then starting a 2 hrs steep ascent to Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4200m/13776ft). Continuing uphill, we reach the Abra Huayracmachay (4525m/14846ft), the highest mountain pass in the program where, besides enjoying stunning views of the surrounding glaciers, we may also observe chinchillas and condors in their natural habitat. From this point, we start descending towards a more tropical climate and into the so-called cloud forest. A long though easy descent brings us late afternoon to Chaullay, a beautiful spot where we set our first camp.   Meals: B, L, D

Day 2: Chaullay to Playa

Today we continue our hike with an easy walk along the Salkamayo River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp at the village of La Playa (2155m/7068ft), where we can refresh in the river before dinner.   Meals: B, L, D

Day 3: La Playa – Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, we cross the river and start climbing - passing through some coffee plantations- up to El Mirador or Abra Q’elloqasa (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of the Lost City of the Incas: legendary Machupicchu, from a different angle. We enjoy a last lunch in nature at the lookout point of Llaqtapata (2650m/8692ft) from where we can view both Machupicchu and Salkantay and take a good rest. A 2-hour descent brings us to the hydroelectric plant of Machupicchu from where we get to Puente Ruinas, a campsite located just at the basement of the Machupicchu Mountain. We camp and dine at this place.
Meals: B, L, D

ALTERNATIVE OPTION: A hotel room in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu can be booked for you for the third night, as an alternative to the campsite at Puente Ruinas, close to the village of Aguas Calientes. Please beware that in case of choosing this option, the hotel expenses will be charged as extras, and both the dinner on day 3 and the breakfast on day 4 will not be included in the program. Please check the “Optional services to be hired” section in this program

Day 4: Machupicchu to Cusco

We wake up early and board a bus, which will take us up to Machupicchu where we begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. We will then have free time to walk around, climb up the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or we can visit the Temple of the Moon or the fabulous Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall.  Meals: B

* Departure and arrival times are approximated.
** Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress

Difficulty degree of this hike : Challenging: An acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended.

What is included:

• Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to Soraypampa (starting point of the trek)
• Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field
• One inflatable sleeping pad per person
• One sleeping bag per person: our sleeping bags are -18ºC-comfort (0ºF), mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips
• One pillow per person
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Kitchen tent
• Toilet tent
• English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)
• Chef and cooking equipment
• Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment) – days 1 to 3
• Horses to carry personal gear up to 9 kg per person (including sleeping bag and sleeping pad) – days 1 to 3
• 1 emergency horse every 6 persons – days 1 to 3
• Accommodation for all our staff
• Meals (04B, 03L, 03D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian menu available at no extra cost
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• RT Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket from the Hydroelectric power plant to Aguas Calientes (day 3)
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Backpacker or Vistadome service, upon request)
• Transfer train station-hotel in Cusco

What is not included:

• Lunch and dinner on the last day: after the guided tour at Machupicchu, you can enjoy free time to further visit the ruins and choose to have lunch either in Machupicchu or in Aguas Calientes at your own expense. Arrival in Cusco is estimated after nightfall, dinner being at your own expense too
• Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes: a relaxing way to end-up the trek while you’re awaiting the return train to Cusco, only 10 minutes from the village center, entrance fee is Peruvian Soles s/10.00 per person. Towels can be hired in Aguas Calientes
• Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

What we recommend that you bring:

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water -sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Cash in soles and/or US$
• Original passport
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required)

Optional services available at extra cost:

• Accommodation in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu instead of camping at Puente Ruinas campsite: please let us know if you wish us to make the hotel booking and, in this case, your requested hotel category and accommodation, and the number of nights you wish us to book.
• Massage sessions: US$60.00 per 1-hour session (US$50.00 per session if at least 2 sessions are booked). Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco and offer the following treatments: relaxing massage, stress-relieving massage, spinal column massage, energizing massage, Inca massage, altitude problems, aroma therapy, therapy with honey, therapy with glass, therapy with stones, foot reflexology, shiatzu, reiki and puddle of flowering. We recommend massage sessions before and after your trekking program. Services are at the hotel and are only available in Cusco.

Appropriate clothing along this hike:

Hiking pants and T-shirts are commonly used during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machupicchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, and can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

Climate:

Cusco’s climate is divided into two differentiated seasons: the rainy season, from November to April (the heaviest rainfalls occurring usually between January – March); and the dry season, from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.

Along the route to Lares, temperatures range from 10-20ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 5-15ºC during the day if not sunny and depending on the elevation. Temperatures drop at night, especially in the first two campsites, at higher elevation, reaching 0-5ºC although rarely below.