Salkantay Trek 4 days and 3 nights

High Andean landscapes, majestic snow-capped mountains, high mountains, and the cloud forest—and immerse yourself in the Salkantay Trail. The most popular alternative Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and have the experience of a lifetime.

Join us on your own, as a couple, or as part of an incredible group!

Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa - Humantay Lagoon

Hike from the Inca Canal to Soraypampa and enjoy lunch. Visit Humantay Lagoon in the afternoon. Spend the night resting under the stars at our campsite in Soraypampa.

Day 2: Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayraqmachay - Colpapampa

Challenge the 7 Snakes Trail to reach Salkantay Pass, offering a breathtaking view of the Salkantay Mountains. Immerse yourself in the Andean cloud forest, rest, and save energy at our Colpapampa campsite.

Day 3: Colpapampa - Sahuayaco Beach - Hydroelectric Power Plant - Aguas Calientes

Incredible hike to the lush highland jungle, Sahuayaco Beach. From here, we'll take a bus to the hydroelectric power plant to continue our hike to the town of Aguas Calientes.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

A visit of a lifetime! With our guide, we'll explore the Inca city of Machu Picchu in the morning. We'll return to Aguas Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo and return to Cusco in our transportation.

We begin our adventure at 4:30 AM. We pick up each group member from their respective accommodations or hotels (near Cusco) and begin the journey with their guide and cook. We will depart for the town of Mollepata (2,800 meters above sea level / 9,186 feet), passing through towns such as Izcuchaca and Limatambo, arriving at 7:30 AM, where we will have a break for a light, optional breakfast. We continue for an hour to Challacancha, the starting point of our Salkantay trek, the Route of the Gods.

From here, we will meet with our support and logistics staff, where they will prepare the equipment and pack mules. We will depart around 9:30 AM. We begin our hike to Soraypampa, where our first campsite is located (3,910 meters above sea level / 12,828 feet).

The first part of the hike will take us along an old road that will lead us through deep valleys on the side of the mountain. We will be able to observe an ancient aqueduct, where cold, crystal-clear water flows and supplies the locals. During the 3-hour hike, we will arrive at our campsite in Soraypampa, where we will then have lunch and recover our strength. At this point, we will have enough time to enjoy and take photos of the impressive views of the canyon that extends through the area. You will be able to contemplate the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay.

In the afternoon, after a rest at our campsite, we will begin the 1 hour and 30-minute hike to the dazzling turquoise Humantay Lagoon (4,210 meters above sea level / 13,812 feet). We will enjoy the beauty and charm of the place, providing a magnificent opportunity to take incredible, dreamy photos.

Back at our campsite, we will watch the sunset, admiring the valley below with a breathtaking view that will fill you with peace and harmony. Time to find yourself!

Tea time, followed by our delicious dinner. At night, we will have the opportunity to contemplate the stars and the constellation-filled firmament. Finally, we will return to our accommodations to rest under the stars and continue the next day.

Distance: 12 kilometers from Challacancha to Soraypampa.
Hiking Time: Approximately 6 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging.
Climate: Cool with a bit of wind, and cold nights.
Starting Altitude: 3,600 - 3,700 meters above sea level (Challacancha - Inca Canal)
Campsite Altitude: 3,910 meters above sea level (Soraypampa)
Maximum Altitude: 4,200 meters above sea level (Humantay Lagoon)
Meals: Lunch, Tea Time, Dinner.
Accommodations: Andean open-air cabin.

This is the big day to challenge the Salkantay Pass. We'll enjoy a nutritious and energetic breakfast very early at 5:00 AM to begin the 4-hour hike to the highest point of the day, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 masl / 15,190 ft). This hike covers 7 km and covers 4 miles. From the summit, we'll contemplate beautiful high Andean valleys and the mighty and imposing snow-capped mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. From this point, we'll perform an Inca ceremony, praying to the Apus to allow us to continue to our destination.

We continue down a winding and rocky descent toward Wuayracmachay (3,800 masl / 12,467 ft), where we'll have lunch. After a short rest, we'll continue our journey.

In the afternoon, our journey will take us to the Amazon rainforest and into the Cloud Forest. During this journey, you'll appreciate the radical change in the high mountain landscapes and immerse yourself in the Amazon amidst an epic scene surrounded by mist.

You'll enjoy the wildlife until you reach our campsite in Colpapampa (3,910 meters above sea level / 12,828 feet). This is where today's demanding trek concludes, along with a well-deserved rest and a fortifying dinner.

Distance: 22 kilometers from Soraypampa to Colpapampa.
Hiking Time: Approximately 10 hours.
Difficulty: Challenging.
Climate: Cool with a presence of cold and wind, cool-temperate at night.
Starting Altitude: 3,910 meters above sea level. (Soraypampa)
Campsite Altitude: 3,910 meters above sea level. (Colpapampa)
Maximum Altitude: 4,650 meters above sea level (Salkantay Pass)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea Time, Dinner.
Accommodations: Open-air dome cabin.

We will wake up in the incredibly warm jungle of Colpapampa, also known as "the peak of the Cloud Forest." We will have breakfast at 6:00 AM and begin our journey to Sahuayaco Beach. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the landscape hidden in this area; the high Andean jungle makes our trip even more unforgettable.

This valley has a climate of radiant sunshine and dense vegetation, ideal for producing quality coffee. We will appreciate orchids, begonias, bromeliads, and many medicinal plants used in the unconventional natural medicine of our region. This way, we will arrive at Sahuayaco Beach (2,064 masl / 6,772 ft), enjoy a nutritious lunch, and have a short break.

We will continue the route by taking local transportation to the hydroelectric plant (1,890 masl / 6,200 ft). From this point, we will walk along the railway track for 3 hours and finally arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes.

Machu Picchu Pueblo (2,020 meters above sea level / 6,627 feet) will be the place to rest and gather strength for the day, the most important day of this adventure excursion. We will have our last dinner with all group members, and this will be the time to discuss plans and details of our visit to Machu Picchu for the following day.

Distance: 28 kilometers from Colpapampa to Aguas Calientes.
Hiking Time: Approximately 8 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Climate: Hot during the day and warm at night.
Starting Altitude: 3,910 meters above sea level (Colpapampa)
Campsite Altitude: 2,020 meters above sea level. (Aguas Calientes).
Minimum Altitude: 1,890 meters above sea level. (Hydroelectric)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel, Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes).

And our final destination, "Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site," will be the most cherished and unforgettable experience of our entire trek.

On this last day, we'll wake up very early and head towards the wonder of the modern world. After breakfast, we'll take a bus to Machu Picchu (2,430 meters above sea level / 7,972 feet) for a 30-minute uphill ride.

We'll check in at the Machu Picchu checkpoint and begin our guided tour of the citadel. We'll discover the "Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu." For more than two hours, we'll explore the most important buildings and temples in this city. The Inca architecture is truly incredible, unimaginably surprising! Rest assured, this will be the best experience you've ever had; you'll feel the true sensation of finding yourself.

After our entire tour of Machu Picchu, we must return to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,020 meters above sea level / 6,627 feet) on foot, giving us free time to explore the area and enjoy lunch.

Finally, our package includes the tourist train to the town of Ollantaytambo (2,790 meters above sea level / 9,154 feet), and then take our transportation to Cusco (3,350 meters above sea level / 10,991 feet).

"From today on, you will be a different person, because deep down, you will continue to remember everything you experienced and will never forget the incredible places where you left your mark."

Distance: 5 kilometers from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Hiking Time: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Climate: Hot during the day and cold at night. (Cusco)
Starting Altitude: 2,020 meters above sea level. (Aguas Calientes)
Machu Picchu Altitude: 2,430 meters above sea level.
Maximum Altitude: 3,350 meters above sea level. (Cusco)
Meals: Breakfast.