Salkantay to Machupicchu 5 days

After picking up everyone from their respective places or hotel, we left Cusco around 5:45 am to the town of Mollepata by car for 2 hours. Once in Mollepata, we stop to have a delicious breakfast and also pay an entrance fee of 10 soles to the local municipality. Then we continue by car 1 hour more to Soraypampa where we will meet with the muleteers and horse who will take all the luggage, food and the 7 kilos of personal belongings of each hiker which is going give to them in the duffle bags. We start the uphill hike to Humantay lake for 2 hours, When you arrive at the lagoon you will have enough time to explore, photograph the place and the guide will explain all the meaning of the Humantay lagoon. After a couple of hours in the lake, we start going down to Quiswarniyoc exclusive camp for 2 hours to have a healthful lunch. After lunch, you have free time to explore the beautiful area and also if you like more hiking you can go up to Mirador of Salkantay for the panoramic view of the entire region. If you are tired, you can rest in the MOUNTAIN SKY HUST which are the cabins with glass door, inside there is pillows, sleeping pad and the illumination for the night.

The second day of the trek is the most difficult because it takes you up to 4630 m and 20 km of trekking. The cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca tea then you have time to repack and get ready for the nutritious breakfast which serves around 5:45 am. After is time to start hiking up to the highest point of the Salkantay trail which 4630 m that takes from 3 to 4 hours all uphill hike with a regular and slow pace. Once you are at the highest point, you have time to enjoy the mountains, to take pictures and the guide will teach you about the mountain gods also you will be part of the small Andean ritual for the Apus the mountain gods. Then you start hiking down for 2 hours to the lunch place to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch. After you continue hiking down for three more hours to the second camp which is Chaullay, where we provide you with the camping equipment tea time and dinner also if you like for ten soles you can rent hot shower from the locals also you can buy some drinks. The camp is called Chaullay is located al 2900m right at the beginning of the Peruvian Amazon area.

The third day is beautiful but warm. You will already be in the jungle area. We wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea, then we provide you with a delicious breakfast, after breakfast around 7:00 am you start the hike to la playa Sahuayaco for 5 hours approximately along the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River Along the valley you have the chance to see plantation such a coffee, bananas, avocados, Coca, passion fruit, and much more after 5 hours of hiking, you will arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, from where you will take local transportation for one hour to Santa Teresa, which is the third campsite. Once in the camp, you will have a delicious lunch then there is enough time to get ready for those who want to go to the beautiful hot springs of Colcampayo, which located 15 minutes car ride from the camp. At the hot springs, you may spend a couple hours or whatever you like or what the group may decide. The hot springs are outdoor, natural and clean water which makes a great place for relaxing then you go back to the campsite where you will have the tea time and a warm dinner then if you like you may be part of the small celebrations with a bonfire.

Llactapata is the only Inca ruins along the Salkantay trail that you have the chance to visit on the fourth day, and from Llactapata you can see Machu Picchu, there is a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a different angle. For this beautiful trek, you start very early in Santa Teresa with the breakfast around 5:30 am then you take local transportation for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba to start the uphill hike for 3 hours on the original Inca trail that takes you to the Inca ruins of Llactapata. You will have enough time to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu mountain and you can see one more time the Salkantay mountain if you are lucky with the weather. Afterward, you start hiking downhill to Hidroelsctirca for 2 hours to have a nutritious lunch and resting for a while. Then you start the last part of the hike to Aguas Calientes for 3 hours more along the train track. Once you arrive in the small town, we take you to the hostel where you have time to rest showering. Around 7:00 pm the guide will organize the last supper in the restaurant in Aguas Calientes after we go to sleep because the next day you need to start very early to go to Machu Picchu.

The last day of the tour you are going visit Machu Picchu. You need to wake up around 4:00 am to get ready for the hike to Machu Picchu main entrance. After you grab your pack breakfast you start walking to Puente Ruinas checkpoint for 30 minutes which is open at 5:00 am where you have to show your passport and your Machu Picchu tickets. After you pass the first checkpoint, you will hike all upstairs for one hour to Machu Picchu main gate to be there around 6:00 am. Once everybody meets at the gate, you go into Machu Picchu for the guided tour for 2.5 hours to learn everything about The lost city of the Incas. After the guided tour you have free time to explore on your own the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you like to go back to Cusco and also will depend if you want to climb the Machu Picchu montaña or Huayna Picchu mountain which must book it in advance.