Classic Salkantay Trek

Your Salkantay Trek begins with an early pick-up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 5:30 a.m. We will drive for around three hours to the trailhead, arriving at approximately 8:30 a.m. After enjoying breakfast prepared by your trekking chef, you will meet the trekking team and begin the adventure.

The first section is an approximately three-hour gentle hike to Soraypampa (3,600 m / 11,811 ft), following an ancient aqueduct used since Inca times. Lunch will be served at Soraypampa, where our chef will prepare a meal using fresh local products.

After lunch, continue with an approximately two-hour ascent toward the spectacular glacial waters of Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,779 ft). Once at the lake, you will have time to explore, relax, and enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery.

We will then continue for approximately two more hours toward the first campsite at Salkantaypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), located at the base of Salkantay Mountain. The campsite offers spectacular mountain views and an excellent setting for enjoying the Andean night sky.

Wake up early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea served at your tent while admiring spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. After breakfast, begin an approximately two-hour ascent toward the highest point of the Salkantay Trek.

At 4,630 m / 15,190 ft, Salkantay Pass is the highest elevation of the journey. You will have time to appreciate the remarkable mountain scenery and explore the area before beginning the descent.

From the pass, continue downhill for approximately three hours to our lunch spot at Wayracmachay (3,800 m / 12,467 ft). After a well-earned lunch, prepare for the final section of the day.

The next approximately three hours take you downhill from the cold and dry highlands into the lush cloud forest, where the climate becomes noticeably warmer and more humid. This dramatic transition in temperature, vegetation, and scenery is one of the most memorable parts of the route.

Our campsite is located near the village of Collpapampa at approximately 2,770 m / 9,087 ft.

After breakfast, prepare for a beautiful day through the changing landscapes of the cloud forest. Leaving the high mountains behind, we will follow narrow paths alongside the river, cross wooden bridges, pass waterfalls, and walk among granadilla and banana plantations.

We will eventually arrive at Llucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), where we will stop for lunch surrounded by tropical vegetation.

During the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm. Coffee is one of the important agricultural products of this region, and the visit provides an opportunity to learn more about local cultivation. You will also encounter avocado and orange plantations in the area.

After dinner, settle into the campsite for the night and enjoy the sounds and natural surroundings of the cloud forest.

After breakfast, prepare for the final trekking day before reaching Aguas Calientes. Begin with an approximately two-hour downhill hike toward the hydroelectric station.

After reaching the hydroelectric area, you will say goodbye to the trekking team and begin the final section toward Aguas Calientes.

The last part consists of an approximately three-hour hike along the railway, following the Urubamba River upstream. Along this section, you will pass through tropical vegetation and areas known for a variety of endemic birds, including the Peruvian cock-of-the-rock, parrots, toucans, and hummingbirds, as well as orchids and other local flora.

Once in Aguas Calientes, your guide will accompany you to your hotel, where you can rest and prepare for the following day’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Today marks the culmination of your Salkantay Trek with a visit to Machu Picchu. After an early breakfast at the hotel, take the bus from Aguas Calientes to the archaeological site.

Your guide will accompany you through Machu Picchu and introduce you to the temples, plazas, and other areas included in your assigned circuit while explaining the history and significance of this extraordinary Inca citadel. The guided visit lasts approximately three hours.

If you have separately booked an additional mountain entrance, you will complete the hike according to the conditions and schedule of your corresponding ticket.

After completing your Machu Picchu visit, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, collect your belongings from the hotel, and board the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, our private transportation will take you back to Cusco.