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Tour Map
Salkantay Trek 5 days to Machu Picchu + llactapata, celebrated by National Geographic as one of the top 20 global treks, is a 5-day journey to the iconic Machu Picchu. This expedition offers more than just a visit to the famous Inca citadel; it’s a comprehensive journey through Peru’s diverse landscapes, ranging from the lofty glacial peaks to the verdant Amazon jungle.
Your adventure begins at the stunning Humantay Lagoon and continues to ascend to the highest point of 4700 meters near the majestic Salkantay mountain, presenting you with breathtaking panoramic views.
As the trek progresses towards the Amazon, you’ll witness a dramatic change in scenery. You’ll find yourself walking among exotic fruit plantations and coffee fields, where you’ll have the opportunity to taste some of the freshest local coffee.
The trip also includes a relaxing stop at the hot springs of Santa Teresa and a trek along the less-traveled Inca Trail of Llactapata, which provides unique views of Machu Picchu before the grand finale at the world-renowned archaeological site.
Embark on a captivating journey as we pick you up from your respective hotels in Cusco around 4.30 am, to embark on a two-hour drive to the charming town of Mollepata. Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious breakfast before paying the 20 soles entrance fee to the local municipality (not included in the tour cost).
Continuing by car for another hour, we will arrive at Soraypampa, where our muleteers and horses are waiting for us, ready to transport our equipment, food and 7 kilos of personal effects per hiker during the walk. From here we will begin our two-hour uphill hike to the captivating Humantay Lagoon.
Once at the lake, spend a couple of hours exploring its beauty, taking photographs and listening to our guide’s opinions on the importance of this charming lagoon. After our visit, we will embark on a two-hour downhill hike to our exclusive campsite, where a delicious lunch will be served.
After lunch, take advantage of free time to explore the spectacular surroundings, including an optional hike to Mirador Salkantay for stunning panoramic views.
Located at an altitude of 4100 meters, the private camp offers an unparalleled experience with additional short hikes, stunning mountain viewpoints and waterfalls that promise an unforgettable adventure.
On the second day of the trek, prepare for the most challenging segment as you will cover 20 kilometers and reach the highest point of the trek at an altitude of 4,630 meters above sea level. Your day begins with a gentle wake-up call at 5:00 a.m. m., while our cooks serve you a cup of hot coca mate to help you pack his belongings and prepare for a hearty breakfast around 5:30 a.m. m.
Embark on a 3-4 hour uphill trek at a steady, manageable pace to the highest point of the trek, situated at 4,630 metres. Upon arrival, marvel at stunning mountain views, take photographs, learn about revered mountain gods, and participate in a traditional Andean ritual to honor the mountain god Apus.
After this memorable experience, begin a 2-hour downhill hike before pausing for a well-deserved and delicious lunch. Continue your descent for another 3 hours to reach the second camp, Chaullay, located at an altitude of 2900 meters and marking the entrance to the Peruvian Amazon. Here you will be provided with camping equipment, hot tea and a delicious dinner.
In Chaullay, take advantage of the optional hot shower for 10 soles, offered by locals, and purchase refreshing drinks such as beer, soft drinks and water to enhance your camping experience.
On the third day we will wake up in the beautiful jungle. We will wake up around 5:50 a.m. with a cup of coca tea while the cooks prepare the delicious breakfast.
Around 7:00 am we will begin our 5-hour walk through the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River, after 5 hours of walking we will arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco.
Along the trail, you will see plantations of coffee, bananas, avocados, coca, passion fruit, and more. Once we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, we will take local transportation to the third camp, Santa Teresa, which is about an hour away by car.
At the camp we will share a delicious lunch before heading to the hot springs of Colcampayo (optional). We’ll spend a couple of hours relaxing in the clean, natural water of the hot springs before returning to camp for tea time, a hot dinner and a group bonfire. All of these activities are optional, so if you prefer to rest and relax at camp, you are certainly welcome!
Llactapata is an Inca ruin located along the Salkantay trail, which you will have the opportunity to visit on the fourth day. From Llactapata you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a unique angle. For this beautiful hike, we will start with an early breakfast, around 5:30 am, before taking local transport for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba.
Upon arrival, we will begin the 3-hour uphill hike along the original Inca trail until we reach the Inca ruins of Llactapata. Once at the Inca site, you will have enough time in Llactapata to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Mountain, and if the weather is good, you will be able to glimpse Salkantay Mountain once again.
Then, we will walk downhill for 2 hours and arrive at Hidroeléctrica for a nutritious lunch and a well-deserved rest. The final part of the hike is a 3-hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in the small town, we will take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final dinner at 7:00 p.m. at a local restaurant. After dinner, we will go to bed, eager for our last day and maximum reward: Machu Picchu.
We will get up very early this morning to visit the famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a jewel of Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different neighborhoods, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the American researcher Hiram Bingham. We will have a guided tour to see and learn about the site of Machu Picchu, a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour, you will have free time to take photos and discover this magical place for yourself.
For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, they will do so at the designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group: 9am to 11am).
In the afternoon we will return to Aguas Calientes. We will have some time for lunch (not included), which is the perfect opportunity to explore local restaurants. Then we took the train to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 2:55 p.m. On the way back we can enjoy the incredible landscape of the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival at the train station, our transfer staff will pick us up and drop us off in Cusco.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and easy as possible. In this section you will find quick answers to all those questions you had about salkantay trek 5 days in one place. Please read the following information carefully; will help you with any questions about our services.
All briefings take place at your hotel at 6:30 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another schedule at the (Peru Travel Luxury) offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there they will give you a small canvas bag, in which you will store all the belongings that you intend to take on the walk and that will not be in your backpack.
You will receive a canvas case or duffle bag during the briefing. The muleteers will carry them along the road and deliver them to you when you arrive at each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 feet long x 36 cm / 1 foot wide.
A maximum of 8 kg is allowed per canvas bag, in which you can put your clothes or personal items that you need to do this hike.
The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Peru Travel Luxury company can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
It is an exhaustingly beautiful experience! Absolutely, I recommend it to everyone. It makes seeing Machu Picchu a truly deserved moment and, therefore, much more valuable. The food was impeccable and every day a motivation to keep going when the walk was long or hard.
Our guide, always motivating, of course, encouraged us to have fun and helped us as a group grow together. He also had no qualms about discussing any topic and sharing his knowledge as a local. Our pilot was also a very motivating person and we are very grateful to not have to carry all our luggage ourselves.
