Experience a 4-day adventure along one of the most spectacular routes to Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek combines impressive mountains, turquoise lakes, Andean landscapes, and cloud forests. Along the journey, you will cross the Salkantay Pass and descend into warmer landscapes before reaching Machu Picchu. An ideal experience for travelers looking for adventure, nature, and breathtaking scenery on a shorter trek.
We’ll wake up early to enjoy a coca tea while preparing for the most challenging day of the trek. We’ll begin the ascent to Salkantay Pass (4,650 m), the highest point of the trek. This section offers breathtaking views of the surrounding glaciers and mountains, as well as a great sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit.
After a short break at the pass, we’ll begin the descent to Huayracmachay, where we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch. We’ll continue descending to Chaullay, passing through a cloud forest teeming with exotic flora and fauna, such as orchids and tropical birds.
After breakfast, we descend through a dramatic cloud forest, where we’ll have lunch. After lunch, we head towards the edge of the jungle, crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of streams to reach La Playa. In the late afternoon, we can visit the Santa Teresa Natural Hot Springs (this is an optional excursion; you must pay for the round-trip bus fare from La Playa to the hot springs). Today, we’ll pass through valleys and enjoy wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits and plants. We’ll also pass through a very warm area (optional visit to the Natural Hot Springs) to the hydroelectric plant, where we’ll have lunch. After lunch, we continue walking, passing a variety of crops such as coca and bananas. We’ll walk for about two and a half hours along the railway line until we reach the town of Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the night in a hostel. You can take advantage of the town’s hot springs (entrance fee 10 soles), a true pleasure after finishing the hike.
We’ll begin the day with a hike through the rainforest, exploring coffee plantations, fruit orchards, and other local crops. During the hike, we’ll learn about the coffee production process and have the opportunity to sample organic coffee grown by the local community.
We’ll then continue to Lucmabamba, where transportation will take us to Hidroeléctrica. Here, we’ll enjoy lunch and then walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, the base town for Machu Picchu. This final stretch offers views of waterfalls and the Urubamba River.
We’ll wake up early to catch one of the first buses to Machu Picchu and witness the sunrise over the majestic Inca citadel. We’ll have a 2-hour guided tour to explore the temples, terraces, and main plazas, learning about the history and architecture of the site.
After the tour, you’ll have free time to explore on your own or take the optional hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (additional entrance fee required). In the afternoon, we’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a bus to Cusco, where our adventure will conclude.
