Salkantay trek 4 days. It is a short version of the entire path that takes you to Machu Picchu, if you do not have enough time to do the five-day version, this option is perfect for you because you will enjoy the best part of the Salkantay trek.
The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous treks in Cusco, and is without a doubt the best alternative route to experience the original Inca trails. This hike takes you through many different types of landscapes.
You will have the best opportunity to see the typical Andean landscape up to the snow capped mountains, down into the tropical forests and eventually even venture into the dense rainforest. If you are thinking of taking a trekking trip to Machu Picchu and want to be off the beaten track, close to Andean communities and appreciate the beautiful and diverse nature of Peru, the Salkantay Trek is highly recommended.
We start the trek to salkantay short 4 days, picking you up from your hotel at approximately 04:00 AM. We will drive around 3:20 hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata and ending in Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). Through the bus windows you will see the white snow-capped peaks of Salkantay and Humantay, two colossal gods of the Incas (Apus). You’ll also see the spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama that fills all directions.
After the first 2:30 hours of travel from Cusco, we will stop in Mollepata to take advantage of the sanitary facilities, souvenir shops. We will then continue to Soraypampa, the starting point of our trek. There we will meet our support staff, and they will organize all the equipment and pack mules, this is also where we will have our breakfast.
After breakfast, we will go up to the unforgettable Laguna Humantay (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). This is a 3 km (1.86 mi) round trip that we will walk in a total of 2:30 hours. Lake Humantay is one of the most beautiful sights in all the Andes, with incredible turquoise water that reflects the mountain glaciers of Humantay, as if it were a dream or a fairy tale. Back at our camp, the valley floor at sunset creates the most peaceful scene, with an energy that can only be felt and not described.
After having visited the humantay lagoon, we are going to have a delicious lunch at the soraypampa place.
Because Soraypampa (our camp) is located in the middle of the glacial valleys, the sky is so crystal clear at night that you can really appreciate the stars, constellations and even comets shooting through the pitch blackness, without be interrupted by the hustle, bustle, or city lights. Take a moment tonight to re-center your spirit and consider all the deep things of life in the deep silence and tranquility of Soraypampa.
After an early morning awakening at 5:30am and a quick but energizing breakfast, we will start hiking to the highest point of the trail, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m/15,190 ft). A difficult ascent of 7 km for 3 hours awaits us between the rocky base of the valley and the magnificent Salkantay mountain (6,271 m / 20,574 ft).
Upon reaching the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumacillo.
Salkantay is the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the Inca gods called “Apu”.
After the salkantay trek pass, there is a 7 km (4.35 mi) downhill hike on a serpent-shaped rocky gravel path that leads to the lunch spot of Wayracmachay (3,850 m/12,631 ft). There is a perfect perspective of the valley to rest on the way down which is stunning!
In the afternoon, after our meal, we will enter the upper part of the Amazon, also called “the cloud forest”. This is an 8 km hike that takes 3 hours to complete on a wide trail in the thick and magical rainforest. During this part of the trek, you will notice a dramatic change in the landscape and the energy of the earth as we move from the Andes to the Amazon.
This hike is really beautiful; the hills are decorated with colorful landscaping, unique wildlife, and native plants. The forests are warm and tropical most of the year, with temperate climates. At the end of this outstanding hike, we arrive at a small town called Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) for a well-deserved break from our long day of hiking. This is our camp to spend the night, surrounded by valleys, mighty rivers. After having a great day of the salkantay hike, we are going to have a well deserved rest.
At approximately 06:00 am, we will start our trek to the small town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. You’ll be able to soak up this lush new landscape during our first 5 hours of hiking today. We will see rivers, wild orchids and coffee, banana and avocado plantations during the walk. You will also get to taste the famous passion fruit along the way!
We will walk through a town called Colpa pampa, and then we will head to the foot of the mountains to cross to the left side of the valley. Waterfalls, birds, fruit trees, flora and fauna will be our companions in this tropical land.
Once in La Playa, we will have a good time enjoying our last lunch with our mountain staff and starting with the coffee show. After relaxing and resting a little more, our transportation will take us to the Hidroelectrica train station. Then, we will follow the train tracks surrounded by the great vegetation of the place, on the banks of the Urubamba River. If you feel exhausted, you have the option (not included) to take a train to Aguas Calientes (US$34.00).
In this tropical paradise, we will see avocado plantations, banana and coffee plants, and various types of birds, especially the cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru.
After 3 hours of walking, we will arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes. Here, we will first head to our lodge. In your room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi, breakfast in the morning and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu. You can rest for a bit before dinner or walk around this charming place that has the feel of a California gold rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, making it an especially quiet place to explore the site.
At 7:00 pm we will have dinner at a local restaurant and get organized for the last of our adventure, which will be Machu Picchu.
Today is the day you have been waiting for since you set foot on the road. You are going to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu!
We like to start this last day early to beat the big crowds at Machu Picchu and enjoy the soft morning light hitting the huge rocks. The entrance opens at 6:00 am and we want to be among the first to enter.
From Aguas Calientes, we will take a bus to the Inca citadel before entering and staring in awe at the incredible construction. Once in the complex, you will enjoy a tour of approximately two hours with your guide and you will visit the most important parts: houses, temples, terraces, fields, among others. You will really be amazed at the ingenuity of the Incas, which to this day remains a mystery.
After your amazing guided tour of the citadel, you will have the chance to enjoy one of the additional hikes to Huayna Picchu Mountain (2720m/8924ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3000m/9843ft); these tickets must be booked in advance. You will be able to contemplate an incredible view over the citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the best panoramas in the world.
You should make sure to return to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo. The time of your train will depend on availability.
In Ollantaytambo, our private transport will be waiting for you to transport you back to your accommodation in Cusco. Now you can enjoy a well-deserved rest, after having made Salkantay trekking 4 days.
I had a great time doing the 4 day Salkantay trek. Alex was our guide and he did a great job coordinating the group while still being very laid back and fun. The food was delicious and the chefs were very friendly and always smiling. The horse attendant was also very helpful and friendly. Thanks to PERU TREK for putting together a fantastic trip at a great price!.
We had an amazing experience through this difficult hike, but every day was worth it. Well planned trip from the briefing the day before the trip to a daily discussion of the next day’s plan. We had great chefs who provided daily meals and snacks as well as an evening tea time! Every morning we were greeted by the most excellent guide with tea! Machu Picchu was amazing and once again Juan provided a wonderful history of the site, the Incas and the mysteries of the site.
My favorite part of the experience was seeing the beauty of Peru. Our expert guide Alex was the best! He was caring and taught us a lot about the history of Peru. He always gave us encouragement and gratification when we finished a hike. One thing I would say to people who want to do the Salkantay trek is to prepare! That means doing other hikes beforehand so your body gets used to going uphill and downhill for a long time.
