Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
The amazing Salkantay trek 4 days to Machu Picchu is one of the famous treks in Cusco and the best alternative route to get to Machu Picchu. It is takes you through different types of landscapes from the typical Andean landscape up to the snowcapped mountains and down to the tropical forests and finally it gets you into the jungle. If you are thinking to do a hiking trip to Machupicchu and you want to be off of the beaten path and be in touch with the nature; Salkantay trek 4 days is the best option. This option is excellent for those adventurers who want to do the trek of Salcantay and Machu Picchu in 4 days. you will enjoy the mountains, lagoons, glaciars jungle are and much more the only difference that there is between the program of 5 days is that you do not have time to do the thermal baths of Santa Teresa and there is not the option of the zipline. You can start the Salcantay trek 4 days the day you want as tour operators we get daily departures guaranteed but we recommend booking in advance to prevent the shortage of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and to pre-purchase train tickets especially for the high season. For this Salkantay trek 5 days we pick you au form your hotel at 5:00 am and also at the end of the tour we drop you at your hotel – Our Door to door service guaranty you a safe journey. Since we pick you up all the way to the end.
STARTING POINT: Cusco Pick up from your hotel
ENDING POINT: Drop you off you at your hotel
DURATION: 4 days 3 nights
TRIP STYLE: Guided and portered tour
ACTIVITIES: Archaeological, Cultural, Ecological, Hiking, Hot springs, camping, ziplining
DEPARTURE: Daily
ACOMODATIONS: 1 night at the Mountain Sky Hut + 1 camp + 1 night hotel
MEALS: 4 breakfast, 3 lunch, 3 dinner, 2 tea times, 2 wake up tea
DAY 1: CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – HUMANTAY LAKE – QUISWARNIYOC
This trek to Machu Picchu starts early at your hotel in cusco. we pick you up at 5:00 am to transfer you to Mollepata town where you have the chance to enjoy a delicious andean breakfast then you continue in the same car to Soraypampa which is the trailhead. Once in Soraypampa you star the hike up to the humantay lake for 2 hours aproximatly after you make to the lake you have time for picturing to enjoy the area and the guide will explaing you about the area. Afterwards you hike down to the campsite called Quiswarniyoc once there you will have a deliscious lunch then time for siesta. In the afternoon you got a short hike up to the mirador of Salkantay mountain if you are lucky with the sun you will enjoy the sunset then you go back to the campsite to enjoy a dinner and of course you will sleep at the MOUNTAIN SKY HUT.
DAY 2: QUISWARNIYOC – SALKANTAY PASS – HUAYRAMACHAY – CHAULLAY
The second day of the salkantay trek is considerat the hardest day. This is because the hiking distance is 22km/ 14 ft and also on this day you will get up to the highest point of the salkantay trail 4630 m / 15225 ft. Today in order to make it on time to the second campsite. we’re going wake up with coca tea at 5:00 to enjoy a dilisious breakfast after we get ready for the trek. Around 6:30 in the morning we start hiking to the highest point of the whole salkantay trail. After 4 hours hike you reach to the top to celebrate and enjoy a beautifull views of the salkantay mountain once at the top you have the chance to make a offering for the APUS (andean gods). From 4630 m / 15225 ml. We start hiking downhill to get 2900 m / 9510 ml in todo 15 km downhill hiking. we are going to do in two sections. The first section will be from the top to the lunch point which takes 2 hours approximately and then after lunch 3 hours more to the second camp call chawllay. on the way you are going apreciate diferent type of landscapes such glaciar mountains, lagoons, roccky mountains, grassy hill, by the time that you will be close to the camp you are going be in the jungle area. Once at the camp time to relaxing if you like you can enjoy cold beers while the cooks make the te time and the delicious dinner.
DAY 3: CHAULLAY – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES
This day is call “Nature day”. You hike through the jungle are of Santa Teresa. The valley is formed by the salkantay river that discures from the white mountain. In this valley you have the opportunity to see waterfalls, rivers, plantations like coca, coffee, avocado, passion fruit, bananas and much more is a tropical valley and the climate is quite warm. After a delicious breakfast we start the trek to the town of sahuayco, after 5 hours of crossing through the dense vegetation we arrived at the lunch point and then we drive to Hidroelectrica for about 1.5 hours in order walking 3 hours more to aguas calientes town on the flat trail. Then we take you to the hotel for showering and relaxing, in the evening around 7:00 pm we organised a dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes after dinner we go to sleep to climb Machupicchu early on the next day.
DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
The day most awaited by all. Day of visiting machu picchu. You can decide between walking and taking the bus towards Machupicchu. If you decide to walk start the hike at 4:15 am towards Puente Inca for 20 minutes aproximatly flat then start to climb the stairs for about an hour until the main entrance of machupicchu If you decide to go by bus you have to buy a bus ticket for machupicchu and then take the bus for about 25 minutes approximately to machupicchu. Any option you take the idea is to arrive at 6:00 a.m to Machupicchu in order to see it almost without people and enjoy the sunrise. After 20 to 30 minutes you will have a guided tour service for about 2:30 hours in Machupicchu then we will leave you free to explore the lost city of the Incas. Then if you wish you can go to the sun gate or to the Inca bridge. If you booked in advance the tickets for Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountains you can climb. After you done all the activityes we return to Aguas Calientes town by bus or walking to have a delicious lunch. In the afternoon You will take a train back to Cusco to take you by car to your hotel.
WHAT INCLUDES?
- Pre-departure Salkantay trek briefing, presented by your tour guides.
- Duffle bag to get ready 7 kilos of your personal belonging to be carry by horses.
- Transportation to head of Salkantay trail.
- English/Spanish speaker professional guide.
- New – Mountain sky hut – thick mattresses + night lighting
- Personal pad (double foam – 2.5 inches thick).
- Pillows.
- Cook and cooking equipment.
- Horses for carrying
- Trasnport from la playa to Santa Teresa
- Hotel Night in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu.
- Expedition train ticket aguas calientes/ollantaytambo
- Transfer Ollantaytambo train station to downtown Cusco
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (4B – 3L – 3D)
- Vegetarian food available on request with no extra charge.
- First Aid equipment and Oxygen bottle for emergencies Personal Travel
- Advisor assigned for you to customize the rest of your Peru Trip
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Sleeping Bags
- Personal clothing and gear.
- Travel insurance.
- Extra expenses, Tips and gratitudes
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PACK?
- A backpack
- A beanie hat or ear warmer
- Sun hat
- Scarf
- Gloves
- A mid weight sweater
- A longsleeve t-shirt
- 1 – 2 t-shirts
- A lightweight suater or vest
- A pair of long pants
- Hiking shoes
- An extra pair of shoe
- 2 – 3 pairs wool socks
- A jacket
- A small towel
- Rain gear
- 1 – 2 pair shorts
- Sunglasses
- A small headlamp
- Waterbottle
- A toothbrust and other personal toiletries
- Toilet paiper
- Sun cream
- Insect repelent
DOCUMENTS TO CARRY WITH YOU
- Original Passports
- Any valid student card in case you have applied for a student discount