The Salkantay Trek is one of the best adventure alternatives. It will allow you to visit Machu Picchu in 5 days and 4 nights on a 73 kilometer (45.3 miles) hike. Of course, you should be in a good physical condition since the route is relatively longer and you could even say that the road is somewhat more rugged. However, there are several points in favor of this Inca Trail passing Salkantay.
One of them is that it is definitely an even more authentic adventure than the classic Inca Trail. You will explore a remote road and climb up one of the highest peaks of Peru: the Salkantay mountain top. Then descend through the cloud forest near the jungle. Another point in favor of this trail is that you won’t find many people on it compared to other treks to Machu Picchu. So you will travel with a small group with a maximum of 8 people and the road won’t be crowded.
<p>At 5:00 in the morning pick-up from the hotel. We will get on our way in our tour bus passing by villages in the Andean highlands. At approximately 9 a.m. we will arrive at Mollepata, where we’ll have a delicious breakfast. At this point, our walk will begin until we get to Tres Cruces (three crosses), where we will have lunch enjoying a spectacular view of the Limatambo Valley. After lunch, we will continue our walk towards Markokasa and Choquekiclla. Here, we can see the Apus (mountains) Salkantay and Humantay. At approximately 4:30 p.m. we will arrive at Soraypampa (3.500 masl or 20,671 feet), where we will camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.</p><p></p><p>Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)</p><p></p><p>Altitude of the camp: meters</p><p></p><p>Difficulty: considered a/an day</p>
<p>After breakfast, we’ll start today’s walk. During the first four hours we will hike up the Pampa del Salkantay from where you can take pictures of the snow-capped mountains. Then, we’ll arrive at the Abra Salkantay, with 4.629 meters (15,187 feet) this is the highest point of our hike. The guide will perform an ancient ritual: the construction of an ‘apacheta’ and Payment to the Pachamama as a thank you to the Inca sacred gods.</p><p></p><p>After four hours of descent we will arrive at Wayramachay (4.000 m / 13,123 feet) for lunch. From now on the Andean landscape will have a little more vegetation. After three hours, we’ll reach the camp that is set up on a plateau known as Chaullay (2.900 m / 9,514 ft).</p><p></p><p>We’ll have dinner and spend the night at this beautiful place.</p><p></p><p>Area: Andean highlands</p><p></p><p>Walking distance: 24 km/ 14,9 miles (10 hours)</p><p></p><p>Altitude of the camp: 2.900 meters</p><p></p><p>Difficulty: considered an intense day</p>
<p>We start the morning with a nutritious breakfast. A five-hour stretch awaits us in which we will see the change of landscape. From Andean mountains to the entrance of the high jungle and the ubiquitous jungle eyebrow. We will pass through the Andean community of Arranyanniyoc, a sample of living culture. We will cross small rivers and refreshing waterfalls. We will also appreciate varieties of orchids that will captivate your senses.</p><p></p><p>We will have lunch at La Playa camp (2.060 m / 6,758 ft), also known as Sawayaco. Once the energies are recovered, we will continue the descent for an hour and a half to Santa Teresa (1.400 m / 4,593 feet) in the middle of the jungle, where after dinner, we will spend the night.</p><p></p><p>Optionally, there is a trek to the hot springs of Cocalmayo (not included). You can relax and swim a little surrounded by a sub tropical environment typical of the Peruvian jungle.</p><p></p><p>Area: Andean high jungle</p><p></p><p>Walking distance: 15 km/ 9,3 miles (5 hours)</p><p></p><p>Altitude of the camp: 1.400 meters</p><p></p><p>Difficulty: considered a moderate day</p><p></p><p>Climate: sub tropically warm</p>
<p>We start the morning with breakfast. Then we resume our walk through the jungle eyebrow with a sub-tropical humid climate. We will be able to see a great variety of crops like coffee, coca and fruit trees. Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu can be seen in the distance during the tour. Then, we will descend to the old Hydroelectric Power Station from where we will take the bus to reach the town of Aguas Calientes. There, after dinner, we will spend the night.</p><p></p><p>As an optional activity, at the beginning of the fourth day you can perform the zipline adventure in the jungle eyebrow mountains (not included in the tour). Throw yourself on a rope and cross to the next mountain! We have all the necessary equipment to make it a safe and fun experience.</p><p></p><p>Area: Andean high jungle</p><p></p><p>Walking distance: km/ miles ( hours)</p><p></p><p>Accomodation: hostel in Aguas Calientes</p><p></p><p>Difficulty: considered a moderate day</p><p></p><p>Climate: sub tropically warm</p>
<p>Immediately after breakfast at the hostel, we will take an early bus to Machupicchu. We will visit the impressive citadel of Machupicchu, where you can see the urban and agricultural areas, as well as the towers, ceremonial squares, the sacred fountain, the Intihuatana or solar clock and terraces from where you will see the Inca’s dominion. After our visit, we will take the bus down to collect our luggage from the hostel and then go to the train station to return to Cusco.</p><p></p><p>Area: Andean highlands</p><p></p><p>Difficulty: considered an easy day</p><p></p><p>Climate: warm</p>
