Unforgettable 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Wake Up to Natural Beauty, Breathtaking Machu Picchu
Independent
ACCOMMODATION
CULTURAL
GROUPS
DIFFICULTY
"Unforgettable 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu:
Wake Up to Natural Beauty, Breathtaking Machu Picchu Sunrise/Sunset Views, and Local Family Experiences"
On our 5 days and 4 nights trek, enjoy the impressive views of Machu Picchu from the comfort of our glass cabins, where you can appreciate the sunrise and sunset in the Inca citadel.
During the trek Independent, you will stay in different places that will allow you to experience the cultural diversity and beauty of the region where you will be attended by local families who live along the Salkantay trail where you can enjoy unique experiences. The first night, you will stay at Salkantay Lodges, where you will have privileged views of the majestic Salkantay Glacier and the challenging Salkantay Pass. The second night, you will sleep in a local house, where you can immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of the area. The third night you will enjoy our exclusive glass cabins in front of Machu Picchu, and the fourth night you will rest in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Do not miss the opportunity to live this once in a lifetime experience.
Essential Equipment for the Salkantay Trek: With Refugios Salkantay, you only need to carry a lightweight backpack with essentials like sunscreen, insect repellent, jackets, and snacks. Horses will transport the rest of your belongings.
Overcoming Altitude Sickness and Fatigue on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Altitude sickness and fatigue can be common on the Salkantay Trek. However, the local families of Refugios Salkantay provide support, offering saddle horses and transportation in specific sections at no additional cost.
Accommodation with Local Families and Authentic Experiences: Refugios Salkantay families offer a unique and authentic experience on the way to Machu Picchu. Throughout the route, private rooms with private bathrooms are provided to ensure hikers' comfort and relaxation.
Independent Trek but Assisted by Families: Local families are always present to care for and assist hikers, providing peace of mind and support from the local community during the adventure to Machu Picchu.
Adapting to Dietary Needs and Local Meals on the Salkantay Trek: Refugios Salkantay and local families cater to all dietary needs and preferences, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable trek to Machu Picchu. They specialize in offering traditional, nutritious, and delicious dishes that reflect the region's rich culinary heritage.
Experience Traditional Inca Cuisine: The menu includes Inca dishes like pachamanca, an ancestral cooking technique using hot stones to cook meats and vegetables. This unique culinary experience allows immersion in Inca history and traditions while enjoying delicious, nutritious meals
Tour Price Per Person
$360USD
5 Days / 4 Nights
Salkantay Trek Independet, Waking Up With Machu Picchu
Trip Details Salkantay Trek
Refugios Salkantay
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D / 4N
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days / 4 Nights
The Salkantay trek is a breathtaking adventure that combines natural beauty with cultural richness. With Refugios Salkantay, you can enjoy a deeper and more authentic experience, staying in lodges and homestays that have a history and tradition of their own. This makes the trek more meaningful and allows you to feel part of the local community.
The Salkantay trek is a breathtaking adventure that combines natural beauty with cultural richness. With Refugios Salkantay, you can enjoy a deeper and more authentic experience, staying in lodges and homestays that have a history and tradition of their own. This makes the trek more meaningful and allows you to feel part of the local community.
The Salkantay trekking experience is at the same level as the Inca Trail, full of incredible scenery, unique landscapes, contact with nature, you can see from glacial lakes, live and experience unique experiences with local families who will attend you.
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DAY 01
Cusco to Soraypampa (Humantay Lake) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 4:40 am and 5:00 am in our private car, which will take you to the Mollepata community for a 2.5-hour journey towards the start of the Salkantay Trek. In Mollepata, my family will be waiting for you at the restaurant "La Casona", where you will meet the founder of "Refugios Salkantay", Mercedes Sotelo, and have the option to have breakfast before starting the hike.
You will leave your big backpack with our driver, who will take it to the hostel in Soraypampa. You only need to bring the essentials for the 2-hour hike. Start of the hike:
A member of the Refugios Salkantay family will show you the start of the trail to Soraypampa (7 km - 4.35 miles) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. The first part of the hike ascends a zigzag trail for about 30 minutes to reach a water channel that will guide you to Soraypampa. Upon arrival at Soraypampa, the first house you will see will be Refugios Salkantay, located right by the trail. Here we will invite you to have a coca tea and show you your private room with a private bathroom, hot water shower, and clean towels.
Experience authentic Inca cuisine: We will help you prepare the pachamanca, an ancestral cooking technique that uses hot stones to cook meats and vegetables. This unique culinary experience will allow you to immerse yourself in Inca history and traditions while enjoying delicious and nutritious meals. After lunch and a short break, one of our family members will accompany you for about half an hour to show you the way to the impressive Humantay Lake (4200 m - 13779 feet) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This is a round trip hike of 5 km (3.1 miles) that will take approximately 3 hours. Humantay Lake is one of the most beautiful points of the Salkantay Trek, with its turquoise lake that reflects the surrounding glaciers and the sacred Humantay Mountain. You will also see the spectacular snow-capped peaks of the Salkantay Glacier, one of the most sacred mountains of Inca mythology. Upon return, there will be a snack and a delicious dinner waiting for you.Starting elevation: 3,380 meters / 11,089 feet.Highest elevation (Humantay Lake): 4,300 meters /14,107 feet.OVERNIGHT: Refugios Salkantay: 3,850 meters /12,631 feet.Approximate night-time (outside) temperature at the lodge: 0 - 5°C.
Food (Lunch - Dinner)WifiHot showerCell phone chargingBedModerate (10 km / 6,20mil)Towels5 hours -
DAY 02
Soraypampa to Lucmabamba (Family Home) on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Wake up to a 5:00 am coca tea alarm, followed by a delicious breakfast waiting for you in our dining room at 5:30 am. (Your main backpacks will be transported by the families of Refugios Salkantay on mules). At 6:00 am, we will start our day's hike by scaling the highest part of the trail, the Salkantay Pass (4650 m/15255 ft). The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) on a steep ascent and will take approximately 3 hours from the base of the rocky valley to the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6271 m / 20574 ft). When we reach the summit of the pass, we will catch our breath and admire the stunning views of the surrounding valleys and towering snow-capped peaks that surround us, including the mountains Salkantay, Humantay, and Tucarhuay. Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region.
If you are tired or experience any altitude symptoms, do not worry, there will always be a member of the Refugios Salkantay families nearby and they will have a horse for you to ride on the most challenging part of the trail (Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass). We also have a first aid kit and an oxygen ball. Once we have reached the highest point of the hike, we will descend for approximately 2 hours to reach the town of Huayracmachay where a delicious lunch awaits you. Along the way, you will see a small house with a large sign that says Refugios Salkantay, if you are afraid of missing it, do not worry, the local family that accompanied you to the Salkantay Pass on horseback will be waiting for you in Huayracmachay.
After a delicious lunch, we will continue our journey to Chalway, accompanied by a member of the local families who will accompany you on horseback, carrying your heavy backpacks. The hike is a picturesque descent of approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) and will take about 3 hours. This is a wide trail that passes through a heavily vegetated area with plenty of tree cover. This is an incredibly beautiful part of the trail with plenty of flora and fauna, panoramic views, and abundant wildlife, with native plants and flowers. These forests are generally quite warm and tropical for much of the year, with high temperatures at certain times of the year. We will then arrive at the town of CHALWAY (2,900 meters / 9,514 feet of elevation).
Upon arrival, our private vehicle with a member of the Refugios Salkantay families will be waiting to take us to the family home located in Lucmabamba (The House is surrounded by coffee and fruit plants) where a delicious dinner and family sharing await you. You will have a private room with a private bathroom, with hot water showers.Starting elevation: 3850m /12631 feet.Max elevation: 4660m / 15,288 feet.OVERNIGHT: Lucmabamba Lodge: 2400 meters / 7874 feet.We include an emergency horse if altitude sickness affects you or if you are tired during the most difficult section (Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass)Weather: Cold
Food (Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)WifiHot showerCell phone chargingBedChallenging (22 km / 13,67mil)Towels9 hours -
DAY 03
Lucmabamba (Family Home) - Llactapata Inca Trail - Llactapata (Lodge In Front Of Machu Picchu)
Experience a traditional breakfast made with locally sourced products on this exciting day of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Our vehicle will then collect you and take you on a 30-minute journey through coffee and local fruit plantations, to take you to the best hot springs in the region of Cusco (Cocalmayo), where you will relax for a couple of hours.
Visit the coffee farms belonging to the Refugios Salkantay family, where the coffee from this region is considered one of the best in the world. If you are a coffee lover, this will be a phenomenal experience for you! Sample freshly prepared coffee made from the freshest coffee beans, recently toasted and ground. You will also pass through banana, granadilla, yucca, and avocado plantations. At the end of the visit, you will enjoy a local lunch made from the products that you have picked yourself, an unforgettable experience!
After lunch, continue your journey by hiking to Llactapata along an original Inca trail for about 2-3 hours. On the way, visit the Llactapata Inca site, where you will see incredible views of the Santa Teresa Valley. At the Llactapata Pass, you will arrive at the family home of Sra. Susana, Sr. Pedro, and their son Elio, who will welcome you and show you to your rooms. From your room with a purpose-built glass roof, you will be able to see Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of the Machu Picchu Mountain and the Huayna Picchu Mountain. After dinner, enjoy a bonfire under the stars and with a view of Machu Picchu.Starting elevation: 2400 metros / 7874 feet.OVERNIGHT: Llactapata Lodge: 2700 meters / 8858 feetWeather: During day time hot and humid, chilly at night
Food (Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)WifiHot showerCell phone chargingBedEasy (8 km / 4.97 miles)Towels4 hours -
DAY 04
Llactapata (Glass Roof) - Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes.
You will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu, from your bed! If it is cloudy, don't worry, at some point the sky will clear and you can enjoy your first views of Machu Picchu.
A delicious breakfast will be waiting for us and after breakfast we will continue our descent, reaching the Inca site of Llactapata... right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site on the way to the mysterious lost city of the Incas! After visiting the ruins of Llactapata, we will continue our walk, descending for approximately 2 hours. During this part of the descent, we will have a continuous view of Machu Picchu until we reach the hydroelectric train station, where we will have lunch. (You will be wondering about your backpacks, don't worry, the families of Refugios Salkantay will take care of all the logistics so that when you arrive at your hotel in Aguas Calientes, it will be waiting for you)
After a delicious lunch you will continue along the train tracks. The walk along the train tracks will be approximately 3 hours and will lead to the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of the Machu Picchu valley. This part of the walk will be interesting because it was the trail used by American professor, Hiram Bingham, when he rediscovered Machu Picchu.
We include your hotel in Aguas Calientes and your breakfast the next day.
This is where we say goodbye and where the services of "Refugios Salkantay" end.Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 metersWeather: HotAccommodations:
Food (Breakfast - Lunch)Hot showerWifiCell phone chargingBedModerate (14 km / 8.69mil)Towels6 hours -
DAY 05
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
After a delicious breakfast, You'll need to arrive at Machu Picchu early, which means waking up early! Machu Picchu opens at 6 am until 5 p.m. You can either hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, which is a 2-hour hike, or take the shuttle bus to the archaeological site for $12 USD (one way) which takes 30 minutes. If you'd like to hire the services of an official guide, there are many at the entrance to Machu Picchu who form groups for a guided tour. The cost usually ranges from 20 soles per person for a group tour to around 200 soles for a private tour. A guided tour usually lasts for 3 hours through this mystical site. A regular entrance ticket will only allow you to visit for approximately 2 to 3 hours. Upon entering Machu Picchu, you'll head to the main viewpoint. Here, you can take your idyllic Machu Picchu postcard photos. You'll visit the most important sites and temples within the archaeological site.
Tickets for Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu Mountain are subject to availability. Consult your Refugios Salkantay specialist for more details when making your reservation. These permits must be reserved in advance and cost $70 USD per person.
Food (Breakfast)EasyCultura
Tour Price Per Person
$360USD
5 Days / 4 Nights
Salkantay Trek Independent, Waking Up With Machu Picchu
