Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days - 3 Nights

from $650 USD / 750 USD standard service

This tour is totally different than normal Salkantay trek, we specialize in designing life-time journeys and always strive to find the best and most beautiful treks in the region. In wishing to share the outstanding landscapes of the Andes. and acknowledging that such beauty should be enjoyed in the most natural, unique and exclusive off the beaten path.

Enjoy some of the most beautiful sights along the Salkantay Trail including Humantay Lagoon and a campsite right by the base of the prominent Apu Salkantay. Better yet, enjoy hiking along a section of the Inca Trail before reaching Machu Picchu as well.
This incomparable experience should be yours through Machulas Journey featuring, !!nothing is impossible!!.

Trek Availability

Machulas Journey offer daily departures from March to January, this tour can be done any days of the week and 11 months of year, and you can book any day of the week except February (nobody work) because SALKANTAY TREK is close and we take as our vacation.
We recommended to book Salkantay Trek at least one month in advance, that means we can organize your trip better without problem.

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Tour Price

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

4 Days - 3 Nights

Price from

^$650

Per Person

Private service from

^$750

USD Per Person

Group Size Max 12 People

Activity Level Challenging

Overview

Tour Overview

3 organic buffet lunch / 3 healthy energy breakfast / 3snacks.
Water every single dayStarting Altitude - 3800m / 12467.19ft.
Highest Altitude - 5100m / 16732.28ft.
Total, Walking Distance - 47 km / 29.20 miles.
Longest Day - Day 2, approximately 18 km/11 miles.
Coldest Night - Day 1 around.

Itinerary

DAY 1

CUSCO - SORAYPAMPA - HUMANTAY LAGOON - SALKANTAY PAMPA - ICHUPATA

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:00 am to 4.30 am in our private transportation before embarking on a 3.5-hour car drive to the trail head at Soraypampa (3800 m.a.s.l / 12467.19ft). Once in Soraypampa, you will enjoy your first breakfast along with your hiking’s group´s chef, guides and support team. Your will also meet your group´s muleteers and give your duffle bags to them.

After breakfast, you will begin your trekking adventure to Machu Picchu by hiking up to Humantay Lagoon. This hike will be approximately 1.5 hours and will take you to the skirts of Humantay Mountain where the beautiful, crystalline-blue waters of the Humantay Lagoon lay. After breathing in the beauty of such magical place, you will begin making your way back down to the starting point to continue with your hike to the lunch spot. This hike will be approximately 2 hours of gradual ascent until reaching Salkantaypampa (4,000 m.a.s.l / 13123.36ft) with an estimated arrival time of 1 p.m. Salkantaypampa is located on the skirts of the Salkantay glacier mountain and has some unmatched views of the Salkantay Mountain.

After lunch and a well-deserved break, you will take continue along gradually ascending terrain for approximately 3 hours until the campsite at Ichupata (4,400 m.a.s.l / 14435.7ft ). Needless to say, this campsite will have you closer to the magnificence of Salkantay Mountain and will make your overnight stay an unforgettable night under the stars.

DAY 2

ICHUPATA - INCA CHIRIASKA PASS - INCA CANAL - PAUCCAR CANCHA

After a crisp, early wake up accompanied by amazing views of the surrounding glacier peaks and mountains, you will enjoy your breakfast and get ready for the day´s hike. From Ichupata, you will hike for approximately 3 hours until reaching the pass known as Inca Chiriaska, located at (5,100 m.a.s.l / 16732.28ft). Just as its name in Quechua implies, this place is cold (almost frozen depending on the time of year) but has the best views of the mountains by the Salkantay glacier peak. You will enjoy the breath-taking scenery with your hot tea drink before continuing on. The hike from the pass will be to the lunch spot at approximately 3.5 hrs downhill. At this spot, you will see yet another glacier beauty the Paltayoc peak.

After lunch and a well-deserved break, you will continue hiking for another 3.5 hours downhill to the campsite at Pauccar Cancha. Pauccar Cancha is located near the Inca ruins of Pauccar Cancha at 3,300 m.a.s.l / 10826.77ft).

DAY 3

PAUCAR CANCHA - LLACTAPATA - KM 82 - OLLANTAYTAMBO - AGUAS CALIENTES

After breakfast, you will visit the Inca archaeological site of Pauccar Cancha before continuing on with your hike. Today´s highlight will be entering to the Inca Trail for a section of the original path. On this hike, you will be mesmerized by the stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. In addition, you will also get a taste of the Inca Trail by visiting the famous Llactapata Inca archaeological site. This site is known for having been an Inca village characterized by its houses, water channels, and many farming terraces gently bordering the mountain side. From Llactapata, you will hike for about 1 hour until your lunch.
After lunch and a well-deserved break, you will hike for another 2 hours until Km 82 where you will meet our private van Ollantaytambo-bound. Once in Ollantaytambo, you will enjoy your dinner and will take a train to Aguas Calientes town for your overnight stay.

DAY 4

MACHUPICCHU - RETURN TO CUSCO

After early breakfast at the hotel, you will walk to the bus station alongside your guide to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. The bus service is first come, first served basis, departing every 5 minutes and lasting approximately 25 minutes to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival to Machu Picchu, you will walk into Machu Picchu with your guide to the main lookout point. Here, you will be able to take your post card pictures of Machu Picchu. After enjoying the sunrise (weather dependent), you will begin your 2 to 3 hrs guided tour of Machu Picchu. During your guided tour, your guide will explain and take you to the most important sections of the citadel.

Following your guided tour, you will get to explore Machu Picchu with your tour guide. You will also have free time to explore the site on your own. If you have booked the extra hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain, you will climb it at this time. If you do not book this extra hike, you will still have the option to climb to the Sun Gate (an hour and a half) or to the Inca bridge (45 minutes).

After your visit to Machu Picchu, you will be required to take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes town to enjoy your lunch (not included). You return train from Aguas Calientes town to Ollantaytambo will be in the afternoon – those who have not booked either extra hike will have train tickets for the service at 2:55 pm and those who have booked either extra hike will have train tickets for the service at 4:22 pm.

In Ollantaytambo, our driver will be waiting for you to transfer you back to Cusco. We will drop you off at your hotel.

Our Tour Maps

Our Tour Video

Included / Not included

Included

Tour Guides : All of our tour guides are professionals who studied tourism at University and come from around the Cusco region. They also all speak Quechua the language of Cuzco region. All of them are extremely knowledgeable and fun to be around.
Master Chef : Your master chef is an important person, preparing you delicious, buffet-style organic meals throughout the trek. If you have any dietary requests, such as vegetarian foods, please let us know.
Asemilas : In this case we do not provide porters, in salkantay trek we provide mules, horses will carry our cooking and campimg equipment and up to 7 kg of your personal belongings.
Note : we will give you your duffle bags (for the mules to carry) at your briefing the night before we start the trek. This should be filled with the things you need for the night and the next days. You will not have access to your duffle until you reach the campsite. we will have also mules, horse’s drivers which they will help us for three days.
Transportation : We will go by bus to Soraypampa, where we will start our hike. After we end our trip in Aguas Calientes, we’ll go back by train to Ollantaytambo and then continue by bus to Cusco.
Tents : Made especially for trekking, our tents are professional and very comfortable. We use 4-person, Eureka Timberline tents that only need to be shared by 2 people.
Machu Picchu Permits : A permit is required for entry to SALKANTAY TREK and Machu Picchu. As soon as we receive your details and deposit, as long as permits are still available with the government office (please check our SALKANTAY TREK Availability link), we will purchase your permits for you. These permits are in your name for a specific date and can't be changed once confirmed. Only your passport number may be updated.
Oxygen and First Aid : On this trek, the highest point is at the first pass (5000m/17,200ft). The guide will have oxygen and first aid them at all times. However, if you have any prescriptions from your doctor, please bring them with you. All our guides have received training from a medical doctor.
Pre - Briefing : Prior to your trek you will have a briefing in your hotel. Please let us know where you are staying and what time is good for you. We typically suggest around 6:00 pm, but you may choose another time if you prefer. At briefing time, we will give you the details of the trek and provide the Machulas Journey duffel bags that will be with the porters while you hike. And finally, you will have the opportunity to ask your guide any questions you might have.
Water : We will supply water every morning, at lunchtime, during our afternoon hike, and at night. The water will be boiled, filtered, and then cooled down before distributing. You just need to bring a container for water on the trek and let our master chef know how many liters you will drink so that he knows how much water to prepare. Our recommendation is to drink a lot of water while you hike, especially when we are at higher elevations.

Not Included

Sleeping Bags : Your sleeping bag is not included in your trek, so hikers will need to bring their own or rent one from Machulas Journey. Machulas Journey will provide you with a regular mattress. If you want to sleep well, you may want to bring an inflatable air mattress as well. They are also available for rent: (sleeping bag 20 USD, and inflatable air mattress 20 USD).
Walking Stick : Walking sticks are very helpful on this trek. If don’t have your own, you can rent them from our office for 15 USD.
The Last Lunch : After our amazing experience on the SALKANTAY TREK, many of our clients want to go to one of the restaurants in Aguas Calientes to have a local meal. This last lunch is not included in your journey.
Huaynapicchu and Machpicchu : Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu the mountains that stand next to Machu Picchu citadel offer spectacular views. Huayna Picchu takes 45 minutes to get to the top and then 45 minutes back down. Machu Picchu takes 1 hour to summit and another hour back down. This is done after your tour of Machu Picchu Inca city. If you want to climb either of these mountains, please let us know so we can better organize your tour. The cost for Huayna Picchu is 60 USD per person and 55 USD per person for Machu Picchu Mountain. Note: Don’t confuse Machu Picchu Inca citadel with the Machu Picchu mountain.
Note : Do not confuse Machu Picchu Inca citadel totally separate than Machu Picchu mountain.

Items to bring

Recomendations

A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the Journey - prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature.
Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
Sun block
After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET - although no malaria risk has been reported
Snacks : biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
Small towel or sarong
Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
Cash - sufficient for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one.
Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
Binoculars (if you have them)