Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – Private




Of all the various treks to Machu Picchu, none can compete with the Salkantay Trek in terms of scenery. It’s a spectacular route, passing through jungles and mountain passes, and dotted with azure lagoons. At the heart of the trek is Salkantay Mountain, which at 6,264 m (20,551ft.) is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range and the twelfth-highest in Peru.
Our private 5 Day Salkantay Trek trip begins in Soraypampa, covering the flank of this sacred mountain. The trek offers some of the most awe-inspiring views in Peru. We then hike to the Humantay Lake, one of the most picture-perfect lagoons in the region. Salkantay is one of the more challenging alternative routes to Machu Picchu, simply because of the high altitudes in the Cusco region. However, you might have to share the stunning scenery with Andean condors and other local wildlife on the Salkantay Trek, where we find ourselves in a world of nature, especially in the dry season! Your tour guide will be happy to help you with the plantlife identification on the Salkantay Trek as well as assist you with the Salkantay trekking permits and regulations. Your guided trek will take you through traditional Peruvian villages along the Salkantay Trek, and our team of porters and mules will carry your duffle bags, so you can fully enjoy your trek to Machu Picchu in South America.
One of the most amazing aspects of the Salkantay Trek is that it takes you through a number of different Andean habitats. Each with its own microclimate and flora, and fauna. The flora along Salkantay is abundant, so take some time and admire the plants. This Alpine habitat ecosystem is found in the highland elevations of the Salkantay Trek from Salkantaypampa to Wayramachay, including the Salkantay Pass. Plants are shorter and spindly mainly due to their constant battle with the cold weather conditions and strong winds of the mountain tops. This alpine region gives way to a warmer, humid, and much more tropical region that includes an abundance of plant species. Plants range from small mosses to huge brambles and tall trees. As you hike towards La Playa campsite, it gets hotter and drier. This ecosystem is different than the others along the trail. Plants are different, due to the warmer weather, and there is also frequent human and even vehicle transit on this part of the trail.
Our private 5 day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu traverses the flank of the sacred Salkantay Mountain offering some of the most awe-inspiring views in Peru. Enjoy this personalized trekking experience that will take you all the way to the magical Machu Picchu!
Our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 5 a.m. We will travel in our private car to Soraypampa, which takes approximately four hours. It’s a lengthy trip, but it’s necessary to arrive at this relatively remote region. Along the way, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful scenery, including views of the Izcuchaca and Limatambo mountain ranges.
Eventually, we’ll arrive at the colorful Andean village of Mollepata, where we will make a short stop to make some purchases such as water, rain poncho, and snacks for your trip. Then we will continue in our private bus for 1 hour more where we will meet our mules, muleteers, and cooks.
Here our chefs will prepare our breakfast before starting our Salkantay Trek. After enjoying our breakfast and receiving our snacks, we will walk approximately 4 hours, including a visit to the Humantay lagoon, until we reach our Salkantaypampa campsite. This is where our chef awaits us with a delightful dinner prepared with local ingredients. We’ll set up camp and later have dinner, surrounded by mesmerizing scenery.
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours approx.
Hiking Distance: 7 Km / 4.35 miles.
Lowest Point: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft.
Highest Point: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft.
Hiking Time: 8-9 hours approx.
Hiking Distance: 16 Km / 9.94 miles.
Lowest Point: 4100 m / 13,451 ft.
Highest Point: 4,620 m / 15,157 ft.
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours approx.
Hiking Distance: 15 Km / 9.32 miles
Lowest Point: 2,060 m / 6,759 ft.
Highest Point: 2,770 m / 9,087 ft.
On our final day of trekking, we’ll have breakfast at 6:30 a.m. before setting off towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, and as we ascend we’ll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually, we will reach Llactapata, Inca ruins near Salkantay, which may have served as an important rest stop and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which is connected via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance, an inspiring sight indeed!
After a rest and time to take photos, we will continue along a downhill trail for about two hours, passing plantations where coca, bananas, and other crops are grown. Eventually, we’ll reach the Hydroelectric Station, a well-known point along the Salkanatay trek to Machu Picchu, where we’ll have lunch. Then we will walk for a couple more hours until we reach Aguas Calientes, the lively town that sits below Machu Picchu.
After checking in to your hotel you’ll have some free time, so you can explore the town and, if you like, visit the nearby hot springs. We’ll have dinner in one of the many great restaurants in Aguas Calientes, and then you can return to your hotel for an early night before our final day and our tour of the magnificent Machu Picchu.
Hiking Time: 8-9 hours approx.
Hiking Distance: 18 Km / 11.19 miles.
Lowest Point: 2, 060 m / 6,759 ft.
Highest Point: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft.
To best appreciate Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.
We’ll then pass through the gates to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours and will take you to all the most famous and spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views of the agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge.
Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Ollantaytambo/ Poroy. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you’ll end your incredible Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.
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