5 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

During your briefing Salkantay Trek 5 Days, we establish the meeting collection point in Cusco city centre and head on a bus to Mollepata at 05:00 am.  Once, we get to Mollepata, we will get ready for our 3 hours hike to Cruzpata and have lunch on the top.

We will have a delightful lunch time, seeing the panoramic views of the snow capped mountains of Humantay at 4,120m or 13,500ft and far in the distance the Salkantay mountain at 6,271m or 20575ft. 

Once we finish our lunch, we will carry on our Salkantay Trek 5 Days, and trek for few more hours towards our first campsite located in Soraypampa.  This is an enjoyable time to take in very much the beautiful landscape along the way.

Soraypampa is the highest and coldest campsite of the trip, sitting at 4000m / 12750ft.

After energising our bodies with our succulent breakfast, we will embark on our Salkantay Trek 5 Days journey.  The time is 05:30 am and we are leaving with direction to the third pass,  half way between two big mountains, Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left at 4, 650m/15, 200 ft above the sea level. To be near the two snow capped mountains have no feeling comparison and meanwhile trekking on this side of the mountains, we may have the chance to get some snow falling on us.

At some point we will have a break and continue afterwards through a cloud forest in direction to Huayracpunku and have lunch there.

There is more to come on our  Salkantay Trek 5 Days journey, this time our hike will lead us to the lower jungle.  We will be walking for around 3 hours, until we reach our second campsite at Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft).  We may encounter other campsites at Challway or Andenes to welcome than but it all  depending on the pace of the group.

Our cook will do his best to charm us with a breakfast so we can keep focus on our Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu. Meanwhile camping, we will be aiming to leave very early, this time   around 06:30 am.  Our trail will lead us to through the upper jungle, crossing the Lluskamayo River through a series of small brooks and creeks.  Around us are the valleys delighting us with their waterfalls,  tropical fruits and plants. As we are getting more into a tropical area do wear insect repellent.

Later on, and after hiking some time, the trail ascends slightly before descending for the rest of the day towards La Playa.  A this spot we will set up our campsite in this warm climate of La Playa (2500m/8202ft) and have a break there. 

We will have the chance to go to the hot springs, and smooth our bodies after all the journey we had during the day.  At the campsite, we will relax until next morning to continue our  Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu.

Today on our Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu, you will need all your energy because ahead of us are few hours of steady up hill climbing. 

We will leave La Playa to trek 30-minutes to Lucmabamba and are aiming to reach Llactapata site, an incredible Inca fort from which we will see at distance Machu Picchu.

Llactapata fortress, was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham ( locals at the time knew about this fort but keep for themselves) on the same journey that he rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911. The Inca site, has a lot vegetation around it so it will give you a good idea of what Machu Picchu at first glimpse would look like when Hiram Bingham observed the citadele in front of it.

At LLactapata fortress, we will spend some time enjoying the landscape views from its top.  Afterwards, will be descending downhill for another three hours. On our way downhill will be passing a variety of plantations of coca, bananas, and more until we reach the Hydroelectric dam to take our lunch.

From hydroelectric we will following the valley railway system until we get to Aguas Calientes town. Finally, we made it! We almost near Machu Picchu.  We will check in at our hotel have a nice hot shower and spend the night.  For those who would like to try the local hot springs, this is an available option to go get at this town.

To get in time for the sunrise over Machu Picchu we need to leave the hotel at least by 05:30 am, before that you all need to take your breakfast too.  There will be a bus to catch to get to the ancient city, the ride takes less than half hour, as it is a up hill, it could take us a couple of hours climbing it.

The royal residence of the Inca seems to be last bastion before the spaniards took the whole Empire.  In time this ancient city will be abandoned and get lost in an eternal dream, the same for the Empire and their Incas.

The citadele Inca, gives us a mixed feeling on the one side its glamour of its construction on the other an absolute peace of being in harmony with nature.  Our guide will give us a tour, and show us the most significative locations within the construction. You'll learn about the Incas ways of living and after, have time to explore Machu Picchu by your own. 

The famous mountain which overlooks Machu Picchu ruins is called Huayna Picchu at an altitude of 2, 720m or 8,890 ft.   If you got the permit in time,  you can climb this mountain following the rock steps done by the Incas and it will take you about 45 minutes to get to the top.   From the top of Huayna Picchu you will enjoy a spectacular and panoramic view of the whole valley.  This is an unique experience.

Once your tour in the ancient citadel has finished, we will meet up in Aguas Calientes and get the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.

At your request we can arrange, an extra night in Aguas Calientes. Please, let us know whether you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.

So far you have explore the Salkantay Trek 5 days to get to Machu Picchu.  We can also recommend you to review our fantastic adventure on a 7 day Ausangate Trek, just for the brave travellers.

Attractions we will visit

Mollepata

is one of nine districts of the province Anta in Peru and local people in the district are mainly quechua descent. (quechua is the native language before the Spanish conquest). 

Cruzpata

Located within the mountain range of Mollepata.

 Humantay

A beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay (4,120m/13,500 ft).

Salkantay

Is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range ‎at 6,271 m (20,574 ft), part of the Peruvian Andes. It is located in the Cusco Region and Salkantay proximity to Machu Picchu makes trekking around it an alternative to the Inca Trail.  Its outstanding beauty and landscape views from the top make it a rewarding experience.  This is known as the Salkantay Trek 5 Days.

Tucarhuay

is a 5,910 metres (19,390 ft) outstanding mountain in the Vilcabamba Range in the Andes of Peru.[1] It is located in the region of Cusco.

 Lluskamayo River

is a river located in the Cusco Region, La Convención Province, Huayopata District. Its waters flow to the Willkanuta River around the river bank and amazing valley you will see unique flora.

Llactapata site

is an archaeological site about 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Machu Picchu that you will visit during our Salkantay Trek 5 days. The complex is located in the Cusco Region, La Convención Province, Santa Teresa District.

Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley, the village form part of the local Inca site, famously known for its temple of the sun.  This temple has enormous blocks of rock perfectly carved and polished, also has stone water fountains, stairs and terraces.

 Aguas Calientes

Officially called  Machu Picchu Pueblo, it is a small town at the bottom of the valley next to Machu Picchu, and the principal access point to the ancient city on our  Salkantay Trek 5 Days.

Machu Picchu

A Royal estate, dated to the period of the two great Inca rulers, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438–71) and Túpac Inca Yupanqui (1472–93). It is estimated that no more than 750 people lived there at a time.

The citadel was declared locally as a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary in 1981, by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1983 and In 2007, Machu Picchu one of the New Seven Wonders of the World from worldwide Internet poll.  

Huayna Picchu

It seems was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins.  The Incas built a trail up the side of the Huayna Picchu and built temples and terraces on its top at 2,693 metres (8,835 ft) above sea level. You can access with a permit during your Salkantay Trek 5 Days.

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