Salkantay Mountain is the second highest mountain in the region of Cusco. It has an altitude of 6271 m.a.s.l. (20574 f.a.s.l.) and is situated northwest of the city of Cusco. Its name is a Quechua expression that means “Savage Mountain”. Due to its high altitude, the Salkantay Trek is among the “Apus” or sacred mountains of Cusco.
The Salkantay Trek crosses the Vilcabamba mountain range (Cordillera Vilcabamba). It is considered one of the most beautiful treks in the world. It is possible to spot alpacas, llamas, vizachas, and condors along the route.
The climate near Salkantay mountain is cold and dry. Most of the vegetation is composed of ichu, a Andean bunch grass. However, during the third and fourth days of the trek, you will be crossing the cloud forests that surround Machu Picchu.
It is not recommended to take the Salkantay Trek during the rainy season, between November and April. During these months, some sections of the trail are covered in mist and become slippery. These weather conditions make the route difficult to walk on.
This trek is a shorter version of the Salkantay Trek of 5 days. The trekking section starts at Soraypampa and ends in Aguas Calientes town. This section takes 3 days to complete. On the fourth day there is a guided tour of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Be aware that this trek does not include mountain climbing.
We will provide you with the necessary camping equipment, including tents and duffle bags. Before taking the Salkantay Trek, we recommend you to spend some days in Cusco to acclimate your body. This will help you to avoid suffering from altitude sickness.
We are a local travel agency which offers tours to the region of Cusco, in Perú. Our guides are experts in the history of the Inca sites of the region. We also offer the Cusco City Tour tour and the Short Inca Trail. Join us in our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
06:00 am
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then, we will drive to Mollepata town, located at 2803 m.a.s.l. (9196 f.a.s.l.). Afterwards, our adventure will start. We will walk towards Soraypampa town located at 3900 m.a.s.l. (12795 f.a.s.l.). Here we will stop and have lunch.
Next, we will walk towards the beautiful Humantay Lagoon. After exploring this incredible place, we will return to Soraypampa, where we will set up our camp and spend the night.
We will wake up early in the morning to have breakfast. Then, we will hike to the Abra Salkantay, a mountain pass located at 4632 m.a.s.l. (15197 f.a.s.l.). This is the highest point of the entire route.
Afterwards, we will descend to Wayracpampa campsite, where we will have lunch. Next, we will walk to Chaullay campsite. Here we will have dinner and spend the night.
After having breakfast, we will hike to Playa Sahuayaco, where we will have lunch. Afterwards, we will board our private vehicle and travel to Hidroelectrica train station. Once there, we will get out of the car and start our final section of the trek.
We will be walking along the railways to Aguas Calientes, where we will arrive after around 2 hours. Once in Aguas Calientes, our staff will transfer you to your hotel room. Then, you will have time to explore the town and visit its famous hot springs.
We will wake up early in the morning to have breakfast. Then, we will board a bus to Machu Picchu. Once there, our guided tour of the citadel will begin. You will visit the monuments of the archeological site, including the Intihuatana and the numerous Inca temples.
After the tour, we will return to Aguas Calientes to have lunch. The price of the lunch is not included in the tour price. You will have some time to visit the town and its traditional market before finishing the tour.
In the afternoon, we will board a train to Ollantaytambo town, located in the Sacred Valley. Once there, we will board a car to Cusco city. We will be arriving in Cusco city around 9:00 pm.
