Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days / 4 Nights

INTRODUCTION:

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights, This is the most popular of the alternative treks to Machu Picchu. The trek is located in the Vilcabamba mountain range and passes through stunning landscapes varying from the cloud forest to the high mountains. Along the way are fantastic views of second highest mountain in the Cusco area, Salkantay (Savage Mountain) standing at 6,271m/19.685ft. This tour is for the adventurous. It passes through little visited areas and combines culture and tradition with the incredible flora and fauna offered by Peru. You will be in the real Andes and the perfect conditions to get a sense of the life in the area.

OVERVIEW:

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights is the number one alternative to the Inca Trail. With high snow-capped mountains, lowland jungle and a visit to the Inca site of Llactapata the trek offers a perfect mix of trekking, culture and nature.
With fewer people on the route the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the Andes without any of the distractions and disturbances you find on the Inca Trail
By booking your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights with Cachi life Peru you are choosing the best. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews on TripAdvisor!

Pre-trek briefing:
You will have an exhaustive information session with your guide 1 day before your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights. Your guide is allowed in your hotel and can take this opportunity to ask questions and make final preparations.

Day 1 – Cusco – Mollepata – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa

We start to pick up you on the hotel around 05:00 am, the bus driving taking 2 hours to Mollepata through the bus is clearly to see the white snow capped mountain like Salkantay and Humantay, the holy Gods of the Incas, the spectacular scenic on the upper part and lower valleys with colorful landscape. Two hours driving at head the first stop in Mollepata town there are toilet facilities, souvenirs and optional short breakfast, to soon continue at Challa Cancha the trail head. There we will meet with our support staff. There we will organize all the equipment, horses and mules. Around 9:30 a.m. we will start our trek to Soraypampa (3850 m.a.s.l) the first section of the path are paved rock trail there are the old water channel still supply to new habitants, the begin is 8 km in 3 hours to Soraypampa the lunch place as well base camp, after lunch and nap to continued hiking up to the Humantay lake (4200 masl) 3 km in 2 hours round trip, bottom the glacier the most spectacular views to the back ground valley and sunset, Soraypampa is located on the middle of the glaciers valleys at night clear appreciate the constellation on the sky…

Meals:Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4150 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2850 masl
Distance Travelled: 11km approx

Day 2 – Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass– Colpapampa

Today, nature will change drastically from dry sceneries to snowy peaks and tropical areas. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start the most difficult part of the trek. We will start the hike around 6:30 in the morning. We will hike to a place called Salkantaypampa, Soyrococha, then go toward the left side of the snowy peaks of Umantay located next to the Apu Salkantay. At midday, we will be on the highest point (4617 meters above sea level). We will appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6264 meters above sea level) which is known as the second highest point of the Cusco region. Around 1:00 p.m., we will have our lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay. The walk downwards is on a serpent shape trail and a rocky gravel path to get to the Huayracmachay lunch spot. In the afternoon we will enter the upper part of the amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest”. This is a 10 km (6.2miles) hike in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick forests. This hike is truly beautiful, there are decorated the hills with colorful sceneries and a lot of wildlife and native plants. The forests are most times of the year warm or have a temperate temperature. When finishing this magnificent hike we finally arrive at Colpapampa Village (2900 masl – 9,514 ft), our base camp in the jungle.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4617 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2920 masl
Distance Travelled: 21 km

Day 3 – Colpapampa – Playa Sahuayaco– Lucmabamba

At 6:00 am. we will start our trek to La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. We will be hiking for approximately 6 hours. During the hike we’ll see waterfalls, wild orchids, but also coffee, banana and avocado plantations. Here you can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit. We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “forest cloudy brow” where waterfalls, thermal hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to
see the famous bird called “the Cock of the Rocks” this bird is the national bird of Peru. After lunch at La playa, we will hike for approximately 1 hour to our base camp called Lucmabamba (2400 MASL – 7874 ft). We will explore the tropical forest for a little while and have a lovely visit at an organic coffee farm. Here you can taste the coffee prepared by the local people. Coffee is the main farming industry of the local people here in the jungle and they farm many hectares of coffee to export to the USA, Asia and Europe. Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, but it wasn’t until the Spanish invaded Cusco that it was brought to this region. We will also explore an orange and an avocado plantation.
*** On this day you may enjoy the Hot Springs – not included in the price.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 2920 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2350 masl
Distance Travelled: Approx 14 km

Day 4 – Lucmabamba – Hidroelectric – Aguas Calientes

The chef of the trek will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea served in your bed. You will get ready for today’s activity while enjoying your last prepared breakfast by the trek chef. We will begin the hike early and you will get the opportunity to enjoy a small part of the famous Inka trail! After a climb of 2 hours with amazing views of the Santa Teresa valley we will arrive at the Llactapata Inca site right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be the first archaeological site we will see of the Lost City of the Incas and a very special place to enjoy and spend time. We will be able to see not only the Machu Picchu ruins from this spot, but also the Huayna Picchu and the Machu Picchu Mountain. We will explore this Inca site with the guide and he will continue the history lessons about the Incas of this
beautiful country and of course you will have plenty of time to take as many photos as you want.
After the Llactapata ruins, we will continue our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights with a 2 hours downhill hike. At this hike you’re always able to have views of Machu Picchu until we arrive at the Hidroelectrica train station which is our lunch place. The most impressive part of this area is the natural waterfall of 300 meters high which generates the electricity for the region of Cusco. We will then arrive at the famous Intiwatana. Intiwatana is an ancient rock used as a sundial in the ancient Inca times. According to history, this old Inca stone used to work with the famous sundial stone in Machu Picchu. These could measure and read the winter solstice which was the beginning of the new farming season for the Incas. After we pass this small Inca site we will reach the train rails. Next to the rails there is a nice path to walk on; this path will take us approximately 3 hours. After the 3 hours we will arrive at Aguas Calientes, which is located at the foot of Machu Picchu. This section is very interesting because it is the trail that was used by the American Professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost.
*** On this day you may enjoy the biggest Zip Line tour before heading to Aguas Calientes – not included in the price.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Maximum Altitude: 2350 masl
Minimum Altitude: 2000 masl
Distance Travelled: 18km aprox.

Day 5 – Aguas Calientes – MachuPicchu – Cusco

After breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary the
same professional tour guide from the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights; will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore on your own.
If you have booked Wayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price):
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast
Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft

Trek briefing with your Guide.
Professional local Guide (on hike)
Second tour guide for groups of 9+
Private Transport and professional driver (to the starting point of hike “at Challacancha”)
All entrance tickets and permits for Salkantay hike and Machu Picchu Citadel.
Horses or mules and Indigenous horsemen to carry ((camping equipment: client tents, dining and cooking tents, table, stools, cooking gear, stove, gas container, cutlery, plates, food and fresh vegetables).
1 train Ticket Service from Machu Picchu pueblo to Ollantaytambo Village (Expedition Tourist Train)
2 bus Tickets from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu Park (round trip).
Machupicchu guided tour (3 hrs) and extra time for you.
Personal items to carry 7 kg/15 lb. (so you just need to carry your day backpack with everything you will need during the day).
3 nights camping
Spacious tents / Sleeping mat.
1 night in a Hotel in Aguas Calientes. based on sharing a room; either double, matrimonial or triple depending on availability. Hotel brand rooms all include private bathrooms with hot showers and Wi-Fi.
We provide a duffle for personal items.
One Cook
Excellent Meals (4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners)
Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all before rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking (Vegetarian, vegan or special diet meals upon request).
Tea time before dinner (tea, coffee, coco, biscuits, popcorn)
Boiled water provided from 2nd day (for drinking).
Wake up coca tea in your tent.
Buckets of hot water for washing in your tent every day
Biodegradable soap and hand cleansing gel
Cachi life Peru uses walkie-talkies on all treks.
Oxygen Tank & First aid kit
All local taxes

First breakfast & lunch on the last day
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (US$65)
Hot springs (S/15.00 soles)
Sleeping bags
Extra activities such as zip line and barbecues.
Additional horses for extra personal luggage above that of the personal item allowance.
Optional up – grades (train and hotel)
**Tips, for the crew (muleteers, chef and guide)

A good day pack: such as Eagle Creek Afar Backpack (Appropriate pack to carry your personal belongings.)
Original passport (International Student Identity Card “ISIC” if applicable)
Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required
Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)
3 pairs of trekking pants (not jeans), 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just enough. Please spray both pairs with an insect repellent spray before the trip.
Layers for variable temperatures especially at night
1 rain jacket: The first night the temperature can be as low as – 5 degrees Celsius/23 degrees Fahrenheit. A rain jacket can be helpful, because there are rainy days even in the dry season!
1 warm/winter jacket (Thermals: wool socks/gloves, scarf and woolen hat for cold nights).
4 pairs of underwear, 4 pairs of socks (Bamboo or cotton/nylon-blend socks dry faster than 100 percent cotton, which lose their softness when air-dried.) It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not hiking. Also, we recommend bringing both really
heavy hiking socks and lighter socks as well as the weather is variable, so you want to make sure you’re not too cold or too hot.
4 shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts
1 good sleeping bag liner which is super lightweight and easy to pack. This definitely does its job!
Travel-size tissues and wet wipes–The air is cold and damp, so your nose is going to run a lot. Everyone seems to run out of tissues by the end of the trek. Also, most bathrooms do not have toilet paper (if you even get a bathroom), so wet wipes are key.
Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the hike have varying degrees of altitude sickness and both of these remedies (in addition to the coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.
Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).
Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very well. The issue with Cusco outdoor is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird bites that first look like you pricked your finger and then blow up into itchy red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on, so bringing some anti-itch ointment could be helpful.
Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camel-back
Water (Only for first day of the hike, as we will provide you with water throughout the rest of the hike).
Camera and film
A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries
Bandages or moleskin
Flip flops to change into at night. Your toes will thank you!
Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste/floss, shampoo/conditioner, brush/comb, Vaseline (great for potential blisters on the feet), feminine hygiene products, deodorant, nail clippers/file/tweezers, spare glasses
and/or prescription, mini-eyeglass repair kit, contact lenses and supplies, hand sanitizer etc. Pack what you need, but pack light.
Medication (Imodium AD or something for your stomach) because some people get an upset stomach on the trek. Also, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen can be helpful to help with aches and pains after 8-10 hours of hiking each day.
Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes
Something to read in the evenings
Extra money for drinks,
Emergency money at least 300-450 extra soles (USD$ 220)

PRICES:

Permits are needed for your chosen start date. The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days 4 Nights prices are based on the number of people in a group.

Group Price: 500 USD Per person

A group tour means that it is open for other trekkers to join you. This means that your group will have varying hiking and fitness abilities. All our guides are experts on how to keep the trek moving and happy no matter how fast you hike.

Private Tour:

Private tours are available and priced by party size.
2-3 Trekkers: 650 USD per person
4-5 Trekkers: 619 USD per person
6 or more Trekkers: 589 USD per person
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).

Discounts:

Student Discount: US$20.00 Student discounts apply to anyone who has a valid UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD at the time of the trek or who is 17-years-old or younger. For those using a University Student Card our under 17-years-old, we need to see a copy of their card or passport at the time of booking to receive the discount. Please send all to info@cachilifeperu.com
Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):
Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 65.00 (Need to book in advance)
Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 65.00 (Need to book in advance)

Upgrades:
Hotel Upgrades:

The hotel is 2-star and is based on sharing a room – either double, matrimonial, or triple. There is a single room surcharge of $30 if you are booking alone. Rooms all include private bathrooms, with hot showers and wifi. We can also upgrade your hotel if you prefer something fancier. Please remember that the service you receive in Aguas Calientes may not be comparable to that in Cusco. Below is a list of possible upgrade options, although we can usually work with most hotels in Aguas Calientes.
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (5 star hotel) – US $580 per person per night (double occupancy)
Sumaq Machu Picchu hotel (4 star hotel) – US $345 per person per night (double occupancy)
Santuario Hotel (3+ star hotel) – US $65 per person per night (double occupancy)
Train Upgrades:
Vistadome train -US $65 for trip from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Hiram Bingham train (deluxe) -US $485 for trip from Aguas Calientes to Poroy

Rentals:

Hiking poles – US$20.00
Sleeping bag – US$25.00
Private Tent – US$30.00

EXTRA INFORMATION:

DIETARY NEEDS
Yes, we do cater to any dietary restriction. We have had many people join our trips who are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, and have various other intolerances and/or allergies. Just inform us well in advance of your specific needs!