Salkantay Trek 4D / 3N

Itinerary

Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa

We will pick you up from your hotel between 5:00 and 5:15 a.m. in our private transportation and drive for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the mountains surrounding the Cusco Valley, including Salkantay, as well as traditional Andean villages and wide farming fields of potatoes and corn. We arrive at the town of Mollepata (2,900 m), where you’ll have time for breakfast and to buy any last-minute items (ponchos, batteries, sunscreen, etc.).

We then continue by car for one more hour to Challacancha (3,675 m). Here you’ll meet our trekking team (cook, muleteers, and horses), who will give you a warm welcome and prepare everything for your adventure in the mountains. While our staff loads your duffel bags onto the horses, your guide will give a short briefing about the route. We then start hiking for about 2 hours, enjoying our first views of the Humantay Glacier (5,917 m).

Upon arriving at our Soraypampa campsite (3,850 m), you’ll be rewarded with impressive views of the Salkantay Mountain. Our team will be waiting with a delicious lunch. After eating and resting, we begin an uphill hike of about 1.5 hours to the beautiful Humantay Lake, where you’ll have time to enjoy the scenery and the surrounding glaciers. We then descend for about 1 hour back to camp, where we’ll enjoy afternoon tea and, later, dinner.

Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay

We start early at 5:00 a.m. After a hearty breakfast, we’ll get ready for the most demanding day of the trek. Once our bags are organized, we begin with a 1-hour hike to Salkantaypampa (4,100 m), where we take a short break. We then continue uphill for another hour to Soyrococha (4,400 m), a great place to rest, hydrate, and enjoy a snack.

The trail continues for one more hour until we reach the highest point of the trek: the Salkantay Pass (4,632 m), located between the two impressive peaks of Humantay (5,917 m) and Salkantay (6,271 m), known in Quechua as “The Wild Mountain.” From here, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of glaciers and the surrounding mountain range.

We then descend for about 2 hours to Wayracpampa, where we stop for lunch. Afterward, we continue our descent for around 3.5 hours, observing how the vegetation and climate change as we enter the cloud forest. By late afternoon, we reach our second campsite in Chaullay.

Chaullay – La Playa – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes

We wake up at 5:00 a.m. for breakfast and then begin our hike of approximately 6 hours toward “La Playa.” This will be an unforgettable day, as the trail is surrounded by rich flora and fauna, with several up-and-down sections. Along the way, we’ll enjoy beautiful natural waterfalls, orchids, and wild strawberries typical of the area.

After a break at La Playa (2,200 m), we’ll have lunch and then board a bus for about 1 hour to the Hydroelectric station. From there, we begin the final 3-hour hike of the day along the railway to Aguas Calientes. Once in town, we’ll take you to your hostel for check-in. After a good rest, we’ll meet again for dinner and to go over the final details for your Machu Picchu visit the following day.

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco

Early in the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we take the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu, a 30-minute ride. Upon entering the citadel, you’ll have the chance to witness a magical sunrise before starting a guided tour of approximately 2 hours (entry times depend on how far in advance your reservation was made). Your expert guide will share detailed information about the history, culture, and architecture of this impressive Inca sanctuary.

After the guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own and take plenty of photos. Later, we return to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have time for lunch (not included) and to explore the town, which offers a variety of restaurants and handicraft shops. At the scheduled time, we head to the train station to board the train back to Ollantaytambo. There, our staff will be waiting to transfer you by bus back to Cusco.

Included / Not Included

Included:

Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
Basic hostel in Aguas Calientes
Personal weight allowance: 6 kg per person, including sleeping bag (carried by horses)
Transportation: pickup from your hotel/hostel in the morning and private transport to Challacancha (starting point of the hike)
Professional guide in English/Spanish
Sleeping pads
Four-person tents used by only two people, with enough space for backpacks
Three nights of camping
Cook and kitchen equipment
Horses to carry camping equipment
Round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Two-hour guided tour in Machu Picchu
Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (train time subject to availability: 6:20 p.m. or 9:55 p.m.)
Transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco
Meals mentioned in the itinerary
Wake-up tea: each morning we’ll wake you up with a warm cup of coca tea
Snacks during the trekking days (local fruit, cookies, chocolate, etc.)
First-aid kit

Not Included:

Breakfast on the first morning
Bus from the campsite area to Santa Teresa
Entrance fee to the Santa Teresa hot springs
Zip Line in Santa Teresa (optional)
Train ticket from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes
Porter service for personal backpacks from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the last day
Entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
Tips for guides, cooks, and muleteers
Drinks such as soda, bottled water, or beer during dinner in Aguas Calientes on Day 3
Breakfast on Day 4

Price

USD 450 per person

The return train schedule at the end of the trek depends on availability and is usually at 6:20 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

If you prefer an earlier train, we can book it for an additional USD 35 per person (2:55 p.m. or 4:35 p.m. departures). We also offer the Vistadome train at 3:40 p.m. for an additional USD 65 per person. Please let us know your preferred schedule in advance. Note that trains do not go directly to Cusco; they arrive at Ollantaytambo or Poroy, where our private transport will be waiting to take you back to Cusco.

Discounts:

Students with valid university ID: USD 20 discount
Travelers under 18 years old: USD 20 discount
Children under 7 years old: USD 50 discount

How to qualify for the student discount?

The ISIC card is no longer valid for purchasing Machu Picchu or Inca Trail tickets with a student discount. You must present an official university student ID issued by your university. For more information, please visit: http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/items/estudiantes.html

Important:

Renting camping equipment with us

If you don’t have the proper camping gear, you can rent it from us:

Sleeping bag: USD 20 per person
Trekking poles: USD 10 per pair
Additional tent: USD 25 per person

What to Bring

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

IMPORTANT:

Original passport
Sleeping bag
A good backpack (the smaller, the better)
CamelBak or reusable water bottle, as disposable plastic bottles are not allowed on the Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, or in Machu Picchu
Comfortable hiking shoes (lightweight, with good grip)

WHAT TO PACK IN THE DUFFEL BAG (CARRIED BY THE HORSES):

Our horses will carry up to 6 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and sleeping pad (if you bring or rent one). When rented from us, these two items weigh about 3 kg.

2–3 moisture-wicking t-shirts
2–3 hiking pants
4 sets of underwear
4 pairs of hiking socks
1 warm and soft towel
1 warm jacket (very cold nights)
1 rain jacket and rain pants
1 sun hat
1 wool hat
Headlamp (essential)
Waterproof gloves (ski gloves work very well)
Comfortable camp shoes
Comfortable hiking shoes
Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
Quick-dry towel (we provide small towels, but you may prefer a larger one)
Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water every day; a bit of soap will help you feel fresh
Power bank: there are no electrical outlets during the trek
Large plastic bags to organize clean and dirty clothes

TOILETRIES:

Sunscreen
Facial moisturizer
Insect repellent
Hand sanitizer
Wet wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Toilet paper
Personal medication
Small first-aid kit: band-aids, blister care, etc.

WHAT TO CARRY IN YOUR SMALL DAYPACK:

Daypacks can be any size, but we recommend smaller ones. Backpacks larger than 25 liters are not allowed inside Machu Picchu and must be stored outside the entrance. You must carry your CamelBak or water bottle.
Sun hat
Rain poncho
Wool hat
Camera
Music on any device
Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper and a small plastic bag for trash
Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, and tips
Earplugs