Salkantay & Machu Picchu: 5-Day Cultural Trek
5-Day Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu Tour: Andean Homestay Experience
Embark on an extraordinary 5-day Salkantay Trekking & Machu Picchu private tour, a journey acclaimed by National Geographic as one of the world’s top treks. This adventure takes you beneath the magnificent Salkantay Mountain, the highest peak in the region, offering a path filled with natural wonders and ancient Incan mysteries. Trek through traditional Quechua towns and explore enigmatic Incan sites, culminating in a breathtaking view of Machu Picchu from Patallacta Pass. This trek is more than a hike; it’s an opportunity to connect with the local culture through a 3-night homestay with welcoming Andean families. These homestays not only provide comfort but also allow you to contribute to the local economy and community well-being. Reserve your culturally immersive adventure now and be part of a meaningful and sustainable travel experience!
Highlight
- Ascend the Majestic Salkantay Mountain: Embark on an awe-inspiring hike to Salkantay, the region’s highest peak, offering stunning natural landscapes and a true adventurous challenge.
- Discover Machu Picchu’s Ancient Wonders: Traverse the paths of the Incas to reach the iconic Machu Picchu, a highlight of our cultural journey to Peru, steeped in history and mystery.
- Authentic Homestay with Andean Families: Experience genuine Andean hospitality with a 3-night homestay, offering a unique opportunity to immerse in local culture and traditions.
- National Geographic’s Top Trek: Join one of the world’s top treks, as acclaimed by National Geographic, through the Salkantay Trekking & Machu Picchu route.
- Contribute to Local Communities: Your trek contributes to the local economy, supporting community well-being and promoting sustainable travel in the heart of Peru.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Soraypampa & Humantay Lagoon Trek
Begin your Salkantay Trek with a transfer to Soraypampa, a serene base for the journey ahead. Here, you’ll embark on a hike to the breathtaking Humantay Lagoon. This trek is a perfect blend of natural beauty and physical challenge, offering stunning views of turquoise waters set against a backdrop of majestic mountains. It’s an ideal start to your Machu Picchu adventure.
Day 2: Hike from Soraypampa to Chaullay
Your second day involves a challenging hike from Soraypampa to Chaullay. As you ascend, experience diverse landscapes, from rugged trails to verdant valleys. This part of the trek is both physically demanding and visually rewarding, showcasing the diverse beauty of the Peruvian Andes.
Day 3: Trek from Chaullay to Lucmabamba & Local Farm Visit
On day three, continue from Chaullay to Lucmabamba. This leg offers a more cultural experience as you visit a local farm. Here, you’ll learn about traditional agriculture and the lifestyles of the local people, adding a unique layer to your cultural journey in Peru.
Day 4: First Glimpse of Machu Picchu
The fourth day is a milestone in your trek as you catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. This moment is a highlight for many trekkers, offering a sense of achievement and awe as the iconic sanctuary comes into view, setting the stage for what’s to come.
Day 5: Visit the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
On the final day, visit the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. This world-renowned archaeological site is not just a visual spectacle but a place steeped in history and mystery. You’ll have the opportunity to explore its ruins, learn about its historical significance, and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding landscape, culminating your unforgettable Machu Picchu experience.
Prices for this trek
PRIVATE TOUR PRICE | |
---|---|
1 person | US$ 1514 per person |
2 people | US$ 972 per person |
3 people | US$ 818 per person |
4 people | US$ 758 per person |
5 to 8 people | US$ 736 per person |
9 to 14 people | US$ 709 per person |
More than 15 people | US$ 648 per person |
* Private tour; do not join other travelers; exclusive tour with a private guide and private mobility, whether traveling alone, with family, or with friends.
* Prices are based on the number of people traveling together.
Includes and excludes
Included
- The clients will receive a briefing the night before the trek.
- Pick up from the Hotel and transfer to Mollepata (starting point of the trail).
- Entrance fees to Salkantay circuit and Machu Picchu (but not Huayna Picchu Mountain).
- Personal tents accommodate two people for greater comfort and security. Our tents are 4-season and well-maintained for field performance.
- Each individual should bring an inflatable sleeping mat.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs. Kitchen tent.
- Toilet tent with bio-degradable toilet facilities.
- English-speaking tour leader plus an assistant guide for groups of over eight trekkers
- Chef and cooking equipment.
- Campsite fees must be paid to the local community in every camp.
- Pack animals (to carry tents, food, and cooking equipment) – (day 1 – 2).
- Pack animals to carry personal gear up to 7kg per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag) – (day 1 – 2).
- One emergency horse every six people (day 1 – 2).
- Horse riders.
- Meals (4 breakfast, 4-lunches, four dinners + daily morning snack + daily tea service except for last day). Vegetarian or special diets are available at no extra cost.
- Lunch on the last day after visiting Machu Picchu.
- A cloth bag for everyday snacks saves plastic bags and decreases waste.
- We will provide boiled water from lunchtime on the first day.
- Bio-degradable personal hand soaps.
- Our kitchen staff uses bio-degradable dishwashing detergents.
- Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in the water bottle every morning, night, and lunchtime.
- We bring a first-aid kit, including an emergency oxygen bottle.
- One night at a Tourist Class hotel in Aguas Calientes town (double or triple room), a single room has an extra cost of US$ 35. Upgrade Hotel accommodation upon request; please ask the travel agent.
- Round trip bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu site – Aguas Calientes.
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (Expedition train or similar) according to availability – we can upgrade Vistadome service upon request.
- Transfer from Poroy or Cusco train station to Cusco Hotel.
- 24-hour support by our local staff.
Not Included
- The price does not cover domestic or international flights. Consult a travel agency if necessary.
- VISA procedures, travel insurance, pre, and post-tour accommodation.
- Additional personal costs (alcoholic beverages, laundry).
- The price does not cover gratuities for tour guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Guidance in another language (Germany, French, others), in case you request them, please ask your travel agent.
- Additional items are not included explicitly in the itinerary description.
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
- Breakfast on the first day.
- Entrance fee to the Aguas Calientes thermal springs.
- Sleeping bag.
Trip code: STM5D01-PVT
Day 1 – Transfer to Soraypampa & Hike to Humantay Lagoon
- Pick up from the Hotel at 07:00 and transfer to the head of the trail at Soraypampa (3,800m/12,467ft); the journey takes about 4 hours by car.
- There are breathtaking vistas of the snowcapped Vilcabamba and Mollepata mountain ranges and the verdant Apurimac River Valley along the drive. Time to relax and rest.
- After lunch, we start our trek up to the lake with beautiful views; we ascend the mountain for 2 hours, taking numerous breaks to enjoy the scenery.
- After conquering the hill, we will gaze down on a turquoise lake surrounded by steep peaks and an impressive glacier. The hike is dominated by Salkantay snow-capped Mountain, towering 20,600 feet with a sheer and snowy face. The equally impressive Humantay Mountain rises 19,412 feet. Local people give a blessing when reaching the crystal-clear waters of Humantay Lake at 13,700 feet (4200 meters).
- Distance estimate: 5 km (3,10 miles) – Estimated walking time: 4-5 hours
- Dinner and overnight with local family.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
Day 2 – Hike from Soraypampa to Chaullay
- After an early start, the climb to Salkantay Pass begins. We will gradually make our way around Humantay Peak via broad plateaus joined by gigantic rocks and relics of the once-divided Rio Blanco Valley by a swift-flowing river. The journey’s last and most challenging portion is navigating the mountain switchbacks that lead to the pass, the trek’s highest Huayracmachay pass (4,638m/15,216ft). This location offers stunning views of Cusco’s second-highest mountain Salkantay. We can also see the snowcapped mountains of Huayanay and Humantay and miniature lakes, moraines, and a white river.
- The adventure continues with a stunning drop past fields of enormous rocks and often foggy natural stone formations, followed by a delightful hot meal.
- After lunch, we will trek about 9 kilometers and three hours to reach the edge of the cloud forest. Observe the abrupt and spectacular transition from the Andes to the tropical vegetation. Observe vivid landscapes, rare fauna, and native vegetation.
- We reach our second lodging late afternoon at Chaullay (2,900m/9514ft).
- Distance estimate: 18 km (11, 18 miles) – Estimated walking time: 8-9 hours
- Dinner and overnight with local family.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3 – Hike from Chaullay to Lucmabamba
- After a leisurely breakfast, continue the journey into the cloud forest along the river banks amid more green surroundings. Warm air will rise from the forest’s edge, followed by vibrant butterflies and beautiful orchids. Today meet more Andean locals as the route passes by their primary dwellings and homemade fences.
- Hike through the Santa Teresa River Valley along a rolling trail that crosses fertile fruit orchards and bisects glacier-fed waterfalls. See the local flora and the coffee, banana, and avocado plantations on the way. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the famous bird known as the “Cock of the Rocks.”
- Before heading to the Lucmabamba campground (2,000m/6,564ft), we have a delicious lunch at La Playa.
- In Lucmabamba, we study the coffee-making process, from collecting the coffee beans to shelling, toasting, and grinding with a local family. Also, we will see fruit trees such as lime, grapefruit, and avocado.
- Distance estimate: 13 km (8, 07 miles) – Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours
- Dinner and overnight with local family.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4 – First view of Machu Picchu
- After breakfast, we tackle the last day of our trek. We ascend for three hours to Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8976 ft), where we see a view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary from the southeast that few tourists ever get the opportunity to enjoy.
- We can see Mount Salkantay and Machu Picchu and take a break; the newly restored Llactapata Ruins enhance the place’s attractiveness. We pause briefly to investigate the Llactapata Ruins.
- A two-hour descent to the River Aobamba via bamboo woods, coffee fields, and enormous orchards brings us to the hydroelectric plant at Machu Picchu (1,870m/6,000ft).
- We stop for lunch in Hidroelectrica before we continue to Aguas Calientes town. Following lunch, start the hike to Aguas Calientes.
- Nevertheless, our trustworthy guide leads us to the town of Aguas Calientes, along the railroad tracks to Aguas Calientes; the easy walk takes around 2.5 hours.
- Once in the town, enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend a night in a hotel.
- Optional: Choose the train to Aguas Calientes (US$ 50 additional cost) if you are tired and unwilling to walk.
- Distance estimate: 10 km (6, 21 miles) – Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours
- Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 – Visit the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
- Hotel breakfast; at 07:00. Take a bus to the Machu Picchu archaeological site (2,430m/7,972ft). Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the mountaintop fortress earned every bit of its notoriety.
- Around 08:30, the guided tour begins; the guide expertly directs through the astounding ruins and main streets. Then wander around the town squares and climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom.
- The guided tour takes around two hours.
- From 12:30 pm to 13:30, take the bus to Aguas Calientes.
- From 13:30 to 15:00, take lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
- Later in the day, board the train to Cusco. Arrive at Poroy station and then be picked up and transported to the Cusco hotel.
- Train schedule — Aguas Calientes (15:20) – Cusco (19:95)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.