Salkantay Trek and Short Inca Trail 5 Days 4 Nights

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 am in our private transport. We begin our adventure towards Mollepata, a journey of approximately 2 hours; here we will stop for breakfast at one of the local restaurants in this town.

After breakfast, we continue our journey in our private transport for about 40 minutes until we reach Soraypampa at 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above sea level. Upon arrival, you will hand your luggage to our muleteers and be ready to begin your Salkantay Trek adventure towards Humantay Lagoon. This hike lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and will take you to the base of Humantay Mountain, where you can enjoy the waters of Humantay Lagoon. Afterward, we will begin the return hike to the starting point for a hot lunch prepared by our expert cook.

After lunch we will have a 2-hour hike to our Salkantaypampa campsite, which is located very close to the Salkantay snow-capped mountain, from where we can enjoy views of the glaciers and mountains.

After waking up early, you’ll enjoy breakfast and we’ll prepare for the day’s hike. Along the way, we’ll enjoy views of the surrounding glacial peaks and mountains. From Salkantaypampa, you’ll ascend gradually for the next 3 hours until you reach the Inca Pass of Chiriasqa, located at 5,100 meters (16,732 feet). Chiriasqa in Quechua means “to get cold”; this place is cold for most of the year, but it offers views of the Salkantay glacial peaks. After taking some time to admire the scenery, you can enjoy a hot drink before continuing your hike. The hike from the pass to Sisaypata, our lunch spot, will take about 3 hours, but it’s all downhill. At Sisaypata, you’ll have the opportunity to appreciate the peaks of Paltayoc. After lunch, we continue hiking for another 2 hours downhill to the Canal Inca campsite.

Camping night at the Inca Canal.

After breakfast, you will visit the Inca archaeological site of Paucarcancha before continuing your trek. This day takes you along an original section of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. As you trek, you will enjoy views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. You will also visit the Inca archaeological site of Llactapata. This site is known for having been an Inca village characterized by its houses, water channels, and agricultural terraces that line the mountainside. From Llactapata, we will hike for approximately one hour and then stop for lunch.

After lunch you will hike for approximately 2 more hours until you reach KM 82, where you will meet our private transport and be transferred to the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will enjoy dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

Hotel night in Ollantaytambo.

At 7:00 am we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the train station. We will board the train that will take you to KM 104; the journey is approximately 1 hour. It is here, at KM 104 (2200 m / 7217 ft), where we will begin the hike. We will cross the bridge over the Urubamba or Willkamayu River, which translated from Quechua means “sacred river,” and which was very important to the Incas. Upon arrival at the checkpoint, you must show your identification documents: passport, foreign resident card, or national identity document.

A 15-minute walk away lies the archaeological site of Chachabamba and Choqesuysuy, hidden in the semi-tropical forest. After visiting these sites, we will continue our hike up a series of steps to reach the next location. Along the way, we will observe the Sacred Valley, waterfalls, and various types of orchids native to the semi-tropical forest. After a 3-hour hike, we will arrive at Wiñayhuayna (2650 m / 8694 ft), a testament to Inca agriculture. Along its slopes lie numerous circular terraces where the Incas cultivated a variety of crops. The name Wiñayhuayna comes from an orchid that grows abundantly in the area and means “eternally young” in Spanish. The site boasts more than 20 buildings, including the Temple of the Rainbow, also known as the Temple of Fertility. The visit will last approximately one hour.

In this second part of the tour, we’ll hike for two hours across Andean plains, up stone steps, and past tambos (rest stops) until we reach Inti Punku – the Sun Gate (2720 m / 8923 ft), which in Inca times served as the entrance to the citadel of Machu Picchu. From here, you’ll have a panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the entire surrounding valley. We’ll then descend for approximately 30 minutes to Machu Picchu (2490 m / 8169 ft) and finally take the bus to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Pueblo (2160 m / 7086 ft); the ride takes 25 minutes. We’ll spend the night in a hotel here. If you’re not too tired, you have the option of visiting the hot springs located 10 minutes from town; the cost is 10 soles. For those who enjoy dancing or having drinks at a bar, Aguas Calientes offers a wide variety of bars and restaurants, including an ATM. We’ll also have à la carte dinner options at one of the town’s restaurants.

Hotel night in Aguas Calientes.

Today we’ll begin our tour to Machu Picchu very early. After breakfast, we’ll head to the bus station for a 30-minute ride to the citadel of Machu Picchu. We’ll then enjoy a 2-hour guided tour to explore the most important sites of Machu Picchu. After the tour, you’ll have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own (optional: climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain costs an additional $75 USD per person).

At the appropriate time, we will descend from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch at one of the many restaurants in town. In the afternoon, we will take the train back to Cusco (please arrive at the station 30 minutes before departure). Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station, a representative from our company will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco (a 1.5-hour drive).

End of service.