Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days / 4 Nights

The day starts very early, with hotel pickup in Cusco around 4:00–4:30 AM. We will head towards Mollepata, passing through towns like Anta and Limatambo, enjoying views of the valleys and Andes. After about 2 hours, we will stop for breakfast at a local restaurant in Mollepata, then continue another hour to Challacancha, the start of the trek, where you will have time to get organized. The first section is a gradual 1.5 hour uphill trek, perfect for acclimatization, until arriving at Soraypampa to stay at the Glass Cabañas, where a freshly prepared lunch will be served. In the afternoon, a 1.5 hour hike to Humantay Lagoon awaits, starting easy and becoming steeper near the lagoon. Enjoy the turquoise waters and glacier at 5,960 m, take photos, and soak in the scenery. Return to Soraypampa around 4:00 PM. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or explore. In the evening, join a Peruvian cooking class, enjoy dinner, and spend your first night at the Glass Cabañas under the stars.

After a hot breakfast and refilling water bottles, we start the hike to Salkantay Pass. The trek begins with a moderate uphill on a defined trail. After 2 hours, we reach Salkantay Pampa (4,100 m / 13,450 ft) to rest and enjoy glacier views. Then we climb about an hour on a steep zigzag path to Soyrococha, beneath Salkantay peak, where our chef serves a freshly prepared lunch. After lunch and refilling water, we continue for about an hour to reach Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft), the trek’s highest point. Here we honor Pachamama and admire the snow-capped peaks and the Andes’ majesty. We descend for 2.5 hours to the green valley. Our destination is Wayracmachay camp (3,800 m / 12,467 ft), where we settle in the Glass Domes. Evening includes dinner and a cozy night under the starry sky.

This day brings a dramatic change of scenery as we leave the high Andes and enter the lush high jungle, full of warm breezes, tropical vegetation, and wildlife. We start early with tea delivered to your room and breakfast, then pack snacks and fill water bottles before beginning the hike. The trail is mostly downhill. After about 2 hours, we reach Rayanpata, where the jungle begins, with warm air and tropical scents. A short break allows time to hydrate and enjoy the forest sounds. We continue 2 more hours to Colpapampa (2,950 m / 9,678 ft) for a jungle-inspired lunch prepared by our cook. After lunch, we hike approximately 4 more hours along narrow jungle paths, seeing waterfalls, orchids, and coffee fields, until arriving at Loreta, home to the unique Hobbit House. This eco-lodge has hot showers, soft bedding, and a magical forest environment — the perfect place to rest and enjoy the jungle sounds at the end of the day.

Today we explore culture, history, and nature while hiking a section of the original Inca Trail and enjoying a unique viewpoint of Machu Picchu. We start with breakfast at the Hobbit House, surrounded by trees and birds, then take a 30-minute drive to Lucmabamba, where we begin a 4-hour uphill hike through coffee, banana, and avocado plantations, reaching the archaeological site of Llactapata (2,700 m) with an impressive panoramic view of Machu Picchu.

Afterward, we descend for 1.5 hours to Hidroelectrica for our final lunch with the trekking crew, a perfect opportunity to thank them or leave a tip. We then continue for 3 hours along the railway tracks through the Machu Picchu canyon, a more diverse ecosystem where you may spot orchids, butterflies, birds like the Andean cock-of-the-rock, and possibly monkeys or spectacled bears.

The trek ends in Aguas Calientes, where we check into our room, enjoy a hot shower, and rest. Tomorrow we will explore Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Today is the highlight of your Salkantay Trek: visiting Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

After an early breakfast in Aguas Calientes, we’ll take one of the first buses to the citadel. Your guide will assist with entry (ticket + passport required) and take you first to the upper part for the famous postcard view—perfect for photos before most tourists arrive.

Next, enjoy a guided tour of the main highlights, with explanations about Inca architecture, history, spirituality, and engineering.

If you booked the optional Huayna Picchu hike, your guide will lead the 2-hour climb after the tour. The hike is steep but offers amazing views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding valley.

Afterward, we’ll take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, giving you free time to explore, shop for souvenirs, or have lunch (not included). In the afternoon, you’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo (around 2:55 PM, subject to availability).

Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, your private driver will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco, with an estimated arrival between 6:30 and 7:30 PM.