Alternative Inca Trail - Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days, 4 Nights

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1CUSCO- VISIT HUMANTAY LAKE & OVERNIGHT AT SKY LODGE DOMOS⌄

   We pick you up from your hotel at 4:45 a.m. to take you by car 2 and half hours to Mollepata town where you stop to have breakfast (1rst breakfast by your self), after that we will keep driving to challacancha where you will meet the rest of the staff who will share this adventure with you (the horseman, cheff, etc) then you start the hiking, the first 25 minutes will be a little bit uphill to get the Water Channel where you will have a nice place with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – we will begin the Salkantay trek towards Soraypampa, wich is the first camping spot (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the all the trip) Then after a delicious lunch we will walk up towards to the beautiful Humantay Lake, where you will have great views, and a fascinating moment, after that we will walk down to your best campsite of soraypampa. The sky lodge domos (this first night you will enjoy of a incredible view of the sky) 1ST DAY: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.) Estimated walking time: 7-8 hours

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: The first night is in the sky lodge Dom

2. 2SALKANTAY PASS - HUAYRACMACHAY - CHAULLAY CAMPSITE⌄

   This is the the longest day of all the trip. After a good breakfast you will start the walking around 05:30 am, the first 4 hours is uphill to get the highest point of the Salkantay Trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. You will have enough time here to take pictures and appreciate the beautiful scenic of this place. There is a possibility of snow here! After to rest, You will continue the trek (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where you will have lunch. After luch we will continue walking passing the start of the jungle until Chaullay, the second Salkantay Trek camping spot (3000m/9800ft). 2nd Day:Total distance: 19 km (aprox.) Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Accommodation is in two-person tents

3. 3LA PLAYA - LUCMABAMBA⌄

   After a good breakfast, around 6.30am, we start walking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of little brooks for around 6 hours until La Playa. This day you will pass through valleys where you will have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits until the campsite in La Playa, where you will have the lunch. Free afternoon to rest or go to the hot springs OPTIONAL: You can visit the hot spring of Colcalmayo, you will pay the entrance there around 5 dollars per person). 3RD DAY:Total distance: 16 km (aprox.) Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Accommodation is in two-person tents

4. 4LLACTAPATA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES (MACHU PICCHU TOWN)⌄

   After a delicious breakfast, we will leave the campsite. We walk up on a original Inca Trail to Llactapata site where you have the chance to see Machupicchu far away (one of the most beautiful place to see Machu Picchu) then you continue walking, passing a variety of crop plantations, coca, banana etc. until you reach the hydroelectric station, close to this place we will have lunch, then you keep walking about two and half hours along the train road until Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in a proper hostel. There are hot springs in Machu Picchu town (entrance 10 soles) If you want you can visit this place, after the Salkantay trek will be relaxing. 4TH DAY:Total distance: 12 km (aprox.) Estimated walking time: 5 – 6 hours

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: The accomodation is in a hostel in Machu Picchu Town

5. 5MACHU PICCHU TOUR - RETURN TO CUSCO⌄

   Around 04:30 am you will start walking up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu which takes around one and half hours, if you doesnt want to walk you have the option to buy a bus ticket for 12 dollars (25-minutes by bus). At the entrance of Machu Picchu you need to show the original passport or identification document and the tickets that the tour guide will provided you in advance. You will visit Machu Picchu citadel and te most important areas of the Santuary with the tour guide, after 2 hours you have free time by your self. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft) you need to book this 4 months in advance (check availability with us) After that, you have to go down to aguas calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo train station and then the bus back Cusco. and those who return by bus they will have to walk back from Machupicchu to Hidroeléctrica (3 to 3.5 hours by walking) to take the bus back to Cusco (you must be between 2:30pm to 3:00pm in Hidroelectrica, wich means that you have to leave Machu Picchu around 11 am). 5TH DAY:Total distance: 4 km (aprox.) Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hours

   Meals: Breakfast