Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

A 5-day trek from Mollepata to Machu Picchu that visits Humantay Lake, crosses the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 m (15,256 ft) and descends through the cloud forest to Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes. You camp on the trail, spend the last night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes and finish with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

On the lower part of the route you pass farms with bananas, oranges, avocados and pineapples, and one of our campsites is next to a coffee plantation where you can learn about the different coffee varieties and pick, roast, grind and brew your own coffee.

Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake

We leave Cusco by bus at 4:30 a.m. and drive through Izcuchaca and Limatambo to Mollepata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), where we arrive around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast.

From Mollepata a truck takes us to Marcocasa (3,380 m / 11,089 ft) in about 50 minutes. Here we start hiking: about 5 hours past Marcocasa and Canaleta Inca to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we arrive around 1:30 p.m. Along the way you see native plants and birds, the Apurímac River canyon and the snow-capped Humantay (5,902 m / 19,364 ft).

After lunch at our first campsite in Soraypampa, we hike about 1.5 hours up to Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), with close views of the mountain. From Soraypampa you can also see Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,574 ft). Dinner and overnight at camp.

Meals: lunch and dinner (breakfast in Mollepata is not included). Overnight: camping in Soraypampa.

Day 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay

After an early breakfast we leave Soraypampa and climb for about 5 to 6 hours to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft), passing Salkantaypampa and Soyroccocha, where you see a small lake. On the way up you have views of Salkantay, the Humantay and Huayanay mountains, glacial moraines and small lakes.

From the pass we descend to Huayracmachay (3,800 m / 12,467 ft) for lunch, then continue downhill for about 3 hours to our second campsite at Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft).

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: camping in Chaullay. Distance: about 20 km (12.4 mi). Difficulty: hard.

Day 03: Chaullay – La Playa – Santa Teresa

After breakfast and morning tea we start hiking at 7:00 a.m. The trail enters the ceja de selva (high jungle), with plants, flowers, birds, banana trees, coffee and coca fields and, later in the day, passion fruit farms. After 5 to 6 hours of hiking we reach La Playa (2,400 m / 7,874 ft) for lunch.

From La Playa we drive about 45 minutes to Santa Teresa, where we spend the night. If you like, you can visit the Cocalmayo hot springs (optional, not included).

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Santa Teresa. Distance: about 15 km (9.3 mi).

Day 04: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes

After breakfast we start hiking around 8:30 a.m. on a rising trail with views of coffee, banana and passion fruit plantations and the Santa Teresa Valley. We then follow the Vilcanota River to Hidroeléctrica, where you can see the back side of the Machu Picchu sanctuary and we have our last lunch with the crew.

From Hidroeléctrica we keep walking along the river, past waterfalls fed by the glaciers, and reach Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 6,562 ft) around 4:30 p.m. If you prefer, you can take the train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes (optional, not included).

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: hostel in Aguas Calientes. Distance: about 10 km (6.2 mi).

Day 05: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Around 4:30 a.m. we head up to Machu Picchu (the bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is not included). In the quiet morning hours your guide leads a full tour of the Inca citadel that lasts about 2 hours.

Afterward you have free time to visit the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or the Temple of the Moon, or simply walk around the citadel again. Huayna Picchu is an optional extra with a separate ticket, subject to availability; ask when booking.

In the afternoon we meet in Aguas Calientes, where you can relax in the hot springs if you like. Then we take the train to Ollantaytambo and continue by bus to Cusco, ending at Plaza Regocijo. We confirm your train time when you book.

Meals: breakfast.