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Salkantay Trek Peru is an extreme trekking route that passes through high mountains close to Humantay Lake and down in to the eyebrow of the tropical jungle. Our Salkantay Trail in South America leads you to that incredible destination, the Incan Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek 5 Days Tour takes you to one of the prettiest mountains in southern Peru. It is located in the spectacular Vilcabamba Mountain Range, which is one of the highest Mountain Ranges in the Andes. The people who live near Salkantay believe that the Mountain is a Sacred Apu which provides rain for their crops so that they can live well.
On our 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu you will walk the flanks of Salkantay Mountain which reaches an elevation of 6271 masl. During this Inca Trail Salkantay Trek you will see some absolutely beautiful scenery. The experience of feeling that you are above the Andes on our Salkantay Trek 5 Days 4 Nights is simply fantastic. You also might be able to observe rare animal life such as condors and vizcachas wild in nature. By travelling on this legendary Salkantay Trekking route, you will enjoy one of the 25 Best Treks in the World as rated by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
This Peru Treks Salkantay is an awesome trekking route, but it is very demanding too. So, we recommend that you are healthy and in good shape before you set out on our Salkantay Trek Tour. The Salkantay Inca Trail Trek passes by Andean mountain lakes, traditional villages, and ancient trails. Then 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu descends into the tropical rainforest. The culmination of the journey is your visit to one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the mystical Citadel of Machu Picchu. So, enjoy these epic trips!
For both your security and ours, all of our Salkantay Treks are private tours. During January, February and March we do not operate the Salkantay Trekking or the Humantay Lake Day Tour because it is the rainy season. The high country is almost always cloudy at that time of year.
For 2019 – 2020 it is recommended that you book your Salkantay Trekking as early as possible, especially if you are travelling during the high season (May – September). As long as you make your reservation early, we can guarantee the best chef, the best guide and the finest transportation from Cusco to Mollepata. Another reason for reserving early is that the Machu Picchu entrance tickets and the return Vistadome Train tickets will be available at best hours. That way we can guarantee you the absolutely finest service.
Salkantay Trek Facts:
The Salkantay Trek 5 Days is the most popular alternative trekking routes to Machu Picchu, and that is for good reasons. It offers hikers an incredibly diverse trekking experience; it is relatively easy to access from Cusco; and unlike the Classic Inca Trail, there are no permit limitations.
You should carry with you:
You should be healthy when you begin the trek. We can offer to take you on a warm-up tour of 1 day or of half a day before you begin the 5-Day Salkantay Trekking Tour.
*Price in USD per Person.
Bright and early in the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel and set out in our private Mercedes van to the district of Mollepata where you will eat a delicious breakfast. Then you will continue on to Challacancha where the trek begins, and where you will start hiking. Before setting out on the trail you will be introduced to your entire team of muleskinners and cooks who will accompany you along the way and take very good care of you. These are experienced people from the local communities who are very familiar with the trail.
Your first leg is an hour and a half of easy walking to Soraypampa along an ancient Inkan stone ditch that was used for irrigation purposes 500 years ago and is still in use today. When you reach the first campsite you can eat lunch and take a break. After lunch you will start the enchanting hike up to Humantay Lake.
The climb to Humantay Lake takes about an hour and is uphill. Its scenery is very beautiful and the lake is very colorful. Due to the reflection of the sunlight on the crystalline waters, the lake often appears blue in the center and green around the edges during the afternoon hours. While you rest and relax and enjoy the sublime beauty of the Andean high country, you can watch the ducks swimming, and if you are lucky you might see condors soaring above the mountains.
Then you will hike back down to Soraypampa for hot tea and snacks. After the sun goes down dinner will be served. Since the air gets cold and you will be tired, you will probably start sleeping soon after you put your head down. Your dreams will be full of wild creatures and Inca days.
You will wake up before the first rays of the sun touch the horizon and eat a nutritious breakfast. Soon after eating, you will head up in the direction of Salkantay Pass which is the highest point of the whole Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. If you can reach the high pass early enough, you can take a side trip over to another pretty lagoon, Salkantay Lagoon. Leaving behind the high pass, you will walk downhill for couple hours until you reach Huayracmachay where you can eat lunch and rest.
At this point of the trek all the scenery totally changes. From the stark desolation of the high pass, you gradually enter into the fertile abundance of the eyebrow of the jungle. During the next leg of your journey as you descend toward our next camp at Chaullay, you will see some beautiful sights as we pass by roaring waterfalls, cross over rivers of crystal-clear water, and hike through the thick tropical rain forest. Late in the afternoon your chef will offer up tea time snacks and hot beverages. It will be around dark when he serves you a delicious supper. Finally, you can get a good night´s sleep in the warmth of the lowlands in order to recoup your energy for the adventures of tomorrow.
You will rise before the sun early in the morning, and eat a great breakfast. Then you will leave Chaullay and head out toward Playa Sahuayaco which takes about 5 hours of hiking under the rain forest canopy. Along the way you will have the opportunity to sample some wonderful tropical fruits picked right off the trees. Also check out the delicious frozen fruit bars. Multicolored orchids and other flowers will line your path through this tropical wonderland. Lunch will be served when you arrive at Playa Sahuayaco.
Upon finishing lunch, there will be time for a coffee plantation tour. On this tour you will learn all about how coffee beans are picked, peeled, roasted and ground. Then you will take an hour ride in a mini-van to Santa Teresa. When you reach Santa Teresa, which is the last campsite, you will have the afternoon as free time. In Santa Teresa there are some very nice hot springs that you can visit if you want. These hot springs have three different pools at different temperatures. The water is very clear and these hot springs are some of the best hot springs in the Cusco area. After a delicious dinner at the campsite you can look at the stars in the southern sky and go to sleep.
Wake-up time on day four will be early, at about 5:00 am. After a nutricious breakfast at 5:30 you will ride in a mini-van to Lucmabamba. This is where the hike to Llactapata begins. That hike is uphill for three hours, but no very steep. On the walk to Llatacpata the view is very beautiful, and when you arrive at Llactapata the view of Machu Picchu is fantastic! You will walk by lots of coffee plantations on the trail.
Llactapata was a “tambo” or an overnight stop on the Inca Trail that ran from Machu Picchu to Vilcabamba. You will have 45 minutes for exploring the ruins and for enjoying the view of Machu Picchu from the back side. After your Llactapata tour you will hike 2 hours downhill until you reach Hidroelectrica where your lunch will be served.
Take a break after lunch before you begin the three-hour hike to Aguas Calientes. This part of the trek follows the railroad track, and once again there will be incredible views of Machu Picchu above you. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will check into your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Finally, in the evening you will eat dinner, and then your guide will come give you some important last-minute tips concerning your trip the following morning up to Machu Picchu, the 7th Wonder of the World.
This will be a very special day, as it is the day that you will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Machu Picchu. Therefore, you will have to get a very early start. After breakfast you will board the bus that will take you up to the Incan Citadel. You could also hike up if you choose. The hike up takes an hour and a half. The bus ride takes a half an hour.
You will enter the site before sunrise so you can witness the incredible sight of the sun coming up over this peaceful, magical place. Then you will have a 3-hour private guided tour on which you will visit the most important points of interest. After the guided tour, there will be free time to explore the ruins on your own, and visit the Gate of the Sun or the Inkas Bridge. Take some fantastic photos which you will be sure to treasure when you return home.
In the afternoon you will return to Aguas Calientes where you´ll eat lunch at Café Inka Terra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and then catch the train to Ollantaytambo or to Poroy which is closer to Cusco. In Ollantaytambo or Poroy our team will pick you up with our private van and drive you back to your hotel in Cusco. There you can enjoy your rest and reflect on the past 5 adventure-filled and fun-packed days.
The high country was nice, but my favorite part of the trek was the warm tropical rainforest, and, of course, Machu Picchu. The Travel 1 folks are very friendly
