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4650

One of the 50th best Treks in the whole world

SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS

LOCATION: CUSCO, MACHU PICCHU.
TYPE OF TOUR: TREKKING, ADVENTURE
DURATION: 5 DAYS /4 NIGHTS
AVAILABILITY: EVERY DAY
HIGHLIGHTS: SALKANTAY, HUMANTAY, MACHU PICCHU
MAX ALTITUDE: 4650 m / 15256 ft
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE TO CHALLENGING
BEST SEASON: March to December.
GOOD FOR: Over 16 years old, People who like adventure and nature with considerable levels of physical activity for walking. Those in moderate shape, or better.

This is an alternative hike to the Inca Trail, considered as one of the best 50 Hikes in South America by National Geographic.

This for its well-known natural beauty, on the way you will find splendid landscapes, high mountains, lagoons and snowy peaks like the majestic Salkantay, the second highest of Cusco.

The trail passes through different altitudinal levels typical of the region, from the frigid zone of the Andes to the high jungle that is the mixture between the Andes and the jungle,

where you will also find plantations of bananas, orange, coffee and the sacred plant of coca, the last day you will arrive at Machu Picchu.

This is the best trail for those tourists who love to be in contact with nature; Get ready for this adventure.

IMPORTANT

The Salkantay trek starts and finishes in Cusco city, for this reason, the passenger must arrive at least a day before the trek (recommended 2 days) to be well-acclimatized to the altitude.

The highest point in the whole trail is located at 4650 meters above sea level (15255.91 feet), also to perform this trek with ease the passenger must have a reasonable physical condition.

WHAT WE DO FOR YOU?

We give you the clearest information in this media, and we offer you several ways to contact us (E-mail, Whatsapp, Facebook, Zoom or Google meet) where we can answer your inquiries at any time (honest tour without surprises and NO HIDDEN PRICES TO PAY)
We book all tickets you need for this tour, like, entrance ticket for Salkantay and Machu Picchu, Train Tickets to go back to Cusco, and extra entrance for hiking any of the two mountains (Huayna Picchu or Cerro Machupicchu) if you require it, you don’t need to waste time searching where you can get these tickets.
One day before your Hike Salkantay to Machu Picchu, you will have a briefing in our office or in your hotel. where we will give all the tickets you will need in the tour, maps and more information about this your trip.

We take horses, they will carry all the heavy stuff, like camping equipment (tents, cooking stuff), food supplies, and you will have 5 or 6 Kilos to put your stuff on it, this will help you while you were hiking.
We provide you adequate food (hot food – prepared – and served on a table), in every group in our team we take a Chef with his crew will prepare good food for you, also you can choose vegetarian and vegan option with no extra fees.
Your comfort is assured, you will spend 2 nights in our Andean Huts, 01 night in Tents with capacity for 4 people, but they are used only for 2 people, and the last night in a acommodation, we use confortable mattresses and if you want we rent sleeping bags of Feather or Synthetics of -10 ° C.

We will make you understand every place you will visit and why you arrive in Machu Picchu; our tour guide will give you the most accurate and updated information about this marvelous place to become your trip in a spectacular experience.
We provide you a safe trip; all our services are organized with well-conditioned vehicles, all of them with all the permissions required to work in tourism, also all our staff are very well trained to give you the best experience on your trip.
We give you facilities to pay, you can make the payment in two parts, ONE when you book the tour and the balance once you arrive in Cusco, we accept safe payment methods as PAYPAL or Credit or Debit card VISA and MASTER CARD, also you can wire money via Western Union, Money Gram.

TRIP OVERVIEW

DAY 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa.

DAY 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay.

DAY 3: Chaullay – Playa Sahuayaco – Santa Teresa.

DAY 4: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes.

DAY 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco.

MAP OF THE ROUTE FOR SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Map

👇 Take a look at all the information down here 👇

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa.

For this Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, we pick you up at 4:30 a.m. from your accommodation, then we’ll leave by bus (two and a half hours) to Mollepata Village (2800 m.a.s.l.) in this place you will have time for breakfast,

while we are getting ready our staff to put on the horses (the horses will carry the camping equipment, food supplies, and 06 more kilos per passenger),

then we continue in a car for one extra hour to arrive in Challancancha (3650 m.a.s.l/ 11975 feet), from here we will start to hike 3 hours to arrive in SORAYPAMPA (3920 m.a.s.l./12861 feet).

At this place will be our first camping site, after lunch, we have the option to go up to the upper part of the camping site to see the beautiful HUMANTAY lake with its unparalleled view(4200 meters/13780 feet).

This will be an extra 3 hours hike (up and down), then we’ll go back to our camping site where we’ll spend the first night.

Walking Distance: 12 km (7.46 Miles) – 5 and 1/2 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3600 masl. (11811 ft)
Max. Altitude: 4200 masl. (13779 ft)
Meals provided: Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodation: Andean Hut.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay.

We will get up early to have a consistent breakfast, then we start to hike uphill 3 hours to arrive at the Salkantay Pass (4650 m.a.s.l./15256 feet).

Up there, you will find a beautiful landscape with huge snow-capped mountains like Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo.

Also, we will see a small lake around Soyrococha, then we will continue our route downhill for 3 hours to arrive in Huayracmachay where we will have a well-deserved lunch.

After taking a short rest, we start to descend to the high jungle for 3 hours, the scenery change around this section because we will find more vegetation proper in this area,

Then we arrive in CHAULLAY (2900 m.a.s.l./9514 feet), our second campsite to rest this second night.

Walking Distance: 22 km (14 Miles) – 9 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3920 masl. (12861 ft)
Max. Altitude: 4650 masl. (15256 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Tents (4-season tent), the tent is fixed inside a thatched roof.

Day 3: Chaullay – Playa Sahuayaco – Santa Teresa.

On this 3rd day of Salkantay trekking, after breakfast we will continue the trek, this day we will enter a zone known as EYEBROW OF JUNGLE,

which is like a high jungle, where we will find different plantations of fruits, such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, cocoa, tangerines, plantations of coffee, coca, and other plants.

Also, we will pass for a small waterfall of pure water from the mountains, arriving at SAHUAYACO, low part that is located near the river,

it will be the perfect place to have lunch and take a rest, then we will take you 30 minutes by minibus to arrive at SANTA TERESA (1600 m.a.s.l./5249 f.a.s.l.)(the Passengers can walk, but this hike would be by the bus route).

At this place we will rest this night; after have walked six hours, in the afternoon we will have the option to go to the hot spring “Cocalmayu” to take a bath in the warm and clean water.

To go there, we have to walk 45 minutes, or we have the option to take a minibus – colectivos we can pay 7 or 10 soles, after that we’ll return to the campsite to rest this night.

Walking Distance: 14 km (8 Miles) – 5 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 3920 masl. (12861 ft)
Max. Altitude: 2900 masl. (9514 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Tents (4-season tent).

Day 4: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes.

This day, we will continue the trek to arrive in the village of Machu Picchu, the hike will be 5 to 6 hours.

After 3 hours walking we will arrive at hydroelectric, where we will have lunch and then continue our course to the village of Machu Picchu AGUAS CALIENTES (2050 m.a.s.l./6726 f.a.s.l.).

Here will have the afternoon off to rest or also have the option to visit the hot springs, these are located in the upper part of the village.

After dinner, we’ll go to rest early thinking of the tour of the next day, MACHU PICCHU. (NIGHT IN HOSTEL).

(*) In the morning (before hiking) you have the option to go on the ZIP LINE tour, this is pretty fun, it has an extra price.

Walking Distance: 20 km (12.5 Miles) – 6 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 1600 masl. (5249 ft.)
Max. Altitude: 2050 masl. (6726 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Accommodation: Hostel (Private rooms with bathroom).

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco.

On this last day of Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, We’ll get up early in the morning (4:30 a.m.), to start to go up to the archaeological site.

Passengers have the option to take a bus instead of walk, this has an extra price, can be paid there, this is to have the option to see the sunrise up there.

Once you arrive, you will have free time to use the restroom, then we join the group and the guide to get into the Inca Site.

After taking the first pictures our guide will give you information about the history and architecture (this guided tour will last two hours approximately),

then you’ll have free time to walk around and take pictures yourself, also if you want, also, you will have the option to climb up to Waynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain (Optional with an extra cost).

In the afternoon we have to go down again to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have time to have lunch, then we’ll take our train to return to Ollantaytambo.

In this place, our staff will be waiting for you to bring you back by bus to CUSCO (22:30 hrs.). You can ask for an earlier train departure to be back in Cusco before, this has an extra price.

OPTIONAL: Hike to Waynapicchu or Machu Picchu mountain, NOTICE To have the classic view that appears on the postcards you don’t need to climb any of these mountains,

these are extra hikes that you have as an option to have panoramic views from the top of the mountains, Waynapicchu, this is a hike of two and a half hours (Up and Down) approximately,

and the Machu Picchu Mountain, this is a hike of three and a half hours (Up and Down) approximately.

Walking Distance: 5 km (3.11 Miles) – 2 Hours.
Height at the start of the hiking: 2050 masl. (6726 ft)
Max. Altitude: 2450 masl. (6726 ft.)
Meals provided: Breakfast.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Included:

Briefing: A day before your tour Salkantay trek, we brief you with the most important information about the trek, this will be in our office at 18:30 hrs. We are flexible with this schedule, we understand you would like to enjoy Cusco, so if you are on a tour and arrive after do not worry.
Pick up at your Hotel: We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco (If it is located around a street where our minibusses can not reach, our guide will go to your hotel and take you to where the bus is.).
Transport: Transportation for our groups To go from Cusco to Soraypampa, This is provided in a private car only for our group and our staff.
Camping Equipment: Tents for sleeping (4 seasons) with capacity for 4 people, where only get in 2 people in each (so you have more room inside), Dining and Kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and also camping mattresses.
Meals: 04 Breakfast, 04 Lunches, 04 Dinners + Wake Up Coca tea in each morning at the campsites (Vegetarian and vegan option with no extra cost)
Professional Tour Guides: All our staff of guides is in English speaking, well-trained and with a lot of experience in this route and Machu Picchu, they are ready to create a great experience for you and will make you arrive in Machu Picchu safe and sound.
First aid kit: Our guides carry some basic medication and oxygen for any trouble on the trail.
Support Staff: Auxiliary Tour Guide when we go more than 13 people, Cook and Assistant (They are specialized in cooking on the mountains), horsemen (they will help to take the horses in the way).
Horses/Mules: They will carry camping equipment, food supplies, and 06 kilos/13lbs per passenger.
01 Night in Accommodation in Aguas Calientes All rooms are with private bathroom and hot shower.
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu: We will book and getting ready your ticket for this very important place on all the trail.
Train Tickets to Return: From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (VOYAGER TRAIN – INCARAIL or EXPEDITION TRAIN- PERURAIL) This will be around 18:20 or 19:00 hrs.
Transportation: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco, this service is provided with minibusses of 15 or 20 people (Renault Master or Sprinter Mercedes-Benz).

Not Included:

Entrance fee for Huaynapicchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 2 and 1/2 hours from Machu Picchu Citadel, it has an extra cost of US$ 25.00 You have to ask for availability.
Entrance fee for Machu Picchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 3 and 1/2 hours from has an extra cost of US$ 70.00 You have to ask for availability.
Bus tickets to go up and down in Machupicchu: All the group goes walking if you want to take some of those busses you can buy directly in Aguas Calientes (US$ 12.00).
Sleeping bag: (US$ 20 the rental for the tour).
Walking sticks: (US$ 20 the rentail for a pair).
Meals: First breakfast, last lunch, special snacks.
Travel Insurance.
Tips: All gratitude is really welcome.

IMPORTANT

Important:

US$ 25.00 Off for people who belong to the Andean Community group (Perú, Colombia, Ecuador y Bolivia).
US$ 20.00 Off for those students with Under graduated student card, (this ID must be made in PVC material, and it must have the next requirements: university information, personal student information, student picture, and expiration date valid only for one year, its year must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu, the discount until 25 years old.), the ISIC cards are not valid anymore.
Discount of US$ 20.00 for under 18 years old.
According to the new regulation of Sustainable Use and Tourist Visit for the conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu 2019, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is valid only for a single entry to the park (this means: The passenger enter, walk around, go out and can not re-enter again), usually, all people stay between 4 and 5 hours into Machu Picchu, if you would like to stay a longer time, you must buy another ticket (US$ 50.00 Extra), the park is open until 17:30 hrs.
Prices are for tours in shared service (group tour), groups of 14 to 18 people per guide, inquire for prices in a private tour.
We have departures every day.

To start this tour, you have to be at least one day before in Cusco (02 days recommended).

Upgrade:

Private Transportation to return: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco, US$ 20.00 (Per way, per person); This gives you a pleasant trip without waiting and picking up other people on the group tour.
Train returning at 16:12 hrs. TRAIN 360° Inca Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 30.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with Taller and wider panoramic windows and an outdoor observatory wagon with bar, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 20:20 hrs.
Train returning at 16:43 hrs. TRAIN VISTADOME – Peru Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 35.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with panoramic windows located beside and above your seat will bring you close to nature unlike anything you’ve experienced before, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 21:00 hrs.

What you need to take:

Standard backpack (45 to 50 liters, the idea is you feel very comfortable with what you are carrying).
Warm clothes (jacket, Thermals, fleece, gloves, scarf, and beanie), this is for the cold nights.
Waterproof clothes (jacket, pants, and gloves) If you don’t have those, you can buy in Cusco a Rain Poncho, the weather on the mountain is very changeable.
Comfortable Hiking shoes (waterproof, the better).
Comfortable clothes as 3 or 4 T-shirts, 2 or 3 pairs of longs pants (leggings works), 3 or 4 pairs of Trekking socks or wool socks, Short (Optional, remember there are mosquitos).
Sandals (optional, to be chill out at the campsites)
Shorts, t-shirt, trekking boots, sandals, socks.
Hat or cap.
Sunscreen.
Flashlight.
Water purification pills.
Camera or video camera.
Mosquitos repellent.
Rain poncho.
Extra money in soles.

Optional.

Sunglasses.
Walking sticks.

PRICES

TOUR IN SHARED SERVICE

This service in a GROUP TOUR means that you will do the tour with other people, This standard service has 10 to 15 participants, that doesn’t mean you have to get that quantity of people to do the tour, we have confirmed departures every day, so, If you are only one or two people do not worry, you can join some of our groups.

“BEST PRICE PER PERSON: US$ 319.00”

TOUR IN A PRIVATE SERVICE

This service is an exclusive way to make this trip, where the service is very much where the service is much more personalized, prices vary according to the number of people in your group:

2 PEOPLE: US$ 759 PER PERSON
3 PEOPLE: US$ 679 PER PERSON
4 PEOPLE: US$ 609 PER PERSON
5 PEOPLE: US$ 559 PER PERSON
6 PEOPLE: US$ 509 PER PERSON
7 PEOPLE and +: US$ 479 PER PERSON

HOW TO BOOK

STEP 1: SEND YOUR INFORMATION

Complete the booking form down here or send data of all the travelers to info@inkatimetours.com like full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, or a copy of passports, indicating the exact date of travel; Our privacy policies are strict, INKA TIME will use this information exclusively to nominate the reservation tickets, we never share this information with third parties.

STEP 2: MAKE A DEPOSIT

You can book and pay for the tour from our website if you are booking via email, you must choose the best way to pay and make a deposit, for this hike the payment at least is 50%; There are 03 ways to pay: payments via “PayPal“, with debit or credit card Visa or Mastercard (these last two options have an 8% fee), or wire money by Western Union any extra commissions or fees charged must be assumed by the customer; when you send your information you have to specify the payment method you would like to use, then when we mail you back We will send you a request for payment through the platform you chose.

STEP 3: TOUR CONFIRMATION

If you make the reservation on our website the confirmation will be automatic, if you do via email, upon receipt of all passenger(S) data and once we received information of your payment, we will send you your receipt (VOUCHER OF RESERVATION), at this moment your reservation will be guaranteed 100%. (this will be sent at most in the next 8 hours, considering our business hours GMT – 5).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

1.- I am just one person, can I join some group tour?

Yes, you can, we have departures every day, feel free to decide when to go.

2.- We don’t like to go in a big group, can we arrange a private tour?

Yes, you can, in the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, our group tours go with 12 or 15 people, but if you want, you can also arrange a private tour, we have different rates for it depending on how many people you are.

3.- I will travel with my family, we have two 55 YO people, do you think, can they make it?

We had people on this trek of 60 and 65 YO, but they were in good shape to walk, they were well custom to walk, the difficulty is more for the altitude.

If that is the case of your family, everything will run normally. If you think they are not too fit to do it, we recommend taking a Private tour, that will be a perfect plan to do the tour quite easily and smoothly.

4.- We want to take the tour included Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, do we have enough time to do it on the same day tour of Machu Picchu?

Yes, On this tour you will sleep in Aguas Calientes (Town of Machu Picchu) so you can take some of the first busses, the park opens at 6:00 am. Suppose that you will get in at 7:00 am.

First, you can climb the Mountain (2 or 3 and 1/2 hours hike) until 10:30 am. Then, you can go out to use the restroom or eat something and rest, then you can start the guided tour around the citadel (Around 2 hours) until 14:00 hrs.

Then you will have free time to continue exploring on your own, the park is open until 5 pm. You will have like 10 hours to be there, the train departure to return is at 19:00 hrs.

5.- How about my luggage, I know I can’t take all my stuff?, where can I store it?

All stuff you will not use on the trek can be store at your hotel, all accommodations in Cusco have storage, so if you book the night when you can back from Machu Picchu, you can leave there.

Also, if you want you can leave your stuff in our office, for that you can write to our email.

6.- How about the altitude, Are going to pass by other places higher than Cusco?

Cusco city is located in 3350 masl. (10990 Ft.), on this trek on 1st and 2nd day you will pass by higher places like Humantay (4200 m. / 13780 ft.) and Salkantay Pass (4630 m. / 15190 ft).

Then all the rest is lower altitude than Cusco, Aguas Calientes 2050 masl. Machu Picchu is located in 2450 masl (8038 Ft.).

We always recommend having at least one or 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize; altitude sickness is very different for everyone, sometimes you don’t have any problem.

A NICE TOUR WITH INKA TIME

We booked the Machu Picchu tour with them and on the first day we arrived in Cusco, we went to their office we asked them what to do and they gave us this option, the truth is highly recommended, the guide Rafael was excellent, very professional and knows a lot about its history, we stayed very satisfied, same with the Machu Picchu tour which was excellent from start to finish.

“

Rocio Velez

Chile

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US$ 319.00

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WHY BOOK WITH US?

We make a direct job for the passenger (Contract between the tour operator and travelers), no intermediaries, we don’t give commissions to travel agencies or any other third parties that inflate the costs.
All our staff is 100% local (people from Cusco), all professionals in tourism, who have constant training courses and good customer service (Customer = friend), with this we guarantee the service we provide.
We are really a Tour Operator with all the permits and certificates granted by the Provincial Municipality of Cusco and the Minister of Tourism (DIRCETUR y MINCETUR).
We have 17 years experience in this market, so, we know all the fails of other companies, this is why we have the knowledge to solve fast and efficiently any unexpected problems (those small details are our different).

Our Customers are the best guarantee, look at what people say about INKA TIME.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Don’t hesitate to book with this company; 1000% helpful & professional

I booked my Machu Picchu trip with Inka Time 1 month before my vacation to Peru in May 2023. I had many questions about the process, and they were available … read more

Char J
05/17/2023
A group of 13 and I had the most amazing time with Inka Time! They transported us safely to each destination and made sure we were all accounted for. Our driver, Anderson, was very safe and caring. We learned so much at each destination from our tour guide… read more

804oliviak
5/16/2023
As a female solo traveler safety is very important! These guys made me feel safe from beginning until The end! Thank you for helping me see the beautiful cusco!… read more

arlenig2019
5/08/2023
Going to Cusco for the first time can be overwhelming with so many things to do in just a week. However, thanks to Elizabeth, our agent at Inka Time Tours, scheduling was on point and everyone was so helpful and patient. We were welcomed with open arms … read more

Trail28797205294
4/08/2023
We booked a 4-day tour package with Inka Time and had an amazing time. They were super responsive to our inquiries and prepared a package that fitted our needs. They made sure we were well taken care of and provided all the necessary information…. read more

chandreyig2023
4/07/2023
We had booked this tour thinking we would be with 16 other people, which we were for the rainbow mountain portion (and many more that were with other tour groups), however no one else had signed up for Red Valley…. read more

lisatre720
3/23/2023
Booked our sacred valley one day tour through Inka Time and had a very pleasant experience booking the trip and then a wonderful trip itself. Found the information about the tour on their easy to access and use website and then went to visit them in person … read more

Martin C
02/10/2023
Wow! I am so glad we made it! When I say I’m glad we made it, it’s because Machu Picchu was closed due to protests until 2 days before we had our visit planned. So happy everything worked out! Machu Picchu itself is unreal … read more

maryy_salas
3/04/2023
We have done three different activities with Inka Times and we highly recommend booking with them!! Grimaldo walked us through the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley and he showed lots of dedication and support towards the group, helping some… read more

Francisco N
11/11/2022
We booked a two day tour to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu through Inka Time and had a fantastic experience. They were so well organised, easy to communicate with, and took all the hassle out of our travel for us. We joined… read more

Laura D
1/08/2022