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Short, 4-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Salkantay Trek
Cadí-Pedraforca
Nevado Maparaju
Vallunaraju
Nevado Maparaju

Reach Machu Picchu, Peru on the Salkantay trek. Departing from Cusco, spend 4 days in the Peruvian mountains with a local certified guide from our team.

Private

Andes

4 Days

All year

Fit

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Hike up to Machu Picchu through a different and less crowded path.
  • Enjoy the wonderful views of the Peruvian mountains.
  • Spend a night recharging at Aguas Calientes before Machu Picchu.

Description

For those of you looking for a hiking experience to reach the impressive Machu Picchu, Peru, let me invite you on a less crowded alternative: the Salkantay trek. With a path just as incredible as the Inca Trail, this one offers different types of landscapes, Andean communities and less people. Follow me!

The Salkantay trek offers some unique characteristics: a glass-topped Sky Camp where you can stargaze from your bed and enjoy views of the snow-capped Andean mountains, lakes, waterfalls and rivers. We’ll get to pass by some Andean communities and discover the local flora and fauna including, if we are lucky, the iconic”The Cock of the Rocks” bird. It is a 3-day hike to Aguas Calientes and a fourth day at the impressive Machu Picchu, the Inca city built in the 15th Century which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more information on the itinerary, you can read the section below with a more detailed description of what we’ll be doing each day.

If you are an adventurous hiker and are ready to explore a different path, send your request! The Andean mountains and Machu Picchu are waiting for you.

If you’d like to do a longer version of this trek, check out the options I offer for a 5-day trek and a 6-day trip.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transportation start and back

- Permit and entrance fees

- Group porters

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

Price details

Price includes train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and transport to your hotel afterwards. Price does not include entrance fee to Salkantay Trail, first breakfast, sleeping bags, walking sticks or last lunch and dinner at Aguas Calientes.


Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa (Humantay Lake)

We’ll leave early from Cusco and drive to Challancha, where the hiking begins. We’ll hike for 7 hours up to the camp at Soraypampa, where you’ll be able to do some unforgettable stargazing. Along the way, we’ll visit Humantay Lake, a stunning blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay.

Walking Distance – 12km / 7.45 miles.

Day 2: Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayracpunku - Chaullay

This is the most challenging day of the trip with an ascent to the Salkantay Pass, where we get dazzling views of the Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. On the way down, we’ll enter the beautiful Amazonian rainforest.

Walking Distance – 22 km / 13.7 miles.

Day 3: Chaullay - La Playa - Santa Teresa - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes

We’ll hike to the town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa Valley. Along the way, we’ll see  see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado. And you can taste passion fruit and granadilla. Once in La Playa, you can decide to take a train to Aguas Calientes (not included) or walk 3 more hours along the train tracks.

Walking Distance – 26km / 16.1 Miles.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

We’ll rise early in the morning to reach the archeological site before most tourists. I’ll give you a guided tour through the ruins and you can later explore by yourself and even ascend Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or Intipunku, if you want to.

 

About the guide

Peru Expeditions is a Guide Agency and Tour Operator based in Huaraz, Peru.

It's a family-owned travel agency, which was founded more than 35 years ago, and is now managed by IFMGA-guide Juventino and his son, Eric.

We organize trekkings and mountain expeditions in Cordillera Blanca, and all around Peru.

Languages

| English

Certificates

AGMP | IFMGA


What people are saying about Peru Expeditions

Bad Hetterscheid

5.00

September, 2022

William was such a knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient guide! He brought books and support materials to further explain the history of the sites we were seeing, was always ready with an answer to any questions, and had great suggestions of where to take photos. He chose a truly remarkable cook for our trek, who kept us well fed with a huge variety of foods (and an ample supply of it!) and filled with hot beverages at all hours of the day and night. He allowed us to set the pace each day, and was cheerful and helpful and relaxed throughout-he absolutely enhanced a wonderful experience! Many thanks to you, William!

Bad Hetterscheid

5.00

September, 2022

Eric from Peru Expeditions is a fabulous, safe, and conscientious Tour Operator. He chose an incredible guide for us (Darwin) who was highly esteemed by every guide we met at every point along the journey-the respect of one’s peers speaks for itself! We were very well supported, always had perfect timing with seeing sunrises, beating “the crowd” to our destinations, and had ample food. The Peruvian mountains are stunningly beautiful- I’m ready to go back again already! Book with Eric - he’s going to take good care of you.

Connor White

5.00

September, 2022

Great service and trip!

Johannes Besmehn

3.00

August, 2022

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Alexey Volegov

5.00

July, 2022

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Matt LAIRD

5.00

November, 2021

Our guide was William and he is the one that really made the trip great!

Juliusz Zulauf

5.00

September, 2021

It was really good climbing expedition. The company put good effort to accommodate our needs and requests. Lima Central Office support was outstanding. Edgar, our climbing guide was top notch. Supporting staff during the climb was very helpful and friendly as well. For my personal needs, some modification of an acclimatisation scheme would be beneficial. First week of the trip consisted of various day trips to destinations of increasing altitudes, but all nights were at Huaraz, at 3100 m altitude. For me, to be fully acclimatized I need to sleep at the altitude. My first night at the higher altitude was at Pisco refuge (4800 m) and resulted with mild altitude sickness preventing me from successful climbing the following day. I would prefer spending two nights at high altitude before first high climb. It might not be the case for some other people, but it was for me. If not for this, I would had awarded straight five stars.

Marcela Hronesova

2.00

July, 2021

Disappointed with the whole experience. Didn't climb with Juventino, never met him. Got a different guide. Booked Pisco and Chopicalcui as separate climbs with one day off in between to rest. Agency combined the climbs. They told me to of go from Pisco BC directly to Chopicalcui moraine camp. Got a different guide who didn't tell me that we'll get snowed in at moraine camp. Only found out about the snow once we reached Chopicalcui moraine camp. Spent the night there, next day had to go down. Disappointed rebooked my flight and left Peru. Waste of my time and money.

Marcela Hronesova

4.00

July, 2021

The agency gave me a guide Darwin, not Juventino. Climb was good, easy just walking. There is one dangerous section near the moraine area with very loose gravel. So make sure you don't slip there or you are dead. I stayed in refugio at the base camp which was much more comfy than camping. Darwin was good but give clients some breaks once in a while, not rush too much. It's a high altitude climbing after all.

Tony Hoffman

5.00

September, 2020

The hike was canceled. We didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t even get into the country.

Flormila Pineda Villanueva

5.00

May, 2020

My visit to Huaraz was one of the most beautiful trips of my life. Our days of adventure began with the visit of lagoons in the white mountain range; wilcacocha, churup, paron, lagoon 69 and we finish with the most beautiful Santa Cruz trek. Our trip was a complete success, during the stay in Huaraz we stayed at the ALPAMAYO GUEST HOUSE hotel, an excellent place in the center of Huaraz. I recommend Mr. Juventino to make his trip and his hotel the and if nice family People.

Koseth Saenz

5.00

May, 2020

He was very kind, patient and helped me to reach my goal the citadel of Machupicchu. One day I wanted to quit but he encouraged me to continue and waited for my step.

Pietro Garanzini

5.00

May, 2020

Our experience in Peru was an unforgettable journey, we started a journey in this country to visit Machu Picchu and the surroundings of Cusco as a sacred valley, etc. Afterwards, our next destination was to arrive in the beautiful land of Huaraz, where our main goal was the trekking of Santa Cruz and a not very difficult base climb and after the trekking of Huayhuash. We will be back next year with more customers, friends of our mountain club, thanks for everything and see you soon in Huaraz!

Michael W English

5.00

March, 2020

From the very first emails communication which was dealt with efficiently and provide all the required information and other options for myself to consider. When I arrived the communication was excellent and very well organised. When I return later this year I will without doubt be using Eric and the team. When we arrive at the start point to getting back the local guide was excellent. I have nothing but praise for the set up.

Wolfgang Gratz

5.00

September, 2019

We did the MTB-Huarascan-Circuit (Crossing Punta Olimpica Pass and Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass) with Eric Albinos „Peru Expedition“. All, the transfers, the hotel stays, the acclimatization tours and the circuit itself, was well organized. Eric and his staff were flexible to our wishes and very helpful. Our Guide Joni is an excellent mountain bike-guide and good tailor too if something is torn. The cook prepared delicious meals during the circuit. The camping equipment was in very good condition. We (Karin, Franz. Wolfgang) can fully recommend „Eric´s Peru Expeditions“.


 

 

 

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