5 Day Salkantay to Machu Picchu Trek

The energy of the Andes is powerful. The Salkantay (meaning “wild” in Quechua) Trek is truly spectacular, with breathtaking views of Cusco second highest mountain.

Highlights

A spectacular trek full of breathtaking views of the second highest mountain in Cusco

Camp at the base of the Salkantay, taking in the energy of the sacred protector

An extreme walk that connects with the natural beauty of the Peruvian mountain range

Be in introduced to the mysteries of the Inca culture

What's Included

Inclusions

Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to the trailhead.
Healing Activity – Offering to mother earth or Blessing by an Andean Priest for protection during your trek.
Machu Picchu entrance fee
2-man personal sleeping tents. Our tents are 3-season and highly maintained to ensure excellent performance in field.
A Foam mattress per/person.
Dining tent with tables and stools.
Kitchen tent.
Toilet tent.
English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)
Chef and cooking equipment
Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
Accommodation for all our staff
Meals (4B, 4L, 4D + daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian menu and special diets can be catered for
Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested far enough in advance

Itinerary

Cusco – Soraypampa – Soyroccocha

After an early-morning pick you up from your hotel, we’ll leave Cusco and travel through the province of Anta, Cusco’s dairy region. Here we will stop to participate in an Andean Blessing ceremony. Following steep-sided river canyons, we descend into the rich and fertile valley of Limatambo before climbing again to the town of Mollepata, where we will stop for breakfast. We continue on to Soraypampa (3700m) where we meet our wranglers and pack animals and begin our trek. After an hour’s walk, our first stop will be Lake Umantay, where we will have lunch. This pretty lagoon provides mirror-like images of the surrounding mountains and is the perfect place for self-reflection. From here we continue across Salkantaypampa, just below glacial moraines, before starting a fairly steep section of switchbacks known as the “7 Vueltas,” or “7 Turns,” which will take us up to 4300m. From here the path is almost flat to Soyroccocha (4,400m / 14,435ft), where we will camp just below Mount Salkantay. This campsite offers spectacular views of the glacier and an unparalleled view of the southern sky (in clear weather) but is quite high and usually very cold.

Soraypampa - Salkantay - Huayracpampa - Chaullay

After an early breakfast, we will start the trek to Salkantay Pass (4600m). As you take in the panorama you will see not only Salkantay but also the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, Pumasillo, and the Huayracmachay valley. There is also the option to do some alpine scrambling and to visit a second glacial lagoon near the base of the Salkantay glacier. From the pass we start our descent into the valley. As we travel, the vegetation changes from the sparse grasses of the puna and mountain passes to lush cloud forest home to butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wide-variety of flora. After lunch we will veer away from the standard trekking route and head down to the river before climbing the ridge on the other side. From here we can look down on the Santa Teresa valley before taking an easy walk to our campsite at Collpapampa (2900 meters). Our camping equipment and food will be transported by pack horses.