The Salkantay trail to Inca Trail is one of the most complete hiking to Machu Picchu. Involves 7 days hike to Salkantay Mountain and Classic Inca Trail Trek. On the way, you will see how dramatically the microclimates change from plateaus to high snowy peaks to lush tropical areas. Have your camera at ready to capture the incredible views! This trek is more challenging than the classic Inca trail and is designed for the experienced hiker who wants to try something new and less common. The first part of the trip uses horses and the second porters, due to strict Inca trail regulations. We provide you with top-quality camping equipment and a balanced diet to give you all the energy you need, we have thought of everything, so you can just enjoy the trek and have an unforgettable experience.
Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities.
Difficulty Hike: 4 Difficulty.
Age Requirements: 12+
Group Available: Min: 2 - Max: 8
Crew: A Salkantay Trek Machu Representative in Cusco and a professional Tour Guide, a Cook, a Horseman, and Porters for the Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail.
Accommodation: Campsites (6 nights).
Meals: 6x breakfast, 6x lunch, 6x dinner, 6x afternoon tea.
Transportation: Transportation by private van, 1x train.
Camping equipment: You can view our camping equipment here!
Day 01: Cusco - Sayllapata
Day 02: Sayllapata - Salkantay Pampa
Day 03: Salkantay Pampa - Pampacahuarina
Day 04: Pampacahuarina - Llullucha Pampa
Day 05: Llucha Pampa - Chaquicocha
Day 06: Chaquicocha - Wiñayhuayna
Day 07: Wiñayhuayna - Machu Picchu
We will pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am. and travel by bus to the city of Mollepata. On the way, we will pass through the picturesque villages of Anta (Izcuchaca, Zurite and Ancahuasi). Our trip will take us to the Valley of Limatambo, and then to Mollepata, where we will begin our adventure trip. In Mollepata, we will complete the arrangements for our hike and then walk to our first camp in Soraypampa.
Estimated trekking time: 7 hours
Trekking distance: 14 km
Max. elevation: 3,600 m (10,200 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,803 m (9,196 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
We will walk to Salkantay Pampa,our campsite of the second day there we will see the majestic Salkantay, and remember that we will visit the majestic of Humantay Lagoon at Humantay Mountain sacred mountain crowned with snow-capped peaks and in whose skirts we will camp (4,000 meters / 13,123 feet above sea level).
Estimated trekking time: 6 hours
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 4,100 m (13,451 ft)
Min. elevation: 3,600 m (10,200 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Today, we leave the main route of the Salkantay Trek to change for the route of Inca Trail. We will pass to through a beautiful valley where we will appreciate native flowers and animals and very amazing panoramic views of Salkantay Mountain. Also you will visit local villages as Quesqa and Paucarcancha.
.Then, we will ascend to the Incachiriaska Pass (Frozen Inca Pass; 5,100 m/16,700 ft), the highest point on the entire trek. If we are so lucky we can see a variety of viscachas (chinchillas) and white-tailed deer and hopefully some rare animals such as a condor, guanaco and vicuña! Finally , we start descending to the Cusichaca Valley until the small village of Pampacawana (4,000 m/13,123 ft), a place where we can appreciate old Incan channels! We set a next campsite nearby and after dinner, we go to sleep.
Estimated trekking time: 7 hours
Trekking distance: 14 km
Max. elevation: 5,100 m/16,700 ft
Min. elevation: 4,000 m/13,123 ft
Difficulty: Difficult
We will begin to walk towards Paucarcancha, and then descend to Cusichaca in the valley of Llulluchapampa also known as Inkaracay, camp.
Estimated trekking time: 7 hours
Trekking distance: 13 km
Max. elevation: 3,855 m/12,650 ft
Min. elevation: 3,000 m/9,842 ft
Difficulty: Difficult
We will wake up very early to take breakfast, you start ascending towards the highest point of the trail - Abra Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman´s Pass) at 4,200 metres passing through the cloud forests of Yunkachimpa and Corral Punku offering excellent views of surrounding snowcapped peaks. From Warmiwañusqa, we will start to descend to the Pacaymayo Valley (3,300 m), where you have a lunch break. Then we will continue hiking through the valley to the Inca's ruins of Runkuracay where a guided tour follows. Remember that we will visit Yanacocha Lake. In the end, we get to our second campsite Chaquicocha (3,670 m).
Estimated trekking time: 7-8 hours
Trekking distance: 12 km
Max. elevation: 4,200 m (12,630 ft)
Min. elevation: 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
Difficulty: Challenging
Today, we start hiking passing through lovely subtropical vegetation and many important archaeological sites. Before we reach the first site, we get over Phuyupatamarca Pass (3,670 m) and just behind it, we can see the Phuyupatamarca Incan complex (3,600 m), one of the best preserved and most completed sites of the trek. The complex is located on the top of a mountain and it corresponds with its Quechuan name that means the "Town above the Clouds". After a guided tour, we have lunch there. Then, we start a steep descent via a cloud forest offering an opportunity to see beautiful orchids and different bird species on the way to our last campsite at Wiñay Wayna (2,700 m). There we have a guided tour of the same-named impressive archaeological complex consisting of a religious sector, urban sector and an agricultural center with lots of stepped terraces. Afterwards, we are served dinner and then we go to sleep to get ready for the "icing on the cake" of the trail - Machu Picchu!!
Estimated trekking time: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 10 km
Max. elevation: 3,670 m (12,040 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Early morning of the last day, we climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to see the sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu!! Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit of the so called "Lost City of the Incas"!! Afterwards, you have an opportunity to climb the peak of Wayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu!! In the afternoon, you descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
Trekking distance: 4 km
Max. elevation: 2,700 m (8,860 ft)
Min. elevation: 2,400 m (7,875 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Solo traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveler" option for this trek, you receive your own single tent for all nights.
Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!
Many people include Peru in their “Things to do” list before they depart the planet, the main reason being to Trek the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, although what most people don’t know is that there are various Inca Trails Trips to Machu Picchu to pick from in the Cusco region. The difference lies in what kind of an experience you want, hiking the Inca trail and how challenging you like your treks.
If you want to say that you’ve hiked the famous hike to Machu Picchu, then the Classic Inca Trail is for you. But usually you will need to book in advance, in case it is fully booked, we recommend other alternative treks:
We recommend that you bring a backpack with extra spaces and pockets. This should not weigh more than 45 litres (5 kilos).
You will be provided with a duffel bag that will be carried by our horsesand Porters. Porters and Horses are regulated to 5 kg per hiker and will not be permitted carry more. If you belongings are heavier than 5 kg you must pay USD 130 extra for the extra horses.
Duffle bags - Upon your return to Cusco, please leave the duffle bag at reception
Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, layered by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required in the first two campsites, warm coats can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machupicchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. Check our “What we recommend that you bring” list for further information
