Salkantay Trek 4 days (Short Salkantay Trek) is the best alternative hike to Machu Picchu. The trail reaches Salkantay pass (4,615mt), the highest point of the route. It is a millenarian Andean ritual to honor the imposing snowy mountain using coca leaves to wish us good luck on our trip to Machupicchu. The paramo ecosystem down the pass is littered with huge stones spread out all over the area with scarce vegetation of straw, shrubs, moss, lichen, etc. Small rodents like chinchillas inhabit this area, usually seen jumping over the rocks, Andean gull, Andean goose, and Andean flicker salute your passing. The local's farm different varieties of tubers, especially potatoes of different varieties, and also horses and mules used as pack animals. In the following days, the ecosystem changes radically to subtropical with lush vegetation, food crops, fruit trees, and rising temperature. Finally, the Salkantay Trek 4 days trail reaches the Inca sanctuary of Machu Picchu and brings you back in time to the Incas' days which makes you feel spiritually enlightened.
Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities.
Difficulty Hike: 4 Demanding.
Age Requirements: 12+
Crew: A Salkantay Trek Machu representative in Cusco and a professional Tour Guide, Cook, and a Horseman with horses.
Accommodation: 2x Campsite, 1x Hotel.
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 3x afternoon hot drinks
Transportation: Private transportation, train ticket return to Cusco.
Camping Equipment: A double tent, Inflatable sleeping roll mattress, feather sleeping bag (-5 grade), a pair of hiking poles, inflatable pillow camping, and others (More details, please check the section Included).
Day 01: Cusco - Soraypampa - Salkantay Mountain - Chaullay Campsite
Day 02: Chaullay - Lluscamayo - La Playa-Aobamba
Day 03: La Playa-Aobamba - Llactapata Inca site - Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
Day 04: Hike to Machu Picchu - Cusco
Please note! We DO NOT permit the exploitation of horses/mules!! Our horses/mules can carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!!
Salkantay trek Machu picks you up early in the morning from your hotel between 04:15am and 04:45am for the bus journey to Mollepata at 5am, upon arriving , you will enjoy breakfast. Afterwards you will rejoin the bus trip to Soraypampa (trailhead). The trail gradually slopes up to Salkantay pass(4,600mt) from the head of the valley offfering striking views of the mountains. From the pass,you will have a stunnig close view of Salkantay. Then, the trail slopes down to lunch spot in Wayraccmachay. After a well deserved rest, the trail continues down the valley with increasingly lush vegetation towards our first campsite named Chaullay.
After breakfast you will hike from Chaullay to Playa Sahuayaco. As you hike through this valley, you will enjoy the lush biodiversity and observe food crops such as corn and potatoes growing on the steep slopes, along with passion fruit fields cultivated on the flats. The trail is lined with bamboo fronds, adding to the scenic beauty. Lunch will be served in La Playa, a large town on the banks of the Salkantay River.
After lunch, you will take a bus from Playa to Santa Teresa, where you will spend the night camping. You also have the option to visit the Colcaymayo Hot Springs (S/15 extra), where you can relax after the challenging Salkantay trek. Dinner will be served at the campsite and you will say goodbye to our trekking cook, who will return to Cusco by local train from Hidroelectrica.
On this day, we will get up early to enjoy a hearty breakfast. Then we will begin our hike, appreciating the variety of coca plants - considered the sacred leaf of our ancestors - currently cultivated in this tropical zone. Along the way, you will also observe coffee and bananas plants and enjoy views of the Urubamba River that flows through the valley.
For those who wish to enhance their experience, you can add the optional zipline activity in Santa Teresa. Afterwards, we will continue the hike to Hidroelectrica, where we will have lunch at a local restaurant. The trip continues with a 3-hour hike from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night in a hostel.
Zipline in Santa Teresa at an additional cost of US$40.
Early morning trek to Machu Picchu
Early in the morning, at 4:30 a.m., our guide will meet you to start the trek after breakfast to the lost citadel of the Incas - "Machu Picchu". The trek, you will take a shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and the guided tour of Machu Picchu lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on the tour you book. The guide will take you to the most important and fascinating sites of this archaeological wonder.
After the tour you can choose to climb either the Wayna Picchu mountain or the Machu Picchu mountain (both are optional and must be booked in advance at an additional cost).
In the afternoon we will return to the city of Aguas Calientes. return train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco.
Our guide visits your hotel to brief you about the Salkantay Trek of 4 days to Machu Picchu. S/he also gives you a duffel bag for your personal belongings.
Please note: For this reason, it is very important to let us know where you stay in Cusco!
Our experienced bilingual Tour Guides all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. They are fun yet professional and will ensure you are safe and happy.
Please note: A group of up to 8 participants receives 1 Tour Guide while a group of over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides.
Campsite: 2 Nights
Hotel in Machu Picchu Town: 1 Night
Our tents are of the brand Eureka Mountain designated for 4 seasons. We provide 3-person capacity tents; however, they serve to accommodate only 2 participants. In this way, we provide you with more space and comfort. In case you are a solo traveller, we give you a 2-person capacity tent.
A comfortable and clean hostel room in Aguas Calientes (just below Machu Picchu) has a private bathroom and hot water. You can choose from a double or matrimonial room. Alternatively a single room for a surcharge.
Excepting the above mentioned personal tents of the Eureka brand, you can count on the following personal camping equipment:
We provide an inflatable mattress of the brand Therm-A-Rest. The mattress is 3 cm high and ensures you sufficient isolation from the cold earth! It gives you extra comfort during the Salkantay hike.
We use only feather sleeping bags that suit up to -16°C! It means you do not need to worry about cold as temperatures at night do not fall below 0°C!
Tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, a dining tent, a bottled gas and a toilet tent.
All entrance fees are at Salkantay and Machu Picchu are included!
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner, 2x afternoon hot beverages, and a snack every morning.
Our Salkantay Trek Machu Cook prepares delicious meals that many previous trekkers have appreciated a lot! Meals are usually served as a buffet. If you are a vegetarian or have any diet restriction, our Cook prepares special food for you. For this reason, please advise us well in advance! A vegetarian meal is for no extra cost!
Excluding the first 4 hours of this Salkantay 4 day trek, when you need to bring your own water, we supply you with water. The water is boiled, filtered, and then cooled, before distributing. You need to bring your own water bottles (we recommend 3-litre capacity) for this purpose as our Cook refills your bottle during each meal.
Our horses/mules carry all camping equipment during the Salkantay Trek of 4 days plus up to 7 kg of your personal belonging (including a sleeping bag).
Horseman/Muleteer is responsible to lead the horses/mules.
Please note! We DO NOT permit exploitation of horses/mules!! Our horses/mules can carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!!
There are two train companies that operate the route between Cusco and Aguas Calientes: IncaRail and PeruRail. So you can choose from two times for your return train from Aguas Calientes:
- 2:55 pm
- 7:00 pm
Important Note: During the high tourist season (June to September), it is very important to let us know well in advance about your preference since tickets sell out quickly.
A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town.
Day 1: Early morning transfer by private bus from Cusco to Mollepata - the initial point of the Salkantay hike.
Day 4: The train service finishes at the railway station of Ollantaytambo, where our driver awaits us to take us on the private vehicle back to Cusco City.
Our guide has been trained in providing first aid. S/he always carries a first-aid kit for basic medical problems (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and a bottle of oxygen in case of emergency so you do not need to be worried about the health.
Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!
Meal budget: Please allow USD 20-30 for meals not included.
Many people include Cusco Peru in their “Things to Do” list. The main reason is they would like to trek the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. But it is a pity that they do not know there are various authentic Inca Trails Trips to Machu Picchu in the Cusco Region. The difference lies in what kind of experience you like, whether hiking in the mountains, enjoying subtropical areas, visiting Inca sites; or how difficult your trek would like to be.
Usually, the Inca Trail needs to book many months beforehand. However, if it is fully booked, we suggest other excellent alternatives to reach Machu Picchu:
The Salkantay Trek is an epic 5-day trek that takes you from the city of Cusco to the impressive Citadel of Machu Picchu. Crossing impressive landscapes, including the snow-capped Salkantay, the second highest peak in Cusco; Likewise, this trek offers you a unique experience, taking a look at the beauty and diversity of Peru. The walk is done in one direction, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and the return is by train.
The Salkantay Trek is offered in two modalities: private or group.
The group size is usually small and mostly people of the same nationality and age range are grouped together as much as possible. Likewise, experienced guides, pack horses and muleteers will accompany you to guarantee your safety and comfort throughout the journey.
The Salkantay Trek takes place during the dry season, which runs from April to September, when weather conditions are favorable for this long trek. What's more, during these months, departures are available every day of the week, including holidays.
No, the "local" train that goes from Cusco to Aguas Calientes is reserved exclusively for Peruvian residents who present an identification document. Tourists cannot use it.
It is not recommended to do it alone. The route traverses challenging mountainous terrain and requires hiking experience and trail knowledge. It is essential to have certified expert guides who provide you with safety, assistance and local knowledge during the hike.
Most hotels, hostels or guest houses where you stay during the trek can store your luggage for free. You can also choose to leave it at our agency the day before the start of the trek.
Yes, ethical trading is a fundamental pillar of our philosophy. We are committed to respecting our employees, especially porters, by offering them fair working conditions and decent wages. In addition, we promote sustainable practices to protect the environment during the trek, such as waste classification, the use of biodegradable portable toilets and the correct final disposal of garbage.
We choose to work with trusted carriers who share our values ??and principles, thus ensuring a responsible and ethical experience for everyone involved.
It is very important to take some EXTRA MONEY. You should take at least 200-300 Soles with you in case of urgency/need. You might need, for instance:
Generally speaking, you should pack as lightly as possible! The horses carry your luggage from Soraypampa (1st day) to La Playa camping (3rd day). On the 4th day, your chef takes your luggage by bus to Hidrolectrica. From there to Aguas Calientes, you are expected to carry your own luggage (2-3 hours). We advise keeping the weight under 7 kg/14lb. You need to carry clothes as well as a sleeping bag. It is also advisable to take a cover of your backpack because the weather on the Salkantay Trek of 4 days to Machu Picchu might change very quickly. If you do not have it, we recommended you to put your clothes and sleeping bag inside the plastic bag.
