As you already know, it is no mystery that the favorite circuit to reach Machu Picchu is the Inca Trail, which attracts thousands of visitors each year due to the combination of wonderful landscapes and spectacular ruins.
However, there is another hidden path, which reveals an unknown face of the area, winding its way through mountains, snow-capped peaks, and lagoons. Salkantay promises to take you through incredible landscapes and allow you to connect with the nature of the sacred mountains. Meanwhile, the National Park of Manu offers one of the best circuits for nature tourism.
Considered one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, this destination allows you to experience an intimate connection with nature in its most primitive and wild state.
The adventure begins with an early pickup between 3:15 and 3:45 am from your accommodation, departing at 4:00 am on a private bus towards Mollepata, a small village at an altitude of 2,850m. The journey offers stunning views of the snow-capped Salkantay mountain range, which rises between 4,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.
We’ll arrive in Mollepata around 7:00 am, where you can enjoy breakfast (optional) while taking in the magnificent views. Afterward, we’ll begin the hike, which will take approximately 7-8 hours, passing through lush jungle vegetation. We’ll stop for lunch along the way before reaching Soraypampa, our campsite for the night.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum Altitude: 2,677 m.a.s.l. (Mollepata) | Maximum Altitude: 3,900 m.a.s.l. (Soraypampa)
Distance: 16 km approx.
The second day is the longest of the trek. After breakfast, we’ll start with a moderate ascent for about two hours until we reach the Salkantay Pass (4,600 m / 9800 ft), where we’ll leave a small gift for the mountains and take a group photo with the snow-capped Salkantay mountain in the background.
We’ll then descend for two hours to the lunch spot at Huayracmachay. After a short break, we’ll continue our descent into the jungle, arriving at Chaullay by the end of the day to camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4,630 m.a.s.l. (Salkantay Pass) | Minimum Altitude: 2,800 m.a.s.l. (Chaullay)
Distance: 22 km approx.
After breakfast at 6:30 am, we’ll continue through the high jungle, crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of small streams. Along the way, you’ll enjoy magnificent valleys, waterfalls, tropical plants, and fruits, including coca, the sacred leaf of the Inca Empire. The descent continues to Playa Sahuayaco and then to Santa Teresa, where we will camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 2,800 m.a.s.l. (Chaullay) | Minimum Altitude: 1,800 m.a.s.l. (Santa Teresa)
Distance: 16 km approx.
We begin our day in the tropical zone, surrounded by nature and history, with breakfast before continuing our journey to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Village). The hike will take approximately 7 hours, passing through the Hydroeléctrica (Hydroelectric Station) and stopping at scenic spots to enjoy waterfalls and stunning views. We will arrive in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a hostel located at the base of Machu Picchu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hostel in Aguas Calientes
Minimum Altitude: 1,800 m.a.s.l. (Santa Teresa) | Maximum Altitude: 2,040 m.a.s.l. (Aguas Calientes)
Distance: 16 km approx.
On the final day, we’ll wake up early around 4:30 am to ascend to the majestic Inca city of Machu Picchu. We will have a guided tour of the citadel for approximately two hours, before having free time to explore the site further. You may visit Huayna Picchu (optional), Inti Punku, the Temple of the Moon, or simply take in the beauty of the citadel again.
In the afternoon, we’ll return to Aguas Calientes and depending on the train schedule, we’ll travel back to Cusco. A train transfer to Ollantaytambo will then connect us to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
Minimum Altitude: 2,040 m.a.s.l. (Aguas Calientes) | Maximum Altitude: 2,430 m.a.s.l. (Machu Picchu)
Activity: Visit to Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
The pickup starts between 3:15 a.m. and 3:45 a.m.
The highest altitude reached on Day 1 is 3,900 meters (Soraypampa).
After reaching the Salcantay Pass, the primary activity is descending for two hours before having lunch at Huayracmachay.
On Day 3, the trek passes through the high jungle, crossing rivers and streams, and encountering waterfalls and tropical plants.
The total trekking distance on Day 4 is approximately 16 kilometers.
On Day 5, visitors can choose to visit Huayna Picchu (for an additional fee), Inti Punku, or the Temple of the Moon.
The Salkantay Trek was one of the most challenging yet rewarding adventures I’ve ever done. The scenery was breathtaking, from snow-capped peaks to lush jungle landscapes. The trek is physically demanding, especially on the first day, but the reward of reaching Machu Picchu at the end made it all worth it. The guides were knowledgeable and kept the group motivated, and the campsites were well-organized. The food was surprisingly good for a trek of this kind. If you’re looking for an adventurous way to reach Machu Picchu, the Salkantay Trek is the way to go.
Le trek du Salkantay a été l’une des aventures les plus difficiles et les plus enrichissantes que j’aie jamais faites. Les paysages étaient à couper le souffle, des sommets enneigés aux paysages de jungle luxuriante. Le trek est physiquement exigeant, surtout le premier jour, mais la récompense d’atteindre le Machu Picchu à la fin en valait la peine. Les guides étaient compétents et ont su motiver le groupe, et les emplacements de camping étaient bien organisés. La nourriture était étonnamment bonne pour un trek de ce type. Si vous cherchez une façon aventureuse d’atteindre le Machu Picchu, le trek du Salkantay est fait pour vous.
