If you are seeking for an alternative route to reach Machu Picchu in the most comfortable way and avoiding the crowds, then this trek is perfect for you! Let’s get in Touch!
Your hotel, in Cusco city.
Usually 1 or 2 days before to start the services, you will receive a trekking orientation with more details.
Since our inception, we have been providing the best, and we sum it up as follows:
The start of the 5-day Salkantay Trail Private Tour is in your hotel in Cusco. Enjoy your delicious breakfast and join your travel mates and your tour guide in a spacious van to Soraypampa town (12860.9 ft / 3920 m). This is the place to have the briefing before the hike starts. During the 3.5 hours of walk, your sight will be delighted by the amazing views of the snow-capped peaks such as the Salkantay (20574.2 ft / 6271 m) and the Humantay (19232.3 ft / 5862 m). Lunch will take place at Salkantaypampa (13628.6 ft / 4154 m).
Next, you will have about 150 minutes of a soft uphill path as the sun sets slowly. The campsite of Soroycocha (14698.2 ft / 4480 m) is the place to spend the night in your cozy tent and have dinner with your travel mates.
In case you want to visit the Humantay Lagoon, you must tell your tour guide in advance to take the detour (3 hours roundtrip approximately). A fast pace will help you to get together with the rest of the group once you decide to leave Humantay.
After a delicious breakfast and encouraging words from your tour guide, the most challenging day starts. First, a 1.5 hour hike to the Salkantay Pass (15216.5 ft / 4638 m). Then, as the temperature decreases, you must wear your warm clothes. Then your feet will be as high as the Salkantay Mountain itself. How about toasting with champagne for being such a wonderful hiking group?
At this place, a detour to one more lagoon is available. The roundtrip path to Salkantaycocha is one hour long. Back to the main route, vivid green vegetation will start to show at Wayracmachay (12814.9 ft / 3906 m) after 3.5 hours of hike. From this point flower lovers will delight with orchids and bromeliads as we go by Andenes and Chaullay. The campsite of Collpapampa (9416.0 ft / 2870 m) is the last stop of this day.
of the cloud forest. You will be fascinated discovering farming villages such as Wiñaypoco (8694.2 ft / 2650 m) and Lluscamayo (7939.6 ft / 2420 m). This experience will let you have a closer look at the lifestyle of producers and have a taste of really fresh bananas, cacao beans or passion fruit.
This tasteful experience precedes your arrival to the Playa Sahuayaco campsite. Foodies will have a surprise in the coffee plantation tour. As this is the last day with porters that support your comfort, why not sharing a toast with them?
After resting in your air bed, the real challenge waits for you. Starting with a 20-minutes ride in a private van up to Lucmabamba (6765.1 ft / 2062 m), an authentic portion of the Inca Trail is ready to amaze you. As you go at your own pace, you will visit the Llactapata archaeological site (8976.4 ft / 2736 m). How about listening to stories of the Incas next to the ruins? Lunch time will take place at the Llaqtapata Lodge Viewpoint (8431.8 ft / 2570 m) and later, the last 5 hour hike will feature splendid vegetation along the views of the Hydroelectric train station (5810.4 ft / 1771 m) and the vibrant Aguas Calientes town (6791.3 ft / 2070 m). This day ends in a deserved rest in a hotel.
Once the clock displays 7 am, you will have had your breakfast and will be transferred to the bus station to visit the citadel. This 30-minute ride is more than comfortable, featuring spacious seats, slow speed and stunning views of the valley.
Let your guide do paperwork and he will start the guided tour by the Machu Picchu citadel. You will be able to walk by the corridors and stairs ancient Peruvians used to, understand the theories about why it was built for and enjoy those unique scenarios. Once your visit ends, take your bus back to Aguas Calientes and be transferred back via train and private van to your hotel in Cusco, being the finish of your Salkantay Trail Private Tour.
