Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: 4 Days, 3 Nights
Cusco, Peru
Trip Type: Multi-day Tours
Duration: 4 days
The Salkantay trek is the best alternative route to get to Machu Picchu, due to its open availability and the little traffic on the trail. You will enjoy the beautiful Andean nature during this 4-day trek.
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The Salkantay trek is the best alternative route to get to Machu Picchu, due to its open availability and the little traffic on the trail. You will enjoy the beautiful Andean nature during this 4-day trek.
Day 1: Cusco - Soraypampa - Wayraqmachay
You will begin travel by bus at 5am and stop at Mollepata for breakfast at 7am. After that you will continue by bus until getting to Soraypampa (3,850 meters) at 10am. Here, you will meet the horsemen immediately and will start walking to the first camp at Wayraqmachay. You'll get to the left side of Umantany Cold Mountain that is next to Salkantay Mountain and at about 1pm, you'll arrive to the highest point (Salkantay pass 4,670 meters above sea level). You'll have lunch at Huayrac Pampa and continue trekking down for about 4 hours to get Wayraqmachay (2,900 meters) where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Wayraqmachay - Chaullay - Winay Poqo
You’ll start trekking about 7am. While walking you’ll see the town called Collpapampa and Chaullay. On this part of the trek you’ll walk on a narrow trail on the mountainside, looking for some species of orchids, different kinds of plants, and some cornfields, fruit trees and a beautiful waterfall. You’ll continue until you arrive to Wiñay Poqo and spend the night.
Day 3: Winay Poqo - La Playa - Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes
You will start walking at 8am from Winay Poqo to a place called “La Playa” where you will take a bus to Santa Teresa town. In this place you can enjoy the thermal waters. Then, after crossing the bridge, you will walk about two more hours until you get to Machu Picchu's hydroelectric to have lunch. Then you will walk to Aguas Calientes where you will spend the night at a hotel.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
You’ll depart from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by bus at 6am. Once in Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the ruins which will last approximately 2 hours. You then have free time until to explore the site. You could climb to Wayna Picchu (optional) or walk around. Then, at around 1pm, you'll go by bus back to Aguas Calientes town where you’ll take the train to Poroy (expedition class) and arrive in Poroy at 8:23pm. From there, you'll take a bus back to Cusco and head back to your hotel.
You will begin travel by bus at 5am and stop at Mollepata for breakfast at 7am. After that you will continue by bus until getting to Soraypampa (3,850 meters) at 10am. Here, you will meet the horsemen immediately and will start walking to the first camp at Wayraqmachay. You'll get to the left side of Umantany Cold Mountain that is next to Salkantay Mountain and at about 1pm, you'll arrive to the highest point (Salkantay pass 4,670 meters above sea level). You'll have lunch at Huayrac Pampa and continue trekking down for about 4 hours to get Wayraqmachay (2,900 meters) where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Wayraqmachay - Chaullay - Winay Poqo
You’ll start trekking about 7am. While walking you’ll see the town called Collpapampa and Chaullay. On this part of the trek you’ll walk on a narrow trail on the mountainside, looking for some species of orchids, different kinds of plants, and some cornfields, fruit trees and a beautiful waterfall. You’ll continue until you arrive to Wiñay Poqo and spend the night.
Day 3: Winay Poqo - La Playa - Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes
You will start walking at 8am from Winay Poqo to a place called “La Playa” where you will take a bus to Santa Teresa town. In this place you can enjoy the thermal waters. Then, after crossing the bridge, you will walk about two more hours until you get to Machu Picchu's hydroelectric to have lunch. Then you will walk to Aguas Calientes where you will spend the night at a hotel.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
You’ll depart from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by bus at 6am. Once in Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the ruins which will last approximately 2 hours. You then have free time until to explore the site. You could climb to Wayna Picchu (optional) or walk around. Then, at around 1pm, you'll go by bus back to Aguas Calientes town where you’ll take the train to Poroy (expedition class) and arrive in Poroy at 8:23pm. From there, you'll take a bus back to Cusco and head back to your hotel.
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