The Salkantay Trekking is a popular and challenging hiking route that leads to Machu Picchu in 4 or 5 days. It is considered one of the best alternatives to the Inca Trail and goes through a great diversity of landscapes, from snow-capped peaks in the Andes to the tropical jungle.
From Cusco very early in the morning at 5.00am.we will go by bus to MOLLEPATA (this the beginning of the trek) it takes around 3 hours, when we get here we have our first breakfast and arrange our horses, afterwards we walk up for around 3 more hours to CRUZ PATA Where we have lunch, after the lunch we will have one hour to take a rest and theN we start walking to SORAYPAMPA (3.850 M.A..S.L) in this part of the trail, we are going to see in front of us, the first HUMANTAY snow capped mountain. After we will get to see in front first campsite at 5:30 pm where our porters will be waiting with some hot tea. And later we are going to eat our dinner (the first campsite is the coldest).
After having a good breakfast and leaving at 6:30am. Here We have to climb up for four hours to the first pass of SALKANTAY mountain. Which is over 4.540 m.a.s.l. here on the top of this Salkantay mountain (highest point). We stop for around 25 minutes to take group pictures, because from here, we will have great views of range of the mountains and we will find some heaps of stones (Apachayta) around this pass. After this, We are going dawn for 4 hours through a nice trail to Chaullay, which is over lower than first campsite 2.900 m.a.s.l where we have our tea time and dinner.
We leave from Chaullay early as well after our breakfast at 7.00 am we will pass through COLLCAPAMPA. In this part of the trek we will walk on a narrow trail on the mountainside, crossing some species of orchids and different kinds of plants, and some cornfields, fruit fields and we have opportunity to see the most beautiful waterfall on the trail. After walking for 5 hours. Finally we will get to LA PLAYA place, which take a small truck to go SANTA TERESA town is over 1.645m.s.a.l it is going to be just 45 minutes by truck and we will get to SANTA TERESA around 1:00 pm to set up our tents here We can go to the medicinal hot springs waters which is only 45 minutes from Santa Teresa town.
We get up at 7.00 in the morning and after breakfast we start walking for around 2 hours to get the Urubamba river where we will use the bridge for cross the river . After we keep going for 2 more hours to a hydroelectric power station which is also a small village and the train station for this part of the trail. Here we can see many kinds of fruits, tree and plants. Finally we arrive at the last place of our things ready and around 3:00pm we will take the local train to Aguas Calientes ( 1 hour) where we spend the night in a hotel.
We have to get up very early in the morning at 5:30 am to have breakfast and then take the first bus to the Archeological Site of Machu Picchu, When we get to Machu Picchu The tour guide is going to explain the meanings , importance and story of Machu Picchu while we walk around the city and visit the most important places of Machu Picchu for around 2 hours. After the explanation you the option for climbing up to the Huayna Picchu Mountain, enjoying all of Machu Picchu. After you can take a bus to Aguas Calientes and then we coach the train back to Cusco during 4 hours getting to Cusco 8:20 pm. approximately. End of ours services.