Salkantay trek 3 days: The Challenge Adventure to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek begins in the early morning. Participants will be picked up from their accommodations in Cusco at 2:00 a.m. and transferred to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), the official starting point of the trek. The Soraypampa Valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, is an ideal gateway to the Andes and the Salkantay Trail.

The trek continues with another hour and a half of hiking to the unique Salkantay Pampa campsite, where you will enjoy views of the mountain landscape.

The trek culminates with the challenging ascent to Salkantay Pass (4,650 m), the high point of the journey, which offers one of the most breathtaking views of the Andes. At this altitude, you can contemplate Apu Salkantay (6,000 m), the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, where the presence of the Apus, sacred spirits of the Andes, is palpable.

After descending the pass in approximately two hours, participants will arrive at Wayracmachay, where they will enjoy a hearty and nutritious lunch. After replenishing their energy, they will descend for three hours through a lush cloud forest, a striking contrast between the Andean highlands and the verdant valleys with their waterfalls.

In the late afternoon, participants will arrive at Chaullay Camp (2900 m). They will be welcomed with hot tea and served a prepared dinner. As night falls, they will share personal experiences and contemplate the breathtaking starry sky outside their huts. Overnight stay: The overnight stay includes unique huts located at Chaullay Camp, surrounded by the natural environment and the sounds characteristic of Andean ecosystems.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 21 km
• Highest Elevation: 4,600 m
• Campsite Elevation: 2.900 m
• Weather: Cold and Warm
• Conditions: Rocky, dusty, and slippery (required: trekking shoes). Open roads, some steep ascending trails
• Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including a picnic lunch on the route)

Wake up in the Andes with coca tea

At 5:30 a.m., participants will be awakened with a hot cup of traditional coca tea, the perfect start to the next day of exploration on the three-day Salkantay Trek. After breakfast, we will begin our descent through the Santa Teresa Valley, a fertile area where the high Andes gradually give way to tropical cloud forest.

Hiking in the Santa Teresa Valley

During this stage of the trek, groups will admire rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, coffee plantations, banana trees, avocados, passion fruit, and various other exotic fruits. This section of the trail is considered one of the most scenic on the Salkantay Trek and offers the opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of both Andean and rainforest ecosystems.

Coffee Plantation Experience

During the journey, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a guided coffee tour, where local families will teach them about the cultivation, roasting, and preparation of organic coffee. This cultural experience allows participants to connect with the culture of the Santa Teresa Valley and enjoy some of the best coffee in Peru.

Lunch at Playa Sahuayaco and Two Options for Getting to Aguas Calientes

After arriving at Sahuayaco Playa town, we will have lunch and then use local transportation to go to Hidroeléctrica. At this point, participants can choose between two options:

Train to Aguas Calientes: If you feel tired, you can travel by train, at an additional cost of $39.00 USD.

Hike to Aguas Calientes: If you have enough energy, you can take a three-hour hike along the old train tracks, a scenic trail along the river, and Machu Picchu Mountain.

Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes

To relax, participants can visit the famous hot springs (optional) upon arrival in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The second night will be spent at either the Pukara Machu Picchu or the Palace Hotel, both 3-star hotels, both comfortable with private bathrooms, hot showers, Wi-Fi, luggage service, and a prepared breakfast, ready for the next excursion to Machu Picchu.

• Hiking Distance: 20 km
• Hiking Time: Approximately 7 hours
• Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails and train tracks
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

You will need to start off right: breakfast (5:00 a.m.) at the hotel. Then, you will board the bus that goes up to Machu Picchu, which will take approximately 25 minutes to arrive (the gate opens at 6:00 a.m.) Once there, we will have to show our passports, and depending on the circuit, they will give us some necklaces (The best circuit is the 2nd, for this, you have to book 4 months in advance).

We will go to the top, there are 4 platforms where you can take classic photos with the view of Huayna Picchu Mountain, once on the last platform the guide will give an introduction about Machu Picchu and then we will visit the most important places in Machu Picchu such as the Stone Quarry, the Temple of the Sun, the Main Square, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Inca Compass, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, the Inca Terraces, Food Stores this is the second circuit and the best.

After touring Machu Picchu, you will have to board the bus to Aguas Calientes town and have lunch (not included) in the afternoon, board the train to Ollantaytambo town, and then take the bus to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Distance: 6 km/3.7mls
• Difficulty: Easy
• Returning to Cusco: 3,000 masl/11,021 ft.