Salkantay Trek Premium 5 Days: Spark your adventurous heart with the Primium service

You’ll be part of a group departing early today and will be picked up from your hotel around 4:00 a.m. You’ll ride in our comfortable transport, which includes blankets if you’d like to take a nap. Two hours later, we’ll make a short break in Mollepata for a refreshing breakfast. Afterward, we’ll head to Challacancha, where the trek begins.

You’ll then meet the cooks and muleteers, and we’ll check your luggage before we start the hike. We’ll begin with a moderate three-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m, 12,795 ft), where we’ll spend our first night. The second half of this section is fairly flat, with a gentle incline through a deep glacial valley. Most of the trail follows a restored Inca waterway, now used by local farmers. The total distance is approximately 7 km (4.35 mi).

Upon arrival in Soraypampa, you’ll spend the night at our exclusive Sky Camp. There, you can refresh yourselves after your first lunch in the mountains. After a rest, we’ll begin the hike to the spectacular Humantay Lagoon (4,200 m/13,780 ft).

This is a 3 km/1.86-mile round trip. It’s not far, but you’ll be able to rest at that altitude. Once at the lagoon, you’ll have time to relax amidst the breathtaking scenery. There aren’t many places in the Andes as magnificent as the turquoise waters shimmering against the Humantay Glacier. You’ll truly feel like you’re in a fairy tale.

We’ll return to camp, where you’ll enjoy a wonderful and well-deserved dinner and watch a beautiful sunset. I can’t even begin to describe the atmosphere of this place. Upon arrival, you’ll experience a moment of complete relaxation. Afterward, you can unwind in your igloo at Sky Camp. See the constellations under the stars, and you might even spot a comet—the glass roof will help you gaze up at the sky.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 8 km
• Highest Elevation: 3,800 m
• Campsite Elevation: 3.800 m
• Weather: Cold
• 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)

These morning activities begin with the first rays of sunlight upon waking; you’ll see Apu Salkantay while enjoying an energizing coca tea. Then, you’ll savor a healthy breakfast, followed by a 7 km (4-mile) hike, which takes approximately three hours to reach the summit of the circuit, the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). This ascent presents a significant challenge due to its winding route.

At the summit, participants will enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding valleys, along with coca tea and a sandwich, as well as the snow-capped Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,570 ft). This snow-capped peak is the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region and is revered as an Apu (mountain spirit) in the Inca Empire. Also located in the area are Humantoy, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo, which still stand. The descent then begins, covering 17 km (4.35 mi) to the lunch spot at Huayracmochay (13,850 m, 12,631 ft). This section features rocky and steep terrain and offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding valley.

After a nutritious lunch, visitors are introduced to the rainforest, known as a cloud forest. This section is 9.5 km (59 mi) long and takes approximately three and a half hours. Rainforest landscapes are also visible along the way, and the ecological transitions are spectacular as one approaches the Amazon rainforest and reaches the Andes. The landscape offers a variety of colors, exotic wildlife, native flora, and a warmer climate.

The day concludes with arrival at Collpopampa, where visitors will spend the night. A hearty meal is served to the group before they sleep at the exclusive Mountain Sky View Camp

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
• Hiking Distance: 21 km.
• Walk and Terrain: Walk on mostly steep trails and some open slopes.
• Accommodation: Overnight at Collpapampa camp site, Andean huts at 2,870 masl/9,414 ft.

Today we begin at 6:00 a.m. with hot tea and breakfast, and then we depart from the resort. We’ll hike through the Santa Teresa Valley to the cooler area of ​​La Playa. The trail is beautiful, with gentle downhill slopes that allow us to enjoy the lush rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and the fresh plantations of bananas, coffee, avocados, and more. Don’t leave Peru without looking for its national bird, the magnificent Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; you might just have a chance to see it.

Free time in La Playa will give you the opportunity to soak up the tropical atmosphere and visit a nearby organic coffee farm, a heavenly place of sacred coffee for all its devotees. It’s hard not to succumb to the aroma of fresh coffee that hangs in the air, even if coffee isn’t your thing. The main activity here is coffee cultivation, which is exported to the United States, Asia, and Europe. You’ll also have time to visit avocado and orange groves and learn more about local farming methods.

Then we’ll ride to Loreta Camp (2000 m / 6562 ft), where the Super Jungle Domes will welcome us with a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll relax in the Cocalmayo hot springs, the perfect way to refresh after several days of trekking. Enjoy a soothing soak with warm mint oils and unwind in the calm and tranquility. Afterward, we’ll return to camp, sleep, and listen to nature, reconnecting with Mother Earth.

• Hiking Distance: 16 km
• Hiking Time: Approximately 5 hours
• Walk and Terrain: Walk on narrow trails
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast and then embark on a hike along one of the legendary sites of the Inca Trail. Three hours later, after ascending to the summit of Machu Picchu, we’ll arrive at Llactapata (2700 m / 8858 ft), an Inca archaeological site located directly across from Machu Picchu. The first Inca complex on the trail is called Llactapata; we’ll uncover its secrets and its legendary location. Here, you’ll catch glimpses of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. We’ll explain the historical facts, as our guide will share the story and take photos to show off back home.

Then, we’ll descend for approximately an hour and a half, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Machu Picchu citadel along the way to cap off this exhilarating morning. We’ll have lunch in Aobamba and continue for another half hour to Hidroeléctrica (1800 m / 5906 ft). Among the most interesting attractions here is a 250-meter-high artificial waterfall that feeds Cusco.

Once in Hidroeléctrica, we’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes and enjoy spectacular views. We’ll have lunch at one of the excellent restaurants in the small town and spend the night in a hotel.

Note: The Lactapata trail is not 100% safe during the rainy season and, for added safety, can become extremely dangerous in case of heavy rain.

• Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
• Hiking Level: Moderate to challenging.
• Accommodation: Overnight in Aguas Calientes at 1,900 masl/6,232 ft.

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 3 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 afternoo,n board the train to Ollantaytambo tow,n 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: 3,360 masl/11,021 ft.