The Salkantay Trek is the number one alternative to the Inca Trail. With high snow-capped mountains, lowland jungle and a visit to the Inca site of Llactapata the trek offers a perfect mix of trekking, culture and nature. With fewer people on the route the Salkantay Trek allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the Andes without any of the distractions you find on the Inca Trail.

We work with an excellent partner in Cusco with skilled mountain guides and comfortable service. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover some of Peru`s unique mountain cultures!

Intinerary/ Day-to-day:

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa
Today’s trek begins at the small village of Mollepata high above the Rio Blanco Valley. Following a wide, well established track we will gently make our way up the side of the valley covering a distance of about 16km /9.9 miles and climbing 1200 meters /3937 feet. The views throughout the day are fantastic, all around us are verdant green mountains, along the path are a wide variety of native plants and flowers with birds flitting in and out and towards the end of the day we’ll see the snow-capped peaks of Humantay and Salkantay (the Savage) looming high above us.
Our campsite for tonight is at Soraypampa (4000 meters / 12750 feet), the nights can get pretty chilly here so it’s a good idea to put on your hat and gloves before you go to sleep.

Day 2: Soraypampa – Colcapampa
Today is the longest and hardest day of the trek but also the most beautiful. The scenery throughout the day goes from one extreme to another; starting from the high Puna covered in Ichu grass we make our way up and over Salkantay pass where everything is rock and ice and then descend the far side down to the warm and lush cloud forest below. Along the way we’ll see a variety of wildlife from the small finches that scrape by at the higher altitudes to hummingbirds and toucans in the cloud forest, there is also a chance to see Andean Fox, White Tailed Deer and Viscacha (rabbit-like Chinchillas).
Our campsite for tonight is at Colpapampa (2900 meters / 9514 feet), it is recommended you put on insect repellant from this point on as the mosquitoes in the area have a nasty bite.

Day 3: Colpapampa – La Playa
Our destination today is the village of La Playa about 12km down the valley from Colpapampa. Our route takes us along the Lluskamayo River through an area that is teeming with life and that has various coffee and fruit plantations. The scenery in this area is not as stunning as the previous day but the warmth and lush vegetation are a welcome respite from the high mountains we’ve left behind.
Tonight we will stay at the village of La Playa (2400 meters / 7874 feet) which is well connected and there are plenty of places where you can buy snacks and refreshments, you can also try some of the locally grown coffee. If you are interested there is the option to visit some hot springs that are close by, let your guide know in advance so that he can organise this for you.

Day 4: La Playa – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
Today is the final stretch of the trek before we reach Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. The main focus of today is a visit to the Inca site of Llactapata sat on the mountainside high above. Following an original Inca Trail we’ll arrive to Llactapata by early to mid morning and can enjoy the fantastic views of Machu Picchu that we get from here.
After a tour of Llactapata in which we’ll learn about the Inca people and their culture we’ll head back down the mountainside to the Hydroelectric Station from where we’ll catch our train to Aguas Calientes.

Day 5: Machu Picchu!
Waking up early we’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After your tour you’ll have free time to explore the site by yourself and if you have permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.

Overall difficulty: difficult

Price: on demand
What`s included: guiding service, porters, chef, mules for camping and cooking material & 7 kg of your luggage, transportation, comfort tents, matresses, entrances, food & water, 3-star hotel for last night.
What`s not included: sleeping bag, breakfast day 1 and lunch/diner day 5, entrance Huayna Picchu Mountain

Still one day left but we absolutely love it here! So incredible to see so many different species! A great place for biodiversity and eco-tourism – would recommend to everyone. Two thumbs up!!

Kate & Simon Harvey, Canada, June 2015