Salkantay Trek · Machu Picchu

THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL

From glacier to jungle.

Salkantay began as the alternative to the Inca Trail once quotas came in, and turned out to be a strong route in its own right. Over four days the ground falls from a glacial pass at 4,630 m into cloud forest of coffee farms and hummingbirds. No permit is needed, and Salkantay itself (6,271 m) is in view for most of the first day.

• The Salkantay pass, 4,630 m
• The turquoise Humantay lake below the glacier
• Coffee farms in the Santa Teresa cloud forest
• Machu Picchu at dawn before the crowds

1. 01
   DAY 1 · Acclimatisation and briefing

   Cusco, acclimatising

   Arrival in Cusco (3,400 m) and a quiet day with nothing demanded of you. An evening briefing: weighing personal loads for the mules, checking rain gear and footwear. Supper in San Blas.

   Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
2. 02
   DAY 2 · 8 km, 400 m of ascent

   Soraypampa and Humantay lake

   Three hours by minibus to Soraypampa (3,900 m) and lunch at camp. Then a 400 m climb to Humantay lake, turquoise with rock flour. Back down to camp and a cold night.

   Overnight: Cabins at Soraypampa, 3,900 m
3. 03
   DAY 3 · 22 km, a 4,630 m pass

   The Salkantay pass, 4,630 m

   The big day: four hours up the moraine beneath the south face of Salkantay (6,271 m) to the 4,630 m pass, then a 1,700 m descent into cloud forest at Chaullay. Around 22 km.

   Overnight: Tents at Chaullay, 2,900 m
4. 04
   DAY 4 · 16 km, 1,350 m of descent

   Cloud forest to Santa Teresa

   The path follows the Santa Teresa river among bananas, coffee and orchids: in a day we have gone from tundra to subtropics. Around 16 km, with the Cocalmayo hot springs an option in the evening.

   Overnight: Cabins at Santa Teresa, 1,550 m
5. 05
   DAY 5 · 11 km beside the railway

   Along the rails to Aguas Calientes

   A transfer to the Hidroeléctrica and 11 km on foot beside the railway through the Urubamba gorge, directly beneath the Machu Picchu cliff. In Aguas Calientes, a shower, supper and an early night.

   Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
6. 06
   DAY 6 · Guided visit and transfers

   Machu Picchu at first light

   The first bus at half past five to enter as the site opens. A two-hour guided circuit: the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the main plaza. The afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and a bus on to Cusco.

   Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
7. 07
   DAY 7 · Transfer

   Departure from Cusco

   Breakfast and the airport transfer. For late flights the guide suggests Sacsayhuamán or the San Pedro market, both ten minutes from the centre.

   Overnight: —