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Get ready for an unforgettable adventure with Riqchary Cusco!
If you are looking for thrills and want to enjoy one of the best trekking routes in the world, our 5-day Classic Salkantay Trek is the perfect choice. It combines the most exciting hiking routes with incredible landscapes that will exceed your expectations. Join us either alone, as a couple or as part of a group and get ready to live a unique experience.
During this incredible trek, you’ll hike into the snow-capped mountain peaks before descending through the cloud forest. As you progress, you will be immersed in the lush Peruvian jungle, closer and closer to the Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu. The drastic transition of landscapes and climates is what makes this trek so special and unique.
But the beauty of the landscape is not the only thing that will captivate you. You will also have the opportunity to visit wonderful destinations that are on the bucket list of many travelers. From the impressive Humantay Lagoon to the challenging trail to the Abra Salkantay to contemplate the majestic Salkantay Mountain, each day of this trek will be full of surprises and wonders.
On the fourth day, you will explore the fascinating Inca archaeological site of Llactapata and get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu, building anticipation for the grand finale of the adventure.
And to top it all off, what better way to end the trip than by exploring the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu?You will enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours before climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, where you will be able to contemplate a panoramic view of the Citadel and feel like a condor soaring through the air, transporting you back in time to imagine what life was like in those ancient times.Don’t miss our Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Riqchary Cusco, the adventure of a lifetime awaits you!
DAY 01 Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa – Humantay Lagoon – Sky Camp
In the morning, you will hike to Soraypampa and enjoy a delicious lunch; in the afternoon, we will climb to the Humantay Lagoon.Overnight at our Sky Camp in Soraypampa.
DAY 02 Soraypampa – Abra Salkantay – Huayracmachay – Chaullay – Collpapampa (Mountain Sky View)
Today you will reach the highest point of the trek, the Abra Salkantay to see the Salkantay mountain before descending through the cloud forest.You will spend the night in our exclusive Mountain Sky View in Collpapampa.
DAY 03 Collpapampa – La Playa – Lucmabamba – Jungle Domes
Enjoy the day walking through the lush jungle and visiting an organic coffee farm.At night, you will sleep surrounded by nature in our exclusive Jungle Domes.
DAY 04 Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Aobamba – Hydroelectric power plant – Aguas Calientes
In the morning, you will hike to the Inca archaeological site of Llactapata and appreciate Machu Picchu for the first time before heading to Aguas Calientes to rest in a comfortable hotel.
DAY 05 Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
Today is the big day! You will spend the morning exploring Machu Picchu before returning to Aguas Calientes. Then, you will board the train to Ollantaytambo and our private transportation will take you back to Cusco.
Today you will have an early start, as we will pick you up from your hotel around 4:00 a.m. You will travel in our comfortable transportation, equipped with blankets in case you wish to sleep a little longer during the trip. After approximately two hours, we will make a brief stop in Mollepata, where you can enjoy an optional breakfast. Then, we will continue to Challacancha, the starting point of our trek.
Before starting our adventure, you will meet the cooks and muleteers, and you will have the opportunity to check your luggage one last time. Afterwards, we will head out on the trail. You will start with a moderate three-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we will spend our first night. The beginning of the section is relatively flat with a slight ascent through a deep glacier valley. You will notice that much of the trail follows a restored Inca water canal, which is still used by local farmers. This trail has a total distance of 7 km / 4.35 miles.
Once in Soraypampa, you will settle into our exclusive Sky Camp for the night.
You will have some time to rest after enjoying your first lunch surrounded by mountains.After recharging your energy, we will begin the hike to the beautiful Humantay Lagoon (4,200 m /13,780 ft).
This round trip takes three hours and covers a distance of 3 km / 1.86 miles.Although the distance is not long, it is important to take it easy because of the altitude.Upon reaching the lagoon, you will have time to marvel at the fantastic scenery.Few places in the Andes are as breathtaking as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay Glacier.You will truly feel like you are in a fairy tale.
Upon returning to camp, you will enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner while watching a beautiful sunset. The energy you feel in this place is indescribable; the tranquility will envelop you once you arrive. Afterwards, you can rest in your igloo at Sky Camp. From the glass roof, you can enjoy a night under the stars, constellations and comets. The next morning, you will wake up with the breathtaking view of the Apu Salkantay right in front of you.
In the morning, you will wake up with the first rays of the sun and enjoy an energizing coca tea while contemplating the majesty of the Apu Salkantay. Then, you will have a nutritious breakfast before embarking on the 7 km trek, which will take approximately three hours, to the highest point of the route: the Abra Salkantay (4,630 m / 15,190 ft.). This ascent is challenging, traveling the “path of the 7 snakes”, so called because of its winding path.
Once at the top, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m / 20,574 ft), the second highest in the Cusco region and considered an Apu (Inca God). You will also be able to admire the Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. After enjoying these panoramic views and taking a break, you will begin the descent (7 km / 4.35 miles) to Huayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), where we will have our lunch. This section of the trail is rocky and steep, but offers spectacular views of the valley.
After a revitalizing lunch, you will enter the edge of the rainforest, also known as the “cloud forest”. This 9.5 km / 5.9 mile ride, which lasts approximately three and a half hours, will take you through lush, green surroundings. You will notice how the landscape changes dramatically from the Andes to the Amazon, observing colorful landscapes, unique wildlife, and native plants as the climate becomes warmer.
At the end of a long day of hiking, you will arrive at Collpapampa, where you will spend the night. Here, we will serve you a hearty meal before you retire to rest in our exclusive Mountain Sky View, offering a unique resting experience under the starry skies of the Andes.
In the morning, you will wake up at 6:00 a.m. to enjoy tea and breakfast before leaving camp. Our first destination will be La Playa, hiking through the Santa Teresa Valley. Today you will enjoy a more relaxed hike, with more descents than ascents, as you immerse yourself in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids and numerous plantations, including banana, coffee and avocado.
We will pass through a small village called Collpapampa and then descend through a valley where you can observe waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit trees and abundant flora and fauna. With a little luck, you will be able to see Peru’s national bird, the “Cock of the Rock”.
At La Playa, we will enjoy a tasty lunch before heading to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), just an hour away. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, especially perfect for coffee lovers. Even if you are not a coffee fan, the aroma in the air is delicious. This is the main agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia and Europe. You will also visit avocado and orange plantations.
After dinner, you will retire to rest in one of our exclusive camps, Jungle Domes. While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with Mother Earth.
You will wake up eager to put on your hiking boots and, after a hearty breakfast, prepare for your last day of trekking. This morning, you will hike a section of the famous Inca Trail. After a two-hour climb with breathtaking views of the Santa Teresa Valley, you will arrive at Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site that offers direct views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
At Llactapata, you will learn about Inca culture and take your first photos of Machu Picchu. Then, you will descend for an hour and a half, with more views of the Inca citadel, to Aobamba, where you will have lunch. You will continue for another half hour to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft), where you will see an impressive artificial waterfall.
From Hidroeléctrica, you can choose to take a train to Aguas Calientes (not included) or walk for about three hours along the train tracks, enjoying the jungle scenery. On the way, you will see Intihuatana, an ancient Inca sundial stone. Finally, you will arrive in Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy dinner at a restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for since you started trekking! You will finally visit one of the Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site: Machu Picchu! You will have to get up early to enjoy the tranquility of the site in the morning light before the crowds arrive.
Once inside the Inca citadel, you will take a guided tour of approximately two hours exploring the most important sectors of this ancient enclave. You will see houses, temples, agricultural terraces and other aspects of the amazing Inca engineering. You will be amazed by their ability to build and organize their community on the side of a mountain, as well as their advanced system of aqueducts and canals.
After your tour, you will have the option to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, with routes lasting between two and three hours, respectively (tickets must be booked in advance).
Back in Aguas Calientes, you will enjoy lunch before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo, where our private bus will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco around 8 pm. You can now relax and unwind, but the Machu Picchu experience will resonate in your heart for a long time after this memorable day.
Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entrance to the Salkantay Sanctuary
Entry to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site
Circuit 2 of Machu Picchu
High Quality Service & Safety
- Pre-departure Briefing
You’ll meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. There, we’ll provide you with the duffle bags, which our horses will carry. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.
- Experienced Tour Guide
English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
- Private Camping Equipment
We have dining rooms, tables, chairs, and a kitchen at each campsite. In addition, all our equipment, like cooking equipment, will be carried by our horses.
- One Duffle Bag
On the trek, you can carry your personal belongings up to a maximum weight of 7 kg / 15.4 lb (this weight includes your sleeping bag).
- Medical Kit or First AID Kit
All Riqchary Cusco guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
- Extras Included in our Service
We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your backpack on the road and a rain poncho.
- 24/7 Customer Service
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.
- Satellite Phone
Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. All of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains; however, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. For this reason, each Riqchary Cusco guide has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world in case of an emergency.
Accommodation
Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites
Like our ancestors, we’re very considerate of the Pachamama (Mother Earth). For this reason, our campsites and lodges are adapted to the environment to avoid generating negative impacts.
- Glamping Peru - Exclusive and private campsite Sky Camp - Soraypampa - Star Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
SKY CAMP - Glamping Peru - Exclusive Campsite Mountain Sky View located in Collpapampa - Rainforest Accommodation Peru
MOUNTAIN SKY VIEW - Glamping Peru - Jungle Domes Campsite in Lucmabamba - Ecocamp surrounded by nature
JUNGLE DOMES - Hotel in Aguas Calientes
You will spend the last night of the trek in a comfortable hotel at Aguas Calientes, including luggage storage, while you visit Machu Picchu.
*Accommodation is in double, twin, and triple rooms.
Meals
- 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
Our chef prepares the most amazing dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost), so let us know if you have any particular allergies or restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks.
- Water on the trail
We’ll provide you boiled, filtered, and cooled water during your hike, from your first lunch to your last breakfast. For this, you need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle (we recommend a capacity of 2 liters).
- Wake up tea
Every morning at the campsite, you'll be woken up with a cup of hot coca tea. Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.
- Tea Time or Happy Hour
Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you popcorn, biscuits/cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you won't have to wait until dinner to relax, warm-up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
- Snacks on the trail daily
Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. Every morning, we’ll refill it so that you can enjoy your snacks during the walk.
- One cloth snack bag per person
To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we'll give you a cloth bag for your snacks.
Transportation
- Transfers
- Day 1: You'll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel in our transportation to Challacancha, the trek’s starting point.
- Day 5: One-Way Bus Ticket from Agus Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Day 5: Transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
- Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Day 5)
- PeruRail Expedition Service
- Personal Belongings Transportation
- On day 1, 2 and 3, cargo mules carry all the camping equipment and your baggage allowance (7 kg / 15.4 lb).
- On day 4, your duffle bag will be transported by car and train.
Sleeping Bag
You can rent one from our company if you don’t have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect you from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy-form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
- US$ 25.00 per person
Walking Sticks
Walking Sticks (with rubber tips) can be very useful on rough terrain and for ascending and descending. You can rent a set from our company if you’d like.
- US$ 25.00 per person
Huayna Picchu Mountain
You can climb the famous mountain you always see in the photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill, and coming back down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The permit must be issued at least one month in advance due to high demand. Consider that there could be changes to protect your integrity, mainly due to weather conditions.
- The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider, and visually less frightening trails than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can secure for you if we have time in advance.
- The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 60.00 per person.
Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco (Day 5)
Train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (Day 4)
In case you feel exhausted or in bad condition after the trek from Lucmabamba to Hidroelectrica, you can take the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes.
- US$ 37.00 per person
Personal Hiking Clothing and Gear
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is the norm on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
$ 550.00 / días
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