The Salkantay Trek is sometimes known as the Savage Mountain Trek and is the best alternative to the Inca Trail. This adventure is specifically designed for those who want to hike to Machu Picchu but are short on time. Witness the amazing biodiversity of the ecosystem in the region and see how small communities live off the beaten track.
As you begin your journey, you’ll feel the thrill of knowing you’ll see so much in so little time. On your first day, you will climb the imposing Salkantay Pass and see the sacred mountain of Salkantay right in front of you. You will witness some of the most incredible scenery on this route, and one of the best is seeing the white glaciers.
Once you have conquered the hike to the pass, you will descend through misty cloud forest to the edge of the jungle region, where the weather begins to warm up. As you get closer and closer to the Inca citadel, you will feel it heating up and your heart beating faster with excitement.
Spend the last night in Aguas Calientes and rest well before the last day. Day 3 is your visit to Machu Picchu, and you will find it difficult to contain your emotions when you first enter the archaeological site and admire the incredible fortress. You will enjoy an informative tour of approximately two hours.
Your adventure starts very early at 4:00 am to be exact. We will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco and drive for approximately three and a half hours through Anta, Mollepata, and Challacancha before reaching our starting point in Soraypampa at 3,900m (12,795ft). Along the way, you will be able to observe the snow-white mountain peaks of Salkantay and Humantay, two colossal Inca gods, or Apus, as they are known in the Andes. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for rolling hills, low-lying valleys, and stunning wildlife in every direction.
Once we arrive at Soraypampa, we will enjoy a hearty breakfast and meet our Peru Trek Company team, as they organize all of our equipment and pack the mules for the trek. From here, we will start hiking the most difficult part of the route to the highest point of the trail, the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 masl (15,190 fasl). Although the distance is only 7 km (4.35 miles), it is a climb of more than 4 hours. You will walk slowly along the “path of the 7 snakes”, aptly named for its winding shape. At the top, you will be able to appreciate the impressive views of the Salkantay Glacier (6,271 masl/20,574 fasl) and the valley that surrounds it with other spectacular peaks such as Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. Salkantay is the second highest mountain in the entire Cusco region.
After completing the big challenge of the day, there is a 7 km downhill hike to our lunch spot, where you can enjoy the delicious reward that our chefs prepare for you. On your way down this snake-like trail, there’s a great vantage point to stop and look out over the stunning valley below.
You will be able to rest after eating before returning to normal. In the afternoon, you will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle and the cloud forest. You will walk 8 km in about 3 hours, while the jungle thickens around you and you feel the weather getting warmer. During this section you will notice how dramatically your environment changes from the cold Andes to the humid jungle.
The scenery along this hike is truly beautiful and you can see a lot in one day, including colorful hills, unique wildlife, and native plants. At the end of the day, you will arrive at your camp in the small town of Chaullay at 2,900 masl (9,514 fasl) and enjoy a well-deserved rest and dinner. As you lay your head on the pillow, you can relax and listen to the sounds of nature around you to help you fall asleep, continue the salkantay trek 3 days tomorrow.
This morning we will leave early around 6.00 am, you will be walking through the Santa Teresa valley to the small town of La Playa. During the first 5 hours of hiking, you can take in the lush landscape and see rivers, wild orchids, and plantations where coffee, bananas, and avocados are grown. You will also have the opportunity to try the delicious passion fruit and passion fruit on the route.
We will pass through a town called Colpapampa before continuing to the foot of the mountains where we will cross to the other side of the valley. We will be accompanied by waterfalls, birds, fruit trees and tropical plants along the way.
Once we arrive at La Playa, we will enjoy our last energizing lunch with our team before starting the coffee show. You’ll learn all about the drink and how it supports so many families in the region. After a while more of relaxation, our transport will pick us up and take us to the Hydroelectric train station. From there, we will enjoy an easier hike alongside the railway and the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes. If you are exhausted at this point, you may choose to take a train the rest of the way.
As we stroll through the tropical paradise, we can see avocado, banana and coffee plants, and many species of birds. You might even see the cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru. You’ll walk the same trail used by American professor Hiram Bingham when he “rediscovered” Machu Picchu after it had been lost for centuries.
We will arrive in Aguas Calientes after approximately 3 hours, where we will go to our lodge to rest in your room. This afternoon, you can rest for a while or explore the small town before heading to a restaurant for dinner. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it’s nice and quiet.
We’ll enjoy dinner at 7 pm and hear what we can expect tomorrow. You must go to bed early as you will get up before dawn again to go to the Inca Machu Picchu citadel.
The big day has finally arrived for our Salkantay trek 3 days! You have been waiting for it for a long time, and it is finally time to visit Machu Picchu. You will need to get up around 4:00 a.m. m. for a quick bite to eat before we head off to beat the other tour groups. The sooner you get to Machu Picchu, the better. The place opens at 6:00 a.m., that’s why we like to be one of the first groups there so you can enjoy the place with fewer tourists. We will go to the small bus stop in Aguas Calientes and then enjoy the walk to the entrance.
Upon entering Machu Picchu, you will feel a deeper and more intense emotion than usual. It is a truly magnificent sight, and you will feel the magic and mystery immediately. Your guide will give you a tour of approximately two hours through all the important places of this metropolis. If you have booked tickets to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, now is the time to go hiking.
Later, you will need to return to Aguas Calientes for a quick lunch before boarding your train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transport will pick you up and take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.
This PERU TREK company showed exceptional reliability and commitment to their clients. We completed the salkantay trek in December 2022. During our trip, civil unrest developed in Peru. This meant that we were unable to return to Cusco for 2/3 days at the end of the trip because the railways were compromised. This company worked tirelessly to get us back to Cusco safely. They exhibited fantastic communication with us, the customers. Despite the reliability and excellent service this company provided, the hike itself was absolutely phenomenal. Beautiful, I met some great people and had a great time.
The guides treated us to an amazing experience. They were both very knowledgeable and always planned ahead and kept us informed. The kitchen staff and the doorman were also great. Each meal was full of options and the coca tea in the morning was very good. For what you pay, the PERU TREK experience of the Salkantay trail is incredible value. There is no other way to do it in my opinion. They are motivating, but will challenge you to keep up a good pace. Alex is a true veteran he has a great future. He is natural. Thank you peru trek for being so well prepared and providing so much value. We will recommend you.
PERU TREK was recommended by a friend who accompanied them for a few years and they lived up to their reputation. It was very easy to communicate with the agency via email, WhatsApp and phone calls. They accommodated the individual needs of the group members throughout the trip. The tour guide Alex was particularly helpful and knowledgeable in taking care of all the logistics. He highly recommend going with peru trek for the 3 day trek.
