This 6-day trek to Machu Picchu gives you the time to soak in the incredible natural beauty of the Cusco region all the way to Machu Picchu. Friendly, bilingual and expert guides ensure a trip of a lifetime.
Highlights
Enjoy the incredible history and culture of Peru, including natural vistas, historical sites and local communities. With exciting physical challenges, opportunities to see once-in-a-lifetime views and friendly, knowledgeable and professional staff to guide you along the way, this Machu Picchu Trek will astonish you from start to finish.
This six-day Salktantay Machu Picchu Trek allows you to spend a longer time soaking in the landscapes and the best areas the journey has to offer. The tour starts in Cusco, hitting all the traveler highlights of the area, and culminates in a journey back in time to Machu Picchu. You will then return to Cusco.
6 Days/5 Nights
Day 1
CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – SORAYPAMPA.
We depart for our trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco between 4:30 am and 5:00 am, taking a local bus to the town of Mollepata (2900m) enjoying panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay Mountain, other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River. Arriving at approximately 8:15 am we will have breakfast and meeting up with our support staff. They will load our equipment onto our horses and mules and at approximately 9:00 am, we will head out toward Sayllapata on foot (3200m). We will enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch along the path about 1:00 pm and then continue trekking toward Soraypampa village (3850m). Arriving to our campsite about 5:30 pm, our tents will be set up and we will enjoy dinner and then rest for the evening.
Day 2
SORAYPAMPA – RAYAMPATA.
Our scenery will change drastically today – from arid lands to snowy peaks to tropical scenes.
Following our hearty breakfast, we will begin the most challenging part of our journey about 7:00 am. Setting out from our campsite we will hike to Pampas Salkantay, then head toward the snowy peaks of Umantay, near the Apu Salkantay. We will reach our highest point (4600m) around midday and will take time to soak in the incredible mountain views and majestic snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6264m), the second highest point in the region of Cusco. Around this area we will visit two bright turqoiuse lakes, the Soroycocha and the Laguna Salkantay where we will enjoy lunch. Our descent after lunch will lead us through a micro-clime area called a High Jungle or Cloud Forest, reaching our campsite in late afternoon.
Day 3
RAYAMPATA – SAHUAYACO/LUCMABAMBA.
Our trek begins around 7:00 am, walking for approximately eight hours toward Playa Sahuayaco. Along the way we will visit a town named Collpabamba, a jungle area known as the Cloud Forest home to thermal hot springs, many fruit trees, waterfalls, various flora, and native birds. Hopefully we will see the famous Peruvian bird nicknamed the “Cock of the Rock”. Around 4:00 pm we will reach our campsite to enjoy a delicious dinner and a well deserved night of rest.
Day 4
SAHUAYACO/LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA.
Following breakfast we will journey for seven to eight hours from Sahuayaco to Hidroelectrica. About five hours into our trek we will visit the archeological site Llactapata, exploring for about an hour and then having lunch. Afterwards we will continue hiking for about two more hours to Hidroelectrica to camp for the evening.
Day 5
HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES.
Following breakfast we begin our journey to the town of Aguas Calientes, visiting the archeological site, the cataratas or waterfall of Mandor and the Orquidi garden. Once we are in the town of Aguas Calientes there is ample free time to explore the area or to visit the hot springs for a relaxing dip. We will stay in a local hostel for the evening.
Optional: A visit to Putucusi Mountain to enjoy epic views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding Urubamba River Valley. The hike requires a physically-challenging 1.5-hour trek up hill, with about 1700 wood/rock steps.
Day 6
AGUAS CALIENTES – SANCTUARY OF MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Today’s journey has two options: wake up at 4:30 am for your final hike on the Machu Picchu trek, or take a 7:00 am bus to Machu Picchu. Once in Machu Picchu we will have a guided tour for about two hours and then ample free time to explore the Citadel, or if desired a hike to the Huaynapicchu Mountain. Depending on availability you will take the 2:26 pm or 6:03 pm train to Ollantaytambo and once there a bus to your hotel in Cusco.
NOTE: On the fifth day of our journey from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes customers will either carry their luggage to Aguas Calientes or ship it on the train that leaves at 1:00 pm from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. One of our workers will collect the baggage there. (Note: price of this shipping is not included in the trekking price.)
Minimum 4 people
Elevation: 1950 – 4600m. / 6398 – 15092 f.
Degree of difficulty: Challenging due to the altitude. We recommend an acclimatization period of at least two days in Cusco or over 3000m/9840ft for this challenging Machu Picchu trek.
loading map - please wait...
After you book your experience, you will receive a confirmation email from us confirming that your payment went through. You will then be connected directly to the tour operator, in case you have any further questions. We are also happy to answer any questions about the tour, or travel in general in your country of destination.
There are no reviews yet.