5-day trail Salkantay to Machu Picchu – Llaptapata route

At 06:00 a.m. the tour will start with transport from the city of Cusco. We will pass the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo and after 02 hours drive, we will continue until Mollepata (2950 m./9676 ft.) where we will have a short stop and later continue until Soraypampa community (3850 m./12628 ft.), here the first view of the spectacular Salkantay welcomes us and marks the starting point of the trek and also have our first lunch.

 

In this place, our mules will be prepared and ready to transport our heavy equipment along the entire route. From Soraypampa we will start our 5-hour trek towards Soyrococha at 4400 m./14432 ft. while enjoying great views of the impressive west face of mount Salcantay (6264 m./20546 ft).

Includes lunch and dinner.

After a healthy breakfast, at 08:00 a.m. we will be ready to continue our 7 hours trek.

On the way, we will first reach the Salcantay pass at 4750 m./15580 ft. and then we will trek down to Huayracmachay (3800 m./12464 ft.) settlement.

 

During our hike we will have the permanent view of the amazing mount Salcantay. If we are lucky enough, we will be also able to observe the flight of the amazing condor bird known as the “King of the Andes”. Then we headed northeast down to the Colpapampa’s Valley (3200 m./10496 ft). Leaving the Huaracmachay plain very soon we will start an impressive descend into the deep canyon of the Salcantay river.

 

The highland landscape suddenly turns into an amazing cloud forest with the typical grass, bushes and trees covered with beautiful bromelias. Lunch on the route.

After we will reach the small settlement of Challway and from here another 40 minutes-1 hour hike will take us to Colpapampa village we will pass the night.

Includes Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This spectacular trekking day, we will hike for 5 hours down to the place known as La Playa. This trek will take us along the north side of Santa Teresa River.

 

On the way down, we will observe plantations of banana, coffee, granadillas (a typical fruit from the area), avocado trees, etc. The sound of parrot flocks will accompany us during the hike and on the river perhaps we will be able to observe the fast fly of kingfisher.

At La Playa we will enjoy lunch and continue hike down by the valley for an hour and half until our next campsite near to Lucmabamba, where we will see that we are in a tropical environment.

Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After a healthy breakfast, the trek starts connecting with another original Inca trail with a steady ascend up to the “Mirador de Llactapata” located at 6,600 feet above sea level.

 

After 3-4 hours of hike up, we arrive to this Inca site from where we will have a spectacular view of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Here we will rest, while we enjoy our boxed lunch. We will then continue our trek descending to Aobamba valley and into the hydroelectric train station.

 

We will continue hiking until reaching La Hidroelectrica (operation area of the hydroelectric power plant). Here we will board the local train to the town of Aguas Calientes where we will arrive after a train ride of 1 hour. Then our guide will take you to your hotel for a well-deserved rest. Overnight in Aguas Calientes town.

 

Includes breakfast and box lunch.

On our last day, an early morning wake up will be followed by breakfast in the hotel and then a public bus transport will take you up to the main entrance of Machu Picchu City (2400 m./7872 ft). A guided tour will show you this beautiful Inca City, one of the most famous in the world. We will visit the most important areas of the impressive citadel.

 

In the afternoon, we take the public bus down to Aguas Calientes and you will return to Cusco by train, from where our transport will take you back to Cusco.