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Cusco · Peru
8-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
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From $1,358.31 per person
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The Experience
What your day looks like
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu takes you to discover the Imperial City of Cusco and the Sacred Valley as you acclimatize to the altitude. Explore the Center of Cusco, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero and get ready for the spectacular 5-days hike of the Salkantay trek and arrive at the legendary Lost City of Machu Picchu.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Explore the best of Cusco City, the Sacred Valley
- Go off the beaten and visit Humantay Lake and Local villages
- Spend a day exploring the best of Machu Picchu
- Return on the Panoramic Trains (Vistadome or 360°)
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Cusco
Arrival at the airport – Cusco City Tour Pick-up will be from the Cusco airport upon arrival and transfer to your centrally located hotel, check-in, and free time to relax in the morning (recommended to book morning flights to Cusco).
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Cusco
City/Town Tour. In the afternoon, you’ll start a walking tour with your tour guide, visiting the most remarkable places in Cusco: Explore the plaza de Armas, visit the 12-angled stone street, and discover the temple of the sun at Koricancha.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Cusco Cathedral.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Coricancha.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Saksaywaman, Sacsayhuaman. The second part is by car, 10 minute's drive to Sacsayhuaman, and enjoy the views from the upper of Cusco, then visit the labyrinth of Quenqo, the temple of the water at Tambomachay, and the red fortress at Pucapucara.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Q'inqu.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Tambomachay.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Puka Pukara.
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Cusco
On the way back to your hotel, if you still have time, visit the large white statue of Christ perched up the hill overlooking the city of Cusco. Accommodation: Marqueses or Similar.
Day 2
Cusco
Sightseeing. Sacred Valley Tour: Alpaca Center, Pisaq market, Moray, Salineras Maras, Ollantaytambo, After Breakfast in your hotel, The tour guide will collect you from the hotel at 8:00 am and drive across the mountains to the Sacred Valley. On the way, you’ll stop at an Alpaca farm, here, you can see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos, and learn the difference between them. Then continue to Mirador of Taray, a lookout point with spectacular views of the Sacred Valley, the eastern mountain range of the Andes, and the Urubamba River.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Pisac. Later, you’ll head to the Pisaq to visit the famous handicraft market because the local artisans produce their own textiles and sell them directly to tourists.
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Cusco
Sightseeing at Moray. After lunch in Urubamba, you will explore the circular terraces of Moray.
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Cusco
Local Flavor at Maras, Peru. Explore the Salineras of Maras, where local people have harvested salt since the Inca Times.
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Cusco
Last, you will visit Ollantaytambo town and explore the fortress. We return to Cusco, arriving around 6.00 pm. • Accommodation: Marqueses or Similar. • Meals: Buffet Lunch.
Day 3
Cusco
Cusco – Humantay Lake – Salkantay Pampa Leave from your hotel in Cusco around 4:30 am in our exclusive van and drive to Soraypampa (3900m) – arriving approximately at 8:30 am.
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Cusco
Hiking at Humantay Lagoon. After breakfast, you’ll start the trek To Machu Picchu. First, you’ll hike 2 hours up to Humantay Lake, located at 4200 meters, this turquoise water lagoon is visited by hundreds of visitors every day, arriving first and enjoying the amazing views with fewer people. After exploring the lake, you’ll begin another 2 hours down Back to Soraypampa where your trekking chef will be waiting with a delicious lunch.
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Cusco
Hiking at Salkantay. Then, continue along the Salkantay Valley, following the meandering streams up to Salkantaypampa, the first campsite at the base of Salkantay Mountain located at 4000 meters. Campsite Altitude: 4000 m/13123 ft Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles.
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Cusco
Upon arrival, you’ll find the tents ready, warm water to wash, tea time, dinner, and go to sleep in the comfortable million-star tents. Accommodation: Camping under million stars. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea time, and dinner.
Day 4
Cusco
Salkantay Pampa - Hayrajpunku – Collpapampa Wake in your tent with a hot cup of coffee or tea and the spectacular view of the mountains, you’ll have time to pack and get ready for the day, Enjoy breakfast.
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Cusco
Hiking at Salkantay. Start with the most difficult part of the trek, a 2-hours ascent to the highest point of the Salkantay Trek, The Salkantay Pass ( 4630 m / 15190 ft), once reaching the top, take some time to explore and enjoy the amazing vistas of the snow-capped peak. Then, continue a 2-hour descend to Hayrajpunku, here your amazing chef will be waiting with another amazing meal. After enjoying the well-earned lunch, continue descending for 3 hours until arriving at the second Campsite near the village of Collpapampa located at 2770m (9087ft). Along the way, you’ll see a variety of flora, fauna, and experience the fastest change in temperature that causes a drastic change in the landscape from clod snowy peaks to green tropical areas. Highest altitude: 4630 m /15190 ft Distance: 18 km/ 11.1 miles.
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Cusco
Hiking.
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Campsite Altitude: 2770 mt / 9087 ft Accommodation: Camping next to a village. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea, and dinner.
Day 5
Cusco
Hiking. Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata After breakfast around 7:00 AM, begin the 3-hour trek along the Salkantay Valley, following the white water river coming down from the high mountains like Salkantay, a verdant area home to several waterfalls, orchids, flowers, coffee farms, and small villages.
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Cusco
Eco Tour. Lunch is among avocado trees at Lucmabamba, you’ll arrive right on time to participate in a PACHAMNACA, a traditional underground barbecue with hot stones, we put all kinds of meat, vegetable, and even fruits then bury underground, while waiting for the special meal, you’ll visit Wilbert’s organic coffee farm, learn the harvesting process, and make your own cup of espresso.
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Cusco
Archaeological Exploration at Llaqtapata. After the Pachamanca feast, you’ll continue the second part of the day, following an ancient Inca trail for 3 hours up to Llaqtapata archeological site, this is a unique Inca site located right in front of Machu Picchu, where you’ll catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles.
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Cusco
Spent the night with your tents overlooking the citadel. Campsite Altitude: 2,750 m / 9022ft Accommodation: Camping in front of Machu Picchu. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 6
Cusco
Hiking. Llactapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes Wake up early, open your tent and you’ll see Machu Picchu, if the weather allows you’ll have the most beautiful sunrise over Machu Picchu, spend time relaxing, and getting ready for the final and last day of hiking to Aguas Calientes. The first part is a 2 hour downhill to Hidroelectrica Station, where you’ll get a box lunch to reenergize and say goodbye to our trekking team. Then, you’ll continue to Intiwatana (sundial rock). visited by Hiram Bingham during the 1911 expeditions, this carefully carved rock is perfectly aligned with the Sundial at Machu Picchu during the winter solstice.
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Cusco
Hiking at Aguas Calientes. Continue a pleasant 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. This part of the hike is full of history not only because you’ll be walking around Machu Picchu but also because it was used by American Explorer, Hiram Bingham III during the 1911 expedition that led to the discovery of Machu Picchu. You’ll be able to visit the Mandor gardens, this is the exact place where Hiram Bingham arrived in 1911, he met a farmer named Arteaga, and eventually discover Machu Picchu thanks to this farmer. Due to the rich flora and fauna, you’ll be able to see different species of birds and flowers. Aguas Calientes: 2,000 m/ 6561 ft Distance: 14 km / 8.6 miles
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Cusco
Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, check-in at a hotel and enjoy a relaxing shower. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 7
Cusco
Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Cusco On the last day and most important day, wake up early, have breakfast in the hotel, and catch the first buses to Machu Picchu, the hotel will store the heavy bags for you and you’ll go very light to get the best of the day.
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Cusco
Hiking at Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at the checkpoint, you need to show the original passport and the entrance ticket that we will provide, once inside you’ll start with an optional hike to Sungate of Inca Bridge, then, explore the most important places with your tour guide, plazas, temples, palaces, and learn about the history of this amazing place.
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Cusco
Hiking at Huayna Picchu. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore by yourself or climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional and different from Machu Picchu citadel).
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Cusco
Once you finish visiting Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included) and take the Vistadome panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo and then private van back to Cusco. Drop off at your hotel around 7.30 pm.
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Cusco
Overnight in the hotel at Cusco. Meals: Breakfast (hotel).
Day 8
Cusco
Depart Cusco. After breakfast, transfer to the airport or bus terminal according to your schedule.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Airport transfers from the Airport and hotel In Cusco Professional English-speaking Native Tour Guide Second tour guide for groups 9+ Entrance tickets to all the places we visit Sleeping foam mattress, Pillows, hand towels Chef, Porters, horsemen Cargo mules to carry food, equipment, and 7 kilos of your stuff Camping equipment (Dining tent, tables, chairs, Portable toilets) First aid kit, satellite phones, oxygen tank Entrance fee to Salkantay and Machu Picchu Round trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu Vistadome panoramic train back to Cusco
Not Included
Sleeping bags, Air Mattress, Trekking Poles (Can be hired from us) Huayna Picchu mountain Machu Picchu Mountain (Different from Machu Picchu citadel) Other meals not mentioned in the tour International or domestic flights Travel Insurance (Highly recommended) Gratuities
What to Bring
Original Passport Rain gear Sun protection Warm layers (fleece / long-sleeved tops) Personal medication Camera, extra batteries Head torch Extra snacks, power bars, chocolate Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips (small change is useful for paying to use the villagers' toilets on the first day)
Meeting & Pickup
Meet at the airport in Cusco, you’ll be welcomed by our representative.
Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
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