Salkantay Trail 4D

• Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 7kg (15lbs) per person
• Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress
• Thermarest inflatable pillow
• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade
• Aguas Calientes Upgrade
• Extra Day at Machu Picchu
• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain , let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.
• If you’d like more flexibility in your return travel to Cusco, consider upgrading to the Vistadome train (Executive Class) for an extra $30 per person. This upgrade must be requested at time of booking.

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone! Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

After a nice rest, we will climb steeply for about 2.5-3h to the Salkantay Pass where we can make a traditional offering to the apu (mountain deity). Coming in at an impressive 4600m (13,451 ft), this is the highest point we will reach on our trip. After marvelling at our achievement, we descend 2-3h to our campsite at Huayramachay or Andenes.

Total Walking Distance – 15km
Total Walking Time – 6-7h
Minimum Altitude – 3800m / 12,467ft / Maximum Altitude – 4600m / 15,091 ft
Altitude of camp – 4000m / 13,123ft
Approx. night temperature – -1°C

We have a number of camping options tonight that you will decide upon as a group, in discussion with your guide. Options include La Playa and Santa Teresa (both popular campsites which can be crowded and known for parties); Lucmabamba (a great option to get away from the crowds); and Cola de Mono (a great option if you plan to do the Cola de Mono zipline on Day 4).

You can also choose to spend the night in a homestay in Lucmabamba! Spend the night with a local coffee-growing family and enjoy a hot shower and a comfortable bed! There is an extra cost for this option. Read more about our homestay options here.

Total Walking Distance – 17km (camping at La Playa)
Total Walking Time – 5-6h
Minimum Altitude – 4000m / 13,123ft / Maximum Altitude –
Altitude of camp –
Approx. night temperature –

Tonnes of great options today for the adventurous! You will pick your option as a group, either at your briefing or on the trail. Note that this will not be a wilderness experience, and you can expect to encounter other people no matter what you do.

Options

1. Relax & Unwind
This morning, we travel by vehicle to the busy Santa Teresa campsite where you will have some free time and a chance to visit the nearby Colcamayu hot springs. Then we will travel to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station where we will have lunch and visit another Inca ruin. After this, we will walk for another 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes. Here, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available.

2. For the Adventurous 
We leave early and climb for about three hours through the jungle before descending to the interesting, but largely covered ruins of Llactapacta. Don’t let your guide talk you out of this! Yes, it’s a three hour climb, but it is also a very interesting introduction to Machu Picchu!

Originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time that he discovered Machu Picchu, modern day explorers Vincent Lee and Gary Ziegler recently established that these ruins are much bigger and more important than previously thought. From here we have our first view of Machu Picchu, in the saddle of the mountain opposite.

We descend very steeply on a muddy track for two hours to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station. After this, we will walk for another 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes.

A soak in the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes is often the perfect respite for aching muscles! Afterward, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available.

3. Calling All Thrill Seekers!
Zip along South America’s highest and longest zipline, the Cola de Mono! Note that there is an additional fee to ride the Cola de Mono. After a thrilling morning, we’ll travel to the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station before walking for 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes.

A soak in the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes is often the perfect respite for aching muscles! Afterward, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available.

If you prefer not to walk 2.5h to Aguas Calientes from the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station, you also have the option of taking the train (included in your Salkantay Trail trek price).

After a very early breakfast at the hotel, we will take the bus up to Machu Picchu in the pre-dawn hours to reach Machu Picchu before the crowds. Your 4h visit to Machu Picchu can be spent exploring some of the alternative routes, like the Inca Bridge, after which your guide will give you a 2-3h walking tour of the historic citadel.

If you’re feeling adventurous you may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these hikes. For more tips on what to see, check out our Visiting Machu Picchu page.

Want more time to explore? Consider our Extra Day Upgrades.

After visiting Machu Picchu, you can take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes (or walk down!). From there, we return to Cusco in the afternoon by the Expedition (tourist class) train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.