Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – 4 Days / 3 Nights

🗓️ Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake
We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. and drive to Mollepata, where we’ll have breakfast and prepare for the trek. From Challacancha, we begin a gentle 3-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we’ll have lunch and set up our first campsite.

In the afternoon, we take an optional (but highly recommended) hike to the stunning Humantay Lake, located at 4,200 m / 13,780 ft. We return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay under the starry Andean sky.

🗓️ Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay
After a hearty breakfast, we begin the ascent to the highest point of the trek: Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft), where panoramic views of the Salkantay Glacier and surrounding valleys await. We then descend through high-mountain landscapes into the high jungle until reaching Chaullay (2,900 m / 9,515 ft) for our overnight camp.

Approximate distance: 22 km | Hiking time: 9 hours

🗓️ Day 3: Chaullay – La Playa – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
This is a more relaxed day filled with lush greenery. We’ll walk through coffee, fruit, and tropical plantations until reaching La Playa, where we take transport to Hidroelectrica. After lunch, we hike for about 3 hours along the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the night in a hotel.

Optional: If you prefer not to walk from Hidroelectrica, you can take a train (not included).

🗓️ Day 4: Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Early in the morning, we take the bus to Machu Picchu to enter before sunrise. Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour covering the most important areas of the citadel, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the Intihuatana.

After the tour, you will have free time to continue exploring or, if booked in advance, hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. We then return to Aguas Calientes, board the train back to Ollantaytambo, and finally take transport to Cusco.