HL- 05 SALKANTAY
(5 Days / 4 Nights)

Early in the morning bus ride to our trail start at Soraypampa (3,500m/11,550ft) which takes approximately 5 hours; we meet up with our wranglers and their mules and saddle horses. After a short introduction we start our hike, following the paths of the locals on a soft ascent towards the base of Mt. Salkantay (6,271m/20,700ft). After lunch in Salkantaypampa (3,900m/12,900ft) we start our sometimes steep 2 hours ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha, just next to the impressive glacier of Salkantay (4,200m/13,900ft) prepares for a cold night.

After a delicious breakfast in this unique place, a half hour ascent brings us up to Salkantay Pass (4,525m/15,000ft), where - besides enjoying great views onto the surrounding glaciers- we may observe chinchillas and condors in their natural habitat. From here we descend into more tropical climate, starting to walk through high cloud forest. A long but easy descent brings us mid-afternoon to our camp at Collpapampa (2,890m/9,550ft) a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in.

Today we enjoy a nice walk along the Salcamayo River, enjoying volcanic formations and increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp at the village of Lucmabamba (2,155m/7,150ft), where we can refresh in the river before dinner.

After breakfast we start climbing – passing through some coffee plantations- up to El Mirador (2,860m/9,450ft) from where we have an exceptional view of the Lost City of the Incas: legendary Machupicchu, from a different angle. We enjoy a last lunch in nature at the look out point of Llaqtapata (2,650m/8,750ft) from where we can view both Machupicchu and Salkantay and take a good rest. A 2 hour descent brings us to the hydro-electric plant of Machupicchu from where we get to the village of Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. Here we can choose to relax in the natural hot springs before dinner and a deserved rest in our hotel.

After an early breakfast we take the first bus up to Machupicchu to enjoy sunrise in this magical place before tourists arrive from Cusco. We enjoy this enigmatic city in a guided tour and have enough free time available to explore the site by ourselves or do some hikes before we descend to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Train ride back to Cusco, transfer to the hotel and overnight.