Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N

5:00 AM  The Adventure Begins:Our day starts bright and early with a pickup from your hotel in Cusco. In our comfortable private transport, we’ll wave goodbye to the city as the first light of day illuminates the fields and villages around us. The two-hour drive to Mollepata is a spectacle in itself—a gentle ascent that prepares us for the heights that lie ahead.
We will arrive in the picturesque town of Mollepata (9,515 ft), the last stop before we fully immerse ourselves in nature. We’ll take a short break here so you can stretch your legs, grab a coffee, and buy any last-minute snacks that will power you on the trail: chocolates, dried fruit, or the traditional coca leaves.
We continue our journey for another hour, this time along a gravel road that winds its way up, offering increasingly spectacular views. The air becomes purer, the silence more profound, and in the distance, snow-capped peaks begin to dominate the horizon. Our destination is Soraypampa (12,795 ft), the starting point of our trek.
Time to hike! After meeting our team of wranglers and chefs and listening to a brief orientation from our guide, we begin our first challenge: the ascent to Humantay Lake. It’s an uphill hike of about 1.5 to 2 hours. Your effort will be rewarded with every step as panoramic views of the valley unfold below. Upon reaching the top (13,779 ft), you’ll be left breathless—not from the altitude, but from the incredible beauty of the lake. Its turquoise waters, fed by the Humantay Glacier, are an otherworldly sight. Take your time to connect with the energy of the place, capture unforgettable photos, and simply be present.
With hearts full of indelible images, we will descend back to Soraypampa. Our chef will be waiting for us with a delicious and nutritious lunch, prepared with fresh Andean ingredients to recharge all our energy.
After lunch, we will embark on the final hike of the day. This section is gentler and will take us about two hours. We will walk through a peaceful valley with direct and ever-closer views of the majestic Apu Salkantay, the «Savage Mountain.» This is the perfect trail to acclimate your body as the afternoon sun paints the mountains in warm colors.
We will arrive at our campsite in Salkantaypampa (13,451 ft), a privileged location with a direct frontal view of the imposing glacier. Our team will have everything ready: you’ll get settled comfortably into your tent for the night, and we’ll welcome you with a comforting «happy hour» featuring hot drinks and snacks. As night falls, we’ll enjoy an exquisite dinner and, if the sky is clear, we will witness a celestial show: the Milky Way shining brightly, as it can only be seen deep in the Andes. We will rest, surrounded by the powerful presence of the sacred mountains.

• Trekking Distance: Approx. 6.2 miles / 10 k
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Starting Altitude (Cusco): 11,152 ft / 3,400 m
• Maximum Altitude (Humantay Lake): 13,779 ft / 4,200 m
• Campsite Altitude: 13,451 ft / 4,100 m
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to challenging (due to the initial ascent’s altitude)
• Meals: Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
• Places of interest: Salkantay Mountain, Humantay Lake,

 Waking Up 5:00AM: The day begins before sunrise. Our team will give you a gentle wake-up call with a very special kind of «room service»: a hot cup of coca tea, perfect for acclimatizing your body and starting the day with a boost of energy. As you take in the views of the Salkantay glacier bathed in the first morning light, we will pack up camp to take advantage of the cool morning air.

5:30 AM:We’ll gather in the dining tent for a hearty and powerful breakfast. It is crucial to fuel your body for the great ascent that awaits. Our chef will ensure you have everything you need to face the challenge ahead.

We begin the hike. The next 3 to 4 hours will be a steady climb up a rocky path known as «the trail of the 7 snakes» due to its sharp switchbacks. The pace will be slow and steady—»one step at a time,» as the guides say. The key is to focus on your breathing and stay hydrated. As we gain altitude, the views of the valley below become increasingly breathtaking, and the colossal Salkantay feels closer than ever.

The reward for all the hard work arrives as we reach the highest point of the entire trek: the Salkantay Pass (15,190 ft). The feeling of accomplishment is indescribable. You will be standing between two giant peaks, Mt. Salkantay and Mt. Humantay, with panoramic views that will leave you speechless. We will participate in a small Andean ceremony with coca leaves to thank the Apus (mountain spirits) for granting us safe passage. You’ll have plenty of time to take spectacular photos and absorb the immense scale of the landscape.

After celebrating our achievement, we start the descent. The next 2 hours will take us down a gravel and rock path to our lunch spot. The landscape, while still arid, begins to show the first signs of change.

We will arrive at Wayracmachay, whose Quechua name means «the wind cave.» Here, our cooking team will be waiting with a delicious and restorative lunch. This well-deserved break will allow us to replenish our energy for the final part of the day’s journey, all while enjoying our meal with a privileged view.

With renewed energy, we continue our 3-hour descent towards Collpapampa. This stretch is perhaps the most amazing part of the day. You will witness a radical ecological transition as we leave the rocks and cold of the highlands behind and enter the upper jungle, or cloud forest. The air becomes warmer and more humid, the vegetation explodes in vibrant shades of green, and the sound of rivers and birds replaces the silence of the high peaks. You’ll begin to see wild orchids, bromeliads, and bamboo groves.

 Welcome to the Cloud Forest: Collpapampa We will arrive at our campsite in Collpapampa (9,514 ft), located on a small plateau at the confluence of three rivers. The change in atmosphere is total. The climate is mild and the surroundings are lush. Our team will welcome us with a comforting happy hour, followed by time to relax and maybe even take a shower before dinner. The sounds of the river and the forest will lull you to sleep, a peaceful reminder of how incredibly far we’ve come in a single day.

• Trekking Distance: 13.67 miles / 22 km
• Approximate Hiking Time: 8-9 hours
• Starting Altitude (Salkantaypampa): 13,451 ft / 4,100 m
• Maximum Altitude (Salkantay Pass): 15,190 ft / 4,630 m
• Campsite Altitude (Collpapampa): 9,514 ft / 2,900 m
• Difficulty Level: Challenging
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner

5:00 AM: You’ll wake up in Collpapampa not to the silence of the high mountains, but to a symphony of tropical sounds. The murmur of the Santa Teresa River and the songs of the first birds of the day will be your alarm clock. It’s a gentle awakening, accompanied by a hot cup of coca tea delivered by our team right to your tent.

After packing up, we’ll gather for a fresh and delicious breakfast. This meal is a special one, as afterward, we will say a grateful goodbye to our wranglers and mules. Their incredible hard work carrying our equipment has made our journey to this point possible. We’ll thank them for their support and strength before they begin their return trip to the mountains. From this point on, our main luggage will be transported to the campsite by vehicle.

With just our daypacks, we begin the day’s trek. Today’s trail is mostly flat with gentle downhills, following the course of the river valley. We’ll enter a vibrant ecosystem, walking past plantations of bananas, avocados, granadillas, and passion fruit. You’ll see exotic flowers like orchids and bromeliads, and with luck, we might spot the «Gallito de las Rocas,» Peru’s national bird.

After a relaxed 4-hour hike, we’ll arrive at the village of La Playa Sahuayaco for a short break to rehydrate before the final push to our lunch spot.

From La Playa, we will continue with a short, one-hour walk to our destination: the Lucmabamba campsite (6,561 ft), a quiet and secluded spot known as the heart of the region’s coffee farms.

Upon arriving in Lucmabamba, our chef will surprise us with another spectacular lunch. You’ll have time to get settled in, relax, and prepare for a unique sensory experience.

 Interactive Coffee Tour: From Bean to Cup It’s time to become coffee experts! We will take part in an interactive tour at a local organic coffee farm. Guided by the farmer, we will follow the entire artisan process:

1. Harvesting: Learn to select and pick the ripe coffee cherries from the plant.
2. Processing: See how the beans are pulped, fermented, and sun-dried.
3. Roasting & Grinding: Witness the magical moment the beans are roasted over a fire and then grind your own coffee.
4. Tasting: We’ll cap off the experience by brewing and tasting a cup of the freshest, most delicious coffee you have ever had.

After your immersion in the world of coffee, you’ll have free time to explore or simply relax. As always, our traditional happy hour will be served before dinner.

We will gather for our final dinner prepared by our incredible cooking team. It will be a special night to share stories, thank the team for their hard work, and mentally prepare for the next day: our first glimpse of the Machu Picchu citadel. We will spend the night in Lucmabamba, lulled to sleep by the peaceful sounds of nature.

• Trekking Distance: 9.94 miles / 16 km
• Approximate Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Starting Altitude (Collpapampa): 9,514 ft / 2,900 m
• Campsite Altitude (Lucmabamba): 6,561 ft / 2,000 m
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner

4:30 AM: Our day begins early in Lucmabamba. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee will be our alarm clock. We’ll enjoy one final, hearty breakfast prepared by our chefs, fueling up for the important journey ahead.

We begin the hike. The first 2.5 to 3 hours are a steady climb up an original Inca path. As we ascend, we’ll venture deeper into the cloud forest, passing coffee and banana plantations. Your guide will point out the local flora and fauna as the sun begins to illuminate the valley behind us. It’s a demanding climb, but every foot gained brings us closer to an incredible reward.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, we will find the Llactapata archaeological site (9,317 ft). This location was an important Incan administrative and ceremonial center. But its real treasure is the view: from here, looking across the Aobamba valley, we will  Seeing the world wonder from this unique perspective, far from the crowds, is a magical and moving moment. We will have plenty of time to explore the ruins, take photos, and simply contemplate the majesty of the sacred city in the distance.

With the image of Machu Picchu etched in our minds, we begin a steep, 2-hour descent. The zigzagging trail will lead us from the mountaintop to the valley floor as we make our way toward the Hydroelectric station.

We will arrive at the bustling Hydroelectric area (5,905 ft), which marks the end of our main trek. Here, in a quiet spot near the river, our team will be waiting for us with the last delicious lunch of our journey.

! This lunch will be our moment to say goodbye. We will gather the entire group to give a well-deserved and heartfelt round of applause to our incredible chefs from Ali Peru Treks. We will thank them for every delicious meal, for their dedication, and for taking such wonderful care of us throughout the entire trek. It’s an emotional farewell to a fundamental part of our trail family.

After saying our goodbyes, we have one last stretch. You have two options:

• Hike (2.5 – 3 hours): This is the most popular choice. It’s a mostly flat trail that follows the train tracks along the Urubamba River. The views of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu from below are spectacular.
• Train (30 minutes): For those who want to rest their legs, there is an option to take a local train (additional cost).

We will arrive in Aguas Calientes (6,692 ft), the vibrant town at the base of Machu Picchu. We’ll head to our hotel for a well-deserved hot shower and a comfortable rest. In the evening, we will gather for a celebratory dinner ( included) at a local restaurant, where we will toast our incredible achievement and receive the final briefing from our guide for the big day tomorrow. It’s time for an early night—Machu Picchu awaits

• Trekking Distance: Approx. 11 miles / 18 km
• Hiking Time: 8-9 hours (including exploration and lunch)
• Starting Altitude (Lucmabamba): 6,561 ft / 2,000 m
• Maximum Altitude (Llactapata Pass): 9,317 ft / 2,840 m
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging (due to the initial ascent)
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today will be a wonderful day, it is finally time to visit Machu Picchu: After an early breakfast at your hotel you will only have to carry your backpack with everything you need. The hotel will store your luggage for you while you are in Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes approximately 25 minutes, once in Machu Picchu the guide will give you a two hour tour.during this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.you will also have enough time to explore on your own.we recommend you return to Aguas Calientes no later than 2 hours before the departure of your train. The return train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you to take you back to Cuzco and drop you off at your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast