Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu | Miyar Adventures
Family backpacking trip
Overnight Backpacking Trips
$545 │ Washington - 2 Days
Aconcagua Climb
Aconcagua Climb
$4995 │ America - 18 Days

Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu

Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu
Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu


PRICE PER PERSON

$2495


DURATION

10 Days


Scheduled Dates
Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu

PRICE PER PERSON

$2495

DURATION

10 Days

SCHEDULED DATES
Custom Dates
DETAILS

Join Us On Machu Picchu Salkantay Trek

Trek into an era bygone - Machu Picchu, the glorious remnant of an awe-inspiring civilization. The ten day trek will offer an unforgettable experience for the adventure lover in you - we would be taking the Salkantay trail that climbs to an altitude of 15000+ feet at Salkantay pass and offers glorious views all around. Prior to the Salkantay trek, we will take two days preparatory hikes in and around Cusco to acclimatize.

Duration
10 Days
Passport
Required with Peru Visa

PRICE BASIS
PRICE INCLUDES

  • All accommodation: hotel in Lima / Cusco, Aguas Calientes, tents during Salkantay trek
  • All transportation: airport pickup and drop in Cusco, transportation during day tours, transport from hotel to trailhead and back for the trek
  • All breakfasts, lunch and dinner during the Salkantay trek. Breakfasts for hotel stays in Cusco and Aguas Calientes. Bottled or boiled water safe for drinking is provided for treks and day trips
  • All park and entrance fees. Two way bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
  • Duffel Bag where you can put personal items you need for the trek, this duffel bag will be accessible at night at campsite, for things that you need during the day you need to have a day back
  • Porters / mules – you only carry small daypack
  • Information sessions and trip preparation assistance
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • International flights to Lima. Domestic flights between Lima and Cusco
  • Lunch and dinner at hotels
  • Gratuities
  • Visa and other travel related expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal gear and equipment including shoes and sleeping bags
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco

You will need to arrive early to Lima to take a domestic flight to Cusco on the same day. There are flights available from Cusco to Lima until evening. We suggest that you are scheduled to arrive Cusco in the afternoon so that there is some safety margin against delays and connection issues. We will pick everyone up from the airport and will be waiting just outside the airport building with a Miyar Adventures sign. Then we will take you to your hotel where you have the rest of the day to take it easy and get acclimatised.

Day 2: Acclimatization and Cusco Tour (11,000 Ft)

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire until the Spanish founded Lima. In Cusco, we will explore several Inca sites including the Koricancha Temple (Temple of the Sun) and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Next we will visit Qenqo, a site built in a natural rock formation which was created to represent the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds. After that we will travel to Puka Pukara, which was a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center and used to protect the nearby temple located at Tambomachay. Our last stop is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water in order to rejuvenate the land. After that we are dropped back to the hotel.

Day 3: Acclimatization and Sacred Valley Tour - Stay in Cusco

We will spend this day on a local tour of Ollantaytambo. The town has been continuously inhabited since Inca times and houses many structures from its distant past. We will also make an excursion to the Pumamarca ruins. We will also have a briefing session for our Salkantay trek post dinner.

Day 4: Salkantay Trek: Cusco to Soraypampa (Drive) and hike to Soyrococha (hike)

Trek start: Soraypampa (3883 m/ 12740 ft)
Trek end: Soyrococha (4400 m/ 14435 ft)

We start at 6:00 am in the morning from our hotel and drive for around 4 hours to Soraypampa, which is the starting point of our trek. On our way, we will stop at the Inca archaeological site called Killarumiyoq. We will also enjoy breakfast here before driving the rest of the way to the starting point of the trail, called Soraypampa. After lunch at Soraypampa, we will start hiking. We will take it gently and in about three hours would reach Soyrococha, our campsite for the day. The campsite offers great views all around. Expect it to be cold and windy though.

Day 5: Salkantay Trek - Soyrococha to Colcapampa

Trek start: Soyrococha (4200 m/ 13780 ft)
Highest point: Salkantay pass (4800 m/ 15748 ft)
Trek end: Colcapampa (2850 m/ 9350 ft)

Our acclimatization sojourn at Cusco would be called into service today as we hike up to highest point of Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu trek, Salkantay pass an hours trek from Soyrococha. The pass offers magnificent views of the Salcantay and Humantay glaciers. We will relish the views for a while and then descend on the other side. We will camp for the night at Colcacampa, that offers great views of the Santa Teresa river and valley below

Day 6: Salkantay Trek - Colcacampa to Lucmabamba

Trek start: Colcapampa (2850 m/ 9350 ft)
Trek end: Lucmabamba (1947 m/ 6388 ft)

We continue our sharp descent on this day. Our surroundings change drastically as we come down in altitude. The vegetation is richer and the scenery much more greener as we approach Playa campsite (2085 m) for lunch. After stopping around for a while, we will descent further to Lucmabamba (1947 m) which would be our campsite for the night. From Playa, the terrain is well inhabited and we have the option of taking a transport part of the way if we so prefer.

Day 7: Salkantay Trek - Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes

Trek start: Lucmabamba (1947 m/ 6388 ft)
Highest point: Llactapata (2705 m/ 8875 ft)
Trek end: Aguas Calientes (2020 m/ 6627 ft)

We have another sharp climb on this day from Lucmabamba to Llactapata, which is a site of Inca ruins. Being higher than Machu Picchu by about 300 meters, Llactapata offers inviting glimpses of the historic site. Beyond Llactapata, it is an easy downhill towards the Hydroelectric station. From here, depending on how how we feel, we can continue a leisurely trek to Aguas Calientes or take a train. We will stay in a hotel in Aguas Caliente and enjoy the create comforts that comes with it. This would be a welcome change after having slept in the camps for the last three nights.

Day 8: Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
We will take a bus early in the morning to Machu Picchu from our hotel. We will try and cover the guided tour of the ruins before rush hour begins at this famed Inca citadel. After the guided tour, we will also some ‘own time’ to explore points of interest on our own. We then drive back to Aguas Calientes and from there take a train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo we will transfer to a hotel in Cusco for the night. Our Salkantay trek combined with Machu Picchu would thus come to an end.
Day 9: Rainbow mountain hike / Shopping in Cusco / Early return

Today is an optional rest day in Cusco that you can use for sightseeing and shopping. It is also possible to plan your return flight on this day. Casual sightseeing and shopping in Cusco would be a relaxing way to end your Machu Picchu adventure. You hotel is covered for the night. Should you decide to return on this day, your trip cost would come down by the hotel price for this night.

For the more adventurous, Rainbow mountain is an interesting day hiking option. Rainbow mountain is a strikingly scenic mount at 16338 feet (4980 meters) formed of colored sediments that lends a unique character to it. To climb Rainbow mountain we will start from our Cusco hotel around 4.00 am as we have a four drivers south of Cusco to the trailhead. We will follow the highway before following a mountain road that passes through traditional villages and fertile valleys. We will have a boxed breakfast and hot drinks at the start of our hike. Please note that Rainbow mountain hike is not covered in your standard package rate.

Day 10: Return from Lima
We leave the Inca’s world today and fly back to the bustle of Lima from where we will make our international departure back home. We will drop you to the airport at Cusco from your hotel depending on your flight schedule.
FAQs
What is accommodation like during the trip?
We will be staying at clean, comfortable hotels (rated 3-Star or above) in Cusco / Ollantaytambo during the acclimatization hike and post trek. For our Machu Picchu leg of the trek, we will stay at a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes. During the Salkantay trek, we will be using spacious tents. We will have separate dining tents and private toilet tents for our use. All accommodation would be on twin share basis.
What meals are provided during the trip? What is the food like?
All meals during trek would be provided. Whenever we stay in a hotel (Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu), breakfast would be provided. During the trek, food would be a mix of Peruvian and International fare. We can accommodate dietary preferences / restrictions like vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc.
Will the water I get be safe for drinking?
Drinking tap water in Peru is not recommended. While traveling (day tours and Salkantay trek), we will provide bottled or boiled and filtered water. In the hotels, you are recommended to use bottled water. You would not need personal water purifiers for this trip.
How much weight would I carry during the trek?
Not much, really. You are not needed to carry food and water as the same would be provided by us. We will have horses / mules to carry your personal stuff also (upto 8 kg per person). You can bring a daypack to bring essential items like travel passport, cash, camera, phone, raingear, sunglasses, bandana, medicines etc.
What are the locations covered during the day tours?
For our local tour of Cusco, we will cover the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay outside the city. We will also cover the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun). Our second day acclimatization is open. We will probably use the day for Pisac ruins and market. Our Sacred valley tour would cover Ollantaytambo and Pumamarca. It is also possible for us to use this day to climb Rainbow mountain if we feel like it after the Salkantay trek.
What are the communication facilities available during the trek?
Cellular connectivity is fairly available throughout the country. Hotels will have Wi-Fi. During the Salkantay trek we will have satellite phone for emergency communication and moderate internet access.
Can we include destinations like Rainbow Mountain and an Amazon Jungle trip as part of our itinerary?

Rainbow mountain can be done as a one day trip. Given the altitude (17000+ ft) we need to be properly acclimatized for this trip. It is possible to do this after the Salkantay trek if the group is feeling healthy and have appetite for more climbing.

Amazon Jungle trip is not covered as part of our itinerary. We can however coordinate with a reliable local agency to facilitate this trip extension. You would need to fly to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco and then the jungle trip will happen in the Tambopata reserve. Depending on room and amenities chosen, this would work out $400-600 per person (excluding domestic flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado) for a 2N / 3D trip. From Puerto Maldonado you can directly fly to Lima for international departure. Please note that Miyar will just coordinate this and pass on the costs directly to you without any markup (and consequently any responsibility) at our end.

Is there a packing list?
We will be sharing a detailed packing list later. In addition to your regular travel essentials, for the trek you can consider:
  • Plastic bags (to keep your clothes dry if it rains).
  • Light long-sleeves shirts.
  • T-shirts. and shorts (for day).
  • Trekking pants.
  • Socks
  • Long Johns
  • Strong footwear, ideally trekking boots.
  • Tennis shoes or light sandals for after the day hike.
  • Warm clothes (jacket, fleece, sweater, wooly hat and gloves).
  • Small towel.
  • Sleeping bag (if you prefer we can rent it).
Will I get altitude sickness on this trek?
Our itinerary is tailored for less active acclimatization days to avoid overexertion and altitude sickness. This has been a highly successful plan to assure everyone is properly acclimatized. We will discuss how to prepare for high altitude trekking before departing for Cusco. Needless to say, proper acclimatization is vital for your safety.
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip. For more information click here.
Can I cancel my booking for this trip?
For the Cancellation Policy Click Here: Cancellation Policy
Do I need a visa for traveling to Peru?
American citizens do not need a visa. Upon arrival they will receive a permit to remain in Peru up to 90 days. Other nationalities may need a visa, please inquire with us.
Read our reviews
Testimonials
  • Alpine Glow on Mt Rainer

    I joined Miyar Adventures for a 4 day backpacking trip at Mt. Rainier. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Sandeep is a very knowledgeable guide that is willing to go the extra mile in order to make sure everyone in the group has a good time. I'm looking forward to joining them for another adventure in the future!

    Min W
  • Misty Forest in Mt Rainier National Park

    Climbed Mount Rainier with Miyar Adventures. What an incredible experience! I hadn't hiked for 9 years, but was able to train for Mount Rainier under Sandeep's guidance. Thanks to Miyar's guides (Alexis, Chris, Ben) the final climb to summit felt so safe and non-strenuous. During our climb RMI group crossed us just after Camp Miur and I could hear people already panting and breathing heavily. After sometime I saw few people from RMI group returning back as they couldn't keep pace. However with Sandeep and his team of guides, all of us summited without any pressure. Sandeep and his team have many years of mountaineering experience, and they know how to make it not only safe but also enjoyable.

    Anand Sarda
  • Three climbers in front of cloud on Mt Baker

    Went on a 4-day backpacking trip to Mount Rainier with Miyar Advantures and Sandeep.  It was a great experience! Sandeep was a great guide who was not only knowledgeable and helpful but genuinely fun to be around.  The trip has sparked my interest in further challenges and adventures, and I think it is safe to say that Miyar Adventures is the first place I will look for my next big one!

    David Magana
  • Misty Forest in Mt Rainier National Park

    I am new to mountaineering, and Sandeep made the learning experience FUN, safe and informative. He goes the extra mile to make sure you are comfortable and get the most from the experience. I climbed with two of his EXCELLENT guides on Mt Adams, and with Sandeep on Mt Rainer. I look forward to Kilimanjaro this December. A TOP NOTCH company!

    Lisa Walker
  • Mountaineering

    I was part of a group that has done several climbs with Sandeep as a leader. Sandeep takes great care of his clients and knows when to push you and advise you on areas where you need to work. Sandeep takes great care to ensure safe climbs and a fun time for the participants! Go with Miyar if you want to be challenged and grow in a safe environment!

    Filipp Demenschonok
  • Looking down during climbing Aconcagua

    I've known the owner of Miyar Adventures for a few years and he's one of the best climbers I know. He's helped with other climbs I've been a part of even before forming the company and definitely knows his stuff. He also works hard (really hard) to keep costs down compared to other larger companies. I took the Denali Prep course in Summer 2015. Our Denali guide presented how to rig a sled and we did real crevasse rescue in a real crevasse. I had had some training in related areas, but I still learned a ton every minute from our guide. The course is still ongoing and I'm looking forward to the student-led climb! Can't wait to try Denali and a winter ascent of Rainier! I have friends that did Kilimanjaro and the accompanying Safari. While I didn't go, everyone said it was great and well organized.

    Rob Miller
  • Stella To Summit

    Loved the Denali Prep Course offered through Miyar, and the awesome guides that we had. They were extremely knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. They made sure that every one of us received individual attention and got the chance to learn everything that we were supposed to learn. They answered all our questions, gave very useful advice on various things, and had a great attitude/were very patient, both with us and the weather :). I had a great experience with them! And most importantly, I felt very safe climbing with them. The crevasse rescue practice was done very safely with plenty of anchors, and during the summit push, the guides were skilled enough to make the call to turn back due to the conditions being bad - which turned out to be a good decision, since a whiteout came in soon after we turned back. Regarding the course itself, everything was very well planned and went smoothly. The course was structured and paced very well. I loved the flexibility in scheduling, and appreciate the trouble that Miyar (especially Sandeep) took in order to be flexible! I learned a lot through the course and it was a great experience!

    Akshay Kulkarni
  • Kavitha

    I joined Sandeep on a climb to the highest free-standing mountain in the world - Kilimanjaro in Africa not quite knowing what that meant or what was involved and gained more than what I could have ever imagined. It was a rather long climb and the last day was very tiresome for me. Sandeep continued to encourage me when I was tired and truly exhausted and felt like I could not move an inch. Thanks to that, I did end up summiting and got safely back down to basecamp. I truly appreciated how the climb was coordinated by Sandeep with the guides and porters and it was really pain free for the clients with great food and all conveniences one can expect on a mountain. The pre-planning and gear check sessions all helped me immensely and thought the price was by far the best I had observed for the services provided.

    After having been part of climbs with other leaders, I think Sandeep's climbs are very accommodative to a wide set of climbers with varied skill set and preferences. I highly recommend his climbs and would definitely join on future climbs to some of the most beautiful places in the world.

    Kavitha
  • Danny

    Kilimanjaro was my first mountain excursion outside of the US. I was equally excited and nervous. Sandeep and Miyar Adventures set up the most phenomenal trip I could have imagined! The plan fell perfectly into place upon arrival: hotels were lovely, food was delicious and the mountain guides were marvelous. Sandeep left nothing out when coordinating all of this. He was also available for the months prior to the departure to meet and make sure we had the correct flight plans, gear and clothing, vaccinations, passports, visas and any thing else we might need. Lastly, Sandeep set up local hiking treks prior to our big trip to ensure that we are all physically ready for the trip and so that we may meet one another before the big climb. I know this is a long review, but I wish I could write even more! I felt so comfortable in the hands of Sandeep and Miyar Adventures the entire time! There is nothing that could have gone better and I will certainly be booking another trip with this company soon!

    Danielle Stadler