Salkantay Treks

When you travel on a Salkantay Trek enjoy all the beauty and majesty of the Andean Mountain range. See spectacular glaciers and visit 2 turquoise clear lakes. Experience the best and most relaxing campsite with the best views. Visit a coffee plantation where you can see the whole coffee process and enjoy a tasty brew. Soak in the incredible hot springs to relieve your tired muscles. On a Salkantay trek experience the incredible views of Machu Picchu from Llactapata Ruins. Below see the different Salkantay treks on offer at Orange Nation Peru.

2 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soyroccocha

This spectacular trek begins with an early pick up at 5:00 am. Our journey to Soraypampa will take about 3.5 hours in our van to the starting point of the trek. On the journey you will see the indigenous villages of Iscuchaca and Limatambo and some excellent views of the valley and the snow capped peak of Salkantay. Firstly, embark on an hour hike up to Humantay Lake while enjoying the amazing views around us. Arrive at Humantay Lake and it’s time to take many pictures! Take the time to explore the lake and its beautiful surroundings. Head back to the trailhead of Soraypampa before making our way to our campsite Soyroccocha.

Day 2: Soyroccocha – Salkantay Pass – Glacial lake Colpapampa – Cusco

A hearty and delicious hot breakfast will served before starting our trek which is a moderate climb of approximately 1 hour to the highest point of the trek (4,650m / 15,367ft). We will then take a break and enjoy the view of Salkantay (6,217m/ 20, 717ft), Humantay and Huayanay glacier-covered mountains.

Take a side trek for half an hour to enjoy the panoramic views and the shockingly turquoise Salkantay Lake. Returning to the trek, we hike down to the trailhead again, where we have lunch, and then we take our private van back to Cusco, arriving around 6pm in the evening. Time to celebrate!

4 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Apacheta Pass – Salkantay Lake – Huayracmachay

Pick up at 4:30am from your hotel and drive for 3 hours to the Soraypampa trailhead. Travel along enjoying passing through the villages of Iscuchaca and Limatambo. Enjoy the surrounding valleys and the views of the snow-capped Salkantay Mountain. Arrive at the trailhead, where we have breakfast while enjoying the views of the glaciers of Mount Humantay (5,900m/19,356ft) and Mount Salkantay (6,217m / 20,396ft). Gradually climb through Andean valley landscapes before arriving at Sorococcha (4,400m / 14,517ft) for lunch. Onwards and upwards for one more hour we reach Apacheta Pass (4,650m / 15,367ft). A short 35-minute hike takes us to the turquoise Salkantay Lake. After lunch, we have a one hour uphill hike before arriving at our first campsite at Soroccocha located at the foot of the great Salkantay Mountain. 

Day 2: Huayracmachay – Chaullay – La Playa

After a hearty breakfast, descend for 3 hours to the rural community of Chayllay.  On the trek enjoy the refreshing lush green valleys and spectacular waterfalls. After lunch, walk for 5 hours through the Peruvian cloud forest, enjoying fruit bearing trees and varied flora and birds. Admiring the undulating hills of coffee, cacao and fruit plantations, arrive at Lucmabamba, where we spend the second night (2,050m/6,767ft). In the afternoon, We browse the fields, learning about the different types of beans and picking our own. 

Day 3: La Playa – Llactapata Inca ruins – HidroElectrica – Aguas Calientes

After the last delicious breakfast prepared by our chef, continue along the ancient and remote Inca Trail for 3 hours to the Puncuyoc Pass (2,700m/8,858ft). Marvel at the incredible views and long valleys reaching into the distance with their fruit plantations. Arrive to Llactapata Inca Ruins; located directly across from Machu Picchu! Take time to enjoy the strategic location of the Citadel of Machu Picchu from across the canyon and admire the surrounding mountains Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu and the Aobamba Canyon. Take the train for a half hour to Aguas Calientes where we sleep in a hotel.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

After an early breakfast at your hotel, get an early bus at 5:30am up to Machu Picchu just in time to witness the sunrise. It is a truly mystical place and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will provide a tour of Machu Picchu, which takes around two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu during the tour. The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van.

5 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soyroccocha

On the drive take in some beautiful villages like Iscuchaca qne Limatambo, see valleys and the spectacular Salkantay mountain.  At the Soraypampa trailhead enjoy a hot breakfast prepared by our chef, enjoying the views of Humantay (5,900m/19,356ft) and Salkantay (6,217m/20,396ft) glaciers. Begin the trek with a 2.5 hour hike to see the turquoise Humantay Lake.  After lunch, hike before arriving at our first campsite, Soroccocha located at the foot of the great Salkantay Mountain. Relax with a coffee or hot chocolate while enjoying the amazing views.

Day 2: Soyroccocha – Salkantay Pass – Glacial lake – Colpapampa

This morning within an hour reach the highest point of the trek (4,650m/15,367ft). Find nature at its purest form while in awe of the snow-capped mountains, Salkantay (6,217m/20,717ft), Humantay, Huayanay. Take a while to enjoy the panoramic and truly exquisite turquoise Salkantay Lake. Hike down to Rayanniyoc for lunch, which is again prepared by our chef. After we finish, we trek for 2 more hours to the small village of Colpapampa. 

Day 3: Colpapampa – Lucmabamaba – Hot springs

Something totally different,  within 3 hours of walking, enjoy the start of the lush tropical rainforest, the bountiful fruit bearing trees, coffee and cacao trees. Witness the inviting fruit plantations with their flowering orchids and see the abundance of birdlife that inhabit the forest. Tour a coffee plantation adjacent to the campsite. Explore the fields and learn about the different varieties of beans. Later you will be able to pick, roast, and grind your freshly picked beans.  Enjoy brewing your own coffee. Around 3pm, travel by local transport for 30mins to the natural hot springs at Cocalmayo. Here we can soak our tired bodies in the natural, medicinal hot springs provided by Mother Nature.

Day 4: Lucmabamba – LLAQTAPATA – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes

This will be our chef’s last delicious breakfast for us, after saying goodbye we continue along the ancient and remote Inca Trail for 3 hours to the Puncuyoc Pass (2,700m/8,858ft). Arrive at Llactapata Inca Ruins, located in front of Machu Picchu where you may enjoy its views and surrounding mountains – Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu and the Aobamba Canyon. Descend for 2 hours to the Hydroelectric plant, the primary power. Then it’s the last leg of the journey walking to Aguas Calientes through the National Park of Machu Picchu, tonight sleep in the comfort of a hotel.

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

After an early breakfast at your hotel, we are ready to get an early bus at 5:30am up to Machu Picchu just in time to witness the sunrise, not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will provide a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes around two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel during your tour. The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van.

Humantay Lake & Salkantay Trek

The Humantay Lake Trek is a very scenic 2-day hike to Humantay Lake through the indigenous villages of Iscuchaca and Limatambo which still hold on to their ancient traditions. The lake is situated at the base of the glacier covered Salkantay Mountain Range. On the second day, you hike to the highest point of the trek (4,650m / 15,367ft). From this vantage point, you can take in nature at its purest, while enjoying the massive Salkantay, Humantay, and Huayanay snowcapped mountains surrounding you. Finally, you take a detour off the main trail to the panoramic and truly exquisite turquoise Salkantay Lake.

5.0

2 days - 1 nights

Price fromusd 297 View Itinerary

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days & 3 Nights

This is an alternative route to the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu which will take you through incredible landscapes with various types of exotic flora and fauna. A unique and specially designed 4-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, with incomparable views of the snow-capped Humantay and Salkantay Mountains. Trek off the beaten path, following our unique route where you visit two incredible crystal clear glacial lakes. Hike through the Andes Mountains and camp at our private sites which are more remote, less crowded and off the typical path. Follow the remote foot path up to the forgotten Inca Ruins of LLACTAPATA with the greatest view of Machu Picchu. Orange Nation is the best choice if you want to enjoy the Salkantay trek in Peru with specialists in creating unique routes, with our customized treks to Machu Picchu like the Salkantay trek, which many tour operators do not offer.

5.0

4 days - 3 nights

Price fromusd 547 View Itinerary