Salkantay Trek Glamping Sky Lodge 5-Day Tour

*Tour briefing (tour briefing)

The day before the tour starts you will have a meeting with the guide and the rest of the group to prepare the trek and clarify any doubts, during the briefing you will be given the exact pick up time according to your accommodation.

Transfer from Cusco

The tour starts early, with pick up from your hotel between 04:30 and 05:00. After a two-hour drive, you will arrive at Mollepata (2,803 meters altitude) for breakfast and advice from your guide. Then, you will continue to Challacancha, where you will join the support team to start the 5-day Salkantay Trek in Sky Domes.

Soraypampa - Lunch

After checking your gear, you will begin a hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m), where you will spend the night in the exclusive Sky Domes. The trail from Challacancha overlooks Andean glaciers and a restored Inca canal.

Upon arrival, the team will greet you with freshly brewed coffee and tea. After settling into your Sky Dome, you will enjoy lunch with fresh local ingredients in the camp dining room. Remember that accommodations are shared, if you prefer private accommodations please contact us.

Hike to Humantay Lake

After lunch, you will embark on a 3 km hike to the Humantay glacier lake, located at 4,200 m altitude. The round trip takes about three hours, allowing you to walk at your own pace and admire the impressive Andean landscape.

Upon arrival, you will be able to contemplate the views while the guide shares the relevance of the lake in Andean mythology.

Soraypampa Camp

After descending to the camp, you will enjoy a sunset dinner in the dining dome. To close the day, you will settle into your Sky Dome and rest under the spectacular starry sky of the Andes.

Breakfast at Camp

Start an epic day on the Salkantay Trek waking up with the first rays of sunlight over your Sky Dome and the imposing Salkantay peak as a backdrop. You will enjoy coffee or tea accompanied by a protein-packed Andean breakfast, ideal to prepare you for the trek to the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 masl.

Abra Salkantay Pass

You will hike the famous "Path of the Seven Serpents," named for the seven switchbacks that lead to the Salkantay Pass at 4,650m. Although the altitude makes this section more demanding, you will advance calmly following the guide's indications, allowing you to catch your breath and admire the imposing Andean peaks.

The Salkantay, the second highest mountain in Cusco, is an Apu or sacred spirit in Andean mythology. Locals perform rituals such as the K'intu, where locals make offerings in search of blessings.

Goal reached! From the top, you will enjoy spectacular views of the Humantay, Taucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains.

Collpapampa Camp.

The trek will take us through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha to a small lagoon. From that point we will begin a 3 hour descent to Wacracmachay (3,800 meters / 12,470 feet), where we will have a break for lunch. Then we will continue descending for 3 more hours until we reach Collpapampa camp.

Collpapampa Camp

End of the day's trek! Upon arrival at the camp in Collpapampa, the team will assist you to settle into your Sky Dome, where you will spend the second night. Afterwards, you will join the group to enjoy dinner in the dining room. After a day full of adventures, a well-deserved rest awaits you.

Breakfast at Camp

The team will wake you up at 06:00 a.m. After enjoying a cup of coffee, you will be served breakfast in the common dining room.

The third day of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is relatively more relaxed. You will hike through the Santa Teresa Valley, home to several farms. The trek will begin by crossing the Lluscamayo River to La Playa, walking for about six hours. The area is also known for its avocado, banana and coffee plantations. If you are lucky, you may spot the emblematic Cock of the Rock, Peru's national bird.

Llucmabamba Camp

After lunch, you will visit some farms in the area in the company of your guide. Optionally, if you have time, you can spend the afternoon relaxing in the natural hot springs of Colcamayo. The guide will give you all the necessary indications to enjoy this activity.

Later, you will return to the camp where you will be served dinner and finally settle into your Sky Dome to enjoy a refreshing rest.

Breakfast at the camp

At 08:00 AM, you will have breakfast and then begin the hike following a section of the Inca Trail. You will climb up the hill to admire the Llactapata Inca complex, at 2,700 m, where you will have a closer view of Machu Picchu.

This will be the first Inca archaeological site you will visit on the 5-day trek. The guide will explain the site and its importance, immersing you in Andean history and culture.

Hydroelectric

You will hike downhill for an hour and a half with a distant view of the peak of Machu Picchu. You will stop for lunch at Hidroeléctrica at 1,800 m, a place named after the artificial waterfall used to generate electricity.

Hot Springs

After lunch, you will have two options:

1. Walk along the train tracks, following in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham III, who rediscovered Machu Picchu. The hike lasts three hours and takes you through the rainforest, with breathtaking views at every turn.
2. Take a 45-minute train to Aguas Calientes, for an additional cost.

If you choose to hike, which we recommend, you will have the opportunity to see the Intihuatana, a sundial-shaped rock that the Incas used to read the winter solstice, and which is linked to the stone of the Machu Picchu citadel, which you will visit the next day.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will stay in a hotel with private bathroom. After a well-deserved rest, you will meet with the group for dinner and coordinate the next day's visit to Machu Picchu.

Breakfast in Aguas Calientes

After breakfast at the hotel and at the agreed time (according to the schedule of your entrance to Machu Picchu) the guide will pick you up to start the way to Machu Picchu. The route between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu takes approximately 2 hours with a drop of 400 meters and if you prefer you can buy tickets and go up by minibus.

Visit to Machu Picchu

The most awaited moment has arrived!

Once at Machu Picchu, your guide will take you to the most iconic panoramic viewpoint to snap the classic photo of the citadel. Then, you'll explore the main areas on a guided tour lasting about 2.5 hours, where you'll dive into the history and culture of this breathtaking Andean site.

After the guided tour, you'll have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. If you'd like, you can hike up Huayna Picchu Mountain (2 hours) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3 hours). These hikes must be booked in advance due to limited availability and have an additional cost of $65 USD per person.

Aguas Calientes

After the visit to Machu Picchu you will return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time to have lunch and explore the town.

Return to Cusco

The exact time of your train will depend on the time of your entrance to Machu Picchu and availability. You will board the iconic Machu Picchu tourist train, and in an hour and a half you will arrive in Ollantaytambo. When you arrive at the station, they will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.