Salkantay Trek Sky Lodge
The Salkantay route to Machu Picchu sleeping one night in the sky camp of Soraypampa
Your dates are not available? We recommend the Inca Trail.
Briefing
The 4-day Salkantay Trek Sky Lodge tour is the preferred alternative for travelers of the classic Salkantay that also has a plus of comfort: sleeping in the Sky Camp of Soraypampa and cabins.
If you ever dreamed of seeing the starry sky of Peru from a sky lodge, read on, cause this tour is for you 😊. In the company of a professional mountain guide, you will trek a total of 60 km, divided into 3 stages. Until you reach the final stage: the Inca city of Machu Picchu. See the complete itinerary below:
Tour details
Included
- Machu Picchu Llaqta Machu Picchu Route Ticket (Circuit 2)
- Briefing
- Private transport
- Expert bilingual guides
- Accommodation
- Camping equipment
- 7 kilos (approx. 15 lbs) of load on mules
- Food (cook in the group)
- Snacks and drinks
- Hygiene products
- First aid kit
- Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- One way bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Not included
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Salkantay entrance (10 soles)*
- All the services offered in the "extras" section
- Return bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
Important information
Since 2021, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture enabled 5 types of official entrances to visit Machu Picchu and it was decided that the visit to the Inca city should be done only by strict unidirectional routes. For this purpose, 4 circuits were created in order to better organize the traffic of travelers inside Machu Picchu, and to preserve and protect the constructions of the archaeological site for the future.
This tour includes the entrance Llaqta of Machu Picchu (Circuit 2) in the first, second or third shift and a guided group visit of 2 hours. If you want to increase your visit time inside Machu Picchu and visit one of the additional areas (Huayna Picchu Mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain or Huchuy Picchu Mountain) it is essential to add the complete corresponding entrance fee to your booking.
- Entrance Ticket Circuito 3 + Montaña Machu Picchu
- Entrance Ticket Circuito 4 + Montaña Huayna Picchu
- Entrance Ticket Circuito 4 + Montaña Huchuy Picchu
✅ From Howlanders we consider it essential to include the additional entrance fee so that travelers who want to visit one of the additional areas of the citadel can enjoy a complete experience in Machu Picchu.
❌ It is not possible to visit two of the additional zones on the same day due to lack of time.
⚡ The availability of tickets to Machu Picchu is very limited and booking two to three months in advance is recommended. Especially if you are traveling in high season.
💡 To learn more about tickets and circuits available in Machu Picchu please contact us.
Cancellation policy
If you cancel more than 7 days in advance we will refund 15% of the amount paid. If you cancel with less time or no-show, no refund will be made.
Tour itinerary
DAY 1 Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha - Humantay Lake - Soraypampa
Walking distance: 6,21 mi. (10 km)
Starting altitude: 12467 ft. (3800 m.)
Maximum altitude: 13780 ft. (4200 m.)
Difficulty: moderate
💫 Accommodation : Sky Camp Soraypampa - Altitude 12795 ft. (3920 m.)
Pick up in Cuzco city
The guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Cuzco at 4:00 am. With the whole group together, you will begin a journey of several hours by car, in which you will enjoy the snowy landscapes of the Salkantay or Humantay mountains.
We will stop in Mollepata for breakfast and, after regaining our strength, we will continue our journey by car until we reach Challancha: the starting point of our trek.
Soraypampa - Humantay Lagoon
Around 9:30 in the morning we will start the trek to Soraypampa. The first part of the trail will take us through deep valleys. After lunch and after a short rest, we will continue to the Humantay Lagoon. Its blue-green waters make it one of the most impressive places in the Andes.
💫 Sky Camp of Soraypampa
We will continue until we reach the imposing Sky Camp of Soraypampa, where for today we will spend the night. On this first night of the 4-day Salkantay Trek, you will sleep in a spectacular Sky Dome (glass igloo) between glacial valleys.
From inside the igloo, you will see the clearest starry sky you have ever seen since at this point there is no light pollution.
DAY 2 Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass (Abra Salkantay) - Huayracmachay – Chaullay
Walking distance: 13,67 mi. (22 km.)
Starting altitude: 12795 ft. (3900 m.)
Maximum altitude: 15190 ft. (4600 m.)
Difficulty: High
🏠 Lodging : Andean cabins in Chaullay - Altitude 9514 ft. (2900 m.)
Salkantay Pass (Abra Salkantay)
Today we will wake up around 5:30 in the morning and after breakfast at the Sky Camp in Soraypampa we will start the hike to the highest point of the trek: the Salkantay Pass, at 15190 ft. (4600 m.). From this summit, we will have spectacular views of the valleys and snow-capped peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo.
Huayracmachay
We will continue the route for 3.1 miles (5 km) downhill to Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will access the more tropical zone called "ceja de selva", also known as "cloud forest". We will walk 6.2 miles (10 km) through a magical semi-tropical forest 🌿.
Chaullay
At the end of this beautiful hike, we arrive at Chaullay, where we will have dinner and spend the night in Andean cabins located in front of a spectacular valley.
DAY 3 Chaullay - La Playa - Santa Teresa - Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
Walking distance: 16,78 mi. (27 km.)
Starting altitude: 9514 ft. (2900 m.)
Maximum altitude: 9514 ft. (2900 m.)
Difficulty: Easy
🚿 Accommodation : Hostel in Aguas Calientes - Altitude 6693 ft. (2040 m.)
Santa Teresa Valley - La Playa
We will wake up early and after breakfast we will start our hike to the small village of La Playa, crossing the Santa Teresa Valley. During the hike, we will see a different ecosystem, composed of rivers, waterfalls, beautiful wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado among the other local crops.
Hidroelectrica
We will also see the village of Colpapampa, known as "the top of the cloud forest" where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will be picked up by a transport that will take us to Hidroelectrica, from where we will continue on foot for another 3 hours following the train line until we reach Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will leave our backpacks at the lodge and take a well-deserved shower after an incredible day of trekking.
Aguas Calientes
Once in Aguas Calientes, you will have free time to rest or visit the town and its market before dinner. At 19:00 we will have dinner together at a local restaurant and coordinate with the Machu Picchu guide to prepare for tomorrow's visit.
DAY 4 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Machu Picchu
Today we will get up early, as one of the most magical moments of the tour awaits us, to see how the clouds clear in Machu Picchu and the sun illuminates the citadel. This tour includes a two-hour guided tour, so you can discover all the secrets of the Inca city. Afterward, you will have free time to visit it on your own.
At the end of the tour, you can decide to go back down to Aguas Calientes on foot or by bus (12 USD).
Aguas Calientes 🚆 Ollantaytambo 🚐 Cuzco
You will have lunch on your own in Aguas Calientes and in the afternoon you will take the train from there to Ollantaytambo. At the train station in Ollantaytambo, a minibus will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Cuzco, where you will arrive approximately between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. (depending on the train schedule).
What to bring to Salkantay Trek Sky Lodge
- Passport and migration card (given by the Immigration Officer upon arrival)
- Sleeping bag (-15°C)
- Walking sticks
- Medium trekking backpack (20 litres)
- Waterproof pants
- Thermal clothing
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm jacket
- Hat or cap
- Hiking boots (waterproof if possible)
- Poncho for the rain
- Sneakers or sport shoes
- Sandals / flip flops
- Swimsuite
- Flashlight and batteries
- Refillable water botle
- Personal hygiene products and medication
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Snacks
- Camera and charger
- Pocket money in soles or USD
Where does the tour Salkantay Trek Sky Lodge start
The tour includes pick up from your accommodation in Cuzco. If your starting point to get to Cuzco is Lima, you can arrive by bus (24 hours of travel) or take a plane that has a journey time of one hour.
If you arrive from Arequipa, the bus ride takes ten hours. You can also choose to make the trip by plane, in this case the only airline that offers direct flights is LATAM Airlines.
If you arrive from Puno the best option is to do it by bus, a journey of six and a half hours. We also offer the possibility of making this journey in a tourist bus that makes stops at the most important places along the way. Departure is at 7:00 in the morning and arrival in Cuzco at 17:30.
Finally, LATAM Airlines operates a direct route Iquitos - Cuzco. This route is not available on a daily basis, so we recommend you check the dates on which it is available to plan your trip.
Questions & Answers
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