Salkantay to Machu Picchu 4 days

The journey begins early, around 4:30 a.m., with travelers being picked up from their accommodations in Cusco. Our group, along with the guide and cook, departs for Mollepata (3,400 m.a.s.l.), making stops in the picturesque villages of Izcuchaca and Limatambo.

After an optional breakfast in Mollepata, we continue on to Soraypampa, where the hike begins. Here, while the team prepares the pack mules, there is an air of excitement and adventure.

At around 9:00 a.m., we will begin the hike to Lake Humantay, where we will spend some time admiring the view and taking photos. We will then return to Soraypampa for lunch.

After lunch and a short rest, the hike to the camp at Salkantaypampa (4,210 m.a.s.l.) begins. The hike takes about 90 minutes.

At camp, we enjoyed a delicious dinner as the sun set behind the mountains. Seeing the starry sky of Salkantaypampa, free from light pollution, is one of those moments that reconciles you with the universe.

The second day is known as the most challenging, but also the most impressive. We will wake up at 5:00 a.m. for an energy-packed breakfast before tackling the route to Abra Salkantay (4,630 m.a.s.l.).

During the three-hour climb, the air becomes colder and each step requires concentration. However, the view from the pass is absolutely breathtaking: the majestic Nevado Salkantay rises before you, along with other imposing peaks such as Humantay and Tucarhuay.

During the hike, we will perform an Andean ceremony at the summit, asking permission from the Apus (mountain spirits) to continue our journey. It will be a very special moment, full of symbolism.

Then, we begin the descent to Huayracmachay (3,800 m.a.s.l.), where we will have lunch and rest briefly. The afternoon is more relaxed, as the trail descends into the high jungle. Here, the landscape begins to change radically: from arid mountains, we move on to the greenery of the Cloud Forest, with lush vegetation and a more temperate climate.

Finally, we arrived at the camp in Colpapampa (2,870 meters above sea level) for a well-deserved dinner and a good night’s sleep after the most demanding day.

The third day begins in the middle of the cloud forest, a place where fog and jungle blend together to create a mystical atmosphere. After an early breakfast, we begin our hike to Sahuayaco Beach (2,064 meters above sea level).

Here, the trail offers incredible scenes: orchids, bromeliads, and coffee plantations that perfume the air. Here we can see how local communities grow organic coffee and tropical fruits, generating a positive impact on their economy.

After lunch at Playa Sahuayaco, we will take transportation to Hidroeléctrica (1,890 meters above sea level). From there, the last part of the journey will be by train for 45 minutes, until we reach Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).

The excitement grows as we approach the village, knowing that the next day we will visit the jewel of the trip. That night we had dinner together at a local restaurant, where the guide gave us the final instructions for the visit to Machu Picchu.

The last day is the most eagerly awaited moment: the visit to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. We get up very early to catch the bus that takes us up to the entrance, a journey of about 30 minutes.

Once at the entrance to Machu Picchu (2,430 meters above sea level), we begin the guided tour of its temples, plazas, and viewpoints. Walking among these perfectly assembled structures is something difficult to describe. Personally, I felt a deep spiritual connection, as if all the effort of the previous days had been a journey of self-discovery.

During the approximately 2-hour tour, we will discover the secrets of Inca architecture, the history of the city, and its ceremonial functions.

After the visit, we will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and a well-deserved rest before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo, where private transportation will be waiting to take us to Cusco.