(Exploring Humantay Lake and Hiking on Original Inca Trail to LLactapata Incan Site) Where you will see Machupicchu. A great Alternative Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu by Hiking and glamping in Eco Sky Dome National Geographic Adventure Magazine rated the Salkantay trek as one for the 25 Best Treks in the World. Mount Salkantay (or Nevado Salkantay / Salcantay) is one of the most iconic mountains in the Cusco region and the highest mountain on the Vilcabamba Mountain range.

Hikkers on the Salkantay trail spend a day approaching the mountain from the south and then another day in close proximity to the mountain as they scale the Salkantay Pass, which at 4,600m provides amazing views into the valley below. Salkantay trek of 4 days and 3 nights is a great adventure that will allow you to appreciate Andean and lush green mountains (Cloud forest), streams, rivers and hot springs that will help you relax your body after the physically taxing walk. You can also feel the temperature change along the hiking mountain paths of the tour of Salkantay. You can also enjoy some snow in one of the highest points of the road, 4,630 mts/15, 228 feet above sea level. Finally, the last day (the fifth day) you will enjoy the Grand tour of Machu Picchu City.

STARTING POINT : Pick-up from Cusco & Sacred Valley Hotel/Airbnb. From 4:30 am to 5:00 am
ENDING POINT: Drop-off in Cusco at Hotel/Airbnb 10:30 pm
DEPARTURE: Daily. If you are a group of 02 we depart (No matter if you have paid as large group service). We NEVER pass our people onto another operator as most agencies do here in cusco
HIKING DISTANCE: 60.5 km / 37.5 ml
PHYSICAL LEVEL: Level 3. Salkantay Trek requires some physical preparation and we Also recommend to Aclimatize 2 days before we begin the Salkantay Trek
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,630 m / 15,228 ft
TRANSPORTATION: Private Van/Bus to Challacancha (for our Passengers and staff) Tourist Expedition Train Back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and Bus back to Cusco
ACCOMMODATIONS: 02 nights in Green Eco Sky Dome (Private Campsite of Domes at Soraypampa, Chaullay and Loreta La Playa), 01 Camping Tent & 1 night in the hotel (Aguas Calientes)
PORTERING/HORSEBACK SERVICE: 7 Kilos/14 Pounds Extra Portering service is included. We will provide you a duffel bag for your personal Stuff and (This will be carried by the porter or Horses), Water Bottle, Rain Poncho & Salkantay T-shirt at the briefing time
MEALS: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, 3 tea times + wake-up teas
MACHUPICCHU: Machupicchu entrance fee Included.

Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa
Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay
Day 3: Chaullay – Lluscamayo – La Playa Loreta (Coffe Experience)
Day 4: La Playa Loreta – Lucmabamba – Llactapata incan site – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Why Choose Quechuas Expeditions?

We are 100% Peruvian Company (The Best Local Tour Operator)
We have the best top GUIDES in the Region
We have the best Cheffs/ Cooks
We have our own private campsites SKY LODGE DOMES (And we work with responsability protecting the natural area) Exclusive Salkantay Campsites for our passengers only
We are a reliable and certified company
Small Groups and Memorable Lifetime Experiences 100% Guarantee
We have special Itinerary to avoid the crowds and so many surprises to make your SALKANTAY trip memorable!!!

Sleep in comfort under the stars in our Ecofriendly Sky Green Eco Domes located in private campsite at Soraypampa and Loreta Campsite. Best Campsites Along the the Salkantay Trek.
Day 1: Private Soraypampa Campsite at our Green Eco SKY DOME
Day 2: Private Chaullay Campsite at Campin Tents
Day 3: Private Loreta La Playa Campsite at our Green Eco SKY DOME
Day 4: Aguas Calientes Hotel
Visit Humantay Lake and Salkantay Lake
Hike the Original Inca Trail to LLactapata Incan site to see Machupicchu.
Enjoy the scenic views of Salkantay Snow Mountain
Make a small ritual for the Andean gods and learn about Incan religion
Enjoy our friendly customer service and experienced top guides
Eat delicious, freshly prepared Peruvian cuisine (Buffet Peruvian Style Food)
Hike through the different types of landscapes and Sceneries, such as cloud forests, highlands, grassy hills, and Andean valleys
Reach 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) in elevation along the Salkantay Pass
Explore Machu Picchu and the surrounding area with expert and knowledgeable tour top guides
Hike one of National Geographic’s 25 “World’s Best Treks”
Please, Note: We need at least 02 of you and Leave any day you suit. All Departures 100% Guaranteed If You’re Booked, You are Going !!! To Confirm and Secure the Inca Trail Permits. Send us the filled out booking form as well as a deposit of 30% and you are ready to go…
Please Note: For travellers who don’t have many days to hike, or for those who doesn’t feel fit enought to hike the Salkantay of 4 days. We have a great alternative salkantay trek and Humantay lake of 3 days conecting to machupicchu by train from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes. or salkantay and humantay lake 2 days sleeping in our domes.

Tourist Transportation
Bus From Cusco to Challancha (Trailhead))
Briefing/Bilingual Guide
Briefing of the trip a Night before. Guide Service for 5 Days
Accomodation
02 Nights in Luxury Sky Domes (Private shower & Bathroon inside) 01 Night Camping Tent, 01 Night Hotel
Meals
04 Breakfast, 04 Lunches, 04 Dinners
Horses & Horsemen
6 kilos allowance for passengers personal belongings as well as to carry all food & Equipment
Camping Equipment
Camping Tents & Sleeping Mats on Night 2
Cook / Cheff
A cook who is in charge of making the meals along the trek
Machupicchu entry fee
Machupicchu Entrance fee and a guided visit on day 5
Train Return
Train back ticket on day 5 after exploring Machupicchu city
Vegetarian Option
Vegetarian/Vengan Food with no extra cost, send us your dietary requierments
Duffel Bag
you will be provided a duffel at the briefing time a night before we leave. so you can pack your personal stuff
Survivor T-shirt
Free “I survived” T-shirt and certificate (only for PEOPLE who successfully complete the trek!!!)

Salkantay Trek Returning by Train

Deposit:$200

Available until 1 days before departure

If you choose a Train back you will return by train from aguas calientes to ollantaytambo and then bus back to cusco. train subject to availability

$580

Deposit:$200

Salkantay Trek Returning by Bus

Deposit:$200

Available until 1 days before departure

If you choose a Bus back you will return by bus from Hidroelectrica Power station and drive back to cusco for 7 hours. you must be at 2:30pm at that station and walk by yourself

$510

Deposit:$200

Sleeping Bag (Goose down)

$25

Goose Down Mummy style Sleeping Bag

Walking Poles

$25

We will Provide you Proper Aluminum Poles with rubber tips included

Day Back Pack (30-40 Liters)

$20

We will provide you this backpack with rain cover

Huaynapicchu Mountain (See Availability)

$90

Huaynapicchu Mountain Tickets are Subjet to Availability. we will confirm with you post-booking if there are tickets available)

Machupicchu Mountain(See Availability)

$90

Machupicchu Mountain Tickets are Subjet to Availability. we will confirm with you post-booking if there are tickets available)

Upgraded Vistadome (First Class Train)

$60

If you upgrade to Vistadome Train (Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) There will be a Private Tranfers from Ollantaytambo to your hotel

Upgraded to 3 stars hotel (Night 4)

$40

You will stay in a Hotel of 3 stars (based on double, triple Room) Price is per person

Day 1
Day 1
Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa

We pick you up from your hotel Between 4:30 a.m to 500 am to drive for about 2 and half hours to Mollepata where we stop to have breakfast and after we will keep driving to challacancha where we start hiking and as Soon as we are at challacancha the cook and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we start hiking the first 25 minutes will be a little bit uphill to get the Water Channel where we will have a nice place with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – just the start! We will begin our Salkantay trek towards Soraypampa our first Salkantay Trek camping spot (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) we will be very close to the second highest Salkantay snow capped -mountain of Cusco. Then after Lunch we will go to Humantay Lake and explore around and the we will walk down to our best Sky Lodge Dome campsite of soraypampa.

Day 1: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 7-8 hours
Maximum altitude point: 3,800 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 3,800 m (aprox.)
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day 2
day 2
Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huaracmachay – Chaullay

After having our Salkantay Trek breakfast we start walking about 6:30 am ,because this day will be the longest day the first 4 hours is uphill to get the highest point of the Salkantay Trek (4650m/15200ft) located halfway between 2 huge mountains; Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. From the pass, the views of the 2 snow-capped mountains are incredible. There is a possibility of snow here. After a rest, we will continue our walk (downhill) through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, where we will have lunch. We hike again after lunch in the direction of the start of the jungle until we reach our second Salkantay Trek camping spot of chaullay or Colcapampa (3000m/9800ft).

Day 2: Total distance: 19 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 8 – 9 hours
Maximum altitude point: 4,650 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 2,750 m (aprox.)
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Day 3
Day 3
Chaullay – LLuscamayo – Loreta La Playa Sahuayaco

After breakfast, at 6.30am, we start walking through the upper jungle crossing the Lluskamayo River and a variety of little brooks to reach La Playa walking about 6 hours. Today we will pass through valleys and have wonderful views of waterfalls, tropical fruits ,plants and as soon as we are at la playa we will have lunch and then we will rest and camp at la Playa.

(Optional: in the afternoon there is a chance to go to the hot spring of colcalmayo ist has an extra cost that you can see once you are there)

Day 3: Total distance: 16 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours
Maximum altitude point: 2,750 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 1,600 m (aprox.)
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day 4
day 4
Loreta – Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

We will have breakfast at 8am and leave our camping spot of Lluscamayo. We walk up on a original Inca Trail to Llactapata site where you will get a chance to see Machupicchu far away (one of the most beautiful place to see Machupicchu) then We continue walking, passing a variety of crop plantations, coca, banana etc. until we reach the hydroelectric station. And after the lunch we keep walking about two and half hours along the train road till reaching Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in a hostel. In Aguas Calientes, you can take advantage of the thermal springs in the town (entrance 10 soles) a real treat after finishing the Salkantay Trek

Day 4: Total distance: 12 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 5 – 6 hours
Maximum altitude point: 1,600 m (aprox.)
Hostel(aguas calientes) altitude: 1,900 m (aprox.)
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Day 5
Day 5
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Salkantay trek important day ,We wake up early morning about 4 am to then to 4:30 to have the breakfast and leave to walk up to Machupicchu which takes one and half hours up to machupicchu but there is another option to catch the first bus which leaves 5:30 to Machupicchu (25-minutes long) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the sun is rising. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your Guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45 minutes to reach the top.and after enjoying machupicchu you have to go down to aguas calientes to take the train back to ollantaytambo and then bus back cusco.

and those who return by bus they will have to walk back from Machupicchu to Hidroelectrica to take the bus back(you must be between 2:30pm to 3:00pm)

Day 5: Total distance: 4 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hours
Maximum altitude point: 2,700 m (aprox.)
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Day 1

Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa

We pick you up from your hotel Between 4:30 a.m to 500 am to drive for about 2 and half hours to Mollepata where we stop to have breakfast and after we will keep driving to challacancha where we start hiking and as Soon as we are at challacancha the cook and the horseman will pack all the camping equipment and cooking stuff and we start hiking the first 25 minutes will be a little bit uphill to get the Water Channel where we will have a nice place with panoramic views of beautiful snow-capped mountains (Humantay; 4120m/13500ft and Salkantay; 6271m/20575ft) – just the start! We will begin our Salkantay trek towards Soraypampa our first Salkantay Trek camping spot (3800 m/11750ft; the highest and coldest campsite of the trip) we will be very close to the second highest Salkantay snow capped -mountain of Cusco. Then after Lunch we will go to Humantay Lake and explore around and the we will walk down to our best Sky Lodge Dome campsite of soraypampa.

Day 1: Total distance: 15 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 7-8 hours
Maximum altitude point: 3,800 m (aprox.)
Campsite altitude: 3,800 m (aprox.)

Quechuas Expeditions Peru

21 reviews

Quechuas Expeditions is a travel agency in cusco which its first objective is the conservation the Inca Culture and the ecological preservation of the planet. Our tours are extremely flexible according to what the client wishes to get out of his/her trip. They range regular between 4 to 8 days in length, but it can be extended for more days. Quechuas expeditions have professional multilingual guides (including the manager), local guides working as tour assistants who also participate in the expeditions, professional cooks

We ended up doing the 3 day / 2 night Inca Trail Challenge that Quechas Expeditions offers and it was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. Fernando, our guide, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about everything historical and technical. He made sure we were well equipped and comfortable the whole journey, and helped make this a unique experience we’ll remember forever. Armando “Taco”, our chef, would not be out of place at any of Peru’s finest restaurants. The food was plentiful and genuinely full of flavor, and each meal was unique. The food never went to waste when we couldn’t finish either. Lastly, the porters were top notch. The crew was extremely professional and polite, their hard work made all the difference. Even with the fast-paced 3 day hike, they kept up without any complaints! We also did the Hauyna Picchu Mountain hike once we were at Machu Picchu. It is a very steep, rather difficult hike especially once you have already done multiples days before. Took about 1.5 hours in total but we were moving quick. The top is a very rewarding review of Machu Picchu and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a little extra challenge. I would 100% recommend Quechas Expeditions to anyone considering the Inca Trail hike, and if we ever return we will certainly do another experience through them!

By Joseph M for 3 Day Inca Trail to Machupicchu KM 82 Challenge on Feb 04, 2025

Our Guide, Belisario, was phenomenal. His knowledge and personal service all along the way, made this an unforgettable experience. The food was superior, and our itinerary allowed us to travel this trail completely by ourselves with a peaceful serenity. Top Notch!!

By Carrie H for 3 Day Inca Trail to Machupicchu KM 82 Challenge on Nov 12, 2024

AMAZING time on this ATV tour. It started with a quick lesson on the quads and then a drive through town to see to Morays. After that, we had transportation to the Salt Museum and then the Salt Mines. It was a great way to explore these two sites!

By Kelly S for PAYMENT FOR ATV TOUR X7 TRAVELERS on Oct 07, 2024

Machupicchu and Aguas Calientes is a great, once in a lifetime trip! However, we strongly advise booking with a different travel company. We encountered several administrative mistakes from this company, including many things advertised in the package on their website that were either misrepresented or never delivered. They messed up our tickets getting into the Machupicchu trail and gave us tickets with different people's information causing a 2.5 hour delay that the guide has to sort out. When this was brought to their attention they denied responsibility and blamed it on other issues when it was very very clearly their administrative issue (they handed us the envelope with the tickets in them and neglected to double check they were correct the day before we embarked on the trek). They also did not arrange the private transportation that we purchased in the package from Ollantaytambo station after the trek back the hotel. They again denied responsibility for this and argued with us trying to claim that that wasn't included in what we purchased. We were stuffed into a public car with other people which was an uncomfortable experience and it was very clear the company neglected to arrange the taxi for us beforehand. We had to send them screenshots of the package advertised on their website detailing what was included in the package we bought that clearly said private transportation for this leg of the trip. Most of the experience was good but these were 2 huge issues that we do not think is acceptable for a travel company that deals with Machupicchu travelers daily should be having. Additionally, our experience in dealing with them afterwards was not great as they would not communicate with us for several days and would deny responsibility for what happened. After agreeing to compensate us with a partial refund, I had to follow up and remind them for weeks to send the refund they offered us and agreed on.

By Phoenix T for 2 Short Inca Trail to Machupicchu km 104 with hotel on Sep 08, 2024

Great tour company! Transportation and pick up was easy. The sky dome's were beautiful, clean, and spacious. My husband is 6.6 feet tall and had a lot of room to walk around. Great view of the mountains. So grateful our dome had a private shower! Ronaldo was a great tour guide, and always made sure we were happy and feeling well. The cook made delicious soups, gave us big portions, and offered a variety of things to eat. Could not have asked for a better experience and would recommend to all.