Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 3D/2N (Domes & Hotel)

DAY 1 – CUSCO – SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – LORETA PLAYA

The Salkantay tour starts with pick up at 3am from your hotel in Cusco.

We will then take a trip in our private transport for approximately 3 hours to Soraypampa, where we will have breakfast, and then begin our Salkantay trek. After breakfast, we begin our hike to the Salkantay snow-capped mountain. The first 3 hours will be slightly uphill to reach Soyrococha, from where you will have beautiful panoramic views of the mountains (Humantay, 4120 m / 13,500 ft, and Salkantay, 6271 m / 20,575 ft). We will continue our hike to the highest point, “Salkantay Pass,” at 4,600 meters. After taking beautiful panoramic photos of the Salkantay snow-capped mountain and receiving a briefing from our guide, we will begin the approximately 2-hour descent to our lunch spot, Huayracmachay (3,800 m / 11,750 ft).

After lunch, we will continue our descent for approximately three hours through the lush Amazon rainforest, where we will have the opportunity to enjoy the area’s abundant flora and fauna. We will reach the town of Chaullay, where our transportation will be waiting to take us to our Majestic Ecolodge, located in the area called Loreta La Plata. We will arrive around 5:30 p.m.
Dinner at the lodge and overnight in a geodesic domes.

• Food : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Estimated walking time : 8 to 9 hours
• Total walking distance: 22 km
• Initial elevation: 3,900m / 12,795 ft
• Máximun elevation: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
• Accommodation : Domes
• Altitude of accommodation : 2,900 m / 9,514 ft

DAY 2 – LORETA PLAYA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN

Day 2 of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu starts with breakfast in our domes.

After breakfast, we will visit a coffee plantation located very close to our Majestic Ecolodge to learn about coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing, concluding with a coffee tasting. We will pass by a variety of plantations growing crops such as coca, coffee, tea, banana, passion fruit, avocado, and papaya. After the visit, we will return to the Majestic Ecolodge to rest and have lunch. At noon, after lunch, we will board our transport for the trip to the Hydroelectric Power Plant (1,900 m), a trip of approximately 1 hour. From there, we will begin the hike that follows the train tracks and the Urubamba River. Along the way, we will visit the Intihuatana archaeological site, which houses an ancient sundial from the Inca era. We will have beautiful views of the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains, passing through the Cloud Forest, which has a wide variety of plants and orchids. In the afternoon, after a 3-hour hike, we will arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Dinner will be served in a tourist restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes.

• Food : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Estimated walking time : 3.5 hours
• Total walking distance : 10 km
• Initial elevation: 1,900m
• Máximun elevation: 2,040 m
• Accommodation : Hotel
• Altitude of accommodation: 2,040 m

DAY 3 – MACHU PICCHU TOUR – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

After taking breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you at reception and escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu, journeying through its rich history, as you make your way through the Inca city with your personal tour guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu.

Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you will be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $75 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*