SALKANTAY 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

The trekking starts with the pick-up from the hotels in Cusco between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. and departure to the town of Mollepata, a journey of approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a hearty local breakfast. Afterward, you will continue by van to Soraypampa, a trip of roughly one.

In Soraypampa, you will meet the team of muleteers and horses, marking the beginning of the hike to Salkantay. The equipment and bags will be given to the muleteers before starting the ascent to the Humantay lagoon, at 4,200 meters above sea level. The hike, approximately 2 hours, begins with a gradual ascent of one hour, followed by a steeper climb during the last hour.

Once at the lagoon, you will have time to enjoy the views, take pictures, and receive explanations from the guide. The stay in the lagoon will be approximately 1 hour, weather permitting. Afterward, you will descend to Quiswarniyoc camp, which includes a one-hour walk downhill and 45 minutes of almost flat terrain.

Lunch will be served upon arrival at Soraypampa camp around 2:00 p.m. The guide will then accompany the travelers to their dormitories to rest. The afternoon will be free to explore the Quiswarniyoc area and enjoy panoramic views of Salkantay. At 6:00 p.m., dinner will be served, followed by a brief talk about day 2 of the trek.

The day begins at 5:00 a.m. with a coca tea to help acclimatize to the altitude. After about 30 minutes to get ready, breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m. to begin the hike to the Salkantay Pass then, the highest point of the route, located at 4,700 meters above sea level. The ascent hike lasts between 3 and 3.5 hours, with breaks every hour. Upon reaching the pass, you will have time to enjoy the views and participate in a ritual of gratitude to the Apus, the gods of the mountains. The stay at the top will be 30 to 45 minutes. Then, you will descend to Wayracmachay, where a nutritious lunch will be offered. After a brief rest, you will continue the descent for 2.5 to 3 hours to the camp in Chawllay. The day concludes with a dinner prepared by the cooking team.

After breakfast, we will begin our hike to Lucmabamba, enjoying bird watching, orchards, and cocoa and coffee plantations. Upon arrival, we will have enough time to have lunch and relax.
In the afternoon, around 3:00 p.m., we will take a short drive to Cocalmayo, where you can enjoy a bath in the natural hot springs.