05 Days/04 Nights April to December Moderate
The Trekking Salkantay:
This amazing trek runs beneath the magnificent Salkantay mountain (6.271m/20569ft), one of the highest and most stunning in the Peruvian Andes. Your first two days are dominated by the impressive "Apus" of Salkantay and Huamantay, as you pass through the high puna landscape. On the third day you descend to the warm cloud forest, to reach Aguas Calientes on the fourth day.
The impressive Sacred Inca city of Machupicchu is visited on the last day of the program. This tour is an interesting alternative for those not having found spaces on the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek (or Salcantay Trek),was recently named among the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
Salkantay trek - A brief overview: The Salkantay trek (sometimes referred to as the Salcantay trail) is the most popular alternative trek to Machu Picchu, and for good reason – it offers hikers an incredibly diverse trekking experience, is relatively easy to access from Cusco and unlike the Classic Inca Trail, there are no permit limitations.
In fact, the Salkantay trek can be completed without the use of a guide or tour agency (see DIY treks at the end of this article)
The trail sojourns through incredible landscapes where lowland jungle gives way to highland alpine settings and glaciated mountains, the most impressive of which is Nevada Salkantay (more on this below).
National Geographic Adventure Magazine rated the Salkantay trek as one for the 25 Best Treks in the World.
The trek is typically completed on a 5 Day /4 Night itinerary; however it is possible to do the trek on a 4 Day / 3 Night itinerary or to combine the trek with the Classic Inca Trail (see Salkantay / Inca Trail Combo below).
Nevada Salkantay: One of the key features of the Salkantay trek is the mountain that gives it’s name to the trail.
Mount Salkantay (or Nevada Salkantay / Salcantay) is one of the most iconic mountains in the Cusco region and the highest mountain on the Willkapampa range.
Trekkers 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 vistas into the valley below.
Situated 60km North-west of Cusco city, Salkantay which stands at 6,271m, is the 12th highest mountain in Peru and the 38th highest in the Andes.
For mountaineers, Salkantay has a reputation of being a very tough summit. In fact the Quechua name, Sallqantay, means ‘Savage’ or ‘Wild’. Although it was first successfully climbed in 1952 by a French-American expedition, the mountain is not often conquered.
The easiest summit assault passage is around the North-east ridge – which won’t be visible on the Classic Salkantay trail but is visible for trekkers on the Salkantay / Inca Trail combo.
Machu Picchu is directly north of Salkantay. Although the mountain is not visible from Machu Picchu, the Southern Cross star formation, when viewed from Machu Picchu’s sundial appears directly above Salkantay summit during rainy season.
It is for this reason that the Incas considered Salkantay to be one of the principal deities controlling weather in the region. Even today, Salkantay features very prominently in the local beliefs of the people who live in the Cusco region.
Best time to do the Salkantay trek: There are two main seasons in the sub-tropical Peruvian Andes – a dry season that runs from late April through to early October, and a wet season that starts mid to late October and draws to a close in April.
The peak trekking season to Machu Picchu occurs during the dry season and is busiest between May and September.
The Classic Inca Trail is very busy during these months and permits sell out months in advance. Those who don’t get permits for the Inca Trail typically overflow onto the Salkantay trail, which means that between May and September the route can be busy.
That being said, you will not get a sense of overcrowding that can be the case on the Inca Trail.
The Salkantay trek can technically be completed all year round, although we highly recommend avoiding the months of December, January and February when rainy days are the norm.
The best trekking months run from the shoulder wet months March / April all the way through to the shoulder dry months October / November.
Temperatures throughout the year follow a very consistent pattern. Days are warm, in the high twenties Celsius (70/80 Fahrenheit), and cold at night and in the early mornings (single digits Celsius and sometimes below zero degrees).
Temperature fluctuation is further exasperated by the micro-climates that dominate as you ascend and descend in altitude.
Key to staying comfortable throughout the trek is layering (see our equipment packing list section below for details on ideal clothing requirements).
Day 1: Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayraxmachay
Day 2: Wayraxmachay- Chaullay - Collapampa la Playa- Sahuayaku
Day 3: La Playa Sahuayaku - Lucamabamba Coffe Farm - Inka Trail - LLactapampa - Camp in Front of Machu Picchu
Day 4: Llacatapata Mirador - Hidroelectric Water Falls, Mandor Hiram Binghams Farm - Aguas Calientes Hotel
Day 5: Machu Picchu (The Sacred City of teh Inkas) - Return to Cusco
Day 1: Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa - Salkantay Pass - Wayraxmachay
Morning departure from Iquitos City via auto to arrive in the port town of Nanay (Bellavista), where the Rio Nanay meets the Rio Amazonas. After departing by boat we will travel downriver 70 KM (about 2 hours). During the riverboat trip we will have a great possibility of seeing caimans, turtles, herons, pink river dolphins, snakes, and many other species of flora/fauna along the riverbank. Monkey Island – a small island about 15 minutes from the Maniti Lodge, which shelters a large number of monkeys in their natural habitat. During your visit on the island you will have the unique opportunity to observe and interact with a wide variety of monkeys that include: Sloth, Goeldi’s monkey, Tamarin monkey, Capuchin monkey, Yellow-Handed Titi monkey, Masked Titi monkey, Cebidae monkey, Wooly monkey, Squirrel monkey, Spider monkey, South American Coati monkey, and many more! Along with the various species of monkeys you will have to opportunity to hold very large Anacondas, Boas and interact with the very unique and rare Amazonian mata-mata turtle. At Monkey Island we will also see alligators, turtles, toucans, macaws, parrots, etc. Dolphin watching session at the camp where we will have the unique opportunity to see the pink freshwater dolphin. If we are lucky we will also have the chance to swim with them on the main Amazon River. In the evening we will go on a nocturnal nature hike to see what types of species can be seen (lizards, snakes, spiders, monkeys). Overnight at Maniti Lodge. Overnight Lodge (-/L/D)
Day 2: Wayraxmachay - Chaullay - Collapampa la Playa - Sahuayaku
We will begin our day early, waking up in time to see the sunrise over the Amazon River, and then we will leave the camp to go on a animal observation excursion (via boat) where will have the opportunity to see pairs various types of flora and fauna. Afternoon fishing excursion via boat with opportunity to catch piranha, catfish & other species of fish. Viewing of Victoria Regia – the largest freshwater aquatic plant in the world. After sunset we will go on an excursion via canoe to spot and catch caiman, we will have the opportunity to hold, touch, and take photos with the caiman. Overnight at Maniti Lodge. Overnight Lodge (B/L/D)
Day 3: La Playa Sahuayaku - Lucamabamba Coffe Farm - Inka Trail - LLactapampa - Camp in Front of Machu Picchu
Morning visit with a local village to learn and observe the local people’s daily life and customs. In the afternoon we will visit lagoons and tributaries in close proximity to the Maniti Lodge. Here, we can make a variety of activities, dependent on the tourist, such as jungle hiking, canoe rides, fishing, plant education, animal observation or maybe just relaxing with a nice cool swim in one of the lagoons or on the Amazon River! We will begin our day early, waking up in time to see the sunrise over the Amazon River, and then we will leave the camp to go on a animal observation excursion (via boat) where will have the opportunity to see pairs various types of flora and fauna. In the evening we will go on a nocturnal nature hike to see what types of species can be seen (lizards, snakes, spiders, monkeys). Overnight at Maniti Lodge. Overnight Lodge (B/L/D)
Day 4: Llacatapata Mirador - Hidroelectric Water Falls, Mandor Hiram Binghams Farm - Aguas Calientes Hotel
Morning jungle hike (30-45 minutes) with destination “Palo Alto”. The unique attraction “Palo Alto Mirador” is a lookout point that has 3 different observation deck levels. Here guests have a birds-eye view of the lowland Peruvian Amazon from 5, 10, and 15 meters above ground. Here we will have the opportunity to spend the night with excellent opportunities to observe various species of wildlife in their natural habitat. Daytime exploration of the area that includes hiking, canoe ride in lagoon, fishing (depending on request from passenger). In the evening we will go on a night time nature walk to see what types of species can be seen (reptiles, spiders, monkeys). Overnight at top observation deck of Palo Alto (setting up a tent or in hammocks). Overnight Camp (B/L/D)
Day 5: Machu Picchu (The Sacred City of teh Inkas) - Return to Cusco
Morning bird watching session from “Palo Alto”. Today we will visit some lagoons that are located close to the Maniti Camp Lodge, near the Río Napo. They hold a great variety of palms, large trees and a beautiful landscape. Here we can make a variety of activities, dependent on the passenger, such as trekking, canoe rides, fishing, and identification of plants, bird watching or maybe just relaxing with a nice cool swim in one of the lagoons. In the late afternoon we will return to Maniti Lodge to have lunch. After dark we will go on an excursion by boat in search of the white and black caiman as well as various night birds and other reptile; this also gives us the enjoyable opportunity to hear the symphony of sounds that comes from the forest at night. Overnight at Maniti Lodge. Overnight Lodge (B/L/D)
Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner
Season: April to December
Difficulty: Moderate
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