Short itinerary
Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay
- Early morning pickup in Cusco, travel to Mollepata for breakfast and payment of the lake entrance fee.
- Bus transfer to Marqoq’asa and start of the trek towards the Humantay Snow-capped Mountain viewpoint.
- A 3-hour and 30-minute hike to the campsite in Soraypampa for lunch.
- Guided ascent to the beautiful Humantay Lake (4,220 m a.s.l.) and overnight stay in cabins after dinner.
Day 02: Soraypampa – Paso Salkantay – Chaullay
- Nutritious breakfast in Soraypampa and continuation of the trekking route.
- Gradual 4-hour ascent to the imposing Salkantay Pass (4,650 m a.s.l.) with a historical explanation by the Pakareqtampu Travel guide.
- A 2-hour and 30-minute descent to Huayrac Pampa to enjoy lunch.
- Hike through the high jungle to the Colpapampa campsite for dinner and rest.
Day 03: Chaullay – Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes
- Breakfast and a 5-hour and 30-minute hike through the high jungle, appreciating orchids and coffee plantations.
- Lunch in Playa Sahuayaco and subsequent vehicle transfer to Hidroeléctrica.
- An approximate 3-hour hike following the train tracks until reaching the town of Aguas Calientes.
- Accommodation in the selected hostel and final dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 04: Machu Picchu – Cusco
- Detailed guided tour through the main temples, terraces, and palaces of the Machu Picchu citadel.
- Free time to take photographs and explore the archaeological site on your own.
- Return to the town of Aguas Calientes and Expedition train journey back to Ollantaytambo.
- Final transfer from Ollantaytambo station to the city of Cusco.
Detailed itinerary
Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay
The Pakareqtampu Travel team will pick you up from your hotel starting at 04:30 a.m., and we will depart from Cusco at 05:00 a.m. towards Mollepata. There, you will pay the entrance fee to Humantay Lake (S/ 20.00) and arrive around 08:00 a.m., where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast. Then, you will hand over 5 kilos of luggage to our horseman to facilitate your hike. After that, you will board the bus again from Mollepata to Marqoq’asa, a journey of approximately 1 hour. From this point, you will begin a trek towards the viewpoint, where you can admire the imposing Humantay Snow-capped Mountain and ancient Inca canals. You will continue hiking for about 3 hours and 30 minutes until reaching Soraypampa, where you will enjoy a well-deserved lunch and we will set up camp. From Marqoq’asa to Soraypampa: it is 14 km and will take you about 5 hours of hiking. Ascent to Humantay Lake: it is at 4,220 m a.s.l., and the uphill journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, while the descent takes about 40 minutes. Around 18:00 p.m., you will enjoy tea time and later a comforting dinner. Finally, you will settle into your cabin to rest and regain energy for the next day.
Day 02: Soraypampa – Paso Salkantay – Chaullay
At 05:00 a.m., you will enjoy a nutritious breakfast and then continue the hike at 06:30 a.m. You will begin a gradual ascent of approximately 4 hours until reaching the Salkantay Pass, located at 4,650 m a.s.l. During the journey, you will pass through two important points in Inca history: Salkantay Pampa and Soyroq’ocha. Upon arriving at the pass, you will make a small offering with coca leaves in honor of Pachamama and Apu Salkantay. In addition, the Pakareqtampu Travel guide will speak about the history and religion of the Incas, connecting us with the Andean worldview. Afterward, you will begin the descent, which will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, until reaching Huayrac Pampa, where you will enjoy lunch for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then, you will continue the hike from 4,100 m a.s.l. down to 2,900 m a.s.l., covering a route of approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes through the high jungle. Finally, you will arrive at the Colpapampa campsite, where you will enjoy tea time and a comforting dinner before resting.
Day 03: Chaullay – Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes
At 06:00 a.m., you will enjoy breakfast before continuing the hike. For approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, you will follow a trail through the high jungle, with moderate uphill and downhill sections. Along the way, you will be able to appreciate coffee plantations, as well as a great variety of flora such as orchids, begonias, and bromeliads, in addition to many medicinal plants used in natural medicine. You will arrive at Playa Sahuayaco, where you will enjoy lunch. Then, you will board a transport to Hidroeléctrica, and from there, you will begin a hike of approximately 3 hours to reach Aguas Calientes. In this picturesque town, you will stay in a hostel and enjoy the final dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 04: Machu Picchu – Cusco
You will wake up very early to begin the visit to Machu Picchu. There, you will enjoy a guided tour of the citadel, exploring its temples, terraces, palaces, and platforms. Then, you will have free time to take photos and explore the site on your own. After the visit, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will wait for your return Expedition train, which can depart at 14:55 or 18:20, depending on availability.
Inclusions
Includes
- Entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Tour guide from Pakareqtampu Travel.
- Trekking poles.
- Entrance to the lake.
- Tourist transport Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa.
- Tourist transport Ollantaytambo station – Cusco.
- Transport Playa – Hidroeléctrica.
- Shared accommodation.
- 03 breakfasts.
- 03 lunches.
- 02 snacks.
- 03 dinners.
- Sleeping bag.
- Oxygen.
- First aid kit.
- Communication radios.
Does not include
- Lunch on the last day.
- Luggage transport from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes.
- Extra services and expenses.
We recommend bringing
- Trekking backpack.
- Hiking shoes.
- Thermal and light clothing.
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.
- Rain poncho.
- Flashlight, repellent, and snacks.
