4 Day Short Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Sky Camp Stay

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa - Humantay Lake - Sky Star Crystal Domes
4 stops
1
Cusco
Your Salkantay trek 4 days Trek to Machu Picchu adventure begins early in Cusco, with hotel pickups between 4:30 and 5:00 AM. Once your guide has gathered the group, you’ll depart Cusco around 5:15 AM by car, heading to the town of Mollepata — a journey of about 2 hours.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Mollepata
There, you’ll enjoy a hearty included breakfast at a local restaurant and have time for any last-minute supplies, with a total stop of around 1 hour. From Mollepata, you’ll continue by car for another hour to Soraypampa, where you’ll meet the muleteers and horses who will carry the camping equipment and duffle bags throughout the trek. This is where the hiking begins.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
3
Humantay Lake
The trek from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake starts at 3,900 meters and climbs to 4,200 meters, the lake’s location. The hike takes around 2 hours total: a gradual ascent for the first hour, followed by a steeper climb during the second hour. Once at Humantay Lake, you’ll have 1 to 1.5 hours (weather permitting) of free time to admire the stunning turquoise waters, take photos, and learn more about the area from your guide. Afterward, you’ll begin the descent toward Quiswarniyoc campsite, where you’ll spend the night in our exclusive Sky Star Crystal Domes — about 1 hour downhill followed by 45 minutes of mostly flat trail.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
4
You’ll arrive at Quiswarniyoc around 2:00 PM, where a delicious lunch will be waiting, prepared by your cooking team. After lunch, your guide will show you to your accommodations so you can rest. The rest of the afternoon is free for short walks around the area, taking in incredible views of Salkantay Mountain rising directly in front of the campsite. Dinner is served around 6:00 PM, after which your guide will brief you on Day 2 — the most challenging day of the trek, reaching the Salkantay Pass, the highest point of the entire route, before continuing on to spend the night once again in the Sky Star Crystal Domes.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Sky Star Domes - Abra Salkantay - Chaullay - Lucmabamba Sky star domes
4 stops
5
The day begins early, at 5 AM, with a cup of coca leaf tea (“té despierto”) brought by the kitchen team to help with altitude acclimatization. You’ll have about 30 minutes to get ready and pack before breakfast, served at 5:30 AM. After breakfast, you’ll have a short window for last-minute checks before setting off on the most challenging hike of the trek.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
6
The ascent to Salkantay Pass begins around 6 AM. From Quiswarniyoc, the climb to the highest point of the trek — 4,700 meters above sea level — takes about 3 to 3.5 hours at a steady pace, with regular breaks every hour to rest and recover energy. The climb is manageable for well-acclimatized trekkers, with altitude being the main challenge rather than the terrain itself. Once at the pass, you’ll spend 30 to 45 minutes taking in breathtaking views of Salkantay Mountain up close, photographing the surrounding peaks, and learning from your guide about the area’s history and culture. Many groups also take part in a traditional ritual to give thanks to the Apus, the sacred mountain spirits of Andean belief. From here, the descent begins: a 2-hour hike down to Wayracmachay, where the cooking team will have a nutritious lunch waiting for you. After a short rest (weather permitting), you’ll continue with the final descent of the day, heading toward Chaullay.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
7
This descent takes between 2.5 and 3 hours and, although slightly steep, offers incredible views as the landscape transitions from the high Andes to the lush Amazon cloud forest. At Chaullay, your driver will be waiting to take the group by vehicle (about 1 hour) to Lucmabamba, where you’ll spend the night at our exclusive Sky Star Crystal Domes.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Lucmabamba Lodge
Upon arrival at Lucmabamba (2,200 meters above sea level), your guide will show you to your accommodations. The day wraps up with a well-deserved, delicious dinner prepared by your cooking team a perfect way to recharge after a day that balances physical challenge with unforgettable Andean landscapes and cultural moments.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Lucmabamba Sky star domes - Coffee tour - Llactapata trek - Hidroelectrica - Aguas calientes
4 stops
9
Lucmabamba Lodge
Today’s adventure starts at a more relaxed pace, with wake-up at 6:00 AM and breakfast at 6:30 AM, giving you time to pack before setting off around 7:00 AM from the Lucmabamba campsite toward the archaeological site of Llactapata.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
10
Mirador de Llactapata
The hike to Llactapata follows an original, well-preserved section of the Inca Trail and takes about 3 hours uphill. From this site, you’ll enjoy one of the most rewarding views of the entire trek: a unique, distant perspective of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and the surrounding mountains, showing the citadel’s location within its dramatic landscape. After exploring the Llactapata ruins and taking in the views, you’ll begin the descent toward Hidroeléctrica. This descent is the steepest of the trek, taking around 2 hours — trekking poles are especially useful here.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
11
Upon arriving at Hidroeléctrica, you’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch at a local restaurant, followed by some time to rest before continuing your journey. The final stretch of the day is a scenic 3-hour walk along the railway from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll catch glimpses of Machu Picchu from the valley below.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
12
Aguas Calientes
Once in Aguas Calientes, your guide will take you to your hostel, where you can rest, shower, and freshen up before dinner. Dinner is served around 7:00 PM at a local restaurant in town. Afterward, you’ll get final details for tomorrow’s highlight: your visit to Machu Picchu.
11 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
3 stops
13
Aguas Calientes
Getting to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes You have two ways to reach the entrance: On foot (about 1.5 hours): Start with a flat 30-minute walk from your hotel to Puente Ruinas, the first checkpoint, where you’ll show your passport and entrance ticket. From there, it’s roughly a 1-hour climb of around 1,700 steps up to the entrance. If your ticket is for 6:00 AM, plan to begin walking by 4:30 AM, right after breakfast at your hotel. By shuttle bus (about 30 minutes): Tickets cost $12 USD one way and can be purchased the night before or that same morning. Buses depart every 5–10 minutes starting at 5:30 AM, on a first-come, first-served basis. Whichever option you choose, the goal is the same: be at the entrance gate at the exact time printed on your ticket.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
14
Machu Picchu
Once inside, you’ll meet your professional guide for a 2-hour tour following the circuit assigned to your ticket. Your guide will walk you through Machu Picchu’s history, architecture, and spiritual significance, with plenty of stops along the way for photos. Optional Mountain Hikes (Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain) If you booked an additional ticket for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you’ll begin that hike immediately after your guided tour. Both hikes take around 3 hours round-trip and must be booked well in advance, since daily spots are limited.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
15
Cusco
After your visit, you have two options for the return journey: By train: Head back to Aguas Calientes on foot (1.5 hours) or by shuttle bus (30 minutes, $12 USD). From there, board the train to Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours), followed by a 2-hour drive to Cusco. Trains typically depart between 2:30 and 3:30 PM, arriving in Cusco between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. By car via Hidroeléctrica: Hike from Machu Picchu to Hidroeléctrica (about 3 hours), arriving by 2:30 PM to catch the only car departure at 3:00 PM. The drive to Cusco takes 5 to 6 hours, arriving between 10:00 and 10:30 PM. This option only works if your Machu Picchu entry time is between 6:00 and 9:00 AM; for later entry times, you’ll need to spend an extra night in Aguas Calientes and return the next day, with any additional lodging or food costs covered by the traveler.
8 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

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