Salkantay Trek 6 Days – Andean Adventure to Machu Picchu

After a good night’s sleep, wake up early for breakfast before the trek. In the morning, there will be a quick introduction of the team to all the trekkers. After the introduction, you give your duffel bag to the mule team, they carry it to the next campsite. The day’s hike starts with a 1.5 hour walk uphill to the well-known Humantay Lagoon (4,220 m / 13,845 ft), altitude mentioned again, but first time for Humantay Lagoon as a location on itinerary. The calm views of the blue water of Humantay Lagoon are really something. If the sky is clear, you’ll see the first sunlight on the snow peaks.

And also, if you want, you can touch the almost-frozen water that locals believe can make you stay young forever! Good thing about visiting Humantay Lagoon early is it’s quiet, not many other people except your group. Because it’s a popular place, not everyone gets to enjoy this quiet time. After taking it all in, you start walking back to the start to continue to the lunch spot in Soyroccocha (first mention, altitude not needed yet as higher point is next).

This part of the hike is about 3 hours on ground that goes up little by little. On the way, you’ll pass amazing places like Salkantay Pampa (first mention, altitude not needed yet as higher point is next). Salkantay Pampa means great views of the mountains with snow around. These views make the trip worth it. Lunch made by the local cook, then rest for a bit. Afterwards, you continue the next part of the hike. This next part goes on for about 1 hour until you get to Salkantay Pass (4,650 meters / 15,250 feet), first altitude mention for Salkantay Pass.

This is the highest point of the whole trek. The group will rest there, and you’ll get hot drinks while you look at the views. From Salkantay Pass, you are on the last part of the hike for today, a 3-hour walk downhill to the campsite for the night, Wayracmachay (3,800 meters / 12,467 feet), first altitude mention for Wayracmachay. When you get to the campsite, the trekking team will have your tents set up and your duffel bags ready.

The team will give you warm water to wash up after the day so you can change into warmer clothes for night time. Then there is a happy hour with hot chocolate and coffee, then dinner. If the weather is good, you can see the sky with no lights around and get a short talk about the Inca stars you can see.

• Walking Distance: 22km
• Elevation Gained: 850 meters
• Elevation Descended: 850 meters
• Weather: Cold, windy, rainy in the wet season