Salkantay Trek
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 46.72 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8,865 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 13,356 ft
- Max elevation
- 15,340 ft
- TrailRank
-
53
5
- Min elevation
- 5,967 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 3 days 7 hours 41 minutes
- Coordinates
- 6884
- Uploaded
- January 14, 2016
- Recorded
- January 2016
near Choquepal, Cusco (Peru)
Viewed 3847 times, downloaded 256 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Day 1, 17km: Got an early colectivo from Cusco to Limatambo, where we changed to a taxi which took us to Mollepata (stopped for breakfast) & then another 8km to Cruzpata (3,300m), where we were told the tour groups start. Hiked along the road until we got to a steep trail up to the irrigation canal, which we followed to Soraypampa (where the tour groups sleep). We hiked about 45minutes beyond here to our first beautiful campsite (4,150m), in a valley with a view straight to Salkantay.
Day 2, 19km: Hiked over the pass at Abra Salkantay, then down passing through a few villages - stopped for a beer in Chaullay where the tour groups sleep & for some shopping in Collpampa, before camping by the Rio Totoba about 15-20minutes past Collpampa near the disused hotsprings (no safe river access at this campsite, running water was warm & extremely salty). River access about 10-15minutes further along the trail).
Day 3, 23km: Hiked along by the river passing a couple of houses/shops to Playa (lunch/a couple of cheap stores), then along the road to the turnoff for Llactapata (fill up water bottles in stream that crosses the road, there is only one waterfall/water source on the walk up to Llactapata, although there is a hose at the lodge a bit past the ruins). Camped in front of the Inca ruins with stunning view to Macchu Picchu.
Day 4, 16km: Hiked down the VERY steep trail to the river & on to Hidroelectrica, before walking the tracks all the way to Aguas Calientes. Suggest camping at the municipal site near the turn off for Machu Picchu (15-20mins before Aguas Calientes).
Day 2, 19km: Hiked over the pass at Abra Salkantay, then down passing through a few villages - stopped for a beer in Chaullay where the tour groups sleep & for some shopping in Collpampa, before camping by the Rio Totoba about 15-20minutes past Collpampa near the disused hotsprings (no safe river access at this campsite, running water was warm & extremely salty). River access about 10-15minutes further along the trail).
Day 3, 23km: Hiked along by the river passing a couple of houses/shops to Playa (lunch/a couple of cheap stores), then along the road to the turnoff for Llactapata (fill up water bottles in stream that crosses the road, there is only one waterfall/water source on the walk up to Llactapata, although there is a hose at the lodge a bit past the ruins). Camped in front of the Inca ruins with stunning view to Macchu Picchu.
Day 4, 16km: Hiked down the VERY steep trail to the river & on to Hidroelectrica, before walking the tracks all the way to Aguas Calientes. Suggest camping at the municipal site near the turn off for Machu Picchu (15-20mins before Aguas Calientes).
Waypoints
Campsite
13,751 ft
Comments (3)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Hi,
Could you help me about your first campsite? Is that ok camping in Salkantay Pampa? I am planning to do this trekking self-guided in August. My concerned is about wind and cold in this campsite. Is there any protection?
Thank you, Leandro.
Definitely will be cold, wasn't windy when we camped there but obviously depends on the weather. There was a small shelter for cooking. This was my favourite campsite of the entire trek. Enjoy!
Hi,
I'm planning a trip and I'm wondering if you think I will be able to camp in humantay lake. As I saw you didn't go there right?