The Salkantay trail is one of the most beautiful alternative trails when hiking to Machu Picchu. This trail grants access to some of the most astonishing landscapes of snow-capped mountains, cloud forests and lush brow of jungle. Open to hikers of all experience levels, our Salkantay trek 5 days and Salkantay 4 days are sure to become one of the highlights of your adventure in Peru!
To make things easier for you, here are some of the reasons why you should hike your Salkantay trek with Alpaca Expeditions.
GLASS CABINS IN SORAYPAMPA
Our campsite in Soraypampa is certainly one of the highlights of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu 5 days. Located at the base of Humantay and Salkantay Mountain, our glass cabins offer a cozy overnight stay under the night sky. Away from the city´s light pollution, you will be lulled to sleep by the Milky Way and all its splendor. This campsite is equipped with proper bathroom facilities, a dining area and an open green area, all of which will be available to you during your stay.
HUMANTAY LAKE WITHOUT CROWDS
One of the beauties of the Salkantay trek is the visit to the Humantay Lake before hiking up to the mountain pass. This lake has become world-renowned due to its beautiful crystalline-blue waters and surrounding backdrops. Due to its proximity to the base camp in Soraypampa, Humantay Lake is often crowded with travellers that come to visit just for one day. Not to mention all the travellers hiking to Salkantay with other operators.
At Alpaca Expeditions, we make sure to avoid such crowds at all cost. It is for this reason that we are the only operators that hike to Humantay Lake very early in the morning! After a good night’s sleep under the starry skies and a hot cup of coca tea in the morning, our groups begin their hike to the lake from Soraypampa. After an hour or so, we reach the lake only to be welcomed by the serenity and peacefulness of the site. No crowds, no noise!
THE HOBBIT HOUSES
Imagine walking into a campsite all designed and inspired by the fantasy adventure films of Lord of the Rings? Well, only at Alpaca Expeditions! On our third day of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, we dive into lushy cloud forests and arrive at our HOBBIT HOUSES. Perfectly located within lush, green vegetation and tropical weather, the HOBBIT HOUSES are complemented by a jacuzzi, pools, showers and a green resting area all accessible to our travellers. This campsite is sure to take you into the magical lands of Hobitton and offer you the much-needed rest after a long day of hiking.
LLACTAPATA & VIEWS OF MACHU PICCHU CITADEL
As an alternative trek to Machu Picchu, the Salkantay trek is often thought of as a nature-trail with little archaeological significance. However, this is not 100% accurate. Look at a Salkantay trek map and you will be surprised by the existence of an important Inca archaeological site right on this trail.
Located near Hidroelectrica, the Llactapata archaeological site is reached on our fourth day of hiking. This site is known to have been of great importance during the Inca Empire due to its geographical location. In fact, it is believed to have been used for ceremonial rituals and as a final resting place before Machu Picchu. During your stay here, your Salkantay trek guide will be sure to share some of the site´s history and importance. Better yet, you will get a sneak peak of Machu Picchu itself with the sunset as its backdrop.
EXCLUSIVE ITINERARY
But how you may ask? The Salkantay trail is indeed one but by having our own private campsites and arranging our daily hiking times differently, we can truly guarantee a hiking experience with no crowds. In addition, we take alternative paths (all later joining the main trail) that offer closer encounters with the local flora and fauna.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
The Salkantay trail is considered to be challenging due to its drastic elevation changes and varying terrain conditions. However, do not let this deter you! Here at Alpaca Expeditions, we truly believe that this trail can be (and should be) enjoyed by all. Our guides are highly trained in accommodating all hiking levels and experience while on the trail. We go above and beyond in preparing you for the trail before coming to Peru by providing a plethora of information. Lastly, all of our camping equipment is of top-notch quality to guarantee a comfortable and safe camping experience while on the trail. So, if you are not sure if this trail is for you, doubt no further! We are here to make the Salkantay trail as accessible and doable as can be.
SUSTAINABLE & ECO-FRIENDLY
There is no better way to help our local communities and the planet than by implementing sustainable practices in what we do. We pride on being a locally-owned tour operator and have committed ourselves to the environment, our culture, and our local communities. Our various social projects are of utmost importance to us and range from organizing reforestation campaigns of endemic tree species and trail clean-ups to employing local staff and providing some of the industry’s best working conditions. We are well aware that no condition is perfect but we are committed to becoming better in everything we do.
And just because a little more information never hurts!
WHEN TO HIKE THE SALKANTAY TRAIL
The Salkantay trail is best enjoyed during our non-rainy season which extends from May to September. The months of March, April, October and November are also O.K. for hiking the trail but are considered shoulder wet months, as some rains may still take place.
The dry season extending from May to September offers optimal hiking conditions. Days are often sunny and warm and nights are crisp but clear. Sunny days offer spectacular views of the towering mountain ranges and their snow-capped mountain. They also allow for warm, tropical weather once in cloud forest and brow of jungle. Clear nights complement the days of hiking nicely with cloud-free, starry skies.
The shoulder wet months of March, April, October and November tend to be good for hiking the Salkantay trail too. However, some light rains and cloudy conditions are possible during these months. In most cases, such weather conditions are observed to take place in the early morning hours. Thus having very little impact on visibility and hiking conditions.
Since your safety is our top concern and priority at Alpaca Expeditions, we operate our Salkantay trek from March to mid-January every year. Our team takes great effort in ensuring the best hiking experience possible.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR SALKANTAY TREK WITH ALPACA EXPEDITIONS
Booking with Alpaca Expeditions is super simple!
Our website contains all required information pertaining to all of our services. To make things easier, we have a BOOK NOW section dedicated solely to your booking process. The process is only three simple steps: check availability, filling out your booking form with your name and passport information, and making your booking deposit. And let´s not forget our superb sales team who will guide you all throughout your booking process!
Planning your adventure in Peru can be daunting and overwhelming. This is why Alpaca Expeditions is here to make all of your planning smooth as butter. The Salkantay trail should be on every traveller´s bucket list while in Peru and what better way to experience than with Alpaca Expeditions!
