LOOKING FOR A 4-DAY, 3-NIGHT SALKANTAY TREK REVIEW?
CUSCO HIKING TOUR: 7 LAGOONS OF AUSANGATE
BRIEFING BEFORE THE TRACK
Meet your group and your guide
IMPORTANT: Before starting your trek you have to acclimate to the altitude! We saw some hikers who struggled and they needed oxygen tanks. Our friend Daniel arrived one day before the trek and checked his oxygen saturation. His was 64%, while ours was 92%.
One day before your Salkantay trek tour starts, you will have a briefing with all the group. You need to be at the Machu Picchu Reservations office, near Plaza de Armas, at 7 PM. From there, you will walk with your guide to a secondary office. After brief introductions, your guide will hand out a map and explain the tour itinerary. You will also receive your duffel bags that evening, which you need to bring back packed the next morning. If you are staying within a 15-minute walk, you won’t be picked up and will need to be at the main office at 4:45 AM on the day of the trek.
SALKANTAY TREK MAP - 4-DAY, 3-NIGHT
Overview of the trip
We want to give you a first impression of the tour, that’s why we’ve created this overview. The tour starts and ends in Cusco and covers approximately 65 kilometers of hiking. You will pass through various climates and on the second day, the most challenging one, you’ll conquer the “Gringo Killer,” a steep 6-kilometer ascent. We will provide tips on what to carry each day. The good news is that you’ll receive a duffel bag, which horses will transport to the next camp for you, with a maximum weight of 7 kg.
1. DAY - HUMANTAY LAGOON
1. Drive to the trekking start
2. Before the hike
2. Hike to Humantay Lagoon
3. Humantay Lagoon
Don’t underestimate the downhill hike; it’s particularly challenging for the knees, so we highly recommend booking walking sticks! The descent takes about an hour, followed by 45 minutes of nearly flat terrain. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful views and pass by horses.
4. The first campsite
The arrival at the camp is not optimally organized. The “restaurant” is located on a small hill, requiring an additional 20-minutes climb on slippery stones. After lunch, you’ll receive your duffel bag at the restaurant, then descend again on the stones if you’ve descided for a tent. Skydomes (there were only two available for our group) have the advantage of being located near the restaurant.
This saves you from descending after lunch, ascending and descending for dinner, and ascending again for breakfast! If you prefer a tent, it’s best to ask your guide before lunch if you can leave your backpack at the bottom. This way, after lunch, you’ll only need to transport your duffel bag and walking sticks.
5. Lunch & Tea Time & Dinner
2. DAY - GRINGO KILLER & SALKANTAY
1. Start of the day
2. The Gringo Killer
3. Salkantay Pass
Upon arrival at the summit, you’ll have time to take in the stunning views, pictures of the mountains, and feel the closeness to Salkantay Mountain. Our guide shared insights about the area and involved us in a local ritual to express gratitude to the Apus, the mountain gods in local beliefs. Our guide even played the flute for us, and we drank a whiskey shot for Pachamama – Mother Earth, to ensure good weather. We spent approximately 45 minutes at the peak.
Here, the kitchen team awaited us with a corn soup, Lomo Saltado, vegetables, and pumpkin.
4. Track to the camp
The accommodation for the day is beautifully located and has much better infrastructure than the first one. Cold showers are for free and for 2.50 USD, you can take a warm shower. There is a small store where you can buy snacks and beer. There is also a tea time with popcorn, this time they even added Picarones, the dinner that followed was Spaghetti Carbonara.
3. DAY - RAINFOREST TREKKING & COFFEE TOUR
1. Start of the day
2. Through the rainforest
The path to the next stop is almost straight and takes you past beautiful waterfalls and plants. During the time we did the tour, there was a risk of rocks falling along the path, so we had to take a 30-minute car ride to Lucmabamba, where the coffee tour takes place. If you’re afraid of heights, definitely sit on the right side of the van. On the left, you can see how deep it goes.
3. Coffee Tour
From Lucmabamba, we continued for 1.5 hours by car to Hydroelectrica, where we had lunch. There were various options to choose from: trout or chicken, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.
4. Track to Aguas Calientes
5. The last night
4. DAY - MACHU PICCHU
1. Start of the day
The fourth day has arrived, and you are closer to your goal than ever before. The entry times vary, so your wake-up time will depend on your schedule. We recommend starting the hike about 2 hours before your entry time to ensure a relaxed ascent. You will receive a breakfast box the evening before for the next day. Pack as little as necessary in your daypack to make the climb more comfortable.
2. Up to Machu Picchu
3. Machu Picchu
Now you have arrived at one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is a magical moment when the Inca city, undiscovered until 1911, appears before you. During the nearly two-hour tour, you will learn a lot about the history of the Incas and find beautiful photo spots. We got the tickets for Circuit 2. We will let the pictures speak for themselves.
4. Back to Cusco
Just as you cannot influence the entry time for Machu Picchu, you also cannot influence the train departure time. We departed at 2:00 PM, which allowed us enough time for lunch. The train station is about a 5-minute walk from the hostel. You must take your duffel bag with you and return it to the Machu Picchu Reservations Office no later than the next day!
The train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and passes through beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, you will then board a van, and after another 2 hours, you will be dropped off near Plaza de Armas with the others. This is where the tour ends. If you return your duffel bag the next day, there will be a wonderful surprise awaiting you!
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
We hope you have enjoyed our Salkantay trek review so far. Until now, we have mostly described the positive aspects, but there were a few things we didn’t particularly like about our tour. At the beginning, our guide told us that we would be like a family. Unfortunately, this feeling never really developed within our group because our guide, unlike the other groups, walked at the back instead of the front. Most of the time, we were only given a time to meet at the next checkpoint. Due to the different walking speeds, the group quickly split up, and we often had to wait for the slower members to catch up.
SALKANTAY TREK REVIEW - CONCLUSION
What would a Salkantay Trek review be without a conclusion? Was it worth it or not? In short: Yes! Despite the effort, the short and cold nights, and the long walks, it was all worth it. For us, the journey was as important as the destination, especially since we had already visited Machu Picchu in 2021. This trek is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, mainly because of the stunning landscapes. Preparation is key, though; if you’re not in good shape, it will be very challenging and you might not fully enjoy it. It’s a good idea to do the 7 Lagunas Tour beforehand, which we’ve also written about in an article.
WHAT TO PACK
It’s very important that your daypack is as light as possible while still containing all the essentials. You can and should repack your daypack and duffel bag every evening. While you will need warm clothing, especially on the first day, it will no longer be necessary after lunch on the second day.
Your sleeping bag and extra layers don’t need to fit in the duffel bag! They will be transported separately for you.
ESSENTIALS:
- Original Passport
- Daypack: Buy a small backpack that you can fasten around your waist and chest. This will greatly relieve your back!
- Although we have seen participants in Vans, we strongly recommend that you buy hiking or trekking shoes. Stability is important. Buy your shoes beforehand and wear them to avoid getting blisters during the hike.
- Headlamp: You will need this already on the first evening.
- Rent the walking sticks while the booking process!
- We recommend buying a rain cover for your duffel bag. If it rains, it won’t be protected and will get wet.
Horses will transport your duffel bag up to 7 kg of your gear, including your sleeping bag and layer. Our duffel bag was never weighed.
Clothing:
- 1 Thermal pants and 1 thermal long-sleeve t-shirt for the first day and the next morning
- Long sports pants / leggings and a pair of shorts
- 3 sets of undergarments
- You should have at least one pair of hiking socks. It makes a big difference
- 1 fleece and 1 warm jacket for cold nights
- Rain poncho
- 1 sun hat and 1 wool hat for various temperatures
- Flip flops for the evenings
Gear:
- Waterproof gloves
- Quick-dry towel
- Small soap bottle for personal hygiene
- Power Bank
- Large plastic bags for organizing and protecting items
- Sleeping bag (rated for at least -10C for cold nights) – We rented ours while the online booking for Machu Picchu reservations
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen and face moisturizer for skin protection
- Bug spray and hand sanitizer for hygiene
- Baby wipes for quick clean-ups
- Toothbrush and paste for oral hygiene
- Toilet paper for personal use
- Personal medication and a basic first aid kit
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACK:
For Machu Picchu, bags over 25L are not permitted inside. Larger bags must be stored outside.
- Water: Bring enough for the first morning; subsequent refills will be provided.
- Rain gear and fleece: Stay adaptable to changing weather.
- Camera or smartphone: Capture the memories.
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag: Manage waste responsibly.
- Extra Money: For additional purchases and gratuities. We recommend 400 soles.
- Earplugs
- Power Bank
FAQ
You have the following toilet options:
- First day: During breakfast, after arriving at the starting point of the track, from noon at the camp.
- Second day: During breakfast, upon arrival at lunch, upon arrival at the camp.
- Third day: During breakfast, after approximately 30 minutes of hiking at a restaurant, during the coffee tour, at Hydroelectrica, along the trek to Aguas Calientes at various restaurants, and of course at the hostel in Aguas Calientes.
- Fourth day: During breakfast, before entering Machu Picchu. Once you enter Machu Picchu, there are no toilets available inside.
You will not have internet on the first day and until you arrive at the second camp. In the second camp, you have the option to purchase Wi-Fi. However, we do not recommend it because there’s something nice about being disconnected. On the third day, you will have internet connection again in Aguas Calientes from the evening onwards.
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