Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek by MLP

This exclusive experience on the relatively quiet Salkantay Trail, by Mountain Lodges of Peru (MLP), combines an exhilarating 63km trek in the towering Peruvian Andes with the comfort and friendly hospitality of small, deluxe mountain lodges, with friendly, local staff. Excellent and experienced local guides make the trip an immersive, authentic experience. MLP’s Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek itinerary operates on several fixed dates every week between March and December, and is also available as a horseback ride.

Starting early from Cusco, a small group of up to 12 people visits Quillarumiyoc archaeological site en route to the mountain village of Mollepata, before reaching Salkantay Lodge at Soraypampa in the picturesque Rio Blanco River valley. There they spend 2 nights preparing for the week ahead with acclimatisating activities, including one to beautiful, turquoise Lake Humantay. The challenging to moderate daily hikes are taken at a relaxing pace, with breaks for guides to explain the rich flora, traditions and culture of the local people. From the heights of Salkantay Pass at 4,600m on day 3, the group crosses through 15 eco-systems, including cloud forest and lush, subtropical valleys with coffee plantations. On day 6 the group reaches Llactapata Pass at 2,736m and is treated to a rarely seen view of Machu Picchu. After spending the last night in Aquas Calientes, the group arrives at Machu Picchu ruins early for a guided tour before returning to Cusco by train and road.

The many creature comforts at the 4 cosy lodges include beautiful rooms with hot showers and a comfortable bed, boots cleaned after each day’s trek, outdoor hot tubs and optional massages, while the delicious meals include a traditional pachamanca. During the trek, snacks and hot picnics are served in picturesque surroundings.

MLP operates several other cultural and trekking programmes in the Cusco region lasting 5 to 10 days; the Upper Sacred Valley & Lares Adventure, Black Diamond Trek and the Grand Andean Adventure all include a visit to Machu Picchu. The Peruvian owned, family company’s strong sustainability ethic includes its own NGO called Yanapana, which focuses on empowering and supporting women in local communities.

In Cusco MLP operate two small hotels, XO Art House and Andenes

Senderos Soul

The wide friendly smiles that greeted us at each of the lodges on our Salkantay trek couldn’t have been more welcoming or heart-warming. The day we hiked over the famous Salkantay pass (4,600masl) we battled through rain and hail on our ascent, but were still in light spirits - especially when the clouds suddenly parted at the summit and then stayed comfortably away during our descent into Wayrapampa. Our efforts were rewarded with a hot, 3 course lunch, followed later by more local delicacies. Soon after arriving at Wayra Lodge we were sipping aperitifs, relaxing our weary muscles in the hot tub and taking in the superb scenery around us, before another delicious 3-course dinner. Wayrapampa is an isolated hamlet, only accessible by foot or horseback. The wonderful folk who run the lodge are from the community and are incredibly accommodating, instantly making us feel comfortable and at home in this magical valley. This personal touch of getting to know the staff at each of the lodges was an unexpected highlight of the whole experience.

- Nicola, Senderos

Key Facts

Salkantay Lodge-to-Lodge Trek (7 days, 6 nights)

Nights 1 & 2: Salkantay Lodge (Soraypampa) 3,869m
No. of rooms: 12
Room Categories: Double/twin rooms with private bathrooms.

Night 3: Wayra Lodge (Wayraccmachay) 3,906m
No. of rooms: 6
Room Categories: Double rooms (each of which can sleep 4 people) with private bathrooms.

Night 4: Colpa Lodge (Collpapampa) 2,870m
No. of rooms: 6
Room Categories: Double rooms (each of which can sleep 4 people) with private bathrooms.

Night 5: Lucma Lodge (Lucmabamba) 2,135m
No. of rooms: 6
Room Categories: Double rooms with private bathrooms.

Night 6: Hotel Inkaterra Pueblo Machu Picchu 2,020m
No. of rooms: 83 Casitas

Facilities: All lodges have sitting/reading rooms with log fires, outdoor hot tubs and outdoor areas.

Internet: Complimentary at all lodges

Excursion details (min / max pax): minimum 1, maximum 12 (1 guide per 8 pax max)

Dates of operation: March-December

Rates: 2024 US$3,300 (March, 1st Nov-14th Dec. 2024), US$4,400 (Apr – Oct, Dec 15-31) per person based on shared accommodation

*For full rates see below under Gallery and Resources

Rates include: Full-board plus soft drinks and a “house selection of beers, wines and spirits” at the MLP lodges (charged extra at hotel on final night in Aguas Calientes) guided visit of Machu Picchu incl. Huayna Picchu, all transportation for the duration of the itinerary, entry to all listed sites, services of a bilingual guide (tours are led in English), US$50 of gratuities for MLP service staff – guides excluded. (MLP suggests a tip of $10-$20 USD/day (pp) for lead guides and $5-$15 USD/day (pp) for assistant guides.) Private guide and extra days at Machu Picchu available on request. See Downloads for full details.

Min age: MLP “highly recommend” the trip for children from 12 yrs old.

Minimum stay: 6N / 7D

Senderos recommends: Consider combining MLP’s Salkantay Trek with one of their other adventure programmes, such as the Sacred Valley and Lares Trek. (See also the Grand Andean Adventure description in the Sacred Valley & Lares section of our online Resources).

Stories:

Senderos stories celebrate the positive impact that sustainable and regenerative tourism can bring to destinations, communities and the environment.

Click here to discover a special and different kind of journey to Machu Picchu.

“The Salkantay Trail is a very significant section of the Inca Trail. During the spanish conquests most of the stones that marked this royal route were eradicated. The Salkantay trail also traverses 15 different ecological floors from the alpine settings to cloud forests.” Enrique Umbert

Sustainability

MLP is run by Peruvians who are passionate about the mountains and their Andean neighbours. They consistently create strategies for social/economic advancement and environmental sustainability in local communities.
In 2006 MLP sponsored the creation of Yanapana Peru, a non-profit organisation, whose purpose is to reduce extreme poverty in the Andean Highlands by improving quality of life through sustainable community development.
This led to a joint venture with the people of Huacahuasi to build a lodge in their remote hamlet, and give them hospitality training to run the lodge, which features in MLP’s Upper Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure programme. They are now looking to expand this innovative business model in other local communities. A key strategy is to empower, train, and employ as many locals as possible to become modern-day travel industry professionals.

Need to know:

Mountain Lodges of Peru’s Salkantay programme can’t be compared to shorter camping trips offered by other operators on the same route – MLP’s guests are well and truly pampered during the trek and in the fabulous lodges. Also they take 2 days longer to cover the same distance, so the pace is more relaxed.
Despite the relatively relaxed pace, day 3 can be challenging for some, given the distance covered and the relatively high altitude.
MLP’s programme visits and leaves Humantay Lake before the day trippers arrive.
A second guide is provided for groups of 8 to the max 12 people. A private guide is possible for an extra charge, for those who prefer to trek at their own pace.
The Salkantay programme can be combined with MLP’s more culturally focussed Upper Sacred Valley & Lares Adventure itinerary and booked as the 10 day Grand Andean Adventure.
NEW: Salkantay Lodge (Soraypampa) can now be booked as a standalone 3 day/2 night package including Cusco return transfers and activities. See our Resources (Salkantay section) for details.

Perfect for:

An exhilarating off-the beaten-track adventure in stunning surroundings, with a visit to one of the world’s cultural highlights.

Getting there

The trek begins and ends in Cusco. MLP recommends its own hotels there for pre or post stays (El Mercado, XO Arthouse and El Retablo) - see link below.

By Air

Nearest airport: Cusco

Gallery & Resources

Follow this link to Senderos Resources for MLP’s Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek to access

Images, our selection
Fact sheets (also for MLP’s hotels XO Art & Andenes in Cusco)
Presentations
Rack rates
Excursion lists
And other useful information.

Mountain Lodges of Peru have their own online resources for their trade partners here (log-in details on request.)

Weather

Generally there are 2 seasons in Salkantay:

Rainy: November to March. It rains almost everyday for a couple of hours, but there are also several sunny days. Day temperatures range from 17-22 degrees C. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night.
Dry: March to October. June and July are the coldest months. Day temperatures range from 20-25 degrees C. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night.