Playa Sahuayaco is a camp on the Salkantay route. Playa Sahuayaco is part of the Santa Teresa valley, formed by the Salkantay River. In the Valley you have the opportunity to see a plantation such as coffee, bananas, avocados, coca, passion fruit and much more.
From Playa Sahuayaco you can take a transport to Santa Teresa, another camp on the route, where you can visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo, with crystal clear hot water for as long as the group decides.
Playa Sahuayaco is in the Santa Teresa District, north of Loreta. Playa Sahuayaco is located at 2,200 m / 7,218 ft.
Salkantay trek
The Inca Trail through Salkantay 2025 is one of the best alternatives that will allow you to visit Machu Picchu, after 5 days and 4 nights on a 73-kilometer route. It is a great adventure in which you will admire high and massive mountains, lush vegetation, gorges, valleys, rivers and more. It also includes hot springs, which will help you relax your body after the physical effort of walking. You can also enjoy some snow at one of the highest points on the road, 4,650 meters above sea level. Finally, on the last day we will have the unforgettable guided tour of Machu Picchu. Learn more reasons to do the Salkantay Trail in our article about it. You can trust our 10 years of quality and experience!
Information and route
- Duration: 4 to 5 days
- Distance: 70 kilometers
- Difficulty: medium
- Trails: Marked although there are possibilities of getting lost
- Maximum height: 4600 masl
- Entrance ticket: 10 soles per person
- Best time to go: May to September
What can be seen on this circuit?
Despite the fact that this route does not have significant ruins, Salkantay is the perfect option for those who prefer stillness and tranquility. In addition, you will have the possibility of witnessing beautiful and varied landscapes, in the 70 kilometers that the route comprises.
In the first kilometers of this adventure you will advance through Andean vegetation and pampas, reaching Soraypampa, where the first camp is located. Near this place, you will see a turquoise lagoon called Humantay.
On the second day, you will ascend to the Abra Salkantay or Salkantay pass, which is the highest place of this expedition (4600 masl). This ascent is without a doubt the most extreme and beautiful part of the journey, because you will be able to see the Salkantay mountain at its best.
In the next days of trekking, you will descend from the snowy mountains to the high jungle. Slowly the landscape will change from the white of the snow to the green of the vegetation and the abundant flowers of the jungle. You will visit towns such as Chaullay, Colpata, Playa Sahuayaco and Santa Teresa. In Santa Teresa, you will have the opportunity to visit the Termas de Cocalmayo, where you can take a bath and regenerate energy for the walk the next day.
In the last section, which includes from Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes (town and starting point to the citadel of Machu Picchu), you will walk following the train line along the Vilcanota river bank, from the Hydroelectric sector. In this part of the journey you will have unforgettable postcards of Huayna Picchu from below. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be almost at the gates of the Sacred City of Machu Picchu.
What does the Salkantay circuit consist of?
Salkantay is one of the trekking circuits that lead to Machu Picchu. This route runs through the southern part of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range, showing beautiful landscapes that vary from pampa to jungle. Far from the crowds of tourists and the bureaucratic difficulties of the best known circuits, Salkantay offers privacy and authenticity to travelers who dare to go on this trek.
With a duration of between 4 and 5 days, this tour visits several highland towns, as well as lagoons, hot springs and the famous snowy Salkantay.
One of the main advantages of this route is that it has remained "unknown" and therefore there is no overcrowding of visitors or too much government control. So much so, that this route can still be done independently, unlike the most popular circuits.
How to do this trek?
There are two ways to do this route: guided or independently. In both cases, the adventure begins in Cusco. If you will take the guided circuit with a travel agency, you will take a car tour from Cusco to Mollepata. If you go independently, you should look for collective locomotion that will take you there.
As for trekking, the big difference is that when doing it through an agency, you have a guide, reducing the danger of getting lost. In addition, if you hire this excursion you can have the help of mules and horses to carry your things and camping equipment, saving the weight of more meals and implements.
As we clarified at the beginning, this tour can be done without any permission or entry. This makes it a very good option if you stayed outside the 4 day Inca Trail Tour or if you need to save money.
Important: Remember to buy your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu in advance, especially if you want to climb some of its mountains (Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain).
