Everyone goes to Humantay Lake. Almost no one knows there are two more turquoise lakes hidden on the Salkantay route. This 2 day expedition is the only tour in Cusco that takes you to both of them, the secret Qoyllor Lake also called Inca Chiriaska Lake and the wild Salkantay Lake, plus the iconic Salkantay Pass at 4650m.
Day 1 you leave the crowds behind. You hike off trail to Qoyllor Lake at 4400m near Salkantay Viewpoint where the entire Salkantay Valley opens up in front of you. You will see glaciers, glacial rivers and not another tour group in sight. Then you descend to sleep in our private Sky Dome Camp by SAM Travel at 3900m with a glass roof, real bed, hot shower, chef dinner and Salkantay Glacier glowing at sunset from your pillow.
Day 2 you wake up above the clouds. You hike at sunrise to Salkantay Pass at 4650m face to face with the sacred wild Apu Salkantay at 6271m. Then you take a hidden detour off the main trail to the panoramic turquoise Salkantay Lake at 4500m, the most photogenic lake on the entire route. You are back in Cusco by 6pm.
A hidden turquoise lake and your first night under the glaciers.
Private Transfer to Limatambo and Trailhead at Wayna Kunata
We pick you up from your Cusco hotel at 4:00 am and drive 1h 50m to Limatambo, avocado capital of Cusco, for fresh breakfast at a local restaurant. Continue to Wayna Kunata, starting point of the hike.
Hike to Qoyllor Lake – The Lake No One Knows at 4,400m
Gradual climb for 2.5 hours off the main Salkantay route to Qoyllor Lake, also known as Inca Chiriaska Lake. Completely turquoise, surrounded by Salkantay, Humantay and Huayanay snow-capped peaks. Near Salkantay Viewpoint you get the first full panoramic view of the Salkantay Valley and glacial rivers. Time for photos with zero crowds.
Descent to Soraypampa Sky Domes – Lunch and Stars
Descend 3.5 hours to our private Sky Dome Camp at Soraypampa at 3,900m. Chef-prepared lunch on arrival. Check into your private dome, hot shower, afternoon tea, and chef dinner in the panoramic dining dome. Sunset lights up Salkantay Glacier right from your bed.
Day 1 Stats: Hiking 10 km / 6.2 miles | Time 7 hours | Max altitude 4,400m at Qoyllor Lake | Overnight Sky Domes at 3,900m
Face to face with the wild mountain.
Sunrise Hike to Soyroccocha and Salkantay Pass at 4,650m
Wake-up coca tea in your dome at 5:00 am. After breakfast, flat acclimatization walk 1.5 hours to Salkantaypampa at 4,100m, then 3-hour climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,650m / 15,255ft. Prayer flags, Apacheta stone cairns, and massive walls of Salkantay at 6,271m, Humantay and Huayanay right in front of you. Best condor spotting point of the route.
Detour to Turquoise Salkantay Lake at 4,500m
Off the main trail, 30-minute side trail to panoramic Salkantay Lake. Truly wild, turquoise from glacial minerals, fed directly by Salkantay Glacier. No other groups here. Photos and small ceremony to thank the Apu.
Return to Trailhead and Private Transfer to Cusco
Descend back to Soraypampa trailhead for lunch and final photos of the valley. Board private van back to Cusco, arrival at your hotel around 6:00 pm. You can leave your main luggage safe in our office at Garcilaso 210.
Day 2 Stats: Hiking 12 km / 7.5 miles | Time 7 hours | Max altitude 4,650m at Salkantay Pass | Return to Cusco evening
This is a high-altitude trek reaching 4,650m at Salkantay Pass and 4,400m at Qoyllor Lake. You sleep at 3,900m in Soraypampa Sky Domes. You must arrive in Cusco at least 48 hours before Day 1. Drink 3L per day, walk slow, tell your guide how you feel. Guide carries oxygen.
You hike light with daypack only. Our horses carry your 7kg duffel. Main suitcase stays free and safe in our Cusco office at Garcilaso 210, Av. El Sol. Duffel meets you at domes.
Almost everything included. Bring small cash in soles for extras. No ATMs on trail, no card payments. WiFi only at Sky Dome Camp.
Bring original passport matching your booking exactly. Copy = no entry.
Documents: Original passport, insurance card. Sun Protection: SPF 50+, sunglasses, sun hat, beanie and gloves for pass. Weather Gear: Waterproof jacket and pants always in daypack, warm down jacket for 4,650m pass. Clothing: Trekking pants, 2-3 wicking shirts, thermal top for 3,900m night. Footwear: Hiking boots with ankle support mandatory, sandals for domes. Hydration: Reusable 2L bottle. Extras: Headlamp, power bank 20,000mAh, trekking poles recommended.
Qoyllor Lake also called Inca Chiriasca Lake is a new, little-known turquoise lake near Salkantay Glacier at 4,400m, completely separate from Humantay Lake. Humantay Lake is at 4,200m below Humantay Glacier. This 2-day tour visits Qoyllor Lake Day 1 and Salkantay Lake Day 2, with views of Humantay Glacier throughout. If you want Humantay Lake itself, we can add it as a sunrise option Day 2.
You spend one night at our private Sky Dome Camp in Soraypampa at 3,900m. This is not a tent. Each Sky Dome has a real queen size bed with electric blanket, private toilet inside the dome, hot shower in a private outside module, dining dome with glass walls facing Salkantay Glacier, WiFi, and a clear roof to sleep under the Milky Way. Your 7kg duffel is already waiting in your dome when you arrive. Only SAM Travel has domes at Soraypampa, all other companies use cold shared tents.
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 4:00 am on Day 1. We drive 3.5 hours through Limatambo Valley to Challacancha trailhead at 3,650m with breakfast in Mollepata village. Day 2 starts at 5:30 am from Soraypampa with hot coca tea served to your dome. You return to Cusco around 6:30 pm on Day 2.
Both Day 1 and Day 2 are moderate to challenging because of altitude, not technical difficulty. Day 1 is 10km with a steep climb to Qoyllor Lake at 4,400m. Day 2 is 12km with Salkantay Pass at 4,650m. Trail is well marked, no technical climbing, no ropes. We recommend it as perfect acclimatization before the 4 Day Inca Trail. You carry daypack only, horses carry your overnight bag.
Approximately 7 hours hiking on Day 1 and 7 hours on Day 2. Day 1: 3 hours flat Inca water channel to Soraypampa, then 1 hour steep climb to Qoyllor Lake and 1 hour down. Day 2: 3.5 hours to Salkantay Pass, 3.5 hours descent to Soyrococha and Soraypampa, then private transport back to Cusco. Slow steady pace set by your Cusco born guide.
Salkantay Pass is 4,630m to 4,650m / 15,190ft to 15,255ft. The itinerary listing of 6,217m / 20,717ft is an error. 6,217m is actually the height of Salkantay Mountain summit itself, not the pass you hike over. This is now corrected. At 4,650m you will feel altitude, that is why we sleep at 3,900m the night before and include oxygen.
Daypack 25L max with waterproof jacket and pants, down jacket, trekking pants, thermal layers, beanie, gloves, sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 50 sunscreen, 2L water, headlamp, power bank. Duffel 7kg with change of clothes for dome night. Hiking boots mandatory, no sneakers. We provide rain poncho.
Dry season April to October is best for clear views of Salkantay Glacier and turquoise color of both lakes. Rainy season November to March lakes stay turquoise but more clouds. Sky Domes operate year round with electric blankets.
Yes from 12 years with good fitness. No maximum age if acclimatized in Cusco 2 days prior. Private emergency horse available for $90 on ascent if needed. Tell us health conditions at booking so guide can carry extra oxygen.
YOUR ADVENTURE. OUR EXPERTISE.
Guest Reviews
Real experiences from travelers who slept under the Andean sky
I never thought I could sleep in a luxury bed while staring at the Milky Way through a transparent dome. The Salkantay glacier right in front of you at sunrise — absolutely unreal. Worth every penny.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky DomeWe did the full Salkantay Trek and stayed at the dome on night two. After a hard day of hiking, coming back to a real bed, hot shower and that view of the mountain? Nothing compares to that.
SkyDomeCamps - Salkantay TrekI have camped across Patagonia and Nepal but nothing matched this. The dome is warm, beautifully designed and the silence at 4,600m is something else entirely. I woke up at 3am just to stare at the stars.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky Dome
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