Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu
FromUSD 590per person
Tour overview
The most spectacular alternative to the Inca Trail: from the Salkantay glacier and Humantay Lake to the high jungle, ending at Machu Picchu.
Over five days the Salkantay Trek crosses every ecological zone of the Andes: from the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m, beside the snow-capped peak, down to the coffee and fruit farms of the cloud forest. No Inca Trail permits are needed, so there are almost daily departures.
Highlights
- Turquoise Humantay Lake
- Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m
- Coffee farm in the high jungle
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day 1 Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake
- 4,200 m
- 7 km
- 4 h
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Domes at Soraypampa
Drive to Mollepata and Soraypampa; hike to Humantay Lake.
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Day 2 Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay
- 4,630 m
- 22 km
- 9 h
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Chaullay campsite
The toughest day: climb to Salkantay Pass and a long descent into the cloud forest.
-
Day 3 Chaullay – La Playa
- 2,900 m
- 16 km
- 6 h
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- La Playa campsite
Hike along the Santa Teresa river valley among waterfalls and fruit trees.
-
Day 4 La Playa – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes
- 2,700 m
- 19 km
- 7 h
- Breakfast, lunch
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Climb to Llactapata for a first distant view of Machu Picchu and walk along the railway from Hidroeléctrica.
-
Day 5 Machu Picchu – Cusco
- 2,430 m
- —
- 3 h
- Breakfast
- Return to Cusco
Guided tour and return by train and bus to Cusco.
What's included
Included
- Pre-trek briefing in Cusco the evening before departure
- Hotel pick-up and private transport to the trailhead
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish/English)
- Camping gear: 4-person tents for 2 people, sleeping pads and dining tent
- Chef and kitchen crew
- All meals listed in the itinerary, snacks and boiled filtered water
- Emergency oxygen, first-aid kit and radio communication
- Free luggage storage in Cusco
- Muleteers and pack mules (7 kg per person)
- Machu Picchu entrance
- Hotel night in Aguas Calientes
- Return train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco
Not included
- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu (USD 24 each way)
- International and domestic flights
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Tips for guides, cooks and porters
- Meals and drinks not mentioned
What to bring
- Original passport (the same one used for your permit)
- 25–35 L daypack with rain cover
- Sleeping bag rated to -5 °C (available to rent)
- Waterproof jacket and rain poncho
- Warm fleece or down jacket, hat and gloves
- Broken-in trekking boots
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Sunscreen SPF 50, sunglasses and lip balm
- Reusable water bottle (2 L)
- Personal medication and blister kit
- Cash in soles for tips and extras
Prices
| Rate | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Adult | USD 590 |
| Student (valid university card) | USD 560 |
Optional extras
| Machu Picchu bus up and down | USD 48 |
| Huayna Picchu Mountain | USD 75 |
| Riding horse on day 2 | USD 70 |
Important information
- No Inca Trail permit required
- Rainy season (December to March) may alter the route
FromUSD 590
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