Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek
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Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek

Salkantay Trek Peru

The amazing 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu was named one of the top 25 treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure magazine. This trek traverses beautiful and stunning sections of an Inca route located near the Classic Inca Trail, where an imposing snow-capped mountain blends beautifully with the subtropical cloud forest. The fantastic Salkantay trek is an Inca-style pilgrimage. It offers some of the most exquisite views as you descend from the high Andean highlands into the subtropical zone.

This fascinating Salkantay Trek is primarily done over 5 days and 4 nights, or alternatively in 4 days and 3 nights. Contact us for more information. The Salkantay trek is the second most popular route to Machu Picchu. However, shorter versions are also available, depending on the fitness level and interests of the travelers.

Salkantay Trek

  • The spectacular Mount Salkantay

  • Breathtaking mountain scenery

  • The incredible Salkantay Pass

  • Flora and wildlife in the cloud forest

  • Visiting local villages

  • Hiking the world-famous Salkantay Trek

  • Machu Picchu, the legendary lost city of the Incas

Salkantay Trek: Overview

  • Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Markju K’asa – Challacancha – Soraypampa

  • Day 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayramachay – Chaullay

  • Day 03: Chaullay – Collpapampa – Lluscamayo – La Playa

  • Day 04: La Playa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes

  • Day 05: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Language Spanish y Quechua (hablado por los guías y los pobladores locales de las comunidades que se visitan).
Altitude Punto más alto: Aproximadamente 4,630 metros sobre el nivel del mar
Transportation Transporte terrestre (autobús o minivan) desde Cusco hasta el punto de inicio en Mollepata / Challacancha.
Difficulty De Moderada a Desafiante. El segundo día es el más exigente debido al ascenso al Paso Salkantay y la altitud.

Day 01: Cusco – Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa

For this 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. You will then begin the drive through the Andean landscapes until you reach the town of Mollepata. In this village, you can enjoy breakfast and purchase any last-minute supplies. From here, we will take a 45-minute bus ride to reach the beautiful area of Challacancha, the official starting point of our Salkantay trek.

This is a remarkably beautiful section of the Salkantay route, used primarily by local people. You will hike through a forested area for 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach Soraypampa, where lunch will be served. After enjoying lunch, you will hike for an hour and a half up to the stunning Humantay Lake. After exploring this wonderful location, you will head back down to the Soraypampa camp to spend the night.

  • Accommodation: Campsite at Soraypampa

  • Meals included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 02: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayracmachay – Chaullay

We will continue our Salkantay trek after breakfast. We will begin with a 2-hour uphill hike to the foot of Mount Humantay. We will reach a glacial moraine, where we might spot vizcachas (Andean chinchillas). Approximately one hour later, we will finally arrive at the Salkantay Pass, the highest point of the entire trek at 4,650 meters (15,255 feet) above sea level. Here, you will be surrounded by majestic sacred mountains: Mount Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,574 ft) and Mount Humantay (5,850 m / 19,192 ft).

Salkantay is the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, and from the pass, you can appreciate the peak from a very close distance. You will also enjoy magnificent views of other mountains, such as Humantay and Pumasillo. Afterward, we will descend to Huayracmachay for lunch (approximately 2.5 hours from the pass). In the afternoon, we will continue our descent to the beautiful campsite of Chaullay (approximately 4 hours). This section of the Salkantay trek passes through a lush cloud forest.

  • Accommodation: Campsite at Chaullay (3,250 m / 10,662 ft)

  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 03: Chaullay – Collpapampa – Lluscamayo – La Playa

The third day of your Salkantay Trek in Peru begins with a delicious breakfast. We will descend for about an hour to the town of Collpapampa, enjoying the beautiful landscapes that welcome us back into the cloud forest as we follow the left bank of the Alto Salkantay River. Along the way, we will be able to spot various species of palm trees, orchids, bromeliads, and other vegetation typical of the cloud forest. This section of the Salkantay Trek also offers great opportunities to observe different types of birds, insects, and butterflies. Compared to the previous days of the trek, this hike is much easier, as we will slowly descend through the valley until reaching La Playa (2,050 m / 6,725 ft).

Campsite Options: Please note that the Salkantay trail has become a highly popular route, which has led to some wear and tear as well as commercial overexploitation, and it is currently unregulated. The campsite for this third night offers various options that you should discuss with your guide. These choices depend on the group's preferences and what you plan to do the following day. La Playa is NOT a remote campsite. Those looking to escape the crowds should ask their guide about the possibility of camping in Santa Teresa instead. Please note that the Santa Teresa campsite is also not remote and can sometimes host parties.

  • Accommodation: Campsite at La Playa

  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 04: La Playa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes

You have two options today, depending on your interests and physical fitness. Discuss each one with your guide. Remember that the Salkantay Trek is the second most popular route in the Cusco region, which inevitably means you will encounter other people along the way (it is not an isolated wilderness experience).

The Relaxed Option After breakfast, we will take local transport to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station (transport not included in the price), where we will have lunch. Shortly after, we will begin an easy 3-hour walk along the train tracks to reach the town of Aguas Calientes.

The Adventurous Option We will depart early and ascend for about three hours through the cloud forest to the top of the mountain, where an interesting Inca site (ruins) called Llactapata is located. Don't let your guide talk you out of it! This will be one of the most challenging sections of the Salkantay Trek, but it serves as a fantastic introduction to Machu Picchu! From here, we will get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu, nestled in the saddle of the opposite mountain. We will then descend steeply for three hours to the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station for lunch. Afterward, we will hike for three more hours along the railway tracks to reach the town of Aguas Calientes, marking the end of the trekking portion of the Salkantay route.

  • Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes

  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 05: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

In the morning, following breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up for the short bus ride up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. You will enjoy a comprehensive guided tour that includes key highlights such as the Main Square, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (Sun Tethering Stone), the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Temple, and the Sacred Rock.

It will be an unforgettable experience exploring this mysterious and enchanting site, recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own or opt for additional hiking trails (if pre-booked).

At the designated time, you will take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you can take the opportunity to have lunch. Afterward, make your way to the train station for your return journey to the town of Ollantaytambo, a scenic ride of approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, our transport will be waiting to pick you up and transfer you back to the city of Cusco, dropping you off directly at your hotel. This marks the official conclusion of our Salkantay Trek adventure.

  • Meals included: Breakfast

What is Included in the Salkantay Trek?

  • Hotel pickup: Pickup from your hotel on the first day.

  • Transportation: Transport from Cusco to the official starting point of the Salkantay Trek.

  • Machu Picchu entrance fee: Admission ticket to the Machu Picchu citadel.

  • Professional guide: Expert, licensed tour guide.

  • Tents: High-quality tents with a 2-person capacity and space for backpack storage.

  • Sleeping mat: Foam mat (matra) provided for insulation and comfort.

  • Chef and kitchen team: Professional cook and full cooking equipment.

  • Meals: Daily meals as specified in the itinerary (vegetarian option available upon request).

  • Pack horses and horsemen: Horses to carry camp equipment and personal belongings, along with professional horsemen.

  • Dining setup: Dining tent with camping tables and chairs, plus a dedicated kitchen tent for meal preparation.

  • First aid kit: Comprehensive first aid kit, including an emergency oxygen bottle.

  • Return transfer: Transfer from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco.

  • Train ticket: Expedition-class train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.

  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes: Comfortable hotel accommodation for the fourth night.

  • Round-trip bus ticket: Shuttle bus tickets up to and down from Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes).

  • Dinner in Aguas Calientes: Dinner included at a local restaurant in the town of Aguas Calientes.

What is NOT Included in the Salkantay Trek?

  • Airfare: International and domestic flights.

  • Day 1 Breakfast: Breakfast on the morning of the first day.

  • Hot Springs entrance fee: Admission ticket to the natural hot springs in Aguas Calientes (or Cocalmayo in Santa Teresa).

  • Huayna Picchu fee: Optional entrance tickets to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain.

  • Sleeping bags: Available for rent if you do not bring your own.

  • Gratuities: Tips for guides, cooks, horsemen, and staff.

  • Extra pack horses: Additional horses for passengers' personal luggage beyond the standard weight allowance.

  • Day 5 Lunch and Dinner: Meals on the final day after touring Machu Picchu.

  • Personal expenses: Souvenirs, snacks, drinks, and other personal extras.

Recommendations: What to Bring on the Salkantay Trek

  • Original passport

  • Original University Student ID (if you applied for a student discount)

  • Trekking poles with rubber tips

  • Change of clothes (including warm layers)

  • Snacks: Cookies, energy bars, chocolate, and dried fruits

  • Swimsuit (for the hot springs)

  • A lightweight daypack with a change of clothes for the entire duration of the trek

  • Rain poncho or waterproof jacket

  • Trekking boots/shoes suitable for the Salkantay terrain

  • Sleeping bag (can also be rented)

  • Headlamp or flashlight

  • Hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun, rain, and cold

  • Sunscreen and mosquito repellent

  • Travel packs of toilet paper

  • Cash in both Peruvian Soles (PEN) and US Dollars (USD)

Frequently Asked Questions

Train companies (PeruRail and Inca Rail) only allow one carry-on bag or backpack not exceeding 5 kg (11 lbs) and 62 linear inches (length + width + height). Larger luggage can be stored for free at your hotel in Cusco.

Yes, all of our standard shared guided tours are conducted with a maximum of 8 to 10 people per guide in Machu Picchu to ensure a close, personalized experience and optimal resolution of your questions.

Government entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and train tickets are personal and non-transferable, and their dates are rigid according to official policies. Therefore, rescheduling is subject to penalties and the availability of new tickets at the time of requesting the change.