The 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most spectacular hiking adventures and a popular alternative to the Inca Trail. This small-group trek takes you through breathtaking Andean landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and the Salkantay Pass to lush cloud forests on the way to Machu Picchu.
Travel with experienced local guides while enjoying well-organized logistics, including accommodation, meals, and porter support, ensuring a comfortable and memorable trekking experience.
This unforgettable journey combines high-mountain scenery, nature, and cultural immersion, making the Salkantay Trek one of the most rewarding routes to discover Machu Picchu.
Highlights
5 days
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
5 days
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Complete camping equipment
Mules to carry gear (up to 7 kg per person, until Day 3)
Train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
Private transport Cusco – trek start
Lunch
Dinner
Breakfast
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and Salkantay
Cook and kitchen equipment
Pre-trek briefing
Professional bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
Hotel pick-up in Cusco
All meals during the trek
Boiled water and hot water for washing
Private transport Ollantaytambo – Cusco
First aid kit, oxygen, and emergency horse
2 nights camping, 1 night lodge/local stay, 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes
Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu (one way)
Sleeping bag (available to rent on site)
Trekking poles (available to rent on site)
Day 1 breakfast
Day 5 lunch and dinner
Hot springs entrance (optional). Available for purchase on site.
Personal expenses (snacks, drinks, souvenirs)
Tips for guides, cooks, and muleteers (optional)
Travel insurance
Important Information
•
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
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Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
•
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
•
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
•
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
•
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
•
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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The 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most spectacular hiking adventures and a popular alternative to the Inca Trail. This small-group trek takes you through breathtaking Andean landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and the Salkantay Pass to lush cloud forests on the way to Machu Picchu.
Travel with experienced local guides while enjoying well-organized logistics, including accommodation, meals, and porter support, ensuring a comfortable and memorable trekking experience.
This unforgettable journey combines high-mountain scenery, nature, and cultural immersion, making the Salkantay Trek one of the most rewarding routes to discover Machu Picchu.
Highlights
5 days
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
5 days
Offered in English & Spanish
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Complete camping equipment
Mules to carry gear (up to 7 kg per person, until Day 3)
Train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
Private transport Cusco – trek start
Lunch
Dinner
Breakfast
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and Salkantay
Cook and kitchen equipment
Pre-trek briefing
Professional bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
Hotel pick-up in Cusco
All meals during the trek
Boiled water and hot water for washing
Private transport Ollantaytambo – Cusco
First aid kit, oxygen, and emergency horse
2 nights camping, 1 night lodge/local stay, 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes
Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu (one way)
Sleeping bag (available to rent on site)
Trekking poles (available to rent on site)
Day 1 breakfast
Day 5 lunch and dinner
Hot springs entrance (optional). Available for purchase on site.
We begin the journey early in the morning, leaving Cusco and heading through the scenic Sacred Valley. Snowy peaks and rolling hills accompany us on the drive to Mollepata, where we stop for a hearty traditional breakfast.
3 hours
2
SORAYPAMPA
Continuing by vehicle, we arrive at Challacancha, the starting point of our trek. As we hike, we follow an ancient Inca water canal through open highlands. Along the way, we may spot llamas grazing peacefully. The path gradually opens up to a broad plain, Soraypampa where we set up our first camp.
3 hours
3
Humantay Lake
In the afternoon, we take a side hike to the stunning Humantay Lake, with its striking turquoise waters nestled beneath glacial peaks. After enjoying the view and taking photos, we return to camp for a warm dinner and a night under a starlit Andean sky.
