Salkantay Trek Cost 2027: Prices, Booking and Tips

Our Salkantay Trek 5 Days costs USD 420 per person in a group and USD 650 per person as a private trek, with USD 30 off for students. The price covers the guide, cook, meals, camping, the horses that carry your gear, a night in Aguas Calientes, the Machu Picchu ticket and the train back. Our 2027 prices are confirmed in November 2026, and we expect the group price to stay between USD 420 and USD 450. Below is what the price includes, what you pay on top and how to save.

Salkantay Trek cost at a glance#

Our Salkantay Trek prices#

Our 5-day Salkantay Trek costs USD 420 per person in a group and USD 650 as a private trek. For 2027 we expect to keep it between USD 420 and USD 450.

The price includes the guide, cook, meals, tents, mules and transport. Tips, a riding horse, drinks and some entrance fees, such as Humantay Lake, are paid separately. We give a 10% discount to groups of four or more and for early bookings.

What the price includes#

• Briefing the day before the trek at our office or your hotel in Cusco, where you meet your guide and receive your duffel bag.
• Hotel pick-up in Cusco and private transport to the start of the trek, at Soraypampa or Mollepata.
• Professional guide from Cusco, in English, for the whole trek and the guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• Cook and meals during the trek, with filtered drinking water; vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free on request.
• Horses and wranglers to carry your duffel bag, up to 7 kg (14 lb) including your sleeping bag.
• Camping equipment: four-season tents, with a four-person tent shared by two hikers.
• A night in a lodge in Aguas Calientes before the visit to Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a guided tour of about 2 hours.
• Return Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport to your hotel in Cusco.
• Safety: guides trained in first aid, with a medical kit, oxygen and a satellite communicator; an emergency horse goes with the group on the climb to the Salkantay Pass.

What you pay on top#

Budget some cash in soles for drinks, snacks and tips, and for the hot springs at Qollpapampa or a coffee at the farms on day 3.

Why the Salkantay costs less than the Inca Trail#

The Salkantay Trek does not need an Inca Trail permit, and horses carry the camping gear instead of porters, so it costs about half as much: USD 420 for the Salkantay Trek 5 Days against USD 890 for the Classic Inca Trail 4 Days. You do need a Machu Picchu ticket, which is included in our price. Compare both treks in our guide Salkantay Trek vs Inca Trail.

Group or private trek?#

In a group you share the guide, cook and horses with other travelers, which keeps the price at USD 420. A private trek, at USD 650 per person, gives your group its own guide and team, and lets you adjust the pace and the schedule. For four or more travelers, ask about the 10% group discount.

How to save on the Salkantay Trek#

• Book early. Early bookings get a 10% discount, and Machu Picchu tickets and trains for the high season sell out first.
• Travel in a group of four or more for the same discount.
• Bring your own sleeping bag and poles instead of renting them, if you already have good ones.
• Carry cash in soles for small purchases on the trail, where cards are not accepted.
• Eat at local places in Aguas Calientes, where tourist restaurants are expensive.

Can you hike the Salkantay without a tour?#

Yes. The trek needs no permit, so experienced hikers can do it on their own. You then arrange the transport to the start, food, camping gear or lodges, the Machu Picchu ticket for a fixed time, the train and the night in Aguas Calientes yourself, and you cross a 4,630 m pass without a guide or emergency support. A tour takes care of that and adds a guide, a cook and horses for your gear. If you are comparing companies, read our guide to choosing a Salkantay Trek operator.

How to book and cancellation policy#

To book, send us the details of each traveler exactly as in the passport (full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and a copy of the passport) and the hotels where you stay in Cusco before and after the trek. We book the Machu Picchu ticket and the train in your name as soon as we receive the payment.

Cancellations more than 30 days before departure are refunded at 90%, between 15 and 30 days at 50%, and with less than 15 days there is no refund. See our terms and conditions.

Salkantay Trek facts and figures#

See the route and the altitude of each day on our Salkantay Trek map, and all our Salkantay Trek tours.

Frequently asked questions about the Salkantay Trek cost#

How much does the Salkantay Trek cost?

Our Salkantay Trek 5 Days costs USD 420 per person in a group and USD 650 per person as a private trek, with USD 30 off for students. It includes the Machu Picchu ticket, the train back and a night in Aguas Calientes.

Is Machu Picchu included in the Salkantay Trek price?

Yes. The Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a guided tour of about 2 hours are included. Huayna Picchu is an optional extra of USD 75.

Is the Salkantay Trek cheaper than the Inca Trail?

Yes, about half the price: USD 420 against USD 890 for the Classic Inca Trail, because it needs no Inca Trail permit and horses carry the gear instead of porters.

Do I need a permit for the Salkantay Trek?

No. There is no daily permit quota, but the Machu Picchu ticket is limited and issued in your name, so book the trek and the ticket together.

When are the 2027 prices published?

In November 2026. We expect the group price to stay between USD 420 and USD 450.