The Salkantay Trek is one of the best-known alternatives to the Inca Trail: about 74 km in 5 days, from the snowy Andes down to the cloud forest, ending with a guided visit of Machu Picchu. It needs no Inca Trail permit, so it is a good choice if the Inca Trail is sold out for your dates or you want a longer, quieter trek.…
The Salkantay Trek is one of the best-known alternatives to the Inca Trail: about 74 km in 5 days, from the snowy Andes down to the cloud forest, ending with a guided visit of Machu Picchu. It needs no Inca Trail permit, so it is a good choice if the Inca Trail is sold out for your dates or you want a longer, quieter trek.
On day 2 you cross the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft), the highest point of the trek, below Salkantay mountain (6,271 m). The trail then drops through cloud forest and coffee farms to Lucmabamba, and on day 4 you reach Llactapata, an Inca site with a view of Machu Picchu across the valley, before the last stretch to Aguas Calientes.
You camp for three nights and spend the last night in a lodge in Aguas Calientes. Horses carry your duffel bag, a cook prepares your meals, and the Machu Picchu ticket, the guided tour and the return train are included. Southern Peru Explorers is a local operator based in Cusco, running tours since 2009.
The Salkantay Trek combines a real mountain challenge with the change from glaciers to cloud forest in a single trip, and it is less crowded than the Inca Trail. Compare it with the other routes in our guides Salkantay Trek…
The Salkantay Trek combines a real mountain challenge with the change from glaciers to cloud forest in a single trip, and it is less crowded than the Inca Trail.
Compare it with the other routes in our guides Salkantay Trek vs Inca Trail and Inca Jungle vs Salkantay, and see the full cost of the Salkantay Trek.
Daily trail breakdown, key milestones, altitudes, and campsites.
We leave Cusco at about 5:00 a.m. in a private bus and drive for about four hours through Limatambo and Mollepata to Challacancha, where we meet our wranglers and horses and start walking. A gentle climb takes us to Soraypampa (Salkantaypampa) for lunch.
After lunch, a steep climb of about 2 hours leads to our camp at Soyrococha, close to the glacier, with views of the Humantay and Salkantay peaks. It is the coldest night of the trek, so keep your warm clothes at hand.
Facts and figures
After breakfast we climb for about 3.5 hours to the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft), the highest point of the trek, with views of glaciers and snowy peaks and, with luck, condors overhead.
We then walk down for about 2 hours to Wayracmachay, at the edge of the cloud forest, for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon the trail continues down, with traces of an old Inca path along the way, to our camp at Qollpapampa, which has natural hot springs where you can relax after the pass.
Facts and figures
Today the trail goes downhill along the Santa Teresa and Totora rivers, from the dry highlands into the cloud forest, with orchids, bromeliads, waterfalls and fruit and coffee farms.
We pass Chaullay, the Coripacchi waterfalls, Wiñaypoko and the town of La Playa, and end the day at our camp in Lucmabamba, among the coffee plantations, where you can try a cup of local coffee.
Facts and figures
After breakfast we climb for about two and a half hours to the Abra Q'elloqasa viewpoint, with views of Machu Picchu and the valleys around it. We have lunch near Llactapata, an Inca site from which you can see Machu Picchu and Salkantay mountain in the same view.
We then walk down for about 2 hours along the Aobamba river, through bamboo forest, orchards and coffee farms, to Hidroeléctrica, and take the train to Aguas Calientes, where you spend the night in a lodge.
Facts and figures
Early in the morning we take the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972 ft) for a guided tour of about 2 hours through its temples, terraces and plazas. You then have free time to explore, or to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you booked the ticket in advance.
After the visit we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, stop for lunch (not included) and take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, where our private transport takes you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Facts and figures
Complete transparency for all equipment, meals, transport, and admissions.
All of our guides are native to the Cusco region and have a deep passion for sharing their culture, traditions, and knowledge of the Andes. They are professionally trained, fluent in English (and other languages), and highly experienced in leading the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and other high-altitude expeditions.
On this demanding trek around Salkantay, your guide looks after your safety, explains the history and culture of the route and keeps the group going until Machu Picchu.
The Salkantay Trek does not need an Inca Trail permit. The entrance tickets and campsite fees of this 5-day trip are included.
Your package includes:
We take care of every detail so you can focus entirely on enjoying the trek.
Our highly trained trekking chefs prepare delicious, energy-rich meals designed specifically for high-altitude hiking. We accommodate dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) while offering a creative mix of Peruvian and international cuisine.
Your meals will be served family-style in our cozy dining tent three times a day. You will have healthy food with fresh products, hot drinks, and hearty dishes which will keep you energized during the trek.
Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek includes horses and professional wranglers to carry your duffel bag. There is no additional cost for this service.
Each hiker is permitted to carry up to 7 kg / 14 lbs (including a sleeping bag). We take into account our weight restrictions and adhere to ethical animal treatment guidelines for the sake of our horses. We would like to inform you that you will have access to your duffel bag as soon as you reach each campsite.
Our high-end 4-season tents are made to survive in harsh Andean weather conditions (including cool nights in the Salkantay Pass area which stands 4,630 meters / 15,190 feet above sea level).
For your comfort, we offer large four-person tents for two hikers. A single tent is available for USD 80.
We offer clean filtered drinking water all the way through your trek both at every mealtime and refill place. Our water is taken from fresh mountain streams and is properly filtered prior to consumption.
In order to preserve the fragile nature of Andes mountains, we kindly ask you to bring your own water bottle or Camelbak. We discourage you from using plastic bottles.
All transportation is included.
We coordinate the whole trip from beginning to end.
Our guests' safety comes first. The guides are all first aid trained and will have a full medical kit including oxygen in case of problems due to altitude, minor injuries or other trekking diseases.
If an accident occurs, the guides will be equipped with a satellite communicator to organize the immediate evacuation if needed.
The day before the trek there is a briefing at our office or at your hotel in Cusco.
During the briefing you:
So you are ready for the adventure.
Recommended gear and apparel checklist from our mountain guides.
Purification Tablets: Optional, although we will give you boiled and filtered water after breakfast every day.
Water Bottle or Camelbak: Minimum 2-liter capacity.
16 photos from this tour.
take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo followed by private transport back to Cusco
During the briefing you:
So you are ready for the adventure.
Your health and safety are of utmost importance to us during this journey up into the Andes. In case you have some restrictions regarding what you can eat or have some food allergies, such as being a vegetarian, a vegan, gluten free, or lactose intolerant, we would like to know about that beforehand.
Our trekking chefs will be more than happy to prepare your meals so that you could feel completely comfortable eating the food during your journey.
Booking information for this tour.
Your booking of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is an easy, quick and completely safe process. To verify your booking, kindly provide us with the following information:
It is extremely important that all personal information is provided exactly as stated in your passport since this information is required by the Peruvian government for issuing your official entrance permit to Machu Picchu and train reservation.
Kindly provide us with the following information for each traveler:
Complete information is necessary for us to process your permits and tickets without any delay.
In order to organize the logistics in a well-coordinated manner, kindly inform us about the hotels where you will be staying before and after your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu:
It will help us arrange the pick up of your hotel, transportation to Mollepata/Soraypampa and return transportation from train station to your hotel in Cusco.
In case you have some restrictions regarding what you can eat or have some food allergies, such as being a vegetarian, a vegan, gluten free, or lactose intolerant, we would like to know about that beforehand.
Our trekking chefs will be more than happy to prepare your meals so that you could feel completely comfortable eating the food during your journey.
Our payment method is 100% secure and encrypted. In order to confirm your booking, please make your deposit or full payment by using the secure link below with your credit/debit card:
Contact us to confirm availability and request a payment link
As soon as your payment is confirmed, we'll start to arrange all the services included in your Salkantay Trek package, which are:
Tickets for entry to Machu Picchu and trains are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Salkantay Trek is one of the most popular alternative treks to Machu Picchu especially during high season.
Therefore, we highly recommend you to make your payment as soon as possible in order to ensure your place in the tour.
After your booking is confirmed, you will receive an email containing the following information:
In case of any questions during the whole booking process, our staff will help you with pleasure.
We'll be glad to help you explore Machu Picchu by Salkantay route!
Answers to the most common questions regarding trail preparation and logistics.
It is moderate to challenging. The hardest part is day 2, about 9 hours of walking with the climb to the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m. The route is not technical, but you need a good level of fitness and at least two days in Cusco to acclimatize first.
No. The Salkantay Trek does not use the permit-controlled Inca Trail. You only need a Machu Picchu ticket, which is included and is issued in your name, so we need your passport details when you book.
If you can walk for several hours a day on hills, you can do it. Train with hikes, stairs or other cardio in the weeks before your trip, and walk at a steady pace on the climbs. If you are not sure, ask us and we will help you choose the right route.
It is possible, because people react differently to altitude. Spend at least two days in Cusco before the trek and read our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco. Our guides carry oxygen and a medical kit, and an emergency horse goes with the group on the climb to the pass.
Horses carry your duffel bag, up to 7 kg (14 lb) including your sleeping bag, and it is waiting for you at each camp. You only carry a daypack with water, snacks and layers for the day.
The dry season, from May to October, has the most stable weather. From November to March heavy rain and landslides can close sections of the trail for a few days, so keep some flexibility in your plans.
Tell us when you book. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before the trek, because it crosses a pass at 4,630 m. We can prepare vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals.
Choose your start date
Numbers = Machu Picchu tickets left on day 5, the day you visit Machu Picchu. Dates without a number: we check tickets for you.
No payment now: we confirm availability and price first.
Compare this tour with similar ones: duration, altitude, difficulty and price.
| Tour | Duration | Distance | Max altitude | Difficulty | Group | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu PicchuThis tour | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 74 km | 4,630 m | Moderate / Challenging | – | $420 |
| Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 40 km | 4,830 m | Moderate | Minimum 2 travelers | $650 |
| Inca Jungle Trail 3 Days to Machu Picchu | 3 Days / 2 Nights | 10 km | 4,300 m | Easy to Moderate | Max 12 travelers | $390 |
| Inca Jungle Trek 4 Days to Machu Picchu | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 28 km | 4,300 m | Easy to Moderate | Max 12 travelers | $420 |
| Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek: 7 Days | 7 Days / 6 Nights | 97 km | 4,000 m | Moderate/Challenging | Minimum 2 travelers | $1,350 |
Travel guides from our team in Cusco to help you prepare.
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