Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu
The most spectacular alternative to the Inca Trail: Humantay Lagoon, the 4,650 m Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, coffee farms and a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Cabins and domes, buffet meals and horses for your gear.
Overview
The Salkantay Trek is a 5-day, 4-night adventure from the snowy Andes to the cloud forest that ends at Machu Picchu. You will walk around 66 km, reach the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 m under the glacier of Apu Salkantay (6,271 m), swim with your eyes in the turquoise Humantay Lagoon and sleep in rustic cabins and panoramic domes with 13 cm mattresses.
It is the favourite trek of backpackers staying at Recoleta: no Inca Trail permits are needed, groups are limited to 17 people, a specialised mountain chef cooks buffet meals and horses carry the camping gear and up to 5 kg of your personal items.
Why choose the Salkantay Trek?
- Dramatic landscape change in a few days: glaciers, high puna, jungle and coffee farms.
- First view of Machu Picchu from the Inca site of Llactapata.
- Official DIRCETUR-certified guides with at least 3 years of experience and first-aid training.
- Leave your big backpack at Recoleta for free while you trek.
Highlights
- Turquoise Humantay Lagoon (4,220 m) on day one
- Cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 m below a 6,271 m glacier
- Sleep in rustic cabins and sky-view domes
- Cloud forest, orchids, bromeliads and coffee plantations
- First glimpse of Machu Picchu from Llactapata
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu and Expedition train back
Tour plan
-
Day 1Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lagoon
Pick-up at 4:30 a.m. and drive through Izcuchaca and Limatambo to Mollepata (2,900 m), arriving around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast (the Mollepata + Humantay entrance fee of S/ 20 is paid here). Leave your 5 kg for the horsemen and continue by transport to Challacancha (3,380 m). Start a 3-hour walk to Soraypampa (3,900 m), arriving around 1:30 p.m. for lunch at our first camp. In the afternoon, hike 1.5 hours up to the turquoise Humantay Lagoon (4,220 m) under the Apu Humantay glacier, then descend 40 minutes for tea time at 6 p.m., dinner and the night in rustic cabins.
12 km · 5 h · max. 4,220 m -
Day 2Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Colpapampa
Breakfast at 5 a.m. and the big day begins: a 3-hour climb through Salkantaypampa and the small Soyrococha lagoon to the Salkantay Pass (4,650 m), facing the snow peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo. Descend 3 hours to Huayracmachay (3,800 m) for lunch, where the landscape changes dramatically, and continue 3 more hours down to Colpapampa (2,900 m) for the night in domes.
22 km · 10 h · max. 4,650 m -
Day 3Colpapampa – Playa Sahuayaco
Breakfast at 6 a.m. and a 5.5-hour walk through the high jungle with gentle ups and downs, among coffee plantations, orchids, begonias, bromeliads and medicinal plants. Buffet lunch at Playa Sahuayaco, a warm spot surrounded by nature where you rest for the afternoon. Tea at 6 p.m. and dinner.
12 km · 5 h · 2,100 m -
Day 4Sahuayaco – Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
Wake up in the tropics and walk 3 hours via Lucmabamba to the Inca ruins of Llactapata: on a clear day you will see Machu Picchu in the distance. Descend 2 hours to Hidroeléctrica for lunch at a restaurant, then follow the railway for 3 hours through the jungle to Aguas Calientes. Check in to the hotel, shower and dinner at a restaurant.
20 km · 9 h · max. 2,700 m -
Day 5Machu Picchu – return to Cusco
Early start for the guided tour of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu: temples, terraces, palaces and agricultural platforms, followed by free time for photos. Return to Aguas Calientes for the Expedition train at 14:55 (or 21:50) to Ollantaytambo and the tourist bus to Cusco (Plaza Regocijo). If you booked Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, you enter in the first slot (6–8 a.m.) and go straight to the mountain instead of the guided tour.
2,430 m · arrival in Cusco 7–11 p.m.
Included
- Briefing with your guide the evening before (5, 6 or 7 p.m.)
- Pick-up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m.
- Tourist transport Cusco – Mollepata (2.5 h) and Mollepata – Challacancha (45 min)
- Official bilingual guide (max. 17 people per group)
- Camps: cabins in Soraypampa, domes in Colpapampa and Lucmabamba, 13 cm mattresses
- Basic hotel in Aguas Calientes with private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi and breakfast
- Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 tea-time snacks and 4 dinners (buffet)
- Coca tea wake-up in the first three camps
- Specialised mountain chef and cooking equipment
- Horsemen and horses for camping gear + 5 kg of personal items (days 1–3)
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket and guided tour*
- Expedition train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (14:55 or 21:50)*
- Tourist bus Ollantaytambo – Cusco (Plaza Regocijo)*
- Emergency oxygen, first-aid kit and radios
Not included
- First breakfast (S/ 15)
- Lunch on the last day
- Mollepata + Humantay Lagoon entrance fee (S/ 20)
- Sleeping bag (USD 15) and trekking poles (USD 15)
- Water and snacks along the way
- Cocalmayo hot springs in Santa Teresa and transport
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets
- Tips
What to bring
- Backpack 30–40 L and duffel for the horses (5 kg)
- Sleeping bag (or rent one)
- Warm clothes for nights below 0 °C
- Rain jacket and poncho
- Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Insect repellent
- Headlamp
- Water bottle and purification tablets
- Personal medication
- Original passport (required for Machu Picchu and the train)
- Cash in soles and dollars
Important: We work with the Expedition train at 14:55 and/or 21:50. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are not included. If you want to book your own hotel in Aguas Calientes, let us know. Recommended to book at least 3 days in advance; for last-minute bookings the Machu Picchu ticket and return train are not included.
Your questions, answered
01How hard is the Salkantay Trek?+
It is a demanding trek of about 66 km. Day 2 is the hardest: 22 km and around 10 hours crossing the 4,650 m pass. Anyone with good fitness who has spent at least 2–3 days acclimatising in Cusco can do it.
02What is the difference between the $345 and the $245 price?+
The $345 price (booked about 3 months in advance) includes the Machu Picchu entrance ticket and the return train to Cusco. The $245 last-minute price does not include the Machu Picchu ticket or the return train.
03How far in advance should I book?+
At least 3 days in advance for the trek, and ideally 3 months ahead to secure Machu Picchu tickets and the return train in high season (May to September).
04Can I leave my luggage at the hostel?+
Yes. Luggage storage is free if you come back to stay at Recoleta, or S/ 20 per booking if you do not.
05When is the best time to do the Salkantay Trek?+
The dry season from April to October has the clearest views. From November to March it rains more, the trails are muddy, and the trek still runs except in February on some days.
More adventures from Cusco
01$695
02$279