Salkantay Trek: Scenic Route to Machu Picchu

Embark on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu for a breathtaking, crowd-free adventure through Peru’s sacred landscapes. Discover the best alternative to the Inca Trail.

Duration: 5 days
Highlights

Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake - You’ll be up nice and early today to be ready for us to pick you up around 4 am. You’ll travel in our comfy transportation with blankets to enjoy a bit more sleep on the drive.

After 2 hours, we’ll enjoy a brief stop in Mollepata for an optional breakfast. We’ll then continue on to Challacancha, where we’ll start our hike.

Once you get to Soraypampa, you’ll get settled in at our exclusive Private Camp where you’ll sleep this evening. You’ll have a bit of time to rest after enjoying your first lunch in the mountains. Feeling refreshed, it’ll be time to start the hike up to the incredibly beautiful Humantay Lake (4200 masl).

Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner with a beautiful sunset as your company. You can’t describe the energy here, but you’ll feel its peacefulness for yourself once here.

Salkantay Pass

Salkantay Trek - You’ll be woken up today at the first signs of daylight with an energizing cup of coca tea to get you going. Enjoy a nourishing breakfast before we set off on our trek to the route’s highest point, the Salkantay Pass at 4630 masl.

You’ll be walking 7 km over 3 hours. It’s a difficult ascent up the “Trail of the 7 Snakes” rightly named due to its winding path. Once you reach the top, you’ll appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys as well as Salkantay Mountain sitting right next to you (6271 masl), which is the second-highest in the Cusco region and one of the Apus (Inca Gods).

After your longest day of hiking, you’ll be pleased to reach our campsite at Collpapampa (2950 masl). You’ll be served a hearty meal before hitting the hay in your DOMES camp for a peaceful night’s sleep in the small village.

You’re sure to sleep well tonight!

Cocalmayo Hot Springs

Aguas Termales Cocalmayo de Santa Teresa - Today you’ll be woken at 6 am for your tea and then breakfast before setting off from the campsite. Our first destination will be La Playa, and we’ll be walking through the Santa Teresa Valley.

In La Playa, at camp, we’ll share a delicious lunch before heading out to the hot springs of COCALMAYO (optional). Cocalmayo is about a 30-minute car ride from camp. We’ll spend a couple of hours relaxing in the natural, clean water of the hot springs before heading back to camp for tea time, a warm dinner, and a group bonfire.

All of these activities are optional, so if you’d rather lay back and relax at camp—you are certainly welcome to!

Once you’re ready for bed, after dinner, of course, you’ll be settling down for the night in another one of our exclusive campsites, the Domes.

As you drift off, you’ll be able to hear the many sounds of nature and feel at one with the earth as you gaze up at the stars through the top of the dome in your comfy bed.

Llactapata Trek

Hot Springs (Aguas Calientes) - You’ll be eager to put on your hiking boots for your last day of trekking after you’ve filled up on fuel at breakfast. This morning you’ll be able to walk along a bit of the original world-famous Inca Trail!

After a 2 hour uphill climb and fascinating views over the Santa Teresa Valley, you’ll reach Llactapata (2,700 masl), an Inca archaeological site right in front of Machu Picchu.

Afterward, you’ll walk downhill for 2 hours, where you get another couple of peeks at the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, along the way – only making your anticipation for tomorrow stronger. We stop for lunch in Hidroeléctrica.

After 2 hours of walking, we’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes town. Here, we’ll head first to our hostel. In your room, you Will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

At 7:00 pm, we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant and organize to be ready for the icing on our last adventure day: MACCHU PICCHU!

Machu Picchu

Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu - Today’s the day you’ve been waiting for since you first set foot on the trail. You’re finally going to visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu!

After making our way up to the Inca citadel, you’ll enjoy a 1.5 hour guided tour of this incredible ancient site to see temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields.

After your tour, you have plenty more time to enjoy the site as you please. You can opt to climb Huayna Picchu (2720 masl) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3000 masl) (tickets must be booked in advance), which takes around 3 hours, up and down. There’s also the option of the Sun Gate (2729 masl) or Inca Bridge.

What's Included
  • 1 Night hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • 3 Nights in glamping sky huts, domes
  • Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
  • Private transportation to head of Salkantay trail
  • Return journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco by Bus
  • English/Spanish speaking professional tour guides
  • Guided visit to Machu Picchu
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Circuit 2 (*Subject to availability at the sales site)
  • First-Aid equipment and oxygen bottle for emergencies
  • Coca tea to wake you up every morning in the campsite
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • 4 Snacks
  • Vegetarian/Vegan options available on request with no additional charges
  • Horses for carrying up to 5 kilos of personal luggage and other required equipment
  • A duffle bag to pack 5 kilos of your belonging that will be carried by horses during the trek
  • Professional chef and cooking equipment
What's Not Included
  • Last lunch
  • Sleeping bag (you can rent from us for US$ 10.00 for whole trek)
  • Walking sticks (you can rent from us for US$ 15.00 for whole trek)
  • Entrance ticket to the hot springs (PEN 10.00)
  • Transportation to the hot springs
Additional Information

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a popular alternative to the Inca Trail. It is considered by many to be the best alternative route due to the natural beauty found along the trail and the lack of crowds. Because it is a more remote and rugged route, the Salkantay Trek has significantly fewer people than the Inca Trail. With breathtaking and inspiring views, this less traveled trail is invaluable. It is truly, as the Incas called it, sacred. If you are looking for an adventure in Peru, consider the “Salkantay Trek” as an option to reach Machu Picchu.

Location
Plaza Kusipata
We will pick you up between 4:00 am and 4:30 am, our manager will be calling your name to meet you.
Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(73 Ratings)
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T2738mwkathrynr
Sep 21, 2024
Mind blowing, freezing, challenging, and so much fun! Wouldn't do it any differently. - This was the most incredible experience! Let me start by saying this is not glamping first world style. The accomodations are pretty rustic, and the first two are absolutely freezing!! But, that being said I wouldn't change it for anything! I was with the most fabulous group of people and we laughed a lot and made the best of the conditions. Also, by touring this way you are supporting many local people, rather than an international company. AND our struggles as d challenges made everything so much sweeter! I reflected later on whether I would go with a more luxurious company, and my answer is 100% no! Our guide Vidal was so passionate and knowledgeable. It was amazing to listen to him and I could feel the love for his country and Pachamama in my heart and soul. The actual trek is challenging. I'm an almost 50 year old woman who is quite fit, but I did this tour with two torn meniscus and the downhill was quite a lot on my knees. That said, I totally did it and am stronger for it! The food was okay. But you're not on a food tour. I do re commented checking out the exquisite culinary scene in Peru though! Aguas Calientes, Cusco, and Punta Sal all had delicious food! Lima is one of the world's best food scenes! Okay back to the tour. The plantation was incredible and I had the most delicious avocados, grenadillas, dragon fruits, and more straight from the farm! They were also incredibly inexpensive. I stocked up and we ate them for days. The scenery is to be seen to be believed and the feelings of connection and love were beautiful and at times overwhelming. I found myself in tears at the sheer beauty of it all. And of course Machu Picchu was mind blowing. Humantay Lake was gorgeous and even though only one pool was open at the hotel springs ( and it wasn't really hot at only 25 degrees) it was soooo nice just to soak in water at that point that we stayed for hours! Bring extra money! They told me to bring 250 soles but I brought about 600 and spent most of them in blankets, water, beer, showers, Internet, and more. In regards to what you pack, keep in mind that even though they say you have 5.5 kilos to put on the horse, that includes reg sleeping bag!! So you really only have about 3.5 kilos. I paid for extra weight as I packed with 5.5 kilos in mind and I needed cold packs and stuff from my knees. In the end I am so glad that I went with this company as it is local and supports local people. I formed amazing bonds and had the time of my life. We indulged in many drinks once we got to the Amazon which wasn't too smart seeing as the next day eas the hardest, but we did it and I don't regret one moment! Thank you for the amazing experience!!
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Natson7
Sep 21, 2024
Salkantay 5d/4n was an amazing experience - Everything was well organised, our Guide Eddy was amazing :) The food and Camps were also great! Would totally recommend that tour.
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Victoriaha7378lv
Sep 20, 2024
Amazing 5 day Salkantay trek - My friends and I just finished the 5 day salkantay trek, and it couldn't have been more perfect. Tupac our guide, was great, made us feel comfortable, and made sure we were comfortable and safe throughout the trek. He shared so much knowledge about trekking and the history of the Incas. You could tell he's got a ton of experience, one of the best guides we have ever had. We also have to give a huge shoutout to Celso the mountain chef! The meals were incredible 10/10 If you're thinking about going on a trek, I can't recommend this crew enough. They really made the whole experience unforgettable!
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Journey01064864830
Sep 20, 2024
Salkantay 5 day trip! 10/10 - Awesome views, very nice people, tourguide was so much fun, food was delicious and accomodation very clean! Can only recommend, was such a gorgeous experience!
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Giuliagx369ow
Sep 12, 2024
Amazing experience - The trekking was amazing, we passed by beautiful and historic places. The agency is very requested and is always available to ask questions and give guidance. We were led by Oscar Guide, who did an excellent job and made the experience even more memorable. Outside of this, it is also important to highlight the importance of the support team, as well as the cook (Celso) and the boy in charge of the extra bags (Carlos), because without them also nothing of this would be possible.
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Andreipinkus
Sep 8, 2024
Great experience on Salkantay Trek - The 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu was a beautiful, challenging, and personally rewarding experience. It seems that MP Expeditions partners with other tour companies, because we combined with another group. This did not create any issues and I am very satisfied with the communication and service from both companies. I learned so much and am very grateful for the experience I had.
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Travel46397284767
Sep 4, 2024
Salkantay Trek - It was a hard but rewarding experience. I definitely enjoyed myself and would highly recommend it! The views are everything
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Khan112794
Sep 3, 2024
Good for the money - I booked the trip 2 days before it started. I understand it was a rush but the company was able to fit me in. The reason I did it with this company is because Tupac showed initiative by coming to my hostel and explaining what’s gonna happen. I was traveling solo and I was put in with a group. Tupac knew how to avoid the crowds and trust me the hike can get crowded at some points. Tupac is super chill so make sure you ask him what’s happening. You gotta be assertive it’s your trip. The views were great. The hike was not the hardest but it can get exhausting. We had a chef who traveled with us and he was really good at preparing breakfast lunch and dinner. Make sure you tip the chef he worked his ass off. This trip with cheap if you are American/Canadian/older/got more money I’d deff recommend with booking more expensive tour company. The more expensive tours had nicer accommodations and they always had a horse with them we didn’t have that. For the price this tour was good.
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Amys8637805212345689
Sep 3, 2024
AMAZING - We had the best time!!! The food was amazing and the hike was incredible. Tupac was great and very knowledgeable. Deffo do this tour!!!!
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G721vkmarthas
Sep 2, 2024
Fab - Super experience!! The mountains we trekked were beautiful & the accommodation was fun. Additionally couldn’t fault the food our chef cooked us.
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