Salkantay Trek 5D/4N

The Salkantay Trek is one of the most popular alternative routes to Machu Picchu, known for its breathtaking scenery, challenging high-altitude terrain, and diverse landscapes. It is often considered the best option for those who don’t secure permits for the Inca Trail.

Our trek is with camping tents to preserve that adventurous spirit. or if you want to do like glamping we can offer to you with cabins  just let us know

Key Facts

  • Location: Cusco region, Peru

  • Duration: Typically 4 to 5 days

  • Distance: 72 km (45 miles)

  • Difficulty: Challenging (due to altitude and steep terrain)

  • Highest Point: Salkantay Pass at 4,650m (15,255 ft)

  • Starting Point: Mollepata or Soraypampa

  • Ending Point: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

Highlights

  • Salkantay Mountain (6,271m / 20,574 ft) – One of the highest peaks in the region
  • Diverse Landscapes – Glaciers, high-altitude passes, cloud forests, and jungle
  • Humantay Lake – A stunning turquoise glacial lake
  • Less Crowded – Fewer trekkers compared to the Inca Trail
  • No Permits Required – Unlike the Inca Trail, no pre-booked permits are needed
prime salkantay trek
FIRST DAY: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA – CHALLACANCHA – SORAYPAMPA – LAGUNA HUMANTAY
 

Pick up from your hotel 5 a.m. We will take the bus to Mollepata 2900m/9,500ft.  3 hours trip when we arrive there we will have breakfast (not included) then we will continue 1 hour by bus to Challacancha 3600m/11,800ft. Where is the beginning of the path. The first part will begin to climb for 30 minutes to one water canal from where the path will be slightly flat, we will walk near the water channel where we will see the Humantay 5800m/19050ft. and Salkantay 6250m/20,500ft  and beautiful landscapes that surround us, reaching our lunch spot Soraypampa 3900m/12,700ft. Where our chef waits for us with a delicious lunch, after lunch we will start to climb towards one of the most beautiful lagoons located under Humantay Mountain called by the local like Qoyllurcocha or Humantay lagoon 4300m/14,100ft which will take us between 2 and 2:30 hours round trip, where we can appreciate and enjoy this lagoon and then descend to our lunch spot where our camp will be where tea time and our dinner wait for us.

 

DISTANCE: 9 KMS / 5.59 MILES

TIEMPO 6 HORAS

 

SECOND DAY: SORAYPAMPA – SALKANTAY PASS – HUARACMACHAY – CHAULLAY
 

After breakfast we will begin to walk towards the Salkantay Pass, 4 hours of progressive climb, we will be able to see the beautiful Salkantay glacier 6250m/20,500ft. It is a cold hike depending on the weather, appreciating the landscape of the high mountains arriving towards the pass of Salkantay 4650m/15,255ft.  Where we will have a spectacular view of the mountain and  explanation of the place followed by a small ceremony in honor of the Apus (spirits of the mountains) then we will continue walking down for 2 hours to Huaracmachay 4000m/13,100ft. Our lunch point where we will take lunch and from there we will start to descend even more towards Chaullay 2900m/9,514ft. takes about 3 hours more where after 40 minutes walking the weather and the landscape will change radically as we enter the cloud forest or high jungle where we can appreciate varieties of flora, fauna, beautiful landscapes and many mosquitoes, arriving at our campsite where our Tea Time and the dinner wait for us.

 

DISTANCE: 21 KMS / 13.04 MILES

TIEMPO: 10 HOURS

 

THIRD DAY: CHAULLAY – COLLPAPAMPA – LA PLAYA –  LUCMABAMBA
 

We will start walking towards La Playa 2060m/6,758ft 3 hours we will walk inside the high jungle where the climate will change radically finding variety of flowers, fruits, orchids, plantations of banana and coffee and beautiful butterflies, the way will be small up and down a path inside the forest, we will arrive at our lunch point La Playa where we will have a delicious lunch, before the  lunch we will do the Coffee Expierence where we will se how the local people procces the coffee.

After the lunch we will take a bus to Santa Teresa 1900m/6233ft. 1 hour to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo (optional) where you will enjoy some relaxing baths which will help us recover the body after 3 days walking, then we will return to the camp where the Tea and Dinner time wait for us.

 

DISTANCE: 15 KMS / 9.32 MILES

TIME: 6 HOURS

 

FOURTH DAY: LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HIDROELECTRICA – AGUAS CALIENTES
 

Early in the morning after breakfast, we will begin a 3-hour hike uphill to the archaeological site of Llactapata 2840m/9,315ft from where we will have a beautiful view of Machu Picchu in the distance. As an important part of this site, it was connected by the Inca Trail that started from the citadel of Machu Picchu and passed through this site, continuing its journey to the last refuge of the Incas called “Vilcabamba.” Part of the trail that we will walk is part of the original Inca Trail that started from Cusco city . After Llactapata, we will descend for 2 hours to Hidroelectrica 1890m/6,200ft.

Where will be our lunch spot. After lunch, we will continue walking towards Aguas Calientes 2200m/7,200ft. through the rainforest and along the rail way, which will take 3 hours. Once in Aguas Calientes, we will drop you off at your accommodation and then have dinner.

 

DISTANCE: 21 KMS / 13 MILES

TIEMPO 8 HORAS

 

FIFTH DAY: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
 

 In the morning we will take the  bus, takes 30 minutes to the Machupicchu Sanctuary. Then we will have our guided tour for about 2 hours where the guide will take us through the most important places of the citadel, after our visit there is a other option is to go up to Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain (not included) to be able to appreciate the impressive view of the whole Machupicchu. after take a bus going down to Aguas Calientes. Where you can take your lunch. Finally, you will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo for 2 hours where a transfer waits for you and then 2 hours by bus to Cusco.

 

End of our service

 
TOUR INCLUDES:
  • Pick up from the hotel.
  • Cusco transportation at the beginning of the hike
  • Horseman and mules for carring equipment.
  • 2 people per tent or cabin
  • 7 kilos per person of your luggage
  • 1 duffle bag
  • Professional Tour Guide.
  • First aid kit and oxygen tank.
  • 4 Breakfasts – 4 Lunches – 4 Dinners and snacks
  • Cook and assistants.
  • Vegetarians or food restrictions without extra cost
  • Filtered, boiled and cooled water for your canteens
  • 1 night in Aguas Calientes Town (hostel)
  • Entrance to Machupicchu.
  • Bus up and down to Machupicchu
  • Train Expedition return from Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
  • Transfer and Bus from Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
 NOT INCLUDE:
  • The first breakfast.
  • The last lunch.
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Hiking sticks
  • Transportation and Entrances to Santa Teresa Hot Springs
  • Entrance to Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain (Check availability)
  • Extra cost not mentioned in the itinerary.
OPTIONAL:
  • Sleeping bag $ 20 dollars
  • Hiking sticks $ 15 dollars
  • Entrance to Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain ($ 75 dollars additional)

NOTE: Entrance to Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain you need to confirm at the time of make your reservation and is subject to availability (maximum 400 people per day).