Tour overview
The Salkantay Trek is the top alternative to the Inca Trail for reaching Machu Picchu on foot. In four days you go from turquoise lakes and glaciers above 4,000 meters to the high jungle, with coffee farms, waterfalls and rivers, before arriving in Aguas Calientes and touring the citadel. Because it doesn't require a trekking permit, it's much easier to book than the Inca Trail. At Magone Viajes we include your guide, cook, horsemen and pack horses, meals, accommodation, train and Machu Picchu ticket.
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Best time to travel April to October
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Maximum altitude About 4,600 m / 15,090 ft (Salkantay Pass)
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Physical difficulty Challenging (about 50 to 60 km / 31 to 37 miles over 4 days)
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Minimum number of passengers 2 adults
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Maximum number of passengers 12 adults
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Booking lead time 1 to 2 months in advance (your Machu Picchu ticket is what limits the dates)
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Permits No trekking permit needed, only a Machu Picchu ticket
Highlights
- A 4-day trek from snowcapped peaks to the jungle, ending at Machu Picchu.
- Sites: Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, the Collpapampa valley, Hidroeléctrica, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
- Perfect if you couldn't get an Inca Trail permit or want more dramatic high-mountain scenery.
- Duration: 4 days and 3 nights, with 5 to 9 hours of hiking per day.
- Price on request per person, with guide, meals, accommodation, train and Machu Picchu entrance included.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake
Pickup and drive to Soraypampa
We pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning and drive via Mollepata to Soraypampa, at about 3,850 m (12,630 ft), home to our first campsite. We stop for breakfast along the way.
Humantay Lake
After dropping off our gear, we hike up to Humantay Lake, at about 4,200 m (13,780 ft), a turquoise lake at the foot of a glacier. The climb is short but steep, and it's great for acclimatization. Your Magone Viajes guide explains why these mountains were sacred to Andean communities.
Night at Soraypampa
We head back down to camp for lunch, rest and dinner. This is the coldest night of the trek.
Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa
Climb to the Salkantay Pass
This is the longest and hardest day. We set off early and climb gradually to the Salkantay Pass, at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft), right in front of the towering Salkantay peak. It's the highest point of the trek and one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Andes.
Descent into the high jungle
After the pass comes a long descent where the landscape changes completely, from rock and ice to forests and tropical vegetation.
Camp at Collpapampa
We reach the Chaullay or Collpapampa area in the afternoon, at about 2,900 m (9,510 ft), where we spend the night. About 20 km (12.5 miles) of hiking.
Day 3: Collpapampa – La Playa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
Hike through the valley
We follow the Santa Teresa River past waterfalls and coffee, banana and fruit farms to La Playa, where we stop for lunch.
Hidroeléctrica
From La Playa we continue by vehicle to Hidroeléctrica. Depending on the program, this can include a coffee farm visit or a stop at the Cocalmayo hot springs.
Arrival in Aguas Calientes
From Hidroeléctrica we hike 2 to 3 hours along the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes, or you can take the train if you prefer. Tonight you sleep in a hotel with a hot shower.
Day 4: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
In the morning we head up to Machu Picchu by bus or on foot for a guided tour of your assigned circuit, covering temples, plazas, terraces and the citadel's most important spots.
Return to Cusco
After the tour you head back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch on your own. In the afternoon you take the train back, followed by a transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Tips
- Spend at least two or three days acclimatizing in Cusco before you start, because you'll be above 4,000 m on day one.
- Train with long hikes in the weeks before your trip.
- Pack for every kind of weather: warm layers for the pass and cold nights, and light clothes for the jungle.
- Wear broken-in hiking boots and bring extra socks.
- Don't forget a rain jacket, headlamp, hat, gloves, sunscreen and plenty of insect repellent for day three.
- Carry some cash in soles for tips, snacks and restrooms along the way.
- If you're traveling in high season, book early to secure your Machu Picchu ticket.
What's included
Included
- Pickup from your Cusco hotel and transport to Soraypampa.
- Professional Magone Viajes guide.
- Cook, horsemen and pack horses for the gear.
- Tents or domes and sleeping pads at the campsites.
- Meals on the trek: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners.
- One night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
- One-way bus to or from Machu Picchu, depending on the program.
- Return train from Aguas Calientes and transfer to your Cusco hotel.
Not included
- Breakfast on day one and lunch on the last day.
- Sleeping bag and trekking poles (available to rent; price on request).
- Riding horse for emergencies or the pass (optional; price on request).
- Cocalmayo hot springs entrance.
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets.
- Tips for the crew (optional but customary).
- Travel insurance.
- Any services not listed in this program.
Frequently asked questions
How far do you hike?
About 50 to 60 km (31 to 37 miles) in total. Day two is the longest, at about 20 km (12.5 miles).
Is it harder than the Inca Trail?
It's similarly demanding and reaches a higher altitude (about 4,600 m vs. 4,215 m), but with fewer stone staircases. The altitude on the first two days is what you'll feel most.
Do I need a permit?
No. The Salkantay Trek doesn't require a trekking permit, which makes it a great option when the Inca Trail is sold out. You only need a Machu Picchu ticket, which Magone Viajes arranges for you.
Where do we sleep?
The first two nights at campsites or in domes, and the third night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
What do I have to carry?
Just your daypack. The horses carry the camping gear and your trekking luggage.
Does it get very cold?
Yes. At Soraypampa and on the pass, nights can drop below freezing (32 °F). From day three on, the weather is warm and humid.
Can I do it in the rainy season?
Yes, the Salkantay Trek is open year-round, but from December to March the trail is muddier and the pass may have snow.
Can I add Huayna Picchu?
Yes, if there's availability. Just ask when you book and Magone Viajes will add it to your visit on the last day.
