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Salkantay Trek 5 Days Classic Service

5 Days and 4 Nights
Multi-day hike
Economic
-17%
From$255$210
-17%
From$255$210
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  • Service with return in Car Group Service 16 people
    Adult: $210 Children: $210
    Available: 30 seats
  • Recommended Service with return in Train Group Service 16 people
    Adult: $285 Children: $275
    Available: 30 seats

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Reservations for the great year 2024 - 2025 have already started, more than 50000 clients with reservations secured!

Are you thinking about taking a trip to Machu Picchu? What are you waiting for, make your reservation now and secure the best place to see Machu Picchu completely and live an unforgettable experience!.

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Spanish, English
Departure city: Cusco, Peru
Ends in the city: Cusco, Peru
Group Size: 16 PER GROUP
Availability: Available
Trip Styles: Hiking
Max Altitude: 4630 M. / 15190 FT.
Lodging Type: Glass house, Hotel
Difficulty: Moderate
Overview

Classic Salkantay Trek 5 Days

5-Day Salkantay Trek is one of the most scenic and adventurous ways to reach Machu Picchu, with the 5-day trek offering the best options. It has glacier mountains, picturesque lakes such as Humantay and Salcantay Lake, and passes through the Amazon jungle, making this one of the most beautiful and interesting treks in all of Peru.

When you book this tour with us, you’ll enjoy the best services at affordable prices. We offer exclusive camps with newly-built Mountain Sky Huts, glass igloos, professional knowledgeable guides, and supporting staff, we have all-inclusive itinerary options to make sure you don’t miss a thing. We’ll pass by brilliantly-blue lakes, reach heights up to 4,630 meters, and pass by the waterfalls, rivers, and hot springs.

We will also trek through the original Inca Trail to the Llactapata ruins, where you will have a fantastic view of Machu Picchu from a different angle, motivating you to finish the final stretch before you make it to the famous lost city of the Incas.

5-Day Salkantay trek is listed by National Geographic as 1 of 25 “World’s Best Treks.” Choose an experienced, highly-rated company for your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and make it an amazing and unforgettable experience.

Why Take the Salkantay Trek?

  • Enjoy the scenic views of Salkantay Mountain
  • Visit Humantay Lake and Salkantay Lake
  • Make a small ritual for the Andean gods and learn about the Inca religion
  • Enjoy our friendly customer service and experienced guides
  • Eat delicious meals and freshly prepared and vegan, vegetarian food or any dietary restrictions are available, without any extra charge
  • Hike through the different types of landscapes, such as cloud forests, highlands, grassy hills, and Andean valleys
  • Reach 4,700 meters (15,420 feet) in elevation along the Salkantay Pass
  • Explore Machu Picchu and the surrounding area with an expert and knowledgeable tour guide
  • Visit the Inca ruins of Llactapata and hike on the original Inca Trail
  • Hike one of National Geographic’s 25 “World’s Best Treks”
  • Sleep in comfort under the stars in our Mountain Sky Huts located in private campsites
Itinerary

DAY 1Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha- Humantay Lake - Soraypampa Camp

Visit places
Cusco
Mollepata
Challacancha
Humanay Lake
Soraypampa Camp

After picking up everyone from their respective places or hotel, we left Cusco around 5:45 am to the town of Mollepata by car for 2 hours. Once in Mollepata, we stop to have a delicious breakfast also You pay 20 soles of the entrance fee to the local municipality.

Then we continue by car 1 hour more to challacancha where we will meet with the horse guys and horse who will take all the luggage, food, and the 6 kilos of each hiker belongings.

After You will begin with a moderate three-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we will spend the first night. The first part of the section is relatively flat with a slight ascent through a deep glacier valley. You will notice that much of the trail follows a restored Inca water canal, which local farmers still use today.

Once in Soraypampa, you will settle into our exclusive Sky Camp for the night. You will have some time to rest after enjoying your first lunch around the mountains. After recharging your energy, we will start hiking up to the beautiful Humantay Lake (4,200 m /13,780 ft).

We start the uphill hike to Humantay lake for 2 hours, When you arrive at the lagoon you will have enough time to explore, photograph the place and the guide will explain all the meaning of the Humantay lagoon.

After a couple of hours in the lake, we start to go back down1,5 hours to Soraypampa camp, once you arrive in the camp you will enjoy a cup of hot tea or coffee.

If you are tired, you can rest in the MOUNTAIN SKY HUST which are the cabins with glass doors, inside there are pillows, sleeping pad and it has illumination for the night.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner
  • Accommodation:Glass cabanas
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking Distance:10 km / 6.21 miles
  • Starting Elevation:3,800 m / 12,467 ft
  • Highest Elevation:  4,200 m/ 13,779 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:3,900 m / 12,795 ft

DAY 2Soraypampa - Salkantay Pass To Colpapampa Camp

Visit places
Soraypampa
Salkantay Pass
Wayracmachay
Collpapampa Camp

The second day of the trek is the most difficult, as it consists of 20 kilometers of trekking and takes you to the highest point of the whole trek, (4,630 m / 15,190 ft) meters above sea level. The cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca tea as you take your time to repack and get ready for the nutritious breakfast that will be served around 5:45 am. After breakfast, it is time to start hiking up to the highest point of the trek 4630 m. This will take 3 to 4 hours of uphill hiking at a regular to slow pace.

Once you are at the highest point, you will have time to enjoy the mountains, take pictures, learn about the mountain gods, and take part in a small traditional Andean ritual for the Apus mountain god. You’ll then start hiking down for 2 hours before we rest with a delicious lunch and continue for 3 more hours of downhill hiking to the second camp, Collpapampa, which is located at (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) meters and marks the beginning of the Peruvian Amazon. At camp Collpapampa, we will provide you with your camping equipment, hot tea, and dinner.

There is also an optional hot shower offered by locals that can be used for 10 soles. You can also buy some drinks such as beer, soda, water.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Accommodation: Domes
  • Difficulty:Challenging
  • Walking Distance:22 km / 13.7 miles
  • Starting Elevation:3,900 m / 12,795 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:2,900 m / 9,514 ft
  • Highest Elevation:4,630 m / 15,190 ft

DAY 3Collpapampa, Playa Sawayaco - Lucmabamba Camp – Cocalmayo Hot Springs

Visit places
Chaullay
Colpapampa
La Playa
Lucmabamba Camp

On the third day, we will wake up in the beautiful (but warm) jungle. We’ll wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea as the cooks are preparing the delicious breakfast.

Around 7:00 am, we’ll begin our 5-hour hike along the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River, after 5 hours of hiking we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco.

Along the trail, you’ll see plantations for coffee, bananas, avocados, Coca, passion fruit, and more. Once we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, we will take local transportation to the third campsite, Lucmabamba, which is about a one-hour drive.

At camp, we’ll share a delicious lunch before heading out to the hot springs of Colcampayo (optional). Colcampayo is about a 55-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!

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Domes
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking Distance:16 km / 9.94 miles
  • Starting Elevation:2,900 m / 9,514 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:2,000 m / 6,561 ft

DAY 4Lucmabamba - Llactapata To Aguas Calientes Hotel

Visit places
Lucmabamba
Llactapata
Hidroelectrica
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Llactapata is an Inca ruin located along the Salkantay trail, which you will have the chance to visit on the fourth day. From Llactapata, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a unique angle. For this beautiful trek, we’ll start with an early breakfast, around 5:30 am, before taking local transportation for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba.

Upon arrival, we’ll start the 3-hour uphill hike along the original Inca trail until we arrive in the Inca ruins of Llactapata once at the Inca site you will have plenty of time in Llactapata to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountain, and if the weather is good, you’ll get one more glimpse of Salkantay Mountain.

Afterward, we’ll hike downhill for 2 hours, arriving in Hidroelectrical for a nutritious lunch and much-earned rest. The final part of the hike is a 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in the small town, we’ll take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final supper at 7:00 pm in a local restaurant. After dinner, we’ll head to bed, anxious for our final day and ultimate reward: Machu Picchu

Note: During the rainy season, the hike up the Llactapata Trail is not 100% guaranteed due to safety concerns. When heavy rains are frequent, this trail becomes very dangerous.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Hotel
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking Distance:25 km / 15.534 miles
  • Starting Elevation:2,000 m / 6,562 ft
  • Accommodation Elevation:2,040 m / 6,692 ft

DAY 5Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco

Visit places
Machu Picchu Pueblo
Machu Picchu
Train To Ollantaytambo
Cusco Hotel

Finally, we go to see the impressive Machu Picchu. You’ll wake around 4:00 am to get ready for the hike to Machu Picchu main entrance. Each person will be given a packed breakfast and we will start the 30-minute walk to Puente Ruinas checkpoint where you will have to show your passport, Machu Picchu ticket, and student ID if applicable. After passing the first checkpoint, we will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 am.

Once everybody meets at the gate, we enter Machu Picchu and begin our 2.5-hour guided tour in the famous Inca site, where you will learn everything about The Lost City of The Incas.

After the guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you are going back to Cusco (train or car) and whether you want to climb the Montaña Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu Mountain, which must be booked in advance the entrance tickets.

  • If you booked the extra ticket for HUAYNAPICCHU you will need 2.5 hours for hiking up and down
  • If you booked the extra ticket for MACHU PICCHU MONATAÑA you will need 3.5 hours for hiking up and down

After visiting Machu Picchu and its surrounding area is time to return to Cusco.

WE OFFER YOU TWO OPTIONS FOR RETURNING TO CUSCO AFTER VISITING MACHU PICCHU
SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS RETURN BY TRAIN:

The train is a beautiful way to return to Cusco and allows you more time (about 7-8 hours) to visit Machu Picchu. If you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we strongly advise you to take the train, as these hikes require a minimum of 3 hours to complete. You will need to return to Aguas Calientes in time for your train at 14:55 pm. or 16:22 pm. You may want to give yourself extra time, as some people like to explore the town. You’ll ride the train for about 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes town, where you will then switch to a car and finish the final 2 hours of the trip, arriving in Cusco around 20:00 pm.

SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS RETURN BY CAR:

Returning to Cusco by car is a more affordable option for those on a tight budget. However, please be aware that with this option, you’ll have less time to explore Machu Picchu, and if you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will be very tight on time.

The return to Cusco by car is a longer trip (a 8-hour drive in total), as there are no roads leading to Aguas Calientes and the driver must take a longer route back. If you are taking a car back, you will need to leave Machu Picchu by 12:00 am and take the 3-hour walk back to Hidroelectrica, where you will meet the car at 2:00 pm.

If you are considering this option and planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we recommend you stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco by car on the 6th day so that you can fully enjoy the experience.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking To Machu Picchu: 1:30 Hours there – 1:30 Hours back
  • Tour in Machu Picchu: 2-3 hours exploring
  • Machu Picchu Site Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
  • Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
  • Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
  • Huchuy Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,497 m / 8,192 ft
  • Sun Gate Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Trip Info
Inclusions
Packing List
Before You Go
High Quality Service & Safety
  • Pre-departure briefing.
  • Experienced Guide speaks English and Spanish.
  • A professional cook only for our group
  • Medical Kit – First Aid Kit.
  • Private Camping Equipment.
  • One duffle bag per person
  • Customer Service 24/7.
  • Extra oxygen
Private Camping Equipment
  • We have dining rooms, tables, chairs, and a kitchen at each campsite. In addition, all our equipment, like cooking equipment, will be carried by our horses
Permits & Entrance Tickets
  • Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site.
Transportation
  • Day 1: Private transportation from Cusco at the start of the trek.
  • Horses, and muleteers horses carry your 6-kg / 13-pound personal items.
  • On day 4: your duffle bag will be transported by car and train.
  • Day 5: Return journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco BY TRAIN or BY CAR depending on your choice.
  • Day 5: If you take the option to return by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco is included.
Meals
  • Meals: 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 4 Dinners.
  • Meals: vegetarian and vegan.
  • Wake up tea, every morning.
  • Tea Time or Happy Hour.
Accommodation
  • Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites.
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
What Is Not Included?
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Tips for our staff.
  • Additional costs or delays out of control of the management.
  • Sleeping bag rent it with us for $10.
  • trekking stick rent it with us for $10.
  • entrance ticket to Salkantay (S/20).
  • Original Passport
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
  • Warm jacket
  • Hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sun cream (factor 35 or higher)
  • Insect repellant
  • Toiletries and hand sanitiser
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and film with extra batteries
  • Torch with spare batteries
  • Daypack

Information Before leaving for the Classic Salkantay Trek 5 Days

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as easy as possible. In this section, you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had about Salkantay Trek 5 Days in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Has another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line, and we will get back to you asap!

Briefing or informative meeting

All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Peru Hike offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.

Duffel bag or canvas case

ou’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. The porters will take them on the way and will deliver them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 ft. Long x 36 cm / 1 ft. Wide.

A maximum of 5 kg is allowed for each duffel bag that includes the weight of your sleeping bag, mat, clothes and other personal items.

Payment of Trek Balance (in Cusco)

The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.

It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Peru Hike can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.

Return to Cusco

Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!

  • In Machu Picchu you’ll board a bus that will take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to your arrival.
  • In Aguas Calientes you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 2 hours.
  • Once you arrive at the station, our representative, identified with the Peru Hike clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Plaza San Francisco, in Cusco. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Plaza San Francisco takes 2 hours.
  • In San Francisco, depending on your hotel’s location, we will take you to a smaller car from our company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel in Cusco.

Group tours

Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.

Strikes and demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost objects

You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.

24 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

Penya O

Couple Traveller

Fantastic Salkantay trek with Javier. Amazing sites and great insight from our guide. Highly recommend for seeing the best sights. Well organized tour

4 November, 2023

Thom C

Family Traveller

We had a great time and met lots of great people also doing the trek. The sites were absolutely incredible and we were lucky to have such amazing weather for the end of October- start of November. Our guide, Eder, was super knowledgeable and friendly and gave us lots of facts along the way. The cooks were also incredible – we ate amazingly the whole time. The second day was definitely the most challenging, as we really felt the impact of the altitude, so I would recommend acclimatising at least a few days first in Cusco. Overall an amazing experience 🙂

4 November, 2023

Blake J

Group Traveller

Eder and his team were nothing short of amazing. They were very attentive to everyone’s needs including the chef with some individual culinary needs in our group. The trek itself was a once in a lifetime experience. Tough but not impossible. You meet great people in your group and enjoy the experience together for 5 whole days. I would recommend to anyone looking for a great adventure

4 November, 2023

Josefine C

Couple Traveller

I had the most amazing experience doing the Salkantay Trek 5 days with Cecilio as our guide. He was the most positive and funny guide who gave us a lot of knowledge about the peruvian culture and the inkas. The trip was organised so well – the surroundings around the places we stayed was incredible and the food was so good. I would recommend this trip! 🙂

4 November, 2023

Molly J

Solo Traveller

A really unique experience and a great way to explore Salkantay and Machu Picchu. The camps were clean and comfortable and the house sky camp spectacular. Eder was an excellent tour guide who made sure we got the most out of our tour and learnt a lot along the way.

3 November, 2023
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