Login

Sign Up

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.
Username*
Password*
Confirm Password*
First Name*
Last Name*
Birth Date*
Email*
Phone*
Country*
* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Login

Login

Sign Up

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.
Username*
Password*
Confirm Password*
First Name*
Last Name*
Birth Date*
Email*
Phone*
Country*
* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Login

Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days Premium service

5 Days and 4 Nights
Multi-day hike
In domes
Price
From$460
Price
From$460
Booking Form
Enquiry Form
Full Name*
Email Address*
Your Enquiry*
* I agree with Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step
Select a Package
  • Group Service - Salkantay Premium Shared DomesSKY DOMES - JUNGLE DOMES
    Adult: $460 Children: $450
    Available: 26 seats
  • Recommended Group Service - Salkantay Premiun Private DomesSKY DOMES - JUNGLE DOMES
    Adult: $580 Children: $550
    Available: 77 seats
  • Recommended Private Vip Service - With Private Domes SKY DOMES - JUNGLE DOMES
    Adult: $650 Children: $600
    Available: 38 seats

Proceed Booking

Saved To Wish List Save To Wish List

Adding item to wishlist requires an account

6240
Book it now with us

Reservations for the great year 2024 - 2025 have already started, more than 5000 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!.

We recommend booking it at least 2 months in advance as tickets are quite limited.

Very limited spaces See availability

BOOKING FAST & EASY

Book fast and easy on our website and keep track of your reservation with our most advanced booking system, be updated on our discounts every week.

Free cancellation
Change of plans? No problem. Cancel up to 24 hours before your activity starts for a full refund.
Spanish, English
Departure city: Cusco, Peru
Ends in the city: Cusco, Peru
Group Size: 12 PER GROUP
Availability: Daily Departures
Trip Styles: Hiking
Max Altitude: 4630 M. / 15190 FT.
Lodging Type: Domes & Hotel
Difficulty: Moderate
Overview

Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days

After spending some time in the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, join us on the Salkantay Trek to the World Wonder of Machu Picchu. The best alternative route to the Inca citadel will take you to the stunning Humantay Lake, the imposing Salkantay Mountain, through the fascinating cloud forest, and then to the edge of the Peruvian jungle.You’ll spend each night in comfortable accommodation and enjoy some of the tastiest food around – in the middle of the mountains! Experienced guides will be with you all the way to teach you about the history and nature of the region. Enjoy this route in comfort and great company.

If you have a love for adventure and enjoying some of the best hiking routes in the world, our Salkantay Trek 5 Days is for you. It combines the most exciting trekking trails with the most incredible scenery you can imagine. Join us on your own, in a couple, or as part of a group.

Expect ;to pass through snowy mountain tops before heading down through the cloud forest on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. You’ll end up hiking through the lush Peruvian jungle as you get closer and closer to the Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu. The dramatic change of climate and surroundings is one of the aspects that makes this exciting trail so special.

Not only will the scenery envelop you, but you’ll also see some wonderful destinations that are on many travelers’ bucket lists. On day 1, you’ll trek up to the stunning Humantay Lake that sits like a blue gem among the snowy backdrop. On day 2, we’ll embark on the challenging trail up to the Salkantay Pass to see the majestic Salkantay Mountain. On day 4, you’ll get to visit the fascinating Inca archaeological site of Llactapata and get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu.

If that’s still not enough to get your blood pumping, what better way to end the ultimate trip than with a visit to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. You’ll enjoy a 2-hour guided tour before you set off to explore the citadel yourself or hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for a unique panoramic view over the fortress. You’ll feel like you’re flying high like a condor and transport back in time hundreds of years to imagine what life was like back then. Don’t miss out on our Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.

Why Take the Salkantay To Machu Picchu trek with the Premium service?

  • The Salkantay Trek is listed as one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.
  • The Salkantay Trek is definitely one of the very best trekking adventures that you will find in Peru and in the continent of South America.
  • After the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek is the 2nd most popular trek to Machu Picchu (and a lot less crowded).
  • Hiking alongside the magnificent Apu Salkantay and arriving at the ruins of the majestic Machu Picchu is one of the best experiences known to mankind.
  • Trekkers can see natural bridges, snowcapped mountains, colorful valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, unique plants, and cloud forest.
  • Camping with less people allows you to control your own trip and have the best views of these incredible mountains!
  • We have included Hot Shower and heating for cold nights.
  • Exclusive camps with completely comfortable bedrooms and views of the snowy Salkantay.
Itinerary

DAY 1Cusco To Soraypampa Private Camp

Visit places
Cusco
Mollepata
Humanay Lake
Soraypampa Camp

Today you will have an early start and will be picked up from your hotel around 4:00 a.m. You will travel in our comfortable transportation with blankets in case you wish to sleep a little longer during the trip. After two hours, we will make a brief stop in Mollepata to enjoy a delicious breakfast. Then, we will continue to Challacancha, the starting point of the trek.

Before starting our adventure, you will meet the cooks and the muleteers; you will also check your luggage for the last time, and then we will head out on the trail. You will begin with a moderate three-hour hike to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where we will spend our first night. The beginning 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 channel, which local farmers still use today. This trail is 7 km / 4.35 miles in total.

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).

This round trip takes three hours and covers a distance of 3 km / 1.86 miles. It’s not far, but take it easy at this altitude. Once you reach the lagoon, you will have time to enjoy the fantastic scenery. There are not many places in the Andes as impressive as the turquoise waters glistening against the Humantay glacier. You will truly feel like you are in a fairy tale.

Upon returning to camp, you will enjoy a delicious and well-deserved dinner in the company of a beautiful sunset. There is no way to describe the energy here, you will feel the tranquility once you arrive. Afterwards, you can rest in your igloo at Sky Camp. From the glass roof, you will enjoy a night under the stars, constellations, and comets. In the morning, you will wake up and see the Apu Salkantay in front of you.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner
  • Accommodation:Sky Domes
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking Distance:7.45 miles
  • Starting Elevation:3350 m / 10990 ft
  • Highest Elevation:  4200 m/ 13779 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:3850 m / 12631 ft

DAY 2Soraypampa, Salkantay Pass To Chaullay Camp

Visit places
Soraypampa
Salkantay Pass
Wayracmachay
Chaullay Camp

Today you will wake up with the light of the first rays of the day and an energizing coca tea to give you energy. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast before setting out on the impressive two-hour horseback ride to the highest point, the Abra Salkantay (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). It is a challenging ascent, but riding on horseback along the “path of the 7 snakes” helps to make it less demanding.

Once at the top, you will appreciate the most magnificent view over the surrounding valleys, as well as the Salkantay mountain next to you (6,271 m / 20,574 ft), which is the second-highest mountain in the Cusco region, considered Apus (Inca Gods). You will also be able to observe the mountains: Humantay, Tucarhuay, and Pumasillo. After enjoying the views and rest, you will start descending (7 km / 4.35 miles) to the point of our lunch at Huayracmachay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), from where you can enjoy fantastic views.

This section of the trail is rocky, steep, and has wonderful views of the valley. After a revitalizing lunch, you will enter the edge of the rainforest, also known as the “cloud forest”. This hike has a distance of 9.7 km / 5.97 miles and lasts approximately three hours. Along the way, you will enjoy a magical rainforest and witness how the environment changes rapidly and drastically from the Andes to the Amazon. You will observe colorful landscapes, unique wildlife, native plants and feel the climate become much warmer.

At the end of this incredible day, you will arrive at Collpapampa to spend the night. Finally, you will be served a hearty meal before resting in our exclusive Mountain Sky View Campsite.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Accommodation: Camping Jungle Domes
  • Difficulty:Challenging
  • Walking Distance:22 km / 13.7 miles
  • Starting Elevation:3850 m / 12631 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:2750 m / 9022 ft
  • Highest Elevation:4650 m / 15255 ft

DAY 3Chaullay To Santa Teresa – Hot Springs

Visit places
Chaullay
Colpapampa
La Playa
Lucmabamba Or Santa Teresa Camp

Today we will start the day around 6:00 a.m. for hot tea and breakfast before leaving the camp. Then, we will walk through the Santa Teresa valley until we reach our first destination, La Playa. During the tour, we will take a more leisurely walk, with more downhills than uphills, as we immerse ourselves in the lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids and various plantations: banana, coffee, and avocado. In addition, you may be lucky enough to see Peru’s national bird, the “Gallito de las Rocas”.

At La Playa, we will enjoy lunch before heading for an hour to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft), where our campsite is located. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the tropical surroundings and visit an organic coffee farm, perfect for those who are coffee lovers. Even if you are not a fan of a cup of coffee, the smell in the air is delicious. This is the main agricultural industry in the jungle that exports products to the United States, Asia, and all of Europe. You will also visit avocado and orange plantations.

After this incredible experience, you will go to the hot springs of Cocalmayo to take a comforting bath and relax after several days of hiking. You will take a break and feel the tranquility of the surroundings. Later, you will return to Lucmabamba to spend the night in our Jungle Domes. While resting, you can listen to the different sounds of nature and feel in harmony with mother earth.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Jungle Domes
  • Difficulty:Easy
  • Walking Distance:19km / 11.8 miles
  • Starting Elevation:2750 m / 9022 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:2400 m / 7874 ft

DAY 4Santa Teresa To Aguas Calientes Hostel

Visit places
Llactapata
Hidroelectrica
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

After a hearty breakfast, you will hike a bit of the original and world-famous Inca Trail. After climbing for two hours and enjoying fascinating views over the Santa Teresa valley, you will arrive at Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca archaeological site located in front of Machu Picchu.

Llactapata is the first Inca complex you will see on the hike, and you will learn all about the mysteries of the ancient culture and the extraordinary site. Even from here, you will get a first glimpse of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Our guide will explain the history of the Incas while you take as many pictures as you want as a souvenir to share your fantastic experiences with your friends and family back home.

Afterwards, you will descend for an hour and a half and have the opportunity to see along the way the Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, which will encourage your anticipation to make tomorrow more exciting. We will stop in Aobamba for lunch before continuing for half an hour to Hidroeléctrica (1,800 m / 5,906 ft). One of the most impressive sights on this stretch is the 250-meter-high artificial waterfall that generates electricity for the entire city of Cusco.

Once in Hidroeléctrica, you will board the train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, appreciating the best scenery along the way. Once in the small town, you will enjoy dinner at an exclusive restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Note: During the rainy season, hiking the Llactapata trail is not 100% guaranteed for safety reasons. When there are frequent heavy rains, this trail can become very dangerous.

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: Challenging
  • Walking Distance:22 km / 13.7 miles
  • Starting Elevation:2400 m / 7874 ft
  • Accommodation Elevation:2000 m / 6561 ft

DAY 5Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco

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

Today is the day you have been waiting for since you started your trek. You will finally visit one of the new seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. You will have to get up early to make sure you avoid the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the place in the morning light.

After going up to the Inca citadel by bus, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours to this incredible ancient site to see temples, houses, palaces, cultivated fields, among others. You’ll be impressed by the intelligence of the Incas in terms of engineering work, which was far ahead of its time and remains a mystery in many respects.

The Incas did not have the tools we use today, but they were still able to build and organize their community on the side of a mountain and even create a water system with aqueducts and canals.

Bonus fact: When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. Since then, it has been cleaned and restored; today, it is protected and treasured by people from all corners of the world.

After your guided tour, you can choose to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3,000 m / 9,843 ft) if you booked your tickets in advance. These treks will take you an hour and a half and three hours up and down, respectively.

Later, we will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the Vistadome train that will take you to Ollantaytambo with the best panoramic views along the way. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, our private transportation will pick you up and take you back to your hotel in Cusco. Finally, you will take a well-deserved rest; however, your heart will continue to beat to the rhythm of the Andes for many weeks, months and years to come.

  • Meals:  Breakfast
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • 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
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

Permits & Entrance Tickets

  • Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site
  • Entrance Ticket to Salkantay trek

Transportation

  • Day 1: Private transportation from Cusco at the start of the trek.
  • Horses, and muleteers horses carry your 8-kg / 16-pound personal items.
  • Day 4: your duffle bag will be transported by car and train.
  • Day 5: Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • Day 5: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals

  • Meals: 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
  • Water to drink on the trail every day
  • Wake up tea
  • Tea Time or Happy Hour
  • Snacks on the trail daily
  • Products for hygiene

Accommodation

  • Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Extra inclusions

  • Sleeping bag
  • Trekking stick

What Is Not Included?

  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for our staff
  • Additional costs or delays out of control of the management
  • 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 Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu

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.

1 Review
Sort By:RatingDate

Kelly H

Group Traveller

Our trip was just amazing! The whole experience was unforgettable and we tell as many people as we can. The experience of taking the 5-day salkantay tour with this agency is unique. We had the best porters, chef and guide Richard. They worked very hard for us and did the 5 fantastic day trek with lots of stories and new friends. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience that we were able to tick off our bucket list. Thank you Peru Hike for making it so memorable!

2 April, 2021
2974 travellers are considering this tour right now!

Proceed Booking

Send this to a friend