Salkantay Trek 5D

See What To Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for your trek. Note: the temperature varies widely on this trek. Be prepared for all types of weather, and be able to both bundle up and de-layer! For more great suggestions, check out our blog about How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru.

• Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 7kg (15lbs) per person
• Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress
• Thermarest inflatable pillow
• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade
• Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrade
• Extra Day at Machu Picchu
• If you’d like more flexibility in your return travel to Cusco, consider upgrading to the Vistadome train (Executive Class) for an extra $30 per person. This upgrade must be requested at time of booking.

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

We have an early start this morning and a long day ahead. After having breakfast in your hotel, we will pick you up in our private car and drive to Mollepata, about 3h from Cusco. Here we’ll have a chance to pick up some last-minute snacks and supplies, or have breakfast if you missed it in the morning. We’ll continue another hour in our private car to Challacancha where we will start to hike. After about 2h, we reach Soraypampa where we will stop for lunch, enjoying the impressive views of Humantay as we eat. Then we have another 1.5-2h of hiking uphill until we reach our campsite at Salkantaypampa. 

Total Walking Distance – 12km (8 mi)

Total Walking Time – 5h
Minimum Altitude – 2700m / 8990 ft / Maximum Altitude – 4100m / 13,451 ft
Altitude of camp – 4100m / 13,451 ft

Approx. night temperature – 10˚C

It’s a full day of hiking today, starting with a 2.5-3h switchback up the mountain! We arrive at a glacial moraine with a small lake and a chance to spot vizcachas, the elusive Andean chinchilla that likes to jump and scurry among the rocks. After another stretch we reach the pass, the highest point on our trip at 4600m (15,091 ft). Here we find ourselves between two important mountains, Salkantay (6721m / 22,051 ft), the second highest mountain in the region, and Humantay (5850m / 19,193 ft). You will also be able to see Pumasillo (5850m) opposite you, a mountain that, interestingly, can be seen from a different angle from Machu Picchu. 

From the pass, we walk down for about 2.5-3h towards Huayracmachay and stop for lunch. After lunch, we leave the crowds behind and strike off on a detour exclusive to Apus Peru, designed to get you off the beaten track. We will climb for about an hour to Unuyoc, our campsite for the night. This is not a wide trail and in the rainy season it can be wet and slippery. With views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us, we reach our campsite, where we are likely to be the only ones spending the night.

Total Walking Distance –

Total Walking Time – 8h
Minimum Altitude – 2850m / 9350 ft Maximum Altitude – 4600 m /13,451 ft
Altitude of camp – 2850m / 9350 ft
Approx. night temperature –

After a rejuvenating night’s sleep and a nourishing breakfast, we start today’s hike by descending for about an hour to the ceja de selva, literally, the “eyebrows of the jungle”, enjoying incredible lush landscapes as we go. Crossing the river Alto Salkantay, we will be able to spot an incredible variety of wildlife, from birds, insects and butterflies to orchids and bromeliads. We continue our slow, easy descent for about 3h to La Playa (2050m / 6726 ft). The landscape will change before our very eyes, with the high altiplano giving way to fruit trees, avocados, bananas and coffee plants. 

We have a number of camping options tonight that you will decide upon as a group, in discussion with your guide. Options include La Playa and Santa Teresa (both popular campsites which can be crowded and known for parties); Lucmabamba (a great option to get away from the crowds); and Cola de Mono (a great option if you plan to do the Cola de Mono zipline on Day 4). 

You can also choose to spend the night in a homestay in Lucmabamba! Spend the night with a local coffee-growing family and enjoy a hot shower and a comfortable bed. There is an extra cost for this option. Read more about our homestay options here.

Total Walking Distance –

Total Walking Time – 5h
Minimum Altitude – / Maximum Altitude –
Altitude of camp – 1900m / 6232 ft
Approx. night temperature –

Tonnes of great options today for the adventurous! You will pick your option as a group, either at your briefing or on the trail. Note that this will not be a wilderness experience, and you can expect to encounter other people no matter what you do.

 Options 

1. Relax & Unwind

This morning, we travel by vehicle to the busy Santa Teresa campsite where you will have some free time and a chance to visit the nearby Colcamayu hot springs. After this, we will travel to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station where we will have lunch and visit another Inca ruin. After this, we will walk for another 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes. Here, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available.

2. For the Adventurous

We leave early and climb for about three hours through the jungle before descending to the interesting, but largely covered ruins of Llactapacta. Don’t let your guide talk you out of this! Yes, it’s a three hour climb, but it is also a very interesting introduction to Machu Picchu!

Originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time that he discovered Machu Picchu, modern day explorers Vincent Lee and Gary Ziegler recently established that these ruins are much bigger and more important than previously thought. From here we have our first view of Machu Picchu, in the saddle of the mountain opposite.

We then descend very steeply on a muddy track for two hours to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station. After this, we will walk for another 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes.

A soak in the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes is often the perfect respite for aching muscles! Afterward, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available. 

3. Calling All Thrill Seekers!

Zip along South America’s highest and longest zipline, the Cola de Mono! Note that there is an additional fee to ride the Cola de Mono. After a thrilling morning, we’ll travel to the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station and then walk for another 2.5 hours along the train tracks to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes.

A soak in the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes is often the perfect respite for aching muscles! Afterward, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your group before turning in at your standard Aguas Calientes hotel. Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrades available.

If you prefer not to walk 2.5h to Aguas Calientes from the Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station, you also have the option of taking the train (included in the price of your Salkantay Trek).

After a very early breakfast at the hotel, we will take the bus up to Machu Picchu in the pre-dawn hours to reach Machu Picchu. After this, your guide will give you a 2-3h guided tour, explaining the history of this majestic site. You also have the option to explore some of the other highlights on your own.

You may want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain to cap off your Machu Picchu experience, but remember that permits are limited and must be reserved at the time of booking! There is an additional cost to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain not included in the price of this trek. For more tips on what to see, check out our Visiting Machu Picchu page.

Want more time to explore? Consider our Extra Day Upgrades!

After visiting Machu Picchu, you can take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes (or walk down!). From there, we return to Cusco in the afternoon by the Expedition (tourist class) train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.