Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – 5 Days

5 days / 4 nights

Cross from glacial valleys into cloud forest on the complete five-day Salkantay route to Machu Picchu. We begin with Humantay Lake, climb to the 4,700-meter Salkantay Pass and descend through changing landscapes toward Lucmabamba. The longer itinerary adds local coffee country, the Llactapata archaeological site and a distant first view of Machu Picchu before reaching Machu Picchu Pueblo. Nights combine panoramic mountain cabins, trail accommodation and a final hotel stay. This experience suits adventurous travelers who want more time on the route, with our assistance coordinating departures, accommodation, Machu Picchu entrance and the return journey.

Quick Facts

Tour Location: Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, Llactapata and Machu Picchu

Tour Type: Five-day mountain-cabin, trail and hotel trek

Good For: Adventure travelers wanting the most complete Salkantay itinerary

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

Difficulty: Challenging; long high-altitude days and major descents

Maximum Altitude: 4,700 m / 15,420 ft — Salkantay Pass

Good to Know: Machu Picchu entrance, circuit and return transport must be confirmed for the selected departure

Best Season: April–October for drier conditions; departures remain subject to route conditions

Visit Humantay Lake before crossing the Salkantay range
Reach Salkantay Pass at 4,700 m / 15,420 ft
Descend from alpine terrain into cloud forest and coffee country
Hike to Llactapata for a distant view of Machu Picchu
Finish with a hotel night and guided Machu Picchu visit

Day 1: Soraypampa and Humantay Lake

We drive from Cusco to Mollepata and on to Soraypampa, where the trek begins. From our first stop, we hike up to Humantay Lake, whose turquoise water sits beneath surrounding glaciated peaks, before returning to rest at a mountain-hut lodge for the night.

Day 2: Crossing Salkantay Pass

The trek's toughest day: a long, steady climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,700 m, the highest point of the route, followed by a substantial descent as the landscape shifts from high alpine terrain toward warmer valleys. We overnight at another mountain-hut lodge, well below the pass.

Day 3: Descending toward Lucmabamba

We continue down through cloud forest, following the changing ecosystems that make the Salkantay route so varied, and reach the coffee-growing area of Lucmabamba, where we stay overnight in a panoramic cabin with wide valley views.

Day 4: Llactapata and the train to Aguas Calientes

We hike to the Llactapata archaeological site, where — on a clear day — you get a distant first view of Machu Picchu across the valley. From there we descend to catch the train to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night in a hotel, ready for a full day at the sanctuary tomorrow.

Day 5: Guided Machu Picchu visit and return

After breakfast we take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour through its main sectors before returning to Aguas Calientes for the train to Ollantaytambo and onward transport to Cusco. Your trek concludes with a drop-off at Plaza Regocijo, in central Cusco — this is a central drop-off point, not an individual hotel drop-off.

What's included

Hotel pickup in Cusco and private transport to Soraypampa
Bilingual certified guide throughout, including the Machu Picchu tour
4 nights accommodation (2 mountain huts, 1 panoramic cabin, 1 hotel in Aguas Calientes)
All meals as per itinerary, including vegetarian/vegan options
Horse/muleteer support and a 7 kg personal duffel allowance
Machu Picchu entrance ticket
Return transport to Cusco (train or road, per selected option)
First-aid kit and emergency oxygen

Not included

Sleeping bag and trekking poles (available as add-ons)
Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (available as an add-on)
Vistadome train upgrade (available as an add-on)
Humantay Lake entrance fee (paid locally)
Tips

Is the Machu Picchu ticket guaranteed?

We purchase it in advance through the official government platform, but as with every Machu Picchu itinerary, entrance and circuit are subject to availability at the time of purchase and can never be guaranteed until confirmed.

Prices — Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

Every price below is per person, in US dollars, with no hidden fees at checkout.

Total trip price

Total trip price: US$ 649.00 per person

Choose how to pay

Option 1 — Deposit + balance: pay US$ 250.00 today to confirm your booking (non-refundable, credited toward your total trip price). The remaining balance of US$ 399.00 is due 5 days before departure.
Option 2 — Pay in full: pay the full US$ 649.00 today at booking — no balance, nothing further due.

Balance payment methods (if you choose Option 1)

Cash in Peru: no additional fee.
Card via PayPal or Izipay: a 5% processing fee applies.

Exclusive discounts

Students 18–25: US$ 20.00 off. We need a copy of a valid student card showing your name, photo, university and expiry date. Required at booking for government approval.
Children 3–17: US$ 20.00 off. Please send a copy of the passport when you book.

Optional add-ons

Sleeping Bag Rental (EX012): US$ 20.00 per person.
Hiking Poles Rental (EX003): US$ 15.00 per person.
Huayna Picchu Mountain Ticket (EX006): US$ 70.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain Ticket (EX007): US$ 70.00 per person.
Vistadome Train Upgrade (EX004): US$ 69.00 per person.

Meeting point

Your hotel lobby in central Cusco is the primary meeting point. If your accommodation is on a restricted or narrow street, we confirm a nearby alternative meeting point in advance.

Pick-up information

We pick you up from eligible hotels in Cusco's Historic Center and nearby areas. Exact pickup time is confirmed the evening before departure, once your permit and reservation are validated.

Return / drop-off

Your trek concludes with a drop-off at Plaza Regocijo, in central Cusco — this is a central drop-off point, not an individual hotel drop-off.

What to bring the day of your trek

Passport
Daypack
Warm layers for camp nights
Rain gear
Personal medication

Booking recommendation

We recommend booking as early as possible — permits are limited and issued against a specific date and passport number.

How to pay

Choose to pay a US$ 250.00 deposit today and the remaining balance 5 days before departure (cash in Peru with no fee, or by card via PayPal or Izipay with a 5% processing fee) — or pay your total trip price in full today.

If a reservation is made after the applicable balance deadline, it may require immediate full payment; this rule applies only where explicitly confirmed for your travel date.

Cancellation Policy — Limited Capacity

Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and the Salkantay routes depend on permits, entrance tickets and train seats that we purchase on your behalf well in advance and that are non-transferable once bought. Because of this limited capacity, our refund schedule is tied to how far ahead of your departure date you cancel.

8 or more weeks before departure: full refund of your balance paid, minus your US$ 250.00 deposit (which is never refundable).
Between 4 and 8 weeks before departure: 40% refund of your balance paid.
Between 5 and 27 days before departure: 20% refund of your balance paid.
Between 48 hours and 5 days before departure: 10% refund of your balance paid.
Less than 48 hours before departure, or a no-show: no refund.

Changes: a 10% administrative fee per person applies to each confirmed change request, subject to availability.

Entrance tickets, train tickets and government-regulated permits are 100% non-refundable and non-transferable once purchased, regardless of when you cancel.

Read the full changes, cancellation and refunds policy

BEST SELLER

US$649 / person

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Passengers

Maximum 15 passengers per booking.

Total US$649.00

Secure Payment

Challenging; long high-altitude days and major descents

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FAQ

Everything You Need to Know

You can book directly through our website by selecting your tour, date, and group size, then completing payment online. Once payment is processed and availability is verified, we send your booking confirmation with the details you need for your trip. If you would prefer help planning your itinerary, you can also reach out to us directly before booking.

Our higher-altitude tours, such as Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain, include a first-aid kit and emergency support, and our guides are attentive to how the group is coping with the conditions. If you have a pre-existing health condition or are concerned about the effects of altitude, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking a high-altitude experience.

Some of our services depend on limited or externally controlled inventory, such as Machu Picchu entrance tickets and Inca Trail permits, so a date can occasionally be unavailable. If that happens, we let you know as soon as we verify availability and help you find the closest alternative date or itinerary that works for your trip.