Photo gallery
Salkantay Trek photos
Tour overview
Salkantay Trek at a glance
The Salkantay Trek is the most scenic alternative to the Inca Trail: about 70 km in five days (or four), from the turquoise Humantay Lake and the 4,630 m Salkantay Pass below a 6,271 m glacier, down through cloud forest and coffee farms to Machu Picchu. It needs no permit and runs all year, including February, so it is the best option when Inca Trail dates are sold out. Horses carry the camping gear, and the last night is in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Salkantay Trek
- Humantay Lake (4,200 m) and the Salkantay Pass
- From glaciers to coffee farms in four days
- View of Machu Picchu from the Llactapata ruins
Detailed itinerary
Salkantay Trek itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Cusco to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
A 3-hour drive takes you to the village of Mollepata for breakfast and on to Soraypampa, at the foot of the snow-capped Salkantay (6,271 m). After settling in, you hike about 1.5 hours up to Humantay Lake, a turquoise glacier lake beneath the Humantay peak and a sacred place for local communities. You return to camp for dinner and an early night under the stars.
Day 2 — Salkantay Pass
The hardest and most spectacular day. You climb steadily through high pastures and zigzags for 3–4 hours to the Salkantay Pass (4,630 m), surrounded by glaciers, where your guide makes a traditional offering to the mountain. Then the long descent begins: past Huayracmachay for lunch and down into the green valley of Chaullay, where the air warms as you lose altitude.
Day 3 — Cloud forest and coffee
A gentle walk down the Santa Teresa valley into the cloud forest, past waterfalls, wild orchids and fruit trees. In the afternoon you visit a family coffee farm in Lucmabamba to see how Andean coffee is grown, roasted and brewed.
Day 4 — Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
You climb an original Inca trail to the Llactapata ruins, which have one of the few distant views of Machu Picchu from across the valley. After descending to Hidroeléctrica for lunch, you walk about 2.5–3 hours along the railway to Aguas Calientes for a hot shower and a night in a hotel.
Day 5 — Machu Picchu
An early bus takes you up to Machu Picchu for your guided visit. In the afternoon you take the train to Ollantaytambo and a transfer back to Cusco. 4-day version: Days 3 and 4 are combined, with a vehicle section between Lucmabamba and Hidroeléctrica.
What's included
What's included in the Salkantay Trek
Included
- transfers
- guide, cook and horsemen
- horses for camping gear and up to 5 kg of personal gear
- basic camps or lodges
- meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 5 breakfast
- Humantay Lake fee
- 1 hotel night
- Machu Picchu ticket
- bus up
- train to Ollantaytambo
Not included
- sleeping bag (rental)
- riding horse
- lunch on Day 5
- tips
Compare your options
Salkantay Trek: 5 days or 4 days?
The 5-day trek walks the whole route: Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, the Santa Teresa valley and a coffee farm in Lucmabamba, then an original Inca path to Llactapata, with a distant view of Machu Picchu, and the railway walk to Aguas Calientes. The 4-day version combines Days 3 and 4 with a vehicle section between Lucmabamba and Hidroeléctrica, so you skip Llactapata and save a day and US$ 90.
| 5 days | 4 days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | About 70 km | Shorter (vehicle section on Day 3) | |
| Llactapata ruins | Yes | No | |
| Coffee farm | Yes | Yes | |
| Group / private from | US$ 579 / US$ 899 | US$ 489 / US$ 790 |
Compare your options
Salkantay Trek vs Inca Trail and Lares
Choose Salkantay for landscapes: glaciers, a high pass and the change from snow to jungle in two days. Choose the Classic Inca Trail for archaeology and the arrival through the Sun Gate, but you need a permit months ahead. Choose the Lares Trek for Andean villages and a gentler route. Want both glaciers and the Sun Gate? The Salkantay & Short Inca Trail finishes on the Inca Trail. Compare every route in our best treks to Machu Picchu guide.
On Day 1, you can also choose the Humantay Lake tour if you only want to visit the lake.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Entrance route
This tour uses the Machu Picchu circuit available for your date, confirmed in your quote. See Machu Picchu circuits explained.
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport
- Daypack of 25–30 liters and a refillable 2–3 liter bottle
- Sleeping bag rated to −10 °C (or rent one) and a liner
- Broken-in hiking boots, sandals, wool socks
- Thermal base layers, fleece, down jacket, wool hat, gloves, rain jacket and rain pants
- Shorts and T-shirts for the warm jungle days
- Headlamp, power bank, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent
- Cash in soles for snacks, the Santa Teresa hot springs (optional) and tips
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Salkantay Trek FAQs
Salkantay or Inca Trail?
Salkantay is longer, higher and more about landscapes. The Inca Trail is about archaeology and arriving through the Sun Gate. Salkantay also needs no permit.
How hard is Salkantay compared with the Inca Trail?
It is longer and higher, with a tough climb to the pass on Day 2. It suits hikers with good fitness and proper acclimatization.
Can I do Salkantay in 4 days?
Yes. The 4-day version combines Days 3 and 4 with a vehicle section and costs less.
Is there phone signal?
Only in a few villages along the route. Expect to be offline most of the time.
Do I need a permit for the Salkantay Trek?
No. Salkantay needs no government permit, so it runs all year, including February, and dates are usually easy to secure. You only need your Machu Picchu ticket, which we book in your name.
What is the best time to hike Salkantay?
April to October, the dry season, for the clearest views of the glacier. From November to March expect rain and mud on the descent; nights near the pass are below freezing all year.
How much luggage do the horses carry?
Horses carry the camping gear and up to 5 kg of your belongings. A riding horse for the pass can be hired locally if you feel tired. On the last day your luggage goes to Aguas Calientes, so you only carry a daypack.
Where do we sleep?
Basic camps or lodges on the first three nights (near Soraypampa at 3,900 m, Chaullay and Lucmabamba) and a basic hotel in Aguas Calientes on the last night. There are no upgrade options on this trek. A sleeping bag can be rented.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about our team
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Highschool’s travel buddies to Machu Picchu
“Traveleez team are so helpful in assisting our needs with their prompt response.”
★★★★★
Incredible experience
“An unforgettable experience. Super punctual, good transportation, and very good treatment.”
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★
Highly recommended
“This agency is super responsive, unlike others that can take weeks to get back to you.”
