Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights

The Salkantay route gives you a dramatic way to reach Machu Picchu: first a turquoise glacial lake, then a high pass beneath the Andean peaks, followed by a descent into warmer rainforest. You finish with a guided visit to the Inca citadel, after several days of walking through changing terrain.

I like two things in particular: the support team carries most shared gear and up to 8 kilograms of your belongings, and meals, tents, mattresses and a hotel night are arranged for you. The coffee plantation visit also offers a welcome change from the trail and a chance to see local production up close.

The main consideration is the altitude and effort. The second day climbs to 15,252 feet, and the first two days are the hardest, so this is not a casual walk with a Machu Picchu photo at the end. You’ll also need to budget separately for some important items, including a sleeping bag and the bus to the site.

• Humantay Lake comes early: A two-hour excursion from the Soraypampa trailhead brings you to a striking high-altitude lake.
• Salkantay Pass is the physical high point: You reach 15,252 feet on day two, then descend for several hours.
• The scenery changes by the day: Expect high mountain country, a river-side rainforest route, a waterfall and coffee-growing country.
• You carry less than you might expect: Horses transport camp supplies, and one horse carries up to 8 kilograms of your personal belongings.
• Machu Picchu is the final stop, not the whole trip: The five-day journey includes a guided site visit, a train ride and a night in Aguas Calientes.
• The $690 price covers substantial support: Meals, camping gear, guiding and some transport are included, but several costs remain outside the package.

Five days from glacier lake to Inca citadel

This small-group trek, operated by Action Peru Treks, links two very different Andean settings. You start among high peaks and cold air, cross the Salkantay Pass, then descend toward warmer, wetter country before reaching Machu Picchu by train and bus.

The maximum group size is 16. A bilingual English-speaking guide leads the hike, while cooks, assistant cooks, wranglers and horses handle much of the camp work. That structure matters: you still have to walk the route yourself, but you don’t have to carry the tents, kitchen gear and group supplies on your back.

A pre-departure briefing at your hotel, one or two days before the trek, helps you check what to bring and understand the plan. Use it to confirm the details that matter most to you, especially the Machu Picchu entrance ticket and the train segments. The listed inclusions do not clearly name the site entrance fee, and the transport wording specifies a return train from Aguas Calientes without spelling out every rail leg.

Day one: Soraypampa and the climb to Humantay Lake

Pickup is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. The drive to Mollepata takes about three hours, where breakfast is served at a local house. From there, it’s another hour and 45 minutes by road to Soraypampa, at 12,467 feet, with early views of Salkantay and Humantay mountains.

At the trailhead, the support crew loads equipment onto horses. You then hike to Humantay Lake and back, a two-hour excursion, before continuing the day’s walking. The lake is a memorable opening, but the altitude makes even a short climb feel more demanding than the distance suggests. Take a steady pace and don’t treat the first morning as a race.

The supplied schedule gives the day a total of about six hours, but the exact walking split beyond the lake is not fully detailed. Ask at the briefing about the camp location and expected arrival time. You’ll want warm layers nearby: this first stretch starts high, and conditions can feel very different from Cusco.

Day two: Salkantay Pass at 15,252 feet

This is the toughest day for many people. After breakfast, the trail climbs for about an hour to Salkantay Pass, the trek’s highest point at 15,252 feet. At the top, your guide discusses the Inca culture and the local veneration of Salkantay, with a traditional offering.

The high point is followed by a two-hour descent to Huayrac for lunch, then another four hours downhill to camp at Colpapampa, at 10,170 feet. That long drop is hard on knees and feet, especially if you’re unused to steep descents. Trekking poles are recommended and can be rented from the operator.

Several past departures have featured guides named Christian, Eddie or Ericsson. Christian is especially associated with clear explanations of local plants, wildlife and Inca history, while Eddie and Ericsson have also been praised for looking after the group. Guide assignments vary, so treat names as examples rather than a guarantee.

Acclimatizing before the trek is sensible. The high pass is no place to discover that your body needs more time at altitude. Keep your pace measured, drink water, and tell your guide early if you feel unwell. The crew carries an emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit, but those are safeguards, not a substitute for taking altitude seriously.

Day three: rainforest walking and coffee at Lucmabamba

After the pass, the route becomes gentler. You’ll walk for about six hours through rainforest along the Santa Teresa River, on a trail with mild ups and downs. A waterfall is one of the day’s scenic rewards, and the shift from exposed high country to humid forest gives the trek a noticeably different feel.

You reach Lucmabamba around noon and have lunch at camp. In the afternoon, a coffee plantation tour offers a slower, more local activity after two days of serious hiking. It’s a useful reminder that this journey is not only a mountain crossing: it also passes through working agricultural communities.

The day’s easier profile does not mean no effort. Six hours on your feet still adds up, and the rainforest setting makes rain gear and insect repellent practical choices. The tour provides hot water for washing and daily boiled and cold water for your bottles, but bring your own personal toiletries and towel.

Day four: Llactapata’s distant view of Machu Picchu

An early breakfast comes before a 3½-hour climb through rainforest to Llactapata, an Inca ruin at 8,856 feet. Your guide gives you a tour of the site, where you get your first distant view of Machu Picchu. It’s a striking preview, though the citadel remains far away and the day is not over.

From Llactapata, you descend for about 2½ hours to Hidroeléctrica, also called Hydro, for lunch. At 3 p.m. you board a train to Aguas Calientes, where you check into a hotel and have dinner at a restaurant. This is the one night of indoor lodging included in the package, and it gives you a break from camping before the final visit.

The train arrangements deserve a quick check before departure. A return expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Poroy is listed as included, along with private transport from either station to Cusco. The day-four train from Hydro is part of the schedule, but it is not separately described in the included-transport wording. Confirm what your fare covers, and ask which station your return train uses.

Day five: a guided visit to Machu Picchu

After breakfast at the hotel, you take a bus up to Machu Picchu for a two-hour guided walk. The bus ticket is not included, so plan to buy a round-trip ticket or clarify the arrangements before you go. Entrance to the site is not clearly listed among the package inclusions either, making it important to confirm that separately rather than assume the $690 covers it.

If you have separately booked Huayna Picchu, the climb begins at 10 a.m. It is not part of the package. If you haven’t booked that extra, you have some time at Machu Picchu before returning to Aguas Calientes.

The return journey is by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, followed by a private van to Cusco. The full day’s site visit is listed as about three hours, not counting the train and road transfer. Keep your onward plans flexible enough to account for the long return journey.

What the $690 price covers, and what it doesn’t

At $690 per person, this trek offers good value if you want a supported route rather than arranging each camp, meal and transfer yourself. The package includes a bilingual guide, four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners, camping equipment, a hotel night in Aguas Calientes, a coffee tour, and substantial help from the crew.

Camping provisions include a four-person tent shared by two people, a mattress and pillow, kitchen and dining tents, tables and chairs, and a portable toilet tent. The chef and assistant prepare meals, and past departures have been especially praised for plentiful, carefully prepared food. That can be a real comfort after a long day on the trail.

Horses carry the shared equipment and up to 8 kilograms of your personal belongings in a duffle bag. You still need a daypack for what you want during the walk. The package also lists hot washing water, daily drinking water, an emergency horse, a medical kit and emergency oxygen.

The main extras are easy to overlook: a sleeping bag, hiking poles, Machu Picchu’s round-trip bus ticket, tips for the crew, and lunch on day five are not included. Huayna Picchu is another extra if you want to climb it. Confirm the Machu Picchu entrance fee and train details before booking, as they are not clearly identified in the included items.

Packing for cold mornings, rain and steep descents

Bring your original passport. If you received a new passport after booking, take both the old and new documents. The tour also recommends trekking boots, warm fleece, layers, socks, gloves, warm underwear, light long pants, a sun hat and a rain jacket.

A down or synthetic sleeping bag is required and can be rented from the operator. Trekking poles are recommended, particularly for the long downhill sections, and can also be rented. Pack a headlamp, sunscreen of SPF 35 or higher, sunglasses, insect repellent, toilet paper, wet wipes and a personal towel.

At altitude, batteries can run down faster, so spare camera batteries are worth carrying. A book may also come in handy during spare time at camp. Keep your essentials accessible in a daypack, and use the provided duffle for the personal items carried by horse.

Who should choose this Salkantay trek?

This route suits you if you want a challenging, multi-day hike with a support crew and a broad range of scenery. It is a good fit for people who value prepared meals, camp equipment and a guide, but still want the satisfaction of walking into the Machu Picchu region rather than traveling there solely by train.

It is less suitable if you want an easygoing holiday or are uncomfortable with high altitude, early starts and long days on foot. The stated fitness level is moderate, but the pass reaches more than 15,000 feet, and the first two days demand the most effort. A few hours of gentle walking on day three do not erase that climb.

Should you book it?

I’d consider this trek if you’re fit enough for several consecutive hiking days and want the logistics largely handled by a local crew. The support, food, and range of scenery make the price appealing, while the coffee visit and Llactapata viewpoint add more than a simple march to Machu Picchu.

Before paying, get clear answers about Machu Picchu entry, both train legs, and the bus ticket. If those costs fit your budget and you can prepare for the altitude, this is a strong choice for an active five-day journey. If you want a softer route, or can’t set aside time to acclimatize, choose a less strenuous way to visit the citadel.

FAQ

What time does the trek start?

Pickup is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. on day one. The tour picks you up from your hotel in Cusco.

How high is the Salkantay Pass?

The pass reaches 15,252 feet. Soraypampa, the day-one trailhead, is at 12,467 feet.

How much of my personal gear can a horse carry?

A horse carries up to 8 kilograms of your personal belongings. The operator provides a duffle bag for those items.

Is a sleeping bag included?

No. You need to bring or rent a down or synthetic sleeping bag. The operator says sleeping bags can be rented.

Are trekking poles included?

No. They are not included, but they are recommended for the steep descents and can be rented.

Is the bus to Machu Picchu included?

No. The round-trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu is listed as not included.

Can I climb Huayna Picchu?

You can climb Huayna Picchu if you have elected to do so, but the climb is not included in the package.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.