5-Day Classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu return by Train

Machu Picchu is the grand finish, but the route there is the real undertaking: you cross the high Andes, descend into the Peruvian jungle and reach the Inca site on foot after four days of hiking. The $699 price includes a guide, meals, camping gear basics, the Machu Picchu entry ticket and the return train to Ollantaytambo.

I like the contrast between Humantay Lagoon and the Salkantay Pass, where mountain scenery gives way to a warmer jungle route, and the final approach through Llactapata, which offers early views of Machu Picchu. The trade-off is real: this is a strenuous five-day trek, and extras such as a sleeping bag, Cocalmayo hot-springs entry and the Machu Picchu shuttle bus cost more.

• First night at Soraypampa: Stay in glass huts after hiking to Humantay Lagoon.
• A high mountain crossing: Day two reaches Abra Salkantay, with views of several snow-capped peaks.
• Jungle trails and hot springs: The route includes a long jungle hike and a visit to Cocalmayo, with admission extra.
• A less direct approach to Machu Picchu: Walk to Llactapata and Hidroeléctrica before reaching Aguas Calientes.
• A practical mix of camping and comfort: Three nights are at campsites, followed by one hotel night in Aguas Calientes.

Five days from Cusco, with a hard climb in the middle

This trip is for you if you want to earn your arrival at Machu Picchu rather than reach it by train alone. The route starts with a drive from Cusco to Challacancha, then follows a five-day plan through mountain terrain, jungle paths, archaeological remains and the town of Aguas Calientes.

The walking is not evenly spread across the days. Day one includes a three-hour hike to Soraypampa and a further 1.5-hour walk to Humantay Lagoon. Day two brings an early start and a three-hour climb to the Salkantay Pass, followed by a descent. Day three is a 5.5-hour jungle hike, and day four adds a climb to Llactapata before the final walk or optional train to Aguas Calientes.

You should be comfortable with long walks and changing conditions. The tour provides a guide, cook, meals and horses to carry luggage, but you still need hiking shoes, comfortable clothes and a sleeping bag. The 5 a.m. breakfast on day two and sunrise start on day four are useful reminders that this is an active trek, not a gentle sightseeing circuit.

Day one: Humantay Lagoon and a night in Soraypampa

A pickup from your hotel in Cusco gets the day underway early. After breakfast and a drive to Challacancha, you hike for about three hours to Soraypampa, where lunch is served at the campsite. Later, the trail climbs to Humantay Lagoon, a 1.5-hour walk from camp, before you return for tea, dinner and the night in glass huts.

The lagoon is a strong opening day: you get a memorable mountain setting before the trek’s highest pass, without having to wait until the final days for a major view. The price of that early reward is time on your feet. You have already hiked to camp before setting out for the lagoon, so keep enough energy for the return walk.

The glass huts offer a different kind of campsite stay, but don’t mistake them for a hotel night. You will still need a sleeping bag, which is not included. A personal foam sleeping mat is supplied, and the tour provides your meals and snacks.

Day two: the Salkantay Pass and a long descent

Breakfast is at 5 a.m. before the climb from Soraypampa toward Abra Salkantay, the route’s highest point. The ascent takes about three hours and opens views of the snow-capped Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and Pumasillo mountains. The trail then passes through Salkantaypampa and Soyrococha before descending to Huarachmachhay for lunch and continuing to the Colpapampa campsite.

This is the trek’s big mountain day. The climb is the defining challenge, while the descent makes it a long day even after you reach the pass. If you are choosing this route for its Andes scenery, this is the stretch you are signing up for. It also means you should not count on saving your energy for a brief viewpoint stop.

Tea and dinner are served at camp, where you sleep in domes. The tour handles cooking, but you remain responsible for your own sleeping bag and personal gear. Temperatures and weather are not specified, so pack for the conditions rather than assuming the supplied mat is all you need.

Day three: jungle trails and Cocalmayo’s hot springs

After breakfast, you spend about 5.5 hours hiking through the Peruvian jungle. Lunch is at Playa Sahuayaco, followed by a visit to the Cocalmayo thermal baths. You return to camp at about 6 p.m. for tea and dinner.

The change from the cold, high Andes to a jungle route gives the trek welcome variety. It also shifts the day’s challenge: rather than one high pass, you have several hours of walking through a different environment. The hot springs offer a chance to rest after the hike, but admission is not included, so bring extra money for the entry fee.

Transport from La Playa to Santa Teresa is included in the package. The exact timing of that transfer is not specified, so follow your guide’s instructions on the day. As with the other camp nights, dinner and breakfast are provided, which saves you from having to find food along the route.

Day four: Llactapata, then on to Aguas Calientes

The day starts at sunrise. You walk along the Inca Trail through the Santa Teresa Valley, then climb for about 2.5 hours to Llactapata, an Inca archaeological site. A local guide explains its history, and you get your first views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains. After lunch, continue to Hidroeléctrica.

From Hidroeléctrica, you can walk for three hours to Aguas Calientes or take an optional train. The optional train is listed at $35 per person, so it is an extra expense rather than part of the included return ticket. If you walk, you add another three hours after a day that already includes an ascent, archaeological visit and hike to the railway area.

You have dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hotel. That hotel stay is a useful break from camping before the Machu Picchu visit. It also puts you in town for the early start, though the itinerary does not specify the exact time you leave for the site.

Day five: Machu Picchu, then the return train

A guided tour takes you through Machu Picchu, followed by free time to explore independently. The entry ticket is included. If you have arranged an optional climb of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, the listed time slots are 6 to 8 a.m. or 9 to 11 a.m. These climbs are optional, and the schedule should shape your plans for the morning.

The round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is not included, with a listed price of $25. You can account for that cost when setting your budget. Lunch on the last day is also not included, so you will need to pay for your own meal after returning to Aguas Calientes.

The included return train leaves at 2:55 p.m. for Ollantaytambo. From there, tourist transport takes you to Cusco, with drop-off at Plaza Regocijo. The train and onward transport are valuable inclusions: they make the return leg much simpler than arranging it yourself after five days on foot.

What the $699 covers, and what it does not

For $699 per person, the package includes a guided trek with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, transportation from Cusco to the trailhead, three nights of camping, one hotel night, and four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners. You also get water and daily snacks, a cook, first-aid equipment, a foam sleeping mat, horses for luggage, and a duffle bag.

The Machu Picchu entry ticket, round-trip bus and return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo are included, as is tourist transport between Ollantaytambo and Cusco. These inclusions cover key costs and logistics, especially the final return to Cusco. You are not paying only for a guide and campsite meals.

Budget for the add-ons before you book. A sleeping bag, Cocalmayo entrance, the $25 Machu Picchu bus ticket and the $35 optional train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes are extra. Lunch on day five is also on you. The tour information gives two luggage figures: a duffle bag for up to 8 kilograms, and a horse allowance of 6 kilograms. Confirm which limit applies to the bag you plan to hand over, and keep anything you need on the trail with you.

Vegetarian meals are available at no extra charge if requested. That is a helpful detail for a trip where most meals are organized by the tour, but make the request in advance rather than assuming the cook will know your needs.

The guide and group can shape the experience

A verified booking from June 2024 singled out a guide named Holger and praised the group experience, while describing the trek as both very hard and deeply rewarding. That is a useful portrait of what this trip asks of you: the physical effort is not a side note, and a good guide and compatible group can matter when the days are long.

Holger’s name is tied to one departure, not a guarantee that he will lead yours. The tour provides a certified English- or Spanish-speaking guide, so ask the operator who is scheduled to guide your dates if that matters to you. The rating is 5 from three reviews, a very small sample. Take the positive feedback as encouraging, not as a promise that every group will have the same dynamic.

Who should choose this trek?

Choose it if you want a multi-day route with mountain views, a jungle section, a hot-springs stop and a guided visit to Machu Picchu, all within one organized package. It suits hikers who are comfortable with several hours of walking on multiple days and who like the idea of camping before a final hotel night.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed way to see Machu Picchu or would rather avoid early starts and long walking days. The itinerary includes two different options on day four, but most of the trip is on foot. You also need to be comfortable paying separately for several practical extras.

The cancellation policy is non-refundable, so check your dates and prepare carefully before booking. The activity lasts five days, with pickup from your hotel in Cusco; starting times depend on availability.

Should you book the Salkantay trek?

I would choose this tour for the route, not just the Machu Picchu ticket. Humantay Lagoon, the Salkantay Pass, the jungle hike and the approach via Llactapata make the five days feel like a trek with a destination, rather than a transfer to a famous site.

Book it if you are ready for the physical work, camping and extra costs. If your main goal is to see Machu Picchu with less effort, this is probably more trek than you need. Before paying, confirm your luggage allowance, arrange a sleeping bag, request vegetarian meals if needed, and set aside money for the hot springs, shuttle bus and any day-four train you plan to take.

FAQ

Is the Machu Picchu entry ticket included?

Yes. The tour includes entry to Machu Picchu and a guided tour of the archaeological site.

Are meals included for all five days?

The tour includes four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners. Lunch on the final day is not included.

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

Yes. Sleeping bags are not included, and the tour information lists one among the items to bring.

How much luggage can the horses carry?

The information gives two limits: a duffle bag for up to 8 kilograms and a horse allowance of 6 kilograms per hiker. Confirm the applicable limit with the operator before packing.

Are the hot springs and Machu Picchu bus included?

No. Entry to the Cocalmayo thermal baths is extra. The round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is also extra and is listed at $25.

Is the train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes included?

No. Walking the three-hour route is an option, or you can take the optional train listed at $35 per person. The return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is included.