Salkantay Treks: 15 High Routes to Machu Picchu

1.Salkantay Trek Challenge – 3 Days / 2 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $680Our pick

Hike from Cusco over the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, spend a night at a mountain camp and a night in Aguas Calientes, then tour Machu Picchu with a guide. The group is capped at 12, and guides such as Marco, Guido, and Cesar have led the route. Expect long days, changing climates, and transport and meals arranged for you.

“I just completed the Salkantay 3 day Challenge with Salkantay Trekking and had an AMAZING time! My guide, Marco, was incredibly helpful and organized and made sure we all had an amazing time.”

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2.Small Group 5 Days Salkantay and Machu Picchu by Llactapata Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $593

This five-day trek links Cusco, Salkantay Pass, coffee-growing villages, Llactapata, and Machu Picchu in a group of up to nine. Expect high-altitude hiking, three nights camping, a private-room hotel in Aguas Calientes, and a bilingual guide. Guides praised by past participants include Jainor, Carlos, Henry, Dario, and Rolando, though a particular guide is not guaranteed.

“My inca trail trek was amazing and this was mainly due to the group size and amazing guide. Being in a smaller group really makes connecting with others that much easier and made it so that we quickly formed a great bond. This was further enhanced by our great guide Henry, who was not only very knowledgeable but really friendly and helpful. We really formed a great group which Henry undoubtedly was a part of.”

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3.5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 5 days · from $655

Spend five days hiking from turquoise Humantay Lake over the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass and down through cloud forest. Sleep in a glamping camp, Andean huts, a campsite overlooking Machu Picchu, and a hotel. A guide leads the trek and citadel visit; meals, a Pachamanca feast, coffee tasting, buses, and a panoramic train are included.

“The trip was really good organised they know what they doing. Frank and John our guides were incredible and looked after us really good. Big thanks to our chefs the food was soo delicious. And the campsites expecially the one on the 3 night are in such beutiful spots.”

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4.Salkantay Trek 4 Days to Machu Picchu by Glamping Sky Lodge Dome

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $761

Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu over four days, crossing the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass and changing from high mountain country to cloud forest. Quechuas Expeditions provides guides, meals, two nights in Sky Lodge domes, a hotel night in Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu entry and return transport. Guides named on past trips include Fernando, Nildo and Jose, but assignments can vary.

“Without Fernando I may never have been able to walk all of the Salkantay pass . It was hard , exhausting , exhilarating , the group , my daughter guiding me up Waynapicchu. So emotional seeing MP rise out of the clouds in early morning su”

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5.Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 4 days

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · from $590

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu on a four-day guided trek that pairs high-altitude mountain walking with cloud forest, local coffee farms, and three nights of lodging. The $590 price includes meals, transport, route and Machu Picchu tickets, a guide, and up to 7 kilograms of horse-carried luggage. Expect an early start and a demanding pass crossing.

“The activity is interesting and impactful. The activity is quite challenging and physically demanding but the very acknowledgeable guide named Rene made the activity possible to accomplished by all the participants.”

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6.Salkantay Trek Standard 5D/4N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 5 days (approx.)

Spend five days trekking from Cusco through the Andes, past Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass, to Machu Picchu. A bilingual guide, cook, meals, three camping nights, one hostel night, and key transfers are included. The group is capped at 15. Budget extra for the Machu Picchu bus, sleeping bag, and optional activities.

“Senhores nao tempo p trabalhar p os senhores. Pais em situacao atipica. Greves de transportes com alguns eventos violencia. Como eu poderia ficar preso em Machu Pichu, fiz minha desistencia. A quadrilha empresarial negou-se a me reembolsar. Opiniao: o contrato é invalidado quando o pais nao oferece as condicoes de seguranca...... Fui roubado em 3.200 R.”

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7.Salkantay Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days And 4 Nights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $690

This five-day trek from Cusco crosses the 15,252-foot Salkantay Pass, visits Humantay Lake and a coffee plantation, then reaches Machu Picchu. Expect early starts, challenging high-altitude hiking, bilingual guiding, prepared meals and camping support. Guides on past departures have included Christian, Eddie and Hipo, though staffing can vary.

“Just finished an unforgettable trek with Action Peru Treks (booked through Mucj Better Adventures), and I can’t recommend them enough.”

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8.5-Day: Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu and Humantay Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $360

This five-day trek from Cusco pairs Humantay Lake and the 4,600-meter Salkantay Pass with jungle trails, hot springs and a dawn arrival at Machu Picchu. You camp for three nights, stay one night in Aguas Calientes, and travel with a bilingual guide in a group of up to 15. One account names guide Roger as especially helpful and friendly.

“The Salkantay 5 day trek to Machu Picchu was a wonderful experience. Being in a small group made it more exceptional and personal. Our guide, Roger, was super, very helpful, and friendly! I would do it again”

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9.Salkantay 5-Day Trek To Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $797

This five-day trek from Cusco pairs high-altitude hiking with three nights of camping, one hotel night in Aguas Calientes and a guided Machu Picchu visit. Expect a demanding climb to 15,200 feet, changing scenery from snowy peaks to tropical valleys, bilingual local guides, meals and transport. Sleeping bags, bottled water and some optional transfers cost extra.

“Such a fun and challenging experience. I had no issues completing the trek, you want to make sure you are in good shape before arriving as it can be difficult if you are not prepared for log days and sometimes tough terrain. Beautiful views good food and excellent tour guides! Highly recommend to all!”

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10.4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $810

Set out from Cusco before dawn for a four-day trek past Humantay Lake and the snow-covered Salkantay range, then reach Machu Picchu with a bilingual local guide. Expect high-altitude climbs, two nights camping, hearty Peruvian meals, and a final night in a three-star Aguas Calientes hotel. The group averages four people, with a maximum of 16.

“We did the trip just my friend and I, along with our guide, chef and guy to carry the bags with horses.”

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11.Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N or 4D/3N by glamping

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 35 reviews · 5 days · from $35Best value

Hike for five days from Cusco through high Andean passes and into the Santa Teresa Valley, sleep in glamping camps and a hotel, then visit Machu Picchu with a guide. Guides named on this route include Ruben, Roger, Reynaldo, Tupac and Nidia, though assignments can vary. Tickets and several activities cost extra.

“Excellent trip, with brilliant fresh food cooked every day, a very insightful guide and well arranged transportation, trekking and little tours within the trip. Would highly recommend!”

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12.Salkantay Trek: 5 Days to Machu Picchu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $909

This five-day guided trek leaves Cusco at 4:30 am and crosses the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass before descending through tropical terrain to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Expect campsites, cooked meals, a small group of up to 12, and a challenging first half. Humantay Lake, optional Cocalmayo hot springs, a guide, and the return train are part of the plan.

“Just completed 5 day Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek with Tierras Vivas - (65 yo couple + 5 young adults in our group) all had a great time. Arrangements made through Pamela- communication was excellent and all logistics/transfers were a breeze. Leo was our trekking Read more”

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13.5 Day – Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu – Group Service

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · from $650

This five-day group trek climbs to 15,200 feet at Salkantay Pass, then descends through cloud forest and jungle to Machu Picchu. Expect early starts, four days of meals, three nights camping and one night in Aguas Calientes. Guides such as Aldo and Victor have earned praise for their local knowledge and support, though your guide may vary.

“We had a great guide in Aldo who allowed us to customize parts of the 5 day trip to suit our group’s liking. The guide, cooks and porters were timely and ensured we never went hungry. I’d recommend Valencia Travel and highly recommend Aldo as a guide due to his experience and knowledge of the local culture/ mountains”

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14.4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 4 days · from $552

This four-day small-group trek links Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, cloud forest and Machu Picchu, with glamping, Andean huts, a Pachamanca barbecue and a coffee-farm visit. English- and Spanish-speaking guides lead groups of up to 16. Return to Cusco by Vistadome or 360° panoramic train.

“Thank you so much for this truly unique experience! Our guide, Filio, was incredible; he took care of us with such patience, professionalism, kindness, and was clearly passionate about his job and providing us with cultural and historical information. I really appreciated the attention to detail and warmth Filio and the team provided during our trek. Our chef, Dionissios, was very good and made sure all our needs were taken care of, serving us delicious hearty meals and surprise treats! Another team member that was always ready to help and always with a smile was Alberto- thank you as well! I would highly recommend Filio as a guide and Trexperience…”

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15.5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu Sky Lodge Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 5 days · from $700

This five-day trek crosses the 4,650-meter Salkantay Pass, visits Humantay Lake and a coffee plantation, then reaches Machu Picchu by way of Aguas Calientes. You sleep in dome camps with private bathrooms and hot showers, plus one hotel night. Guides including Roberto and Abel, and cook Mario, have led groups, though staffing can vary.

“Hee goed verzorgd! Goed eten en fijne bedden, laatste hotel was ‘oke’. De domes waren top! Alleen nacht 1 zeer koud maar ik Geloof dat dit bij alle domes van alle organisaties wel zo was! Eigen douche en toilet, top! Hike zelf prachtig!”

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