5-Day Salkantay Trek is one of the most scenic and adventurous ways to reach Machu Picchu, with the 5-day trek offering the best options. It has glacier mountains, picturesque lakes such as Humantay and Salcantay Lake, and passes through the Amazon jungle, making this one of the most beautiful and interesting treks in all of Peru.
When you book this tour with us, you’ll enjoy the best services at affordable prices. We offer exclusive camps with newly-built Mountain Sky Huts, glass igloos, professional knowledgeable guides, and supporting staff, we have all-inclusive itinerary options to make sure you don’t miss a thing. We’ll pass by brilliantly-blue lakes, reach heights up to 4,630 meters, and pass by the waterfalls, rivers, and hot springs.
We will also trek through the original Inca Trail to the Llactapata ruins, where you will have a fantastic view of Machu Picchu from a different angle, motivating you to finish the final stretch before you make it to the famous lost city of the Incas.
5-Day Salkantay trek is listed by National Geographic as 1 of 25 “World’s Best Treks.” Choose an experienced, highly-rated company for your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and make it an amazing and unforgettable experience.
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DAY 1 : CUSCO - SORAYPAMPA - HUMANTAY LAKE - SORAYPAMPA BASE CAMP
After picking up everyone from their respective places or hotel, we’ll leave Cusco around 5:45 am and start our 2-hour drive to the town of Mollepata. Once in Mollepata, we’ll stop to have a delicious breakfast and pay the entrance fee of 20 soles to the local municipality (this is not included in the tour price).
Once finished, we’ll continue by car for another hour to Soraypampa where we will meet with the muleteers and horses who will carry our equipment, food, and 7 kilos of each hiker’s personal belongings during the trek. From there, we’ll start the uphill hike to Humantay lake, reaching it after about 2 hours.
When you arrive at the lagoon, you will have a couple of hours to explore, take photos, and listen to our guide to explain the significance of Humantay Lagoon.
After, we’ll hike downhill for 2 hours and have lunch at our exclusive camp, Quiswarniyoc. After lunch, you’ll have free time to explore the beautiful area and for an optional hike to the Mirador of Salkantay for panoramic views of the entire area. If you are tired, you can just rest in the Mountain Sky Huts or in the glass igloos, that come equipped with glass doors, pillows, a sleeping pad, and the illumination of the night sky.
Quiswarniyoc is an exclusive, private camp located at 4,000 meters. It is a unique area that offers additional, short hikes, fantastic mountains viewpoints, and waterfalls.
L , D Meals
7 hours Walking Time
14 km / 7 miles Walking Distance
difficult Level of Difficulty
3,800 m / 12,464 ft Starting Altitude
: 4,450 m / 14,596 ft Highest Altitude -
DAY 2 : SORAYPAMPA - SALKANTAY PASS - CHAULLAY PRIVATE CAMP
The second day of the trek is the most difficult, as it consists of 20 kilometers of trekking and takes you to the highest point of the whole trek, 4630 meters above sea level. The cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca tea as you take your time to repack and get ready for the nutritious breakfast that will be served around 5:45 am. After breakfast, it is time to start hiking up to the highest point of the trek 4630 m. This will take 3 to 4 hours of uphill hiking at a regular to slow pace.
Once you are at the highest point, you will have time to enjoy the mountains, take pictures, learn about the mountain gods, and take part in a small traditional Andean ritual for the Apus mountain god. You’ll then start hiking down for 2 hours before we rest with a delicious lunch and continue for 3 more hours of downhill hiking to the second camp, Chaullay, which is located at 2,900 meters and marks the beginning of the Peruvian Amazon. At camp Chaullay, we will provide you with your camping equipment, hot tea, and dinner.
There is also an optional hot shower offered by locals that can be used for 10 soles. You can also buy some drinks such as beer, soda, water.
B , L ,D Meals
9 HOURS Walking Time
24 KM / 14 miles Walking Distance
challenge Level of Difficulty
3900 masl / 13654 feets Starting Altitude
4620 masl / 14563 feets Highest Altitude -
DAY 3 : CHAULLAY - PLAYA SAHUAYACO - LUMABAMBA - HOT SPRINGS
On the third day, we will wake up in the beautiful (but warm) jungle. We’ll wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea as the cooks are preparing the delicious breakfast.
Around 7:00 am, we’ll begin our 5-hour hike along the Santa Teresa Valley which is formed by the Salkantay River, after 5 hours of hiking we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco.
Along the trail, you’ll see plantations for coffee, bananas, avocados, Coca, passion fruit, and more. Once we arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, we will take local transportation to the third campsite, Santa Teresa, which is about a one-hour drive.
At camp, we’ll share a delicious lunch before heading out to the hot springs of Colcampayo (optional). Colcampayo is about a 15-minute car ride from camp. We’ll spend a couple of hours relaxing in the natural, clean water of the hot springs before heading back to camp for tea time, a warm dinner, and a group bonfire. All of these activities are optional, so if you’d rather lay back and relax at camp—you are certainly welcome to!
B , L D Meals
6 HOURS Walking Time
16 KM / 7 MILES Walking Distance
MODERATE Level of Difficulty
2900 MASL / 1050 FEETS Starting Altitude
2900 MASL / 1050 FEETS Highest Altitude -
DAY 4: : SANTA TERESA - LLACTAPATA TREK - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES
Llactapata is an Inca ruin located along the Salkantay trail, which you will have the chance to visit on the fourth day. From Llactapata, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Machu Picchu from a unique angle. For this beautiful trek, we’ll start with an early breakfast, around 5:30 am, before taking local transportation for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba.
Upon arrival, we’ll start the 3-hour uphill hike along the original Inca trail until we arrive in the Inca ruins of Llactapata once at the Inca site you will have plenty of time in Llactapata to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountain, and if the weather is good, you’ll get one more glimpse of Salkantay Mountain.
Afterward, we’ll hike downhill for 2 hours, arriving in Hidroelectrical for a nutritious lunch and much-earned rest. The final part of the hike is a 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in the small town, we’ll take you to your hotel where you can shower and rest before our final supper at 7:00 pm in a local restaurant. After dinner, we’ll head to bed, anxious for our final day and ultimate reward: Machu Picchu
B , L D Meals
1O HOURS Walking Time
24 KM / 14 MILES Walking Distance
CHALLENGE Level of Difficulty
2000 MASL / 9754 FEETS Starting Altitude
2900 MASL / 13452 FEETS Highest Altitude -
DAY 5: : MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Finally, we go to see the impressive Machu Picchu. You’ll wake around 4:00 am to get ready for the hike to Machu Picchu main entrance. Each person will be given a packed breakfast and we will start the 30-minute walk to Puente Ruinas checkpoint where you will have to show your passport, Machu Picchu ticket, and student ID if applicable. After passing the first checkpoint, we will climb the stairs for about one hour to reach Machu Picchu’s main gate by 6:00 am.
Once everybody meets at the gate, we enter Machu Picchu and begin our 2.5-hour guided tour in the famous Inca site, where you will learn everything about The Lost City of The Incas.
After the guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. The time that you will spend in Machu Picchu will depend on how you are going back to Cusco (train or car) and whether you want to climb the Montaña Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu Mountain, which must be booked in advance the entrance tickets.
- If you booked the extra ticket for HUAYNAPICCHU you will need 2.5 hours for hiking up and down
- If you booked the extra ticket for MACHU PICCHU MONATAÑA you will need 3.5 hours for hiking up and down
After visiting Machu Picchu and its surrounding area is time to return to Cusco.
WE OFFER YOU TWO OPTIONS FOR RETURNING TO CUSCO AFTER VISITING MACHU PICCHU
SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS RETURN BY TRAIN:
The train is a beautiful way to return to Cusco and allows you more time (about 7-8 hours) to visit Machu Picchu. If you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we strongly advise you to take the train, as these hikes require a minimum of 3 hours to complete. You will need to return to Aguas Calientes in time for your train at 6:20 pm. You may want to give yourself extra time, as some people like to explore the town. You’ll ride the train for about 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes town, where you will then switch to a car and finish the final 2 hours of the trip, arriving in Cusco around 10:00 pm.
SALKANTAY TREK 5 DAYS RETURN BY CAR:
Returning to Cusco by car is a more affordable option for those on a tight budget. However, please be aware that with this option, you’ll have less time to explore Machu Picchu, and if you are planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will be very tight on time.
The return to Cusco by car is a longer trip (a 6-hour drive in total), as there are no roads leading to Aguas Calientes and the driver must take a longer route back. If you are taking a car back, you will need to leave Machu Picchu by 12:00 am and take the 3-hour walk back to Hidroelectrica, where you will meet the car at 3:00 pm.
If you are considering this option and planning to hike Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we recommend you stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco by car on the 6th day so that you can fully enjoy the experience.
B Meals
JUST BY BUS Walking Time
JUST BY BUS Walking Distance
EASY Level of Difficulty
2000 MASL / 8643 FEETS / 7354 FE FEETS Starting Altitude
2400 MASL / 1050 FEETS Highest Altitude
INCLUDED SALKANTAY TREK
- 5-Day Salkantay trek briefing at 7:00 pm a day before the departure at Machu Picchu Reservations office
- A duffle bag to pack 7 kilos of your belonging that will be carried by horses during the trek
- English/Spanish speaking professional tour guides
- Professional chef and cooking equipment
- Horses for carrying up to 7 Kilos of personal luggage and other required equipment
- Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
- Private transportation to head of Salkantay trail
- 5 breakfasts
- 4 lunches
- 4 dinners
- 3 nights of camping
- 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Mountain Sky Huts with Thick Mattresses, glass door, Night Lighting, and Panoramic for the first and second night
- Personal pad (double foam – 2.5 inches thick)
- Pillows at the first and second camp
- Transportation from La Playa to Santa Teresa
- Transportation from Santa Teresa to Lucmabamba to do the Llactapata trek
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu
- Return journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco BY TRAIN or BY CAR depending on your choice
- Vegetarian/Vegan options available on request with no additional charges
- First-Aid equipment and oxygen bottle for emergencies
Not Included SALKANTAY TREK 5 day
- Entrance to Humantay lake charged by the local government of Mollepata = 20 soles
- Sleeping Bags – If you do not have one you can rent from us for $10 USD for the whole trek
- The entrance fee and transportation to the hot springs of Santa Teresa (20 to 25 soles)
- Travel insurance
- Extra expenses
- Tips
Prices: SALKANTAY TREK 5D-4N Group service – VERSION 2023
We have two prices For the Salkantay trek 5D-4N. The cost depends. How you like to return to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu?
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5-Day Salkantay Trek: Return BY TRAIN:
Student: 490 US Dollars
Adult: 510
ADDITIONAL OPTION THAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR SALKANTAY TREK
- HUAYNAPICCHU MOUNTAIN: US 20 Dollars (check availability) www.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio
- MACHU PICCHU MONTAÑA: US 20 Dollars (check availability) www.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio
- SLEEPING BAG FOR THE WHOLE TREK: US 10 Dollars
- TREKKING POLES US 10 dollars, one pair for the whole trek
- UPGRADE to Vistadome – Panoramic train. US 35 Dollars (If you decided to return by train you can upgrade to VISTA DOME TRAIN)
STUDENT PRICE:
To have a student discount you have to comply with the following rules of the Peruvian government since we get the discount at the time of buying the Machu Picchu tickets from the Peruvian government. The Peruvian Government has 02 rates for foreigners that are ADULT / STUDENT.
