Multi-day trip

Cusco: 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Tickets

Activity provider: TreXperience
Multi-day trip

Cusco: 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with Tickets

Activity provider: TreXperience

From US$ 650 per person

This trek is the second most popular route to Machu Picchu - after the Inca Trail. Make your way through breathtaking snowcapped mountains and picturesque valleys, pass beautiful lakes and waterfalls to finally reach Machu Picchu.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 5 days
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
Spanish, English
Pickup included
Pick-up at hotel
Small group
Limited to 8 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • Visit the Humantay Lake and Llaqtapata
  • Get involved in coffee tours and Pachamanca demonstrations
  • Beat the crowds to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise
  • Support social projects
Full description
The Salcantay Mountain is one of the most beautiful in Peru and is considered sacred by local villagers. Spend five unforgettable days hiking alongside the majestic mountains, taking time to enjoy each magical location and feel the energy through meditation, yoga and exercise. As a final treat, you will join the Inca Trail for a short section before arriving at Machu Picchu via the stunning Llaqtapata. On Day 1, after a delicious breakfast, you will embark on a 4-hour walk up to Soyrococha (4400 m / 14430 ft) where a chef will be waiting to serve you lunch. You will continue climbing for one more hour to reach Salkantay Pass (4650 m/ 15255 ft). From the top it will be another 3 hour downhill hike to the campsite at Wayracmachay (3800 m/ 12467 ft). Your tent, a snack and a hot drink will be waiting for you. You will then have some time to rest and have dinner before a well-earned nights sleep. On Day 2, you will be woken bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. You will spend 9 hours on this trek. On Day 3, you will trek for 9 hours once more and arrive at Llaqtapata, an Inca ruin located in front of Machu Pichhu. On Day 4 you will trek for 6 hours to Aguas Calientes and spend a night in a hotel before finally spending Day 5 with a visit to Machu Picchu. Your guide will take you on a 2 to 3-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own. Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes and then take the train and bus back to Cusco. The team will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel.
Includes
  • Pre-departure briefing the night before at 6:30 PM
  • Pick up from your hotel
  • Bus ride from Cusco to Soraypampa to start the trek
  • Pick up from Ollantaytambo to Cusco on the last day
  • Porters to carry food and equipment
  • Horse, horsemen and emergency horse
  • Chef to prepare all meals
  • Professional English speaking local tour guides
  • Second guide for groups of 8+ people
  • All meals included except the final day's lunch in Machupicchu
  • 4 man tents for every 2 people
  • Sleeping pad
  • One night hostel in Aguas Calientes
  • Entrance ticket to all the places you visit
  • Medical kit
  • Drinking water
  • Hot water for washing
  • Hand towels
  • Sheets
  • Pillows
  • Rain Poncho
  • All Taxes included
  • Train back to Cusco
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented)
  • Inflatable mattress (can be rented)
  • Trekking poles (can be rented)
  • Huayna Picchu Mountain pass (needs to be booked in advance)
  • Machu Picchu Mountain pass (needs to be booked in advance)
Not suitable for
  • Pregnant women
  • People with back problems
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People with heart problems
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat

Not allowed

  • Unaccompanied minors

Know before you go

  • Dietary options available please advise at time of booking.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Passport details needed at the time of booking.
  • It is recommended that you bring a lightweight and comfortable backpack no larger than 25L as larger backpacks cannot be taken into Machu Picchu.
  • Bring a hat and sunglasses, rain gear and warm layers, sun cream, bug spray, sanitiser, toilet paper, personal medication, band-aids, a camera, extra batteries and a head torch.
Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 7 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    5/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Service
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5

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Star rating:

It was an awesome experience with TreXperience. I had the adventure of a lifetime doing the Salkantay trek and we‘ve always been supported by the two excellent tour guides, Pepe and Roger. So competently and supportive always helped out when we had individual issues or concern. Also the food and the cooking crew were just amazing if you consider you camp at 4.200 meter. They provided delicious and tasteful fresh meals so we don’t even needed extra snacks or bars. Just highly recommend it and we definitely would do it again, only with this travel agency! Don't forget sunblocker and bugspray ;-)

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March 27, 2023

We did the 5-day Salkantay Trek in august and can absolutely recommend it. Salkantay is not that crowded as Inca Trail and nature is impressive. There is also a 4-day offer but you will miss Llactapata, which was the campsite we liked the most. So if you got time definitly choose this one. Our guide Juvenal was very kind and provided a lot of interesting facts during the hike and also in the evening. He always walked at the end of the group so that he could watch everybody and help, especially when there were issues with hight (don't underestimate the 4100 - 4600m the first two days, even if you are very fit you should acclimate) or general condition so that we always felt safe. Communication was very easy, as the guides spoke english fluently. The price at TreXperience might seem a little bit high, compared to other guides but it's worth, as everything is organized perfectly and all of the costs are included. Overall 5 stars experience! Tobi & Linda

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March 27, 2023

Our Salkantay Adventure with TreXperience was an experience of a lifetime! I can not imagine a better way to do this trip than the way we did it. We were only 8 people, all about the same age, which was just amazing. And we were always ahead or behind most other groups and were mostly walking alone on the beautiful tracks. The camping experience: while still feeling like an adventure, I don't think we could have had it any more comfortable. From hot tea in the morning right in the tents to the good equipment and the epic camping sites, it was wonderful. So was the food! Who would have thought that we would have some of the best and most spectacular food we ate in Peru in 4000 meters of altitude prepared by our amazing chef Oscar and his crew. 3 meals a day, one greater than the next. And last but definitely not least: our guide Edgar. His stories, perspective on live and personality are just awesome. He cared for us, let us in to his culture and he got us a life experience. 100% top

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March 27, 2023

Product ID: 183392