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White peaks, green valleys
Route: Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Cuzco Because of the huge popularity and limited space of the Inca Trail, we went in search of some other treks that offer a similar Andean trekking experience during your Peru trip. The Salkantay trek is one of the most popular alternatives, seeing as this trek also ends in Aguas Calientes. The difference with the classic Inca Trail is that you won’t pass many ruins on the way and you don’t reach Machu Picchu on foot. What you will get though, is spectacular scenery and, because this trail is not as well-known you’ll be able to enjoy it without the crowds of other trekkers. If you’re in good shape, love hiking and prefer to steer off the beaten track to get to Machu Picchu, then this Salkantay trek is a perfect choice for you. At 6291m Salkantay is the second highest peak in the Cuzco area which means the trek is challenging enough. Starting in Cuzco, you’ll set off on your four-day trek to Machu Picchu high in the Andes. For our other Sacred Valley treks, follow the classic Inca Trail trek, or check out the alternative Machu Picchu trek, Lares Trail. If you would like to see where you could go after your Machu Picchu experience please take a look at our Peru tours. |
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4 days / 3 nights, departure daily |
Accommodation |
2 nights in double tent, basic facilities, 1 night in double room in Aguas Calientes (browse our photos here). Comfort 1 and 3 (see accommodation) |
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Price |
£385 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
All transport, guide, cook, porter (not for personal baggage), camping equipment (excl. sleeping bag), entrance fee Machu Picchu, full board (3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner), return bus Machu Pichu - Aguas Calientes |
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Transport |
Minibus, scheduled bus, train |
Excludes |
Entrance fee trail (approx £25 per person), other snacks or drinks, extra comfort mattress (US$5 per day), sleeping bag (US$5 per day), breakfast on Day 1 and lunch on Day 4, tips for guide/porter/cooks, entrance fee hot springs (optional). |
Day 1: Cuzco - Salkantaypampa (6 hours trekking)Your Salkantay trek kicks off in Cuzco which is why you’ll be spending the night here before beginning the trek early in the morning. You’ll take the bus to Mollepata to the starting point of the trail, past a couple of small villages and lots of spectacular views. In Mollepata, gather your strengths with a hearty Peruvian breakfast (excluded) before driving on for another hour to Soraypampa at 3200m. Here, your Salkantay trek officially begins with a 1 1/2 hour walk past several mountain villages to a viewpoint with views across Tucarway lake and the glacier beyond. From here, you'll hike back down to Soraypampa for lunch. In the afternoon, it's time for the real work, climbing for 2 hours to your campsite at 4100m at Salkantaypampa. Your camping and cooking equipment will be carried up by horses and you'll be carrying your own equipment yourself. The porters have gone ahead to the campsite so the kettle will be boiling by the time you arrive. After a tasty outdoor dinner, enjoy the beautiful starlit sky before crawling into your sleeping bag for a good nights sleep. |
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Day 2: Soraypampa - Colpachacha (9 hours trekking)Day two of your Salkantay trek is going to be a challenging day. After an early breakfast, you’ll begin the steep climb uphill. Make sure you keep your own pace and don’t overdo it on this part of your Peru trip. At 4700m you’ll reach the highest point of the trek. Arriving at the top of the pass sweating and panting, you’re rewarded with sweeping vistas across the snowy peaks of Umantay and Salkantay. It’s a nice place to stop for a rest, catch your breath and take a couple of pictures of the incredible scenery.From the pass you’ll continue the trail downhill for about 2 hours, through lush green countryside and past a couple of small lakes. It sounds easy but walking down is very taxing on the legs and feet and soon you’ll feel the first blisters burning. After lunch it's another 2 1/2 hours uphill, with views on all sides of the snow-capped Andes peaks to your next campsite at 2930m. |
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The porters have gone head again to prepare camp and set up your tents. There’s no electricity or hot water and there’s no shower or toilet. Well, there’s a toilet tent with a hole in the ground but that’s it. In the evening you can help prepare dinner or find a quiet spot to enjoy the views as the sun slowly sets behind the mountains. There's also a natural hot spring nearby (entrance 10 Sol) where you can soothe your aching muscles in the blissfully relaxing hot water- definitely recommended on your Salkantay trek. After dinner you can share travel stories of your Peru trip with the other international travellers in your group. Nights at this altitude can get very cold, but with plenty of warm (layered) clothing and a good sleeping bag you should be fine. |
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Day 3: Colpapampa - Aguas Calientes (5 hours trekking)Unlike yesterday’s tiring trek, on day three of this Peru trip, you can take it easy. After another early breakfast, you’ll set off on a 5 hour descent, through more beautiful countryside with several wild orchids and fields of coca plants. Don’t forget to stop every now and then to take in the beautiful scenery of your Salkantay trek. If you're lucky, you might even spot the famous Gallito de las Rocas, the national Peruvian bird. When you get to Playa, lunch is already waiting. In the afternoon you’ll climb onto a truck for a short drive to Hydro Electric. Here, you'll catch the train to Aguas Calientes, a small but touristy town, not surprising when you consider that all visitors to or from Machu Picchu need to pass through it. Tonight, you can finally exchange your chilly tent for a nice warm hotel bed but not before you've explored this lively traveller hub after dinner. |
Day 4: Machu Picchu - CuzcoOn the fourth day of this Peru trip, you’ll be up and dressed by 5am in order to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu, the true highlight of your Salkantay trek along the Inca trail. You could walk up if you like (2 hour hike), just discuss it with your guide. Getting up at the crack of dawn is well worth the effort. At this time of day, the ruins are still shrouded in mist and, as the sun crawls over the mountains, the veil of mist slowly lifts to reveal the Inca city in all its glory. It’s a truly magnificent experience. Being up at the ruins this early in the morning means you’ll be able to explore them with your guide in relative quiet, before the crowds of day trippers arrive.Your guide will be able to tell you all about the history and the different structures around the complex. There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding the city, so you can decide which theory sounds most plausible. Fact is that the Spanish invaders never found Machu Picchu during their conquest of the Latin American continent and it wasn’t until 1911 when archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon the ruins quite by accident that Machu Picchu was finally revealed to the outside world. |
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Wandering among the ruins, the city really comes alive. The terrace fields, temples and houses show you how sophisticated the Incas were for their time but, whatever led to the decline of this once magnificent Inca city still remains a mystery. Scientists and archaeologists are still at odds on what happened here that eventually turned the city into a deserted ruin. Was it a temporary hiding place from the approaching Amazonian Indians? Were the inhabitants struck by Spanish fever, an earthquake or did the society simply fall apart? Once the guide has shown your round the major sights of the complex there’s plenty of time left to explore the ruins on your own on this Peru trip. Wherever you look you’ll see the Andes peaks on the horizon and, no matter how many times you’ve seen Machu Picchu in the travel guides, nothing can prepare you for this part of your Salkantay trek. The sensation of actually walking through the endless labyrinth of temples, corridors, terraces and rooms where once the Incas lived is unexplainable. |
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If you have the energy, there's always the option to climb Wayna Picchu Mountain as part of your Salkantay trek. Please note: the number of visitors per day is limited, so apply before 11am! We can definitely recommend it; somehow the Incas managed to build houses, towers and walls on the steep mountain and the view of Machu Picchu from the top is astounding. When you can tear yourself away from the ruins, pick up your rucksack at the entrance where you’ll find the bus waiting to take you to Aguas Calientes. If you have the time, pay a visit to the market along the railway tracks for a couple of local souvenirs or a quick lunch. Later that afternoon, you'll take the train to Cuzco. On the train you’ll be joined by plenty of fellow tourists so you can swap stories of your Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu and relive the experience. Get off the train at the last stop in Poroy, where you’ll be met at the station and transferred to your hotel in Cuzco. Because you’ll arrive back in Cuzco late in the evening, and probably feeling exhausted, it's a good idea to book your stay here in advance on your Peru tour. |
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IMPORTANT:
During the Salkantay trek, you’ll carry your personal items yourself. A large day rucksack with good waist support is best. The trail is tough and even if you’re extremely fit it’s a real challenge so please be sure you’re up to it. If in doubt, please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss the options or take a look at our less strenuous two day Inca Trail hike in combination with the Sacred Valley.
Entrance fees to the Trail are subject to change. Changes are imposed by the government without prior notice so please understand that we need to recalculate any altered fees where applicable.
What to pack for your Salkantay Trek (you can leave the rest of your bags at the hotel in Cuzco):
During the Salkantay trek, you’ll carry your personal items yourself. A large day rucksack with good waist support is best. The trail is tough and even if you’re extremely fit it’s a real challenge so please be sure you’re up to it. If in doubt, please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss the options or take a look at our less strenuous two day Inca Trail hike in combination with the Sacred Valley.
Entrance fees to the Trail are subject to change. Changes are imposed by the government without prior notice so please understand that we need to recalculate any altered fees where applicable.
What to pack for your Salkantay Trek (you can leave the rest of your bags at the hotel in Cuzco):
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Salkantay trek - Accommodation (Click to enlarge)
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