Updated November 6, 2026. Route and services are taken from our own programs; route conditions are based on official notices from 2026.
Quick answer
The Salkantay Trek is a 4- or 5-day hike from Soraypampa to Machu Picchu over the Salkantay Pass, at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft). The five-day version covers about 74 km and takes you from glacier to high jungle.
Unlike the Inca Trail, it has no daily permit limit, so you can book with less notice. What does have a limit is the Machu Picchu ticket for the last day. With us it costs from US$ 535, including that ticket, camping, meals and the train back.
The Salkantay Trek day by day
This is how our 4-day Salkantay Trek works.
| Day | What you do | Schedule and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Cusco – Soraypampa | Departure at 5:00 a.m. and breakfast in Mollepata around 7:30 a.m. Hike via Cruzpata to Soraypampa and, in the afternoon, climb to Humantay Lake. | Night at a campsite, at about 3,900 m (12,800 ft). |
| Day 2 · Salkantay Pass – Chaullay | Start around 7:00 a.m., climb to Salkantay Pass, lunch in the Collpapampa valley and descent into the cloud forest. | The hardest day. Night at a campsite in Chaullay. |
| Day 3 · Chaullay – Aguas Calientes | About five hours of hiking to Playa Sahuayaco, lunch in Santa Teresa, then on to Hidroeléctrica and about three hours on foot to Aguas Calientes. | Breakfast at 6:00 a.m. Night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes. |
| Day 4 · Machu Picchu | Hike up to the citadel, two-hour guided tour and free time. | Leave at 4:30 a.m., tour at 6:00 a.m. In the afternoon, train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco. |
In 5 days, at a slower pace
The 5-day Salkantay Trek splits the descent into two stages and adds the Santa Teresa hot springs.
| Day | What you do | Schedule and overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Cusco – Soraypampa | Breakfast in Mollepata, hike via Markhuqasa to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake. | Departure at 5:00 a.m. Night at a campsite. |
| Day 2 · Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa | Climb to the pass, about two hours downhill to lunch, then cloud forest to Collpapampa. | Night at a campsite. |
| Day 3 · Collpapampa – Santa Teresa | Hike to La Playa through coffee, banana and avocado plantations, and an afternoon at the Santa Teresa hot springs. | The hot springs are paid separately. |
| Day 4 · Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes | Zip line or hot springs in the morning, transfer to Hidroeléctrica and about two hours on foot to Aguas Calientes. | Night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes. |
| Day 5 · Machu Picchu | Early climb to the citadel, two-hour guided tour and free time. | In the afternoon, train and transfer to Cusco. |
Difficulty and altitude
It isn’t a technical route, but it is demanding. On day 2 you climb about 700 m (2,300 ft) to the pass, in three to four hours, and then descend more than 1,400 m (4,590 ft) into the cloud forest. At the top, you stand facing Salkantay peak, at about 6,270 m (20,570 ft).
- Acclimatize first. Spend two or three days in Cusco before you start. The climb to Humantay on day 1 also helps. More tips in altitude sickness in Cusco.
- Light load. The horses carry up to 5 kg of luggage per person; you carry only a daypack.
- All kinds of weather. You go from glacier cold to humid jungle heat in a single day.
Salkantay or the Inca Trail?
Both reach Machu Picchu on foot, but they’re very different experiences.
| Aspect | Salkantay | Inca Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | No daily limit. The route fee is included. | Permit with a daily limit, issued in each traveler’s name, only through an authorized agency. |
| Days | 4 or 5 | 4, or 2 for the short version |
| Highest point | Salkantay Pass, about 4,600 m | Warmiwañusca Pass, about 4,200 m (13,780 ft) |
| Scenery | Glaciers, lakes and high jungle | Inca sites along the way |
| Arrival | In Aguas Calientes, with Machu Picchu the next day | Through the Sun Gate, on the last day |
| Price with us | From US$ 535 | From US$ 925 |
If Inca Trail permits are already sold out for your date, Salkantay is the closest alternative. We compare the two in detail in Salkantay vs. Inca Trail and in which is the best trek to Machu Picchu.
Best time to go and what happened in 2026
| Months | Weather | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | Dry | The most stable weather and a cloud-free pass. July and August are the busiest months. |
| April and October | Transition | Generally good weather and fewer groups. |
| November to March | Rainy | Clouds on the pass and mud on the way down. There may be temporary closures. |
In 2026, the route was closed from February 6 to March 6 because of the rain and a fault on the Balconpata section, and it reopened along an alternative path. Between July and September there were several avalanches on Humantay peak, next to the first campsite. The authorities have kept the alert in place, but the route remains open; we cover it all in detail in our Humantay Lake guide.
What’s included and how much it costs
| Program | From | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek 4 days | US$ 535 | Route fee and Machu Picchu ticket with a guided tour, equipped campsites, horses for 5 kg per person, a hotel in Aguas Calientes, nine meals, transportation to the trailhead and the train back with a transfer to Cusco. |
| Salkantay Trek 5 days | US$ 629 | The same, with one more day and twelve meals. |
| Humantay and Salkantay, 2 days | US$ 235 | A night in a Sky Camp igloo, Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass, then back to Cusco. It doesn’t go to Machu Picchu. |
What’s not included. Sleeping bag and trekking poles (you can rent them), breakfast on day 1 and the last meals, the Santa Teresa hot springs, the zip line, the bus up to the citadel (you walk up), travel insurance and tips. On the four-day trek, the Humantay entrance fee is also extra.
Before you go, see what to pack for a trek in Cusco and where to rent gear.
Ready for Salkantay?
We’re a local agency in Cusco, registered with MINCETUR since 2003, with English-speaking guides. Before you book, we check that Machu Picchu tickets are available for your last day, since that’s what usually sells out.
- Salkantay Trek 4 days, from US$ 535.
- Salkantay Trek 5 days, from US$ 629.
- Humantay and Salkantay in 2 days, with a night in an igloo.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Salkantay Trek?
Four or five days to Machu Picchu. The five-day trek goes at a slower pace and includes the Santa Teresa hot springs. There is also a two-day version that reaches Salkantay Pass and returns to Cusco, without Machu Picchu.
Is the Salkantay Trek hard?
It’s demanding because of the altitude, but it isn’t technical. On day 2 you climb about 700 m to the pass, at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft), and then descend more than 1,400 m. With two or three days of acclimatization in Cusco and good fitness, you can do it comfortably.
How much does the Salkantay Trek cost in 2026?
With Tari Tours, US$ 535 per person for four days and US$ 629 for five. Both include the Machu Picchu ticket with a guided tour, camping, horses for 5 kg, a hotel in Aguas Calientes, meals and the train back. The two-day version costs US$ 235.
Do you need a permit for the Salkantay Trek?
There is no daily permit limit like on the Inca Trail. You pay a route fee, which is already included in the program. What does have a limit is the Machu Picchu ticket for the last day, so it’s worth booking ahead.
When is the best time to do the Salkantay Trek?
May to September, in the dry season. April and October are also good. From November to March it rains more and there can be closures: in 2026, the route was closed from February 6 to March 6.
Which is better: Salkantay or the Inca Trail?
Salkantay is higher, has more varied scenery, doesn’t require a permit with a daily limit and costs less. The Inca Trail passes Inca sites and enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, but its permits sell out months in advance.
Where do you sleep on the Salkantay Trek?
At equipped campsites on the first nights, with a thick mattress and a pillow, and at a tourist-class hotel in Aguas Calientes on the last night. You bring or rent your own sleeping bag.
What should I pack for the Salkantay Trek?
Sleeping bag, trekking poles, layers for the cold at the pass and the heat in the jungle, a rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent and cash. The horses carry up to 5 kg per person.
Sources
- Tari Tours: 2-, 4- and 5-day Salkantay programs (checked November 6, 2026)
- Yapa Explorers: Salkantay distance, elevation gain and altitude (updated 2026)
- Andina: February 6 closure and alternative path to Humantay and Salkantay (March 6, 2026)
- Infobae: the Balconpata section and rainy season risk (January 20, 2026)
- Andina: permanent alert at Humantay (September 24, 2026)
Photos in this guide are from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses; the author and license appear below each image.