Treks and routes to Machu Picchu
Salkantay Trek 4 Days / 3 Nights
Four days from the Salkantay glacier to the high jungle and Machu Picchu, with no named permit and no daily limit on spots. Includes Humantay Lake and the Salkantay Pass, a fully equipped camp, pack horses and your Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup at your hotel in Cusco at the agreed time, starting at 5 a.m.
Explanations in English or Spanish along the entire route
Mollepata, Soraypampa and Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, the Collpabamba valley, Santa Teresa and Machu Picchu
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From the Salkantay glacier to the high jungle and Machu Picchu, on a four-day trek
The 4-day Salkantay Trek is the great alternative to the Inca Trail: it needs no named permit, you can book it much closer to your travel date, and it crosses a range of landscapes the classic trail doesn’t have, from glaciated high mountains to the high jungle. National Geographic listed it among the best hikes in the world.
On day one, you hike from Mollepata to Soraypampa and climb up to Humantay Lake. On day two, you cross the Salkantay Pass, the highest point, and descend into the Collpabamba cloud forest, among orchids and waterfalls. Day three follows the Santa Teresa valley to Hidroeléctrica and Aguas Calientes. Day four is all about Machu Picchu, with a 2-hour guided tour and the train back.
It costs US$ 535 per person and includes your entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and Salkantay, three nights of lodging (an equipped campsite and a hotel in Aguas Calientes), all meals, a professional guide, horses that carry 5 kg per traveler and an oxygen tank. If you have one more day, the 5-day Salkantay Trek spreads the stages out better and adds the Santa Teresa hot springs; if you prefer the original trail, there’s the classic Inca Trail. The sanctuary’s circuits and schedules are published on the official Ministry of Culture website.
The Salkantay Pass and its snowcapped Apu
The high point of the trek, with the towering Salkantay peak in view and a landscape of Indigenous homes, farm plots and grazing llamas and alpacas.
Humantay Lake on day one
A climb up to the lake from the Soraypampa campsite, with the glacier reflected in its turquoise waters.
From glacier to high jungle
The descent into the cloud forest, at 1,750 m (5,740 ft), and the Santa Teresa valley, with coffee, banana, avocado, coca and passion fruit plantations.
Equipped camp and pack horses
Pillow, thick mattress, night light, a 6.35 cm double foam pad and horses that carry 5 kg of luggage per traveler.
Itinerary
Your 4-day program, step by step: from Salkantay peak to Machu Picchu
Day 1 · Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake
- 5 a.m. · Start of the Salkantay TrekDeparture from Cusco via Izcuchaca and Limatambo.
- ≈7:30 a.m. · Mollepata · BreakfastArrival in the village for the first breakfast of the program.
- Hike to Cruzpata and SoraypampaThe trek begins toward the first campsite, with lunch on arrival.
- Afternoon · Humantay LakeA climb up to the lake to see the glacier reflected in its waters.
- Back to campDinner and overnight in Soraypampa.
Day 2 · Quiswarniyoc – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay
- Buffet breakfast and departure ≈7 a.m.We start the day with views of the towering Salkantay peak.
- Salkantay Pass and Salkantay PampaA route past Indigenous homes, farm plots and grazing llamas and alpacas, with Apu Salkantay always in sight.
- Collpabamba valley · Buffet lunchA lunch break before continuing the descent.
- Cloud forest (1,750 m)We enter the transition zone toward the jungle, with orchids, rivers and huge waterfalls, until we reach the Chaullay campsite.
Day 3 · Chaullay – Playa Sahuayaco – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
- ≈6 a.m. · Coca tea and breakfastWake up in the middle of the jungle before the longest stage.
- ≈7 a.m. · Hike to Playa Sahuayaco (≈5 hours)Through the Santa Teresa valley, carved by the Salkantay River, among coffee, banana, avocado, coca and passion fruit plantations.
- Santa Teresa · LunchOne hour of local transport from Playa Sahuayaco and a stop for lunch.
- HidroeléctricaAnother 45 minutes by car to the hydroelectric plant.
- Hike to Aguas Calientes (≈3 hours)A flat walk along the railway tracks to the town, where we check in to our lodging.
Day 4 · Machu Picchu – Cusco
- ≈4:30 a.m. · Climb to the citadelWe get up early to walk up to Machu Picchu.
- 6 a.m. · 2-hour guided tourA tour with your guide of the most important places in the archaeological site.
- Free time and optional climbsTime to explore on your own and, if you like, climb Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional tickets).
- Afternoon · Return to CuscoBack to Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo and transport to the city of Cusco.
What's included in your Salkantay Trek 4 Days / 3 Nights?
No surprises and no fine print: here is exactly what the service covers and what you will pay separately during the trip.
4 days / 3 nights
4,600 m (15,090 ft) above sea level
Very early morning departure; the trek starts at 5 a.m.
English or Spanish
Included
- Salkantay entrance ticket, Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary tickets and a guided tour of the sanctuary
- Professional bilingual tour guide throughout the route (we have English-speaking guides), first aid kit and emergency oxygen tank
- Camping gear with pillow, thick mattress, night light and an individual 6.35 cm double foam pad; horses that carry 5 kg of luggage per traveler
- Tourist-class lodging in Aguas Calientes and meals as per the itinerary (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners), with drinking water every day
- Shared transport to Challacancha, tourist-class train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo and transport from Ollantaytambo to downtown Cusco
Not included
- Trekking poles and sleeping bag
- Breakfast on the first day, and lunch and dinner on the last day
- Entrance to Humantay Lake, the Santa Teresa hot springs and the zipline (optional)
- Round-trip bus tickets Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, travel insurance (recommended), personal expenses and tips
Note: the buses up to and down from Machu Picchu are not included; the program plans for the walk up from Aguas Calientes, but you can buy a bus ticket on the same day. Sleeping bags and trekking poles can be rented; ask us when you book. Before buying this tour, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions, so you can book with complete peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the 4-day Salkantay Trek?
Yes, it’s essential. On day two you cross the Salkantay Pass, at high altitude, reaching 4,600 m. We recommend spending at least three days in Cusco before departure and having already done a tour at altitude.
How difficult is the trek?
High. It’s four consecutive days of hiking, with a mountain pass on day two and about 8 hours on the trail on day three, between the Santa Teresa valley and Aguas Calientes. It isn’t technical, but it requires good fitness and prior acclimatization.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The Salkantay entrance ticket and the Machu Picchu ticket are already included. You pay separately for Humantay Lake, the Santa Teresa hot springs, the optional zipline and the buses up to or down from the citadel.
What time does it start and how long does it last?
The trek starts at 5 a.m. on day one, and you reach Mollepata around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. The program lasts 4 days and 3 nights and ends with the train ride and transport back to Cusco.
What should I bring?
A small daypack, a sleeping bag and trekking poles (not included, available for rent), broken-in hiking boots, layers for the mountain cold and the jungle heat, a windbreaker and a rain poncho, insect repellent, a headlamp, sunscreen, a swimsuit for the hot springs and, without exception, your original passport.
How do booking and payment work?
Before you buy, please contact us to confirm availability, since Machu Picchu tickets are issued in your name and have limited spots per time slot. Then we sort out each traveler’s details, equipment rental and all the logistics.
What happens if the weather affects the departure?
The Salkantay Trek runs all year, including the rainy season, when a waterproof rain poncho is essential. If mountain conditions don’t allow a safe crossing of the pass, the guide adjusts the route or we agree with you on the best alternative.
How much does the 4-day Salkantay Trek cost?
The price is US$ 535 per person. It includes the Salkantay and Machu Picchu entrance tickets with a guided tour, tourist-class lodging in Aguas Calientes, camping gear with mattress, pillow and 6.35 cm pad, horses that carry 5 kg of your luggage, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners, drinking water every day, a bilingual guide, a first aid kit with oxygen tank, transport to Challacancha and the train back.
Do I need a permit for the Salkantay Trek?
No. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek requires no named permit and has no daily limit on spots, so you can book just a few weeks ahead, and it runs all year, including February. What’s worth booking early is your Machu Picchu ticket, which is issued in your name for a set time slot.
What's the difference between the 4-day and the 5-day Salkantay Trek?
The route is the same, but the 5-day program spreads the distance over one more day, adds a night in Santa Teresa, with its hot springs, and offers the zipline option. The 4-day trek is more intense: on day three you hike about 8 hours, between the walk to Playa Sahuayaco and the final stretch to Aguas Calientes.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).