Treks and routes to Machu Picchu
Salkantay Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights
Five days on the Salkantay route, with better-balanced stages and a night in Santa Teresa and its hot springs. Includes Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, the valley's organic coffee and your Machu Picchu ticket.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local Cusco agency since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your hotel in Cusco; the trek starts at 5 a.m.
Commentary in English, Spanish or Portuguese along the whole route
Mollepata and Markhuqasa, Soraypampa and Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, Collpapampa, Santa Teresa and Machu Picchu
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The Salkantay route in five days, with the Santa Teresa hot springs and Machu Picchu
The 5-day Salkantay Trek follows the same great route as the four-day version, but with one more day. That spreads the distance out better and adds a night in Santa Teresa, with its hot springs. It’s the right choice if you’d rather enjoy the trail than push through one long stage after another.
On day one, you hike from Mollepata and Markhuqasa to Soraypampa, with a climb to Humantay Lake. On day two, you cross the Salkantay Pass and descend through the cloud forest to Collpapampa. Day three crosses the Santa Teresa valley past waterfalls, orchids and organic coffee farms, with a tasting included. On day four, you reach Aguas Calientes via Hidroeléctrica, and day five is all about Machu Picchu.
It costs US$ 629 per person and includes the Salkantay entrance fee and your Machu Picchu ticket with a guided tour, tourist-class lodging in Aguas Calientes, camping gear, horses that carry 5 kg of your gear, all meals (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners) and the train back. If you have fewer days, there’s the 4-day Salkantay Trek; if you only want the high section, the 2-day trek with a night in an igloo. The sanctuary’s circuits and hours are published on the official Ministry of Culture website.
Salkantay Pass and its snowcapped peaks
The highest point of the route, with panoramic views of the snow-covered mountains, followed by a descent of about 2 hours to camp.
Organic coffee and waterfalls in the Santa Teresa valley
Waterfalls, wild orchids and local coffee, banana and avocado farms, with a tasting of coffee grown on an organic farm.
Hot springs or zip line in Santa Teresa
A full night in Santa Teresa and the choice between the crystal-clear hot springs and the zip line before heading on to Hidroeléctrica.
Machu Picchu with a 2-hour guided tour
An early-morning visit to the enclosures, palaces and sacred sites, with free time for Wayna Picchu or the Sun Gate.
Itinerary
Your 5-day program, step by step: from snowcapped Salkantay to Machu Picchu
Day 1 · Cusco – Mollepata – Markhuqasa – 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 SoraypampaStart of the trek toward the first camp, with lunch on arrival.
- Humantay LakeClimb to the lake to take in the glacier and its waters, then back to camp for dinner and the night.
Day 2 · Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa
- Hike to the Salkantay PassClimb to the highest point of the route, with views of the snow-covered mountains.
- ≈2-hour descent and lunchDescent to camp for lunch.
- Cloud forest toward CollpapampaInto the upper Amazon forest, spotting native species. Night in tents at Collpapampa.
Day 3 · Collpapampa – La Playa – Santa Teresa
- Breakfast and hike to La PlayaA walk through the Santa Teresa valley past waterfalls and wild orchids.
- Coffee, banana and avocado farmsVisit to local farms, with a tasting of organically grown coffee.
- La Playa · Local foodLunch before a ground transfer of about 40 minutes to Santa Teresa.
- Santa Teresa · Hot springsTime to relax in the crystal-clear hot springs and night in Santa Teresa.
Day 4 · Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
- Zip line or hot springsIn Santa Teresa, you choose between the zip line and the hot springs.
- Route to HidroeléctricaA route through scenery of glacial-melt waterfalls and cacao and coffee farms.
- Lunch and a ≈2-hour hikeAfter lunch, you walk to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night.
Day 5 · Machu Picchu – Cusco
- Early morning · Up to the sanctuaryWalk up or take the bus (extra cost) to Machu Picchu.
- 2-hour guided tourA tour of the archaeological enclosures, palaces and sacred sites of the citadel.
- Free time and extra optionsExplore at your own pace, climb Wayna Picchu (if you booked it in advance) or walk to the Sun Gate, the main entrance of the Inca Trail.
- Return to CuscoDown to Aguas Calientes on foot or by bus, train to Ollantaytambo and transport back to the city of Cusco.
What does your Salkantay Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights include?
No surprises and no fine print: this is exactly what the service covers and what you pay separately on the day of the tour.
5 days / 4 nights
4,600 m (15,090 ft) above sea level
Very early morning departure; the trek starts at 5 a.m.
English, Spanish or Portuguese
Included
- Salkantay entrance fee, Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary tickets and a guided tour of the sanctuary
- Professional bilingual tour guide for the whole route, first-aid kit and emergency oxygen tank
- Camping gear with pillow, thick sleeping pad, night light and an individual 6.35 cm double-foam insulating mat; horses that carry 5 kg of luggage per traveler
- Tourist-class lodging in Aguas Calientes and meals as per the itinerary (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners), with drinking water every day
- Transport to the start of the Salkantay Trek, tourist-class train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo and transfer from Ollantaytambo to downtown Cusco
Not included
- Trekking poles and sleeping bag
- Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day
- Entrance to the Santa Teresa hot springs
- 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 cost extra; the program plans for walking up and down, but you can choose to take the bus on the day. Wayna Picchu must be booked in advance. Sleeping bags and poles can be rented; let us know when you book. Before you buy this tour, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the 5-day Salkantay Trek?
Yes, it’s essential. On day two, you cross the Salkantay Pass, the highest point of the route, at 4,600 m. We recommend spending at least three days in Cusco before departure and having already done a high-altitude tour.
How difficult is the trek?
Challenging, though a little easier than the 4-day version, because the route is spread over one more day. It’s five days of hiking in a row, with a mountain pass on day two and long downhill stretches toward the jungle.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The Salkantay entrance fee and your Machu Picchu ticket are already included. You pay separately for the Santa Teresa hot springs, the zip line (if you choose it), the buses up to or down from the citadel, and Wayna Picchu, if you book it.
What time does it start and how long does it last?
The trek starts at 5 a.m. on day one, arriving in Mollepata around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. The program lasts 5 days and 4 nights and ends with the train from Aguas Calientes and the transfer to Cusco.
What should I bring?
A daypack, sleeping bag and trekking poles (not included; they can be rented), broken-in hiking boots, layers for the mountain cold and the jungle heat, a windbreaker and rain poncho, a swimsuit and towel for the hot springs, insect repellent, a headlamp, sunscreen and, mandatory, 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 with limited spaces per time slot, and Wayna Picchu must be booked in advance. Then we arrange each traveler’s details, equipment rental and all the logistics. We have English-speaking guides.
What happens if the weather affects the departure?
The Salkantay Trek runs year-round, including the rainy season, when a rain poncho is essential. If mountain conditions don’t allow a safe crossing of the pass, the guide adjusts the route or we agree on a suitable alternative with you.
How much does the 5-day Salkantay Trek cost?
The price is US$ 629 per person. It includes the Salkantay entrance fee and your Machu Picchu ticket with a guided tour, tourist-class lodging in Aguas Calientes, camping gear with a thick sleeping pad, pillow and insulating mat, horses that carry 5 kg of your luggage, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners, drinking water every day, a bilingual guide, an oxygen tank, transport to the trailhead and the train back.
Is the extra day worth it compared with the 4-day Salkantay?
It depends on your pace. The 5-day trek spreads the same distance over one more day, so the stages are lighter, and it adds a full night in Santa Teresa, with access to the hot springs and the zip line option. The 4-day trek is tougher — on day three there are about 8 hours of hiking and transfers in a row — and it costs less.
What will I see in the Santa Teresa valley?
It’s the high-jungle section of the trek: waterfalls, wild orchids and local coffee, banana and avocado farms, with a tasting of coffee grown on an organic farm in the area. The contrast with the high mountains of day two — glaciers and the Salkantay Pass — is what sets this route apart from any other hike to Machu Picchu.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to a travel advisor in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).