Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

No, you don’t need a permit for the trek itself, but entry to Machu Picchu is strictly controlled through a permit system operated by the Peruvian authorities. All visitors must have a permit that specifies both an entry time and a designated circuit (route) through the site. Your Machu Picchu permit is included in the trip price, and your local host will purchase it on your behalf using the passport details you provide at booking.

There are three main circuits at Machu Picchu, which are divided into multiple routes. Entry tickets are released in limited numbers for specific circuits and hourly time slots throughout the day. Although thousands of visitors enter Machu Picchu daily, availability is spread across multiple circuits, routes and entry times, meaning individual ticket allocations can sell out very quickly.

Your host will always aim to secure Circuit 2 permits first, as this is generally regarded as the most popular due to it including the famous upper terraces for the iconic postcard photo. However, Circuit 2 permits often sell out months in advance ((usually by 10FEB each year). If they are no longer available when your permit is purchased, your host will secure the best available alternative, typically on Circuit 3 which covers just as much as Circuit 2 but enters through a lower gate.

Because permit availability changes rapidly, we cannot guarantee a specific circuit, route or entry time.

We recommend booking your trip at least 6–8 months in advance. Machu Picchu permits are released once a year, usually in January (sometimes earlier), and popular entry slots sell out within one to two months of going on sale. Tickets are secured with your passport details, which you must show at entry. Once booked, these tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Therefore, it is important we receive your passport details as soon as possible to secure a ticket and that you travel with the Passport provided.

Please Note: Due to increased demand and a quick turnaround your host will automatically secure a Circuit 2 permit on your behalf. If Circuit 2 is sold out (usually by 10FEB each year) by the time your permit is purchased, a Circuit 3 permit will be booked instead. As a result, your group may be divided into two smaller groups for your visit.

If you have any questions about permits before booking, please don't hesitate to contact our support team.

Your local host will handle the booking of your Machu Picchu permits (opens in new tab) using the passport details you provide. Please provide your full name, nationality, passport number and date of birth when you book, or as soon as possible afterwards. These details are required to book your permits once they are released by Peru’s Ministry of Culture, and dedicated entry times and circuits can sell out quickly. Once issued, permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. You’ll need to travel with the same passport you booked with. If your passport changes after booking, let your local host know and bring your original passport with you for entry.

Your guides are highly experienced and trained to adapt to changing mountain conditions. If weather, trail conditions or health issues require a change to the planned itinerary, they’ll make informed decisions with your safety and experience as the top priority. Alternative routes, transport or timing adjustments may be used if necessary, and your host team will keep you informed every step of the way.

You’ll be accompanied by an experienced, English-speaking lead guide throughout the trek, with assistant guides added depending on group size. A dedicated support team, including chefs, porters and horse handlers, will manage logistics, transport your luggage, and ensure everything runs smoothly at the camps.

Yes, it is possible to leave excess luggage items at your hotel in Cusco and pick them up at the end of the trip.

Clean drinking water will be provided for you each morning and at meals. In an effort to eliminate plastic waste you must bring your own water bottle or hydration bladder with you. If you are concerned about the water quality, please feel free to bring additional water purification tablets.

Yes, horses are used by the local team to assist with the logistics of transporting food and camping equipment. They are cared for on the trail by trained handlers within the porterage team. All our horsemen and horses are registered with the Salkantay Association who monitor their wellbeing, and they take steps to ensure the welfare of horses by applying a maximum weight of 30kg per horse on a maximum of two trekking expeditions per month. Please be aware that you may encounter other local trekking companies whilst on the trail who sadly do not take the same stringent approach to animal welfare.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Peruvian cuisine is one of the most diverse in South America, shaped by a remarkable geography that spans coastal fisheries, Andean highlands and Amazonian jun…Peruvian cuisine is one of the most diverse in South America, shaped by a remarkable geography that spans coastal fisheries, Andean highlands and Amazonian jungle, alongside centuries of influence from Indigenous, Spanish, African, Japanese and Chinese communities. The result is a varied and ingredient-rich food culture, where fresh produce, seafood, grains and tubers feature prominently across different regions. Most travellers with dietary requirements will find Peru relatively accommodating, as the breadth of the cuisine means plant-based, gluten-free and pescatarian options are commonly available. It helps to communicate requirements clearly in advance, and your guide will be well placed to assist with this throughout the trip.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian -Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Peruvian vegetarian dishes rely heavily on native Andean ingredients like quinoa, potatoes, corn, and yellow chilies.

Vegan -Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Kosher -Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. The Host is unable to guarantee a separate, certified cooking/preparation area or the use of certified kosher products. They can, however, provide meals that exclude non-Kosher ingredients (such as pork and shellfish) and avoid mixing meat and dairy. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal -Certified Halal supply varies by location and may not always be possible. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) -Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose Free -Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Many traditional dishes are naturally lactose-free or can easily be prepared without dairy, such as grilled meats, rice and vegetable dishes.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. Please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip.

This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

If you'd like to coordinate your trip with one of Peru's vibrant festivals, we recommend booking 6–8 months in advance. These events draw large crowds, but the atmosphere they bring more than makes up for it. Travelling in May or June? You may catch Corpus Christi, held on the ninth Thursday after Easter — a spectacular religious event in which fifteen patron saints and virgins from Cusco's parishes are carried in grand, ornate processions to Cusco Cathedral. The city's streets come alive with colourful parades, making it an unforgettable time to visit. The grandest festival in the Incan calendar celebrating the winter solstice and the Sun God is June 24th. Hundreds of vibrant, colourfully dressed performers reenact ancient Incan rituals throughout Cusco and surrounding Inca sites.

As this is a popular period, Machu Picchu tickets sell out early, so be sure to register in good time to avoid missing out.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with (opens in new tab). You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website (opens in new tab), where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information (opens in new tab) and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values (opens in new tab) – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here (opens in new tab) for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

In the Andes, there are two main seasons: wet and dry. The dry season, which runs from May to September, is the best time to visit. This period generally offers higher chances of clear skies and breathtaking views of the Andean mountains. With minimal rainfall, trails are safer and less slippery; while cooler, more stable temperatures make trekking conditions ideal. However, this is also peak tourist season, meaning popular destinations like Machu Picchu and Cusco can be busier. Nights in the mountains can be quite cold, with temperatures often dipping below freezing especially in the driest months of June and July. The shoulder months of April, October and November, are another great option. They see fewer crowds than the peak dry season but generally maintains dry conditions, though rain showers and cloud cover can occur. Regardless of the season, the unpredictable mountain weather at high altitudes can bring a mix of sunshine and rain, so being prepared for variable conditions is essential and warm layers for night time temperatures dropping is important.

If you decide to visit Lima before or after your trek, remember that the season is the reverse of this, so you can expect some grey skies there.