During your time in Cusco, you’ll stay in a centrally located stylish boutique hotel, such as the Tierra Viva Cusco Hotel or similar. This highly rated hotel is set in a classic colonial house just off the Plaza de Armas (main square).

Cusco 

During the trek, you'll camp along the route. Your host will provide a four-man tent for every two people, complete with a Thermarest inflatable mattress and pillow. You’ll be accompanied by a group camp chef and porters, bringing a kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, and a toilet tent with portable loo.

Salkantay trek

On the last night of the trek, you'll stay in either the La Cabana Machu Picchu or Andina Luxury in Aguas Calientes for a good night's sleep before heading up to Machu Picchu the following day. Both hotels are modern, clean, very friendly and serve a brilliant breakfast.

Aguas Calientes

During your time in Cusco, you’ll stay in a centrally located stylish boutique hotel, such as the Tierra Viva Cusco Hotel or similar. This highly rated hotel is set in a classic colonial house just off the Plaza de Armas (main square).

During the trek, you'll camp along the route. Your host will provide a four-man tent for every two people, complete with a Thermarest inflatable mattress and pillow. You’ll be accompanied by a group camp chef and porters, bringing a kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, and a toilet tent with portable loo.

On the last night of the trek, you'll stay in either the La Cabana Machu Picchu or Andina Luxury in Aguas Calientes for a good night's sleep before heading up to Machu Picchu the following day. Both hotels are modern, clean, very friendly and serve a brilliant breakfast. 

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The steep terrain and altitude can make the going tough at times, but anyone with good fitness and the right attitude will love it.


Whilst trekking, an experienced chef will be on-hand to make amazing meals in the middle of the mountains. Expect plenty of hot food and drinks with every meal. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.

Machu Picchu

Humantay Lake

Lllacapacta

Salkantay Mountain

Salkantay Trek

Catch any flight you like. Your host will pick you up on arrival and drop you off on departure.

Local, certified and friendly English-speaking guides

Guides

3 nights in Cusco, 1 in Agua Calientes and 3 nights camping on the trail

Accommodation 

Local food cooked by your very own chef during the trek

Meals

Both airport transfers and local transfers

Transfers

Porters and horses to carry your luggage on the trek

Porterage

Everything you need for camping along the trail will be provided and set up for you

Equipment

All your tickets and entry fees will all be covered and organised in advance

Permits

Local, certified and friendly English-speaking guides

3 nights in Cusco, 1 in Agua Calientes and 3 nights camping on the trail

Local food cooked by your very own chef during the trek 

Both airport transfers and local transfers

Porters and horses to carry your luggage on the trek

Everything you need for camping along the trail will be provided and set up for you

All your tickets and entry fees will all be covered and organised in advance

Arrive at your hotel in Cusco, perfectly located off one of the main squares. If you’ve got the time, head out to wander the streets for your first real taste of Peruvian culture. Join your guide later for dinner at a local restaurant where you can sample the local cuisine, music and get to know your fellow adventurers. After dinner, head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest – and perhaps a night cap.

Cusco

Peruvian musician

Arrive in Cusco and get to know your crew

Day 1

The Sacred Valley was a crucial area for the Inca Empire, functioning as an agricultural, spiritual and political hub. You’ll visit the two main sites, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, experience their ancient ruins, cobbled streets and learn about their history. On returning to your hotel in Cusco, you’ll meet your guide for a quick pre-trek briefing. Afterwards the evening is yours to relax, grab some dinner and probably an early night ready for tomorrow’s adventure.

Ollantaytambo

Pisac, Sacred Valley, Peru

Tour of the Sacred Valley

Day 2

You’ll be up picked from your hotel for a scenic drive to Mollepata where you’ll enjoy breakfast in a local house. After brekkie, you’ll make your way to the start of your trek at Soraypampa (3800m), getting your first glimpse of the Salkantay and Humantay mountains on the way. After packing the horses, it’s time to set off. You’ll trek to the high altitude and bright turquoise Humantay Lake, sitting below the Humantay Glacier. From here its a gentle climb to Salkantaypampa for lunch. After lunch, you’ll ascend to Soyrococha (4400m) where you’ll set up camp with Humantay as your backdrop.

Trek to Soyrococha via Humantay Lake

Day 3

Today’s a tough one. After breakfast, you’ll start with an uphill hike to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass (4630m). At the top, you’ll make an offering to Apu Salkantay and learn the significance of the mountain to Inca culture. Descend to Huayracmachay (3800m) for lunch, passing turquoise lakes with the Pumasillo and Humantay mountains in the distance. After lunch, you’ll descend further through highlands, cloud forest, and rainforest, until you reach camp at Colpapampa (3100m).

Salkantay Pass

Snowy mountain with horse carrying luggage

Soyrococha to Colpapampa

Day 4

A much gentler day, you’ll head through the rainforest along the Santa Teresa River, trekking past lush vegetation and waterfalls, before reaching camp by noon and stopping for lunch. After being fed, you’ll have a tour of the nearby coffee plantation, learn about the beans and pick your own to grind, roast and enjoy later. Before returning to camp, you’ll roam the nearby tomato and avocado fields and pick vegetables for the chef to use in tonight’s dinner.

Colpapampa to Lucmabamba Coffee Plantation

Day 5

After breakfast, you’ll embark on an easy(ish) trek through the rainforest to the Llactapata Inca site (2700m). You’ll have plenty of time to explore the area and catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the distance. From Llactapata, you’ll descend for lunch before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival, you’ll check in to your hotel and perhaps indulge in a power-nap before visiting a local restaurant to enjoy dinner with the crew.

Trek to Aguas Calientes via Llactapata 

Day 6

Today you’ll head to Machu Picchu itself, one of the world’s most incredible archaeological sites, with a breathtaking location to match. You'll have a guided tour to hear all about the hidden secrets of this ancient site. After a long day, you’ll return by bus to Aguas Calientes and continue your journey back to Cusco via the expedition train to Ollantaytambo, and then bus it from there. You’ll be back at your hotel with a drink in hand by 21:00, no doubt ready to drop.

Ah...Machu Picchu

Day 7

After your Peruvian adventure its time to head home. Your transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport in time for your onward journey.

Peruvian Blankets

Time to go home

Day 8 

Arrive at your hotel in Cusco, perfectly located off one of the main squares. If you’ve got the time, head out to wander the streets for your first real taste of Peruvian culture. Join your guide later for dinner at a local restaurant where you can sample the local cuisine, music and get to know your fellow adventurers. After dinner, head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest – and perhaps a night cap. 


The Sacred Valley was a crucial area for the Inca Empire, functioning as an agricultural, spiritual and political hub. You’ll visit the two main sites, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, experience their ancient ruins, cobbled streets and learn about their history. On returning to your hotel in Cusco, you’ll meet your guide for a quick pre-trek briefing. Afterwards the evening is yours to relax, grab some dinner and probably an early night ready for tomorrow’s adventure.

You’ll be up picked from your hotel for a scenic drive to Mollepata where you’ll enjoy breakfast in a local house. After brekkie, you’ll make your way to the start of your trek at Soraypampa (3800m), getting your first glimpse of the Salkantay and Humantay mountains on the way. After packing the horses, it’s time to set off. You’ll trek to the high altitude and bright turquoise Humantay Lake, sitting below the Humantay Glacier. From here its a gentle climb to Salkantaypampa for lunch. After lunch, you’ll ascend to Soyrococha (4400m) where you’ll set up camp with Humantay as your backdrop.

Today’s a tough one. After breakfast, you’ll start with an uphill hike to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass (4630m). At the top, you’ll make an offering to Apu Salkantay and learn the significance of the mountain to Inca culture. Descend to Huayracmachay (3800m) for lunch, passing turquoise lakes with the Pumasillo and Humantay mountains in the distance. After lunch, you’ll descend further through highlands, cloud forest, and rainforest, until you reach camp at Colpapampa (3100m).

A much gentler day, you’ll head through the rainforest along the Santa Teresa River, trekking past lush vegetation and waterfalls, before reaching camp by noon and stopping for lunch. After being fed, you’ll have a tour of the nearby coffee plantation, learn about the beans and pick your own to grind, roast and enjoy later. Before returning to camp, you’ll roam the nearby tomato and avocado fields and pick vegetables for the chef to use in tonight’s dinner.

After breakfast, you’ll embark on an easy(ish) trek through the rainforest to the Llactapata Inca site (2700m). You’ll have plenty of time to explore the area and catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the distance. From Llactapata, you’ll descend for lunch before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival, you’ll check in to your hotel and perhaps indulge in a power-nap before visiting a local restaurant to enjoy dinner with the crew.


Today you’ll head to Machu Picchu itself, one of the world’s most incredible archaeological sites, with a breathtaking location to match. You'll have a guided tour to hear all about the hidden secrets of this ancient site. After a long day, you’ll return by bus to Aguas Calientes and continue your journey back to Cusco via the expedition train to Ollantaytambo, and then bus it from there. You’ll be back at your hotel with a drink in hand by 21:00, no doubt ready to drop.

After your Peruvian adventure its time to head home. Your transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport in time for your onward journey.



United States Dollar

Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade

Trekking Pole Hire

Sleeping Bag Hire

Pre/post accommodation in Cusco (Twin/Double)

Pre/post accommodation in Cusco (Single)

The younger, cooler sister of the over-crowded Inca Trail 

Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

Voted one of the top 25 treks on the planet by National Geographic

Trek through rainforest, cloud forest, over high passes and around glaciers. Your feet might get tired but your eyes never will

Sleep in picture-perfect campsites, so close to the Milky Way you can almost touch it

Voted one of the top 25 treks on the planet by National Geographic 

Trek through rainforest, cloud forest, over high passes and around glaciers. Your feet might get tired but your eyes never will

Sleep in picture-perfect campsites, so close to the Milky Way you can almost touch it

Sustainability

Our Community

Our Hosts

Our Team

The Much Better Foundation

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Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

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Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

DURATION

LOCATION

ANNUAL LEAVE

SEASON

GROUP SIZE

MEETING POINT

ACCOMMODATION

DIFFICULTY

Similar Trips

EXPERT LOCALGUIDES

YOUR MONEYIS SAFE

TOTALFLEXIBILITY

A COMPANY YOU CANACTUALLY TRUST

EXPERT LOCAL
GUIDES

YOUR MONEY
IS SAFE

TOTAL
FLEXIBILITY

A COMPANY YOU CAN
ACTUALLY TRUST