Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

Christian and Eddie the guides were full of knowledge and infectious expertise, their passion for their country and this trek was unparalleled compared to any other guides we saw. The food was incredible given the circumstances. The trek was as easy or as hard as you wished to make it, which catered for a range of different fitness levels (albeit ensure you’re not a complete mincer for this). Well up there as one of the best weeks of my life, I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

Amazing trip. Highly recommended.

It was a great adventure making memories for a lifetime! Huge thank you to our guide Christian for his guidance, knowledge, funny moments and patience)

Excellent Organisation, Great Team Guide, and support Team

Absolutely incredible adventure - challenging hike up Salkantay pass and stunning views every day. Our guide Cristian was the best - perfect English, motivational and funny, and very knowledgeable about the trail, history and wildlife. He watched out for everyone in the group and made sure we had enough rests to catch our breath while telling us interesting stories about the area. The food was delicious and freshly prepared, with different selection and fresh juices for every meal. The camp site was always set up and the tents were comfortable; it was an added bonus to wake up to hot coca tea and hot water for washing. We had options to visit alpaca farms, coffee plantation and hot springs which added to the adventure.

I had a great time on this trek. The landscapes are so varied and we took in so many beautiful places, from Humantay lagoon to the cloud forests. The food was incredible and plentiful, and the guides were great at bringing us together as a group and solving any issues that cropped up along the way (like struggles with the altitude). I would recommend arriving in Cusco a few days early, though, as two days may not be enough time to acclimatise if you do not have previous experience hiking at altitude. Also be aware that the Machu Picchu ticket only includes access to the citadel. If you want to climb Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu, you will need to organise this separately (in consultation with MBA) well in advance, or take your chance and queue for a ticket at Aguas Calientes when you get there.

MBA experiences are always incredible. From start to finish, they are thoughtfully planned and fantastically executed, and the adventure to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay trek was no exception, leaving me with unforgettable memories.

Everything went smoothly on this mountain adventure, blending intense hiking with activities like feeding alpacas and becoming coffee farmers. It was a journey through the forest with breathtaking views and guides who went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Dario, Eddie, and the rest of the staff took great care of us, preparing special diets for those with ailments, providing support during the hike, and explaining the history of every corner of each Inca ruin we encountered.

A special shoutout to Dario for helping me with my "stuff" (💍).

Wow, wow, wow! These guys are amazing and what a trip! Our guides Christian and Eddie were just superb and the rest of the team from the chefs to the horsemen were also incredible. The trek was insane and well within reach of anyone with ‘fairly decent’ fitness and a great attitude (I’m nearly 50 and have ‘fair’ fitness although injuries to contend with) The altitude was fine to contend with - I took dried/sugared ginger to munch on, drink plenty and we did breathwork each morning to get our oxygen levels up. No dramas! The scenery, people and experience as a whole was second-to-none. Peru is just beyond stunning. Ealing up with a glacier view from your tent was unbelievable. Every little thing was thought of and the whole team were so accomodating. How they knocked up these awesome 3 course meals in tiny mountain huts and camp kitchens etc was insane! The knowledge, story telling and connection till to the land is something you will never forget. Nothing was too much trouble and the guides were so attentive - working so hard so keep everyone safe. Truly soul inspiring and such a magical break from the materialism and ego of ‘western society’. This is so much more than a trek. It’s a life changing, soul nourishing reality check that many of us so badly need. We opted to head to Machu Picchu the earliest we could on the last day and the 4am wake up was well worth it. To arrive at this historical site before sun rise when it was so quiet and watch the sun rise over the mountains was worth its weight in gold. Barely anyone there but us to witness this awe inspiring sight. My fellow trekkies were the best, if I could do this all again I would choose these beautiful folks to do it with. We laughed together, cried, shared stories and learned about each other and supported each other in so many beautiful ways. I would do it all again tomorrow if I could. I don’t want to add many pics as I don’t want to spoil it lol. Thanks so much guys, I love you all forever and every single part of this trip holds a special place in my heart forever 💕🥹

Couldn't recommend highly enough, had a wonderful time surrounded by breathtaking scenery and our guide Dario was awesome, everything was so well organised.

Great trip and great people. It was a decent challenge, but doable.

First trip with MBA. Absolutely brilliant experience, and couldn't have asked for better guides in Dario and Eddie. Trip well thought out and a nice little challenge too.

Would effortlessly recommend.

I had an amazing time with Eddy and Dario trekking the Salkantay route to Machupicchu. I learned so much about Incan history and the views were more beautiful than I could have EVER imagined.

I sprained my ankle badly and Eddy was so kind and helpful. I cannot think of a better group of people and guides to have made these memories with.

Sul Pikey Wikey!!!

The whole trip was an incredible experience.

All of the guides were excellent including Dario, SuzieQ and Eddie.

The chefs provided excellent meals for us every day.

The itinerary was excellent and the hiking was we planned out and catered for a group of various fitness levels.

The hosts weee in communication and kept everything running smoothly.

From arrival to Cusco to the last day at Machu Picchu everything was just awesome!

Our guides Christian and Eddie were amazing… Christian was so knowledgeable and passionate and looked after us all so well! He was super friendly and nothing was ever too much effort. Eddie was awesome, and the offering to the mountains was so powerful and something that will stay with me forever! The rest of the team, especially the cooking team, were amazing and the food was hotel quality - we never went hungry.

This was my first Much Better Adventures Trip and it certainly will not be my last

Top Tip: Make sure you a fit enough because this is challenging - especially the altitude day.

Where do I start! What an adventure. From the second you land in Cusco to the last moment of your final pick up, perfect, professional and so well organised. This trip is an absolute must for any adventurer, trekker. We were a party of 14, mostly from the UK but with an Australian, Dutch and an American. What a team. We got on from the first briefing, dinner and the fun carried throughout the entire trek. I've made friends for life and experienced some of the best times, shared with strangers that so quickly became 'family'. I will never forget this adventure and the sad part is that I've now done it, but wish I could do it all again for the first time. The trek itself was tough but as I was expecting really, but the final days climb to the very top of Huayna Picchu was just incredible. The view is probably one of the best views the world has to offer. I just want to relive it all over again with the same trekkers. We are planning another trek together for next year and I really hope this happens and if it does it will be through 'Much Better Adventures' for sure - Thank you.

MBA do it again, another incredible adventure! This is my fourth MBA trip and all have been amazing. The group were lovely, our guide Lino was brilliant and really looked after us, and Peru was definitely worth visiting. Great to have such a quiet trail through beautiful scenery and see Machu Piichu wonder of the world. With many other sights on the way. I would definitely recommend this trip and MBA.

The terrain was beautiful and diverse. The guides did a great job. The food was fresh and delicious.

What an incredible trip! From touch down in Cusco through to the last day in Machu Picchu it was an awesome week! The highlight for me was the hiking and camping. Spending the days climbing towards some amazing views will stay with me forever and I think now hooked on trekking. Some amazing climbs and insane views. You are also fabulously looked after by Lino and his team. My top tips would be to make sure you’re fit enough to do it so you can properly enjoy!

What an amazing experience!

Highly rate Much Better Adventures planning and organisation for this trip. Roxner was really helpful in lead-up to the trip and then onsite if we had any questions or issues.

Our tour guide Lino was fantastic he’s so passionate and knowledgeable about the trip, history, local area. He and the team horsemen, cooks looked after us amazingly.

The food the chefs create on the side of a mountain on a campsite was delicious, filling. Mixture of soups, rice, vegetables, meat. So much of it and they catered to any dietary requirements. They even made us a cake one morning before our final day off the trek.

The views are stunning especially humanity lake, we saw different wild animals such as wild chinchillas and lots of hummingbirds. We saw so many stars at our first campsite as well.

The trek isn’t to be underestimated as you are trekking at altitude. A couple of people in group struggled with altitude sickness but group were fantastic at looking after them and using horses to aid them making it to the top. A good level of fitness is required to help complete trek.

Whilst on the trek we also had the it option to go to a local coffee plantation and pick and make our own coffee and also a hot springs which was lovely after three days of camping and now showers.

We had the option to do Machu Picchu at sunrise which was stunning and we were lucky with the weather and also there are less people at that those times.

We had a great group which looked after each other, mixture of couples, friends and solo travellers ranging from early thirties to sixties.

Loved Peru and the experience. I am already on the Much Better Adventures website to look for my next trip. Wouldn’t hesitate to book with them again.

Local guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and passionate about his country and the region, with a real nice personality and gelled the group together nicely. The whole trip was very well organised, planned and everything felt smooth. The scenery is stunning, with ice capped mountains, endless stunning views and star filled skies at night. The walk is tough being at altitude, but there is options such as horses and oxygen for those that need it. The support staff such as the chefs and the horse keepers are amazing at what they do and kept us all well fed and supported throughout the trip. Overall I would highly recommend not only the trip but the company itself, would definitely use again

This trip exceeded all my expectations. The camping was great and the team made sure you were extremely well fed and looked after, the campsite after you go over the Salkantay pass was a highlight.

The hiking was challenging and made harder by the altitude but it is completely doable and you’re in good hands with the team.

Lino, our guide, was the absolute best. He was so knowledgable and made the whole week really interesting and fun. He looked after us all so well and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide.

The rest of the team were also great and really made the experience memorable.

My first much better adventures trip but certainly not my last!

What an amazing trip, our guides lino and Eddie were absolutely brilliant and so passionate about their country and it's history. Our group all got on like a house on fire and the banter was flowing instantly. Humanty lake was a highlight it was jaw dropping beautiful and reaching the pass was such a feeling of achievement. Our camps were all set up by the time we arrived at night and the porters and horsemen worked hard to look after us very well. The cooks kept us well fed with incredible food every day, they even baked us a cake on their last morning. I loved every minute of this trip and would highly recommend it.

We really enjoyed this trek, the scenery was gorgeous, the group were all fantastic and our guide Christian was amazing! Would really recommend this trip to anyone. We found some parts trickier than others as we felt the altitude quite hard but overall would love to do it again. The food was absolutely incredible.

This is my second Much Better Adventures trip and I can not recommend this Peru trip highly enough. I was so impressed with the lead guide who gave us historical context and information throughout. Our traveling chefs catered to everyone's different diet requirements serving gorgeous meals with local produce daily. The trek was difficult and different people were affected in different ways by altitude, but the group dynamic was supportive, the guides always empathetic and we all felt accomplished having made it through. This was an incredible adventure!

Wonderful trip with great landscape, wonderful food and excellent hosts that take a lot of effort to make the experience memorable

What an incredible trip with MBA in Peru! I absolutely loved the Salkantay trek, challenging but so rewarding, with such varied environments, stunning scenery and fantastic food. Christian our local guide was amazing - very supportive and so knowledgeable - we were in safe hands. And finishing in Machu Picchu was the ultimate highlight.

This trip exceeded my expectations in every way. Christian, our guide was amazing, so supportive and always on hand to share his extensive knowledge. Also our chef cooked food of a quality and variety beyond anything we expected and made the trip extra special. The trek itself was tough at times but nothing somebody of reasonable fitness could not cope with - and the views and sense of being part of such a vast wilderness make the effort all worthwhile! It's worth arriving a few days early if you can just to help aclimatise with the altitude, particualarly as the first few days of the trek are the most challenging. And lots of layers - it gets very cold at night.

This experience HAS to be on your bucket list! Machu Picchu is incredible but the journey is even better, it is really hard to pick out a highlight. I have never tasted food so good and Roxner, Christian and the team did an amazing job looking after us all!

An exceptional trek with a well-planned itinerary perfectly executed by an experienced team of local guides, porters, chefs and drivers. The tents, mattresses and equipment provided were clean and sufficient. Our guides Christian and Eddy were enthusiastic, very knowledgeable and accommodating, ensuring that everyone is well taken care off even when unable to do a hike. The quality of the meals were way above my expectations and I could tell that the chefs took pride in their work. I highly recommend this trip!

Absolutely loved the trip, our local guide Christian was absolutely amazing, giving us very interesting information, taking amazing photos and accommodating us in whatever way we needed. The food was incredible, with a good variety, and catering for dietary requirements extremely well. The only negative is that it ended.