5-day Salkantay Trek: The Classic Route to Machu Picchu
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5-day Salkantay Trek: The Classic Route to Machu Picchu

Cusco
4 Nights·5 Days
CuscoHiking & TrekkingComfort Adventures

Overview

The 5-day Salkantay trek follows the classic route to Machu Picchu, the best-known alternative to the Inca Trail, and without its strict permit limits. In about 60 km on foot, hikers experience a dramatic, beautiful transition, descending from frozen alpine peaks into vibrant, lush cloud forests. This striking contrast and the challenging adventure cement its status as a timeless expedition in the Peruvian Andes.

Start hiking to the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake and climb over the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass. Entering the jungle, trekkers enjoy a hands-on coffee harvesting and preparation tour at a local family farm in Lucmabamba. The route then follows an original Inca path to the Llactapata ruins, offering a distant first glimpse of the famous citadel. The journey concludes with a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, which ends with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

Unlike other treks, this trail requires no camping, perfectly balancing adventure, nature immersion, and comfort. Accommodations feature thatched sky-view cabins, cozy mountain chalets, and wooden geodesic domes nestled in the forest. On the final evening, guests rest in a proper hotel in Aguas Calientes to prepare for their citadel visit.

  • Full itinerary: the drive to the Challacancha trailhead, the hike to Humantay Lake, the crossing of the Salkantay Pass, the descent into cloud forest, a hands-on coffee tour at a family farm, the Inca path to Llactapata, the train to Aguas Calientes, and a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
  • Cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m (15,190 ft), right below the 6,271 m summit of Salkantay Mountain, the high point of the whole Salkantay trail.
  • Hike up to Humantay Lake (4,200 m) on Day 1, a turquoise glacial lake below the Humantay peaks.
  • Pick, process, and fire-roast coffee with a farming family in Lucmabamba, then make a cup from your own beans.
  • Get your first view of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, on the far side of the valley, from the Inca site of Llactapata, a day before you walk through the citadel.
  • No tents: a thatched cabana, a mountain hut, a geodesic dome, and a hotel, with a bed every night and a hot shower from night 2.
  • Activities guided by English-speaking local guides from Cusco and the Sacred Valley, with a second guide for groups of 9 or more.
  • All-inclusive experience: transport from and back to your hotel in Cusco, 4 nights, 12 meals, the trek permit and Humantay Lake entry, the Machu Picchu ticket and guided tour, both trains, the bus up to the citadel, horses for your duffel, a cook, and bilingual guides.

  • Please note: Trekking times are estimated, as your guide can adapt the daily schedules based on weather and trail conditions. Keep the evening prior to the trek open for the hotel briefing, and schedule a minimum of two days in Cusco before Day 1 to acclimatize.

Itinerary

Day 1

Cusco / Mollepata / Humantay Lake / Soraypampa

  • DriveCusco → Mollepata → Challacancha · ~3h
  • HikeChallacancha → Soraypampa → Humantay Lake and back · 10 km · 5–6h
  • Humantay Lake· 4,200 m (13,779 ft)
  • OvernightSky Cabana, Soraypampa · 3,900 m (12,795 ft)

The team collects you at your hotel in Cusco around 6 AM for a 2-hour drive across the highlands to the village of Mollepata. There is a short stop for a bathroom break or breakfast (not included), then another hour of road up to Challacancha, where the classic Salkantay trek officially begins.

A gentle walk of about 1h30 leads to Soraypampa, at 3,900 m. From there, climb for an hour to Humantay Lake, a turquoise pool at the foot of the Humantay glaciers—which local people regard as sacred—then walk back down for lunch at the cabanas.

The afternoon is free to rest and adjust to the altitude. After dinner, the clear sky over Soraypampa fills with stars. This is the coldest night of the trek, often below 0°C.

Meals included: Lunch / Dinner

A vivid turquoise glacial lake nestled in a rocky high-altitude cirque on the 5-day Salkantay trek, with snow-capped Andean peaks rising behind low clouds in the distance
A herd of saddled horses grazes on a green highland valley floor at the start of the 5-day Salkantay trek, with trekkers and handlers in the background and a massive snow-capped Andean peak rising sharply under a deep blue sky
Turquoise glacial waters of Humantay Lake on the 5-day Salkantay trek, with a snow-capped rocky mountain face and thin waterfalls descending toward the lake shore

Day 2

Salkantay Pass / Huayracmachay / Descent to Chaullay

  • HikeSoraypampa → Salkantay Pass → Huayracmachay → Chaullay · 22 km · 9–10h
  • Salkantay Pass· 4,630 m (15,190 ft) · Highest point of the trek
  • OvernightMountain hut near Chaullay · 2,950 m (9,678 ft)

The day starts with a cup of coca tea. A steady climb then takes you from Soraypampa to the Salkantay Pass, the roof of the route, with the ice of Salkantay Mountain filling the sky right above you.

On the far side, the trail drops for hours through wide high valleys. Bare alpine ground turns into grassy Andean meadows and then into cloud forest, with streams and birdsong. In a single day, the trail transitions from glacial landscapes to the lush cloud forest—a defining feature of this route.

At 22 km and 9 to 10 hours, this is the hardest day of the 5-day Salkantay trek. It ends at a mountain hut near Chaullay, at 2,950 m, with beds, hot showers, and a hot dinner. If the climb gets too hard, an emergency horse is available on the steepest sections.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Snow-covered rocky peak of Salkantay Mountain rising above a boulder-strewn moraine on the 5-day Salkantay trek, under a deep blue Andean sky
A trekker with a backpack crosses a rustic log bridge over a clear mountain stream on the 5-day Salkantay trek, with a massive snow-capped peak rising behind a high Andean valley

Day 3

Santa Teresa Valley / Coffee Farm Tour / Dome Night in Lucmabamba

  • HikeColpapampa → Santa Teresa valley → Lucmabamba · 15 km · 5–6h
  • Coffee tour· Family-run farm in Lucmabamba, hands-on
  • OvernightGeodesic dome (Lucmabamba)

The trail follows the Santa Teresa River downhill through warm, humid forest. Waterfalls run off mossy rock into green pools, orchids grow along the path, and banana, passion fruit, and avocado trees line the way.

After lunch at the camp in Lucmabamba, a local farming family shows you their coffee from start to finish. Pick the ripe red cherries, learn how the beans are processed and dried, roast them on a wood fire, and make a cup to drink on the spot.

The night is spent in a wooden geodesic dome in the forest at Lucmabamba, with a queen-size bed, a private hot shower, towels, and Wi-Fi. If time allows, you can visit the Santa Teresa hot springs nearby (paid locally).

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Deep forested valley on the 5-day Salkantay trek, with rocky mountain peaks partially hidden by billowing clouds and a thin wisp of smoke rising from the valley floor
Two hands scooping ripe red coffee cherries from a wicker basket during a hands-on coffee farm visit on the classic salkantay trek 5 days route through Lucmabamba

Day 4

Inca Path to Llactapata / Hidroeléctrica / Train to Aguas Calientes

  • HikeLucmabamba → Llactapata → Hidroeléctrica · 13 km · 6–7h
  • Llactapata Inca site· 2,800 m (9,186 ft) · First view of Machu Picchu
  • TrainHidroeléctrica → Aguas Calientes · ~40 min
  • OvernightHotel in Aguas Calientes · 2,040 m (6,691 ft)

After an early breakfast, climb for about 3h30 on an original Inca path through the forest to Llactapata, at 2,800 m. As your guide walks you through the ruins, the citadel of Machu Picchu and the soaring peak of Huayna Picchu emerge across the valley for your very first view.

The descent takes about 2h30 to a lunch stop near the Hidroeléctrica station. The train leaves around 2:50 PM and reaches Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, in about 40 minutes.

Check in to your hotel and finish the trail with a celebration dinner at a restaurant in town. Rest well—the bus to the citadel leaves early.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A lone hiker in a pink jacket and backpack walks across a green alpine meadow on the 5-day Salkantay trek, with a jagged rocky peak shrouded in low cloud looming behind her
A roofless Inca stone structure perched on a high ridge along the 5-day Salkantay trek, with cloud-wrapped Andean peaks stretching into the distance behind it

Day 5

Guided Tour of Machu Picchu / Train to Ollantaytambo / Cusco

  • BusAguas Calientes → Machu Picchu · Early morning
  • Guided tourMachu Picchu · About 2.5h
  • Train + transferAguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo → Your hotel in Cusco

After breakfast at the hotel, an early bus climbs the switchbacks to Machu Picchu, while the morning light is still soft and the crowds are thin. Your guide leads you through the terraces, temples, plazas, and houses of the citadel and explains how the Incas built and used it. Visits follow a set circuit inside the site and last about 2.5 hours.

With a Huayna Picchu permit (booked ahead at extra cost), you can also climb the steep peak behind the ruins for a view over the whole site and the Urubamba River.

Return to Aguas Calientes by bus and board the Expedition train along the Urubamba to Ollantaytambo. A private transfer takes you back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 8 PM, where your 5-day Salkantay trek comes to an end.

Meals included: Breakfast

A brown llama grazing on the green terraces of Machu Picchu, with Inca stone ruins and Huayna Picchu mountain rising in the background — the reward at the end of the 5-day Salkantay trek
Panoramic view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with stone terraces and ruins spread across a ridge, Huayna Picchu peak rising through low clouds behind it, seen from the classic salkantay trek 5-day route viewpoint

What is Included

  • Round-trip transfer (your hotel in Cusco ⇌ Challacancha trailhead on Day 1; Ollantaytambo ⇌ your hotel in Cusco on Day 5)
  • 4-night stay: Sky Cabana in Soraypampa, mountain hut near Chaullay, geodesic dome in Lucmabamba, and a hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • Meals (full board, from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5)
  • Daily trail snacks, wake-up tea, and an afternoon tea or sunset happy hour
  • Drinking water every day, starting with the first lunch
  • Pre-trek briefing at your hotel in Cusco
  • Salkantay trek permit and Humantay Lake entrance
  • Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit 2 when available, otherwise Circuit 3 or 1-B)
  • Train Hidroeléctrica → Aguas Calientes (Day 4) and Expedition train Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo (Day 5)
  • Bus Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu (one way, Day 5)
  • Duffel bag for up to 6 kg (13 lb) of your gear, carried by horses
  • First-aid kit, emergency oxygen, walkie-talkies, and an emergency horse on the steepest sections
  • Guided tours (Humantay Lake, the Salkantay Pass, the coffee farm in Lucmabamba, the Llactapata Inca site, and Machu Picchu)
  • Bilingual guides (English and Spanish) for the whole trip, with a second guide for groups of 9 or more

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Hotel nights in Cusco before and after the trek
  • Breakfast in Mollepata on Day 1; on Day 5, the midday meal in Aguas Calientes and the evening meal in Cusco
  • Return bus from the citadel to Aguas Calientes on Day 5
  • Sleeping bag (rental available)
  • Trekking poles (rental available)
  • Huayna Picchu permit
  • Private horseback rides on Days 1 and 2
  • Santa Teresa hot springs (paid locally)
  • Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Tips for guides, cooks, and horsemen
  • Personal hiking clothes, footwear, and gear
  • Costs caused by delays or events beyond our control

FAQ

Reviews

“From the moment we booked the trek we were kept up to date and well informed. We chose the Salkantay Trek because it also included some trekking through Inca trails. Everything about the trek ran like clockwork and was so well organized. Our guide Eddie ( the Eagle) treated us like family and was such an encouragement especially on the days when the going was a little tougher than expected. The food was delicious and we never went hungry. You do need to be quite fit for this trek and it is essential that you give yourself time to acclimatize to the altitude before setting off. They made the experience feel even more special and personal than I could have imagined.”

— Lisa

“Completed the 5d/4n Classic Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek. We had a wonderful experience. Our guide Lino was wonderful, his passion for sharing stories and knowledge of the area was inspiring. Our chefs Andre and Ronald were phenomenal, smiles and food a plenty. Felt very well taken care of throughout the trek. An amazing experience and would absolutely recommend!”

— Shae C

“Great trek and better people. Couldn’t ask for more from our guide (Lino) and cook (Albert). Genuinely great people to do the trek with! Great communication and they were willing to update our route based on rapidly changing weather conditions!”

— Brendan R

“Wow this trek was not for the weak but an absolutely amazing experience! Nilton was a great and very informative guide. He told us so much history and knowledge about the Inca’s, the Amazon, and anything else we asked. He has traveled the world as well to take in knowledge from many other countries. We were surprised to stay in tents the first 3 nights and a hotel the 4th night but it did make our hiking/camping in the wilderness experience more authentic. The horse men and chiefs were fantastic! You will not go hungry. All of the food is spectacular! Every view is breath taking, every climb can be difficult but the steep walk downs are more taxing, the hot springs is amazing, and we would do it all again as a first timer. Definitely go for it!”

— Taylor P

“Breathtaking in every sense of the word! This was the best trip we’ve done in South America! The tour groups are small of up to 6 people (ours had 2 couples), which means you bond with the guides and other hikers. We had Lino as our guide who had 20 years of experience hiking Salkantay and had lots of wisdom to share with us, including the best places to spot wildlife, teaching us about the plant life and the history of the trails. The first day was tough, but Lino helped us pace ourselves and had lots of breaks, so the trek was adaptable to different levels, but be prepared to be out of breath! At the end of the second day, we went to a local hot spring to recover, which was recommended by Lino as it was quieter than the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.Lino stayed with us the whole time, and also guided us through Machu Picchu sharing so much interesting historical information with such passion. You can tell he loves this job.My advice for people doing this trek is to get to know your guide. We did, and it really made our trip special. We got to learn about our guides family, education, and sense of humour, which meant we shared laughter for the entirety of the trip. Would 100% do this again. Miss you already Lino!”

— Tomas A

“As a tour leader I work with many tour operators around the world but this one was the best that I have worked so far, also the guides, chefs and other staff where amazing and did a great job.”

— Adriatik Gacaferi

“This trek is amazing! The views are stunning! The first couple days, the hiking is difficult due to the altitude but then it backs off after the pass. Get acclimatized and its fine. The food was really outstanding. The agency (locals to the valley guys) prepared 3 meals a day, buffet style, and I was really impressed (I work in a high end resturaunt). They really were wonderful people and cared about their work! Tents were good, pads were think and held air, and the rented sleeping bag was plenty warm and smelled like they had just laundered it between trips. Rented poles (black diamond adjustable) were perfect. Horse packing guys (also locals) were also pros. The guides, Christian and Eddie (locals) were really amazing guys (chicos)! They're patient and I almost never felt rushed to go go go. And when they do need you to pick up the pace a bit (maybe on train day), they're kind and patient and told us why so that you understand why you need to get on with it (we had a train to catch). But when we all wanted to chill at the top of something and soak in the views, they never rushed us out (this is important to me in a group thing which is why I mention it). I highly recommend this tour provider and I would use them again in the future no doubt.”

— George F

“The Acascocha + Salkantay trek is great. We had Lino as our tour guide and had a great time, a once in a lifetime experience. Although a difficult hike the crew was always very helpful, from great meals to beautiful camping spots it was an amazing hike. Everything was seamless throughout our whole trip and Lino was an enthusiastic & passionate tour guide. He really made it feel like it was our hike, including us in the planning for the camping spots we were going to and felt like a friend throughout.”

— Thor V

“The agency is one of the best trekking companies to Machu Picchu. The company offers experienced guides, quality equipment, and affordable options. My wife and I did the 4-day Salkantay Trek in September 2023. The trek starts in Cusco and ends in Machu Picchu. Along the way, we had the opportunity to see the stunning views of the Andes Mountains, meet the local people, and learn about Peruvian culture. Our guides, Pedro and Carlos, were very experienced and knowledgeable. They gave us all the information we needed throughout the hike and helped us with any problems we had. Our equipment was also very good and provided us with all the support we needed for the hike. The trek was challenging but also very rewarding. We had a lot of fun throughout the hike and will never forget the feeling we had when we arrived in Machu Picchu. If you are going to Peru and want to do a trek to Machu Picchu, this company is a perfect choice.”

— Alexander J

“The agency is a company that offers trekking tours to Machu Picchu and other Andean destinations from Cusco. My wife and I, along with our two children, recently participated in the 5-day Machu Picchu Salkantay Trek. The trek was a comprehensive package that included hotel accommodation, guiding, food, and transportation. Our guide, Pedro, was very knowledgeable and experienced. He taught us a lot about the history and culture of the Andes along the way. The trek was challenging but rewarding. We saw stunning scenery along the way and experienced the natural beauty of the Andes firsthand. When we arrived at Machu Picchu, we realized that all of the challenges were worth it. The company offers quality service and a great experience.”

— Cerys S

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