Experiences / Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Glacier passes, cloud forest and the back door to the citadel
- Duration
- 5 days
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Group size
- 2–14
- Minimum age
- 14
- Cancellation
- Moderate
- Meeting point
- Cusco, Plaza de Armas
- Operated by
- Qhapaq Senderos
Overview
A wilder alternative to the Inca Trail that needs no permit: five days from the turquoise Humantay Lake over the 4,630 m Salkantay Pass, then down through cloud forest and coffee farms to Aguas Calientes.
Nights are spent in comfortable camps with sky domes on the high section and a family-run lodge lower down. The trip ends with a guided morning at Machu Picchu and the train back to Cusco.
Highlights
- Swim-blue Humantay Lake at 4,200 m
- Cross the Salkantay Pass under a 6,271 m glacier peak
- Descend from snow to cloud forest in one day
- Coffee farm visit and hot springs in Santa Teresa
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Included
- 4 nights in camps and lodge
- All meals from day 1 breakfast to day 5 lunch
- Professional guide, cook and horsemen
- Machu Picchu entrance and bus
- Train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco
Not included
- Sleeping bag
- Extra mule for personal luggage
- Tips
Before you go
Very good fitness. Two to three days of prior acclimatization in Cusco are required.
