Description
Most important tour information
- Pickup time
- 4:30 AM – 5:00 AM Pickup window from your accommodation Details: Your exact pickup time or meeting details are sent via WhatsApp no later than the evening before departure.
Highlights
- Night 3: Unique campsite at Llactapata overlooking Machu Picchu
- Enjoy a traditional Pachamanca barbecue, visit a organic coffee farm, and experience Andean culture.
- Stay at Salkantay Glamping with beautiful tents and mountain views, plus a 3-star hotel the last night.
- Return to Cusco on the panoramic Vistadome train after exploring Machu Picchu.
What is included
Included
- Safety briefing the day before the trek
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco
- All transportation during the tour
- Professional bilingual guide (English & Spanish)
- Entry tickets to the Salkantay Trek
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit 2 included, subject to availability)
- Guided tour at Machu Picchu for Circuit 2, 6:00 AM
- Round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Return panoramic Vistadome or 360° train
- Muleteers to carry camping equipment
- Experienced trekking chef
- 1 night Salka Glamp Campsite
- 1 night Andean huts in Collpapampa
- 1 night camping at Llactapata
- 1 night 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- All meals on the trail (except last day lunch and dinner)
- Water during meals and daily snacks
- Pachamanca barbecue and coffee experience
- Duffle bag up to 7 kg
- First-aid kit, oxygen supply, satellite communication
- Sleeping pad, pillow, rain poncho, hand towels
Not included
- Sleeping bag (available for rent)
- Air mattress (available for rent)
- Trekking poles (available for rent)
- Lunch on the last day
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain entrance
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guide and trekking team (optional)
Optional extras
These optional extras are not included in the tour price. You choose them inside the WeTravel booking process: after you click Book now, the booking form lists every extra below with its price, and you add the ones you want before you pay.
| Extra | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Trekking poles | $ 20.00 |
| Sleeping bag | $ 25.00 |
|
Extra comfy air mattress
Instead of sleeping pad, enhance your comfort and sleep on a very comfortable air mattress |
$ 25.00 |
|
Access to Wayna/Huayna Picchu
Subject to availability...
We will buy an extra entrance ticket (circuit 3A) for you. We will make sure to allign the timeslots if you also have another Machu Picchu ticket.
|
$ 68.00 |
|
Single person stay
Single person room in Aguas Calientes |
$ 35.00 |
Itinerary
Day 1 – Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Salka Glamp Campsite
Morning
We pick you up from your hotel around 4:30 am and drive for about three hours to the trailhead. On the way, we stop in Mollepata for breakfast. At the starting point, you meet the trekking team before beginning the hike.
You hike for about three hours to Humantay Lake at 4,200 m. Here, you have time to rest, take photos, and enjoy the turquoise water surrounded by mountains.
Afternoon
After visiting the lake, you hike downhill for about one hour to Soraypampa, where lunch is prepared with fresh local ingredients. After lunch, you continue uphill for about two hours to Salkantaypampa.
Along the way, you may see Andean geese, deer, and vizcachas among the rocks.
Evening
You arrive at the Salka Glamp Campsite at around 4,150 m. After a warm dinner prepared by your chef, you can relax and enjoy clear mountain skies before resting in your tent.
Day 2 – Salkantaypampa – Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa
Morning
You wake up early with coffee or coca tea served at your tent. After breakfast, you begin a steady two-hour ascent to the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m, the highest point of the salkantay trek 5 days.
At the pass, you take time to enjoy the views of glaciers and the surrounding mountains. You also visit a small lake near the base of Salkantay Mountain.
Afternoon
You descend for about three hours to Wayracmachay for lunch. After resting, you continue downhill for another three hours. The landscape changes from cold mountain terrain to warmer cloud forest.
Evening
You arrive in Collpapampa at 2,770 m. Tonight you stay in Andean huts surrounded by greenery. Dinner is served, and you can rest comfortably after a challenging day.
Day 3 – Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata
Morning
After breakfast, you hike through the cloud forest. The trail follows rivers, crosses wooden bridges, and passes plantations. After about three hours, and a short transfer by van for the final stretch, you reach Lucmabamba for lunch.
Afternoon
At Lucmabamba, you experience a traditional Pachamanca barbecue, where food is cooked underground using hot stones. You also visit an organic coffee farm and prepare your own cup of coffee.
After lunch, you hike uphill for about three hours along an ancient Inca path to Llactapata at 2,750 m. From here, you have your first distant view of Machu Picchu.
Evening
You camp near Llactapata, facing Machu Picchu. If the weather is clear, you may see sunset and sunrise over the citadel from your campsite.
Day 4 – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
Morning
You wake up with views toward Machu Picchu while enjoying coffee or coca tea. After breakfast, you hike downhill for about two hours to the Hidroelectrica station.
Afternoon
You enjoy your last meal prepared by the trekking chef and say goodbye to the team. Then you continue walking for about three hours along the railway next to the Urubamba River toward Aguas Calientes.
Along the way, you pass Mandor and learn about the history connected to the rediscovery of Machu Picchu.
Evening
In Aguas Calientes, your guide takes you to your 3-star hotel. You can shower and rest. In the evening, you have dinner at a local restaurant and prepare for your visit to Machu Picchu.
Day 5 – Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Morning
Today we start early for the highlight of the trek, Machu Picchu. We head to the bus line and take one of the first buses up to the entrance. If the weather is clear, you may see sunrise views from the upper terraces.
Inside Machu Picchu, if you have circuit 2 timeslot 6:00 AM, your guide leads a 2 to 3-hour tour through the main areas of the citadel, sharing history and insights. Optional hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain must be booked in advance.
Afternoon
After the Machu Picchu visit, you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. You have time for lunch (not included) and to collect your bags before boarding the panoramic Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo.
Evening
From Ollantaytambo, a private van brings you back to Cusco. Arrival is around 7:30 pm, and you are dropped off at your hotel.
Times are approximate and the order may change with weather, traffic, or local conditions.
Practical information
Trail and tour details
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Tour duration
- 5 days
- Average group size
- 12 people
Where you will stay
Salkantay Glamping (night 1)
Andean huts (night 2)
Llactapata with Machu Picchu view (night 3)
Full tour description
The salkantay trek 5 days is one of the most complete hiking adventures in Peru. This route takes you from high Andean mountains to warm cloud forest, and finishes at Machu Picchu. In just a few days, you see snow peaks, turquoise lakes, green valleys, waterfalls, and small villages. Every day feels different.
This is a premium tour that blends adventure and comfort. You sleep at our Salka Glamp Campsite, stay in Andean huts, camp with a view toward Machu Picchu at Llactapata, and finish with a hotel night in Aguas Calientes. To end the trip in a scenic way, you return to Cusco on the panoramic Vistadome train.
If you want a varied, scenic, and well-organised salkantay hike with strong logistics and a clear plan, this is a great choice.
Why choose the salkantay trek 5 days
The salkantay trek machu picchu route is known for its dramatic landscapes and its mix of climates. You hike at high altitude near glaciers and then descend into warmer jungle areas. This variety is what makes the salkantay trail so special.
- Cross the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m
- Visit Humantay Lake at 4,200 m
- Sleep at the Salka Glamp Campsite under the stars
- Stay in cosy Andean huts in the cloud forest
- Enjoy a Pachamanca barbecue and visit an organic coffee farm
- See Machu Picchu from Llactapata on the salkantay trek llactapata section
- Return on the panoramic Vistadome train
What you do on this Salkantay hike
The salkantay trek 5 days is more than walking. It combines nature, culture, and Inca history. Below is a clear list of the activities included in this experience.
Mountain and nature activities
- Hike to Humantay Lake and enjoy time at the viewpoint
- High altitude trekking to the Salkantay Pass
- Scenic descents through valleys and changing landscapes
- Cloud forest trekking with rivers, bridges, and waterfalls
- Wildlife spotting, including vizcachas and Andean birds
Culture and local experiences
- Pachamanca barbecue experience, a traditional underground cooking method
- Organic coffee farm visit and a hands-on coffee preparation
- Hike along sections of an ancient Inca trail toward Llactapata
- Explore the Llactapata archaeological site
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu
Scenic and comfort moments
- Glamping night at Salka Glamp Campsite
- Andean hut stay in the cloud forest
- Campsite night near Llactapata with views toward Machu Picchu
- Hotel night in Aguas Calientes before Machu Picchu
- Panoramic train ride back to Cusco
Background information about Salkantay and the route
Salkantay Mountain rises to 6,271 meters and is one of the highest peaks in the Cusco region. For local Andean communities, Salkantay is a sacred apu, which means a powerful mountain spirit. People have respected this mountain since Inca times. Even today, travellers often feel the scale and energy of the area when they reach the high parts of the salkantay trail.
Humantay Lake is fed by glacier meltwater. Its bright turquoise colour comes from minerals carried down from the mountains. The lake is one of the most photographed places on the salkantay trek 5 days, and it is easy to see why.
The salkantay trek llactapata viewpoint is another special moment. Llactapata is an Inca site that sits on a ridge facing Machu Picchu. On a clear morning, you can see Machu Picchu in the distance, framed by steep green mountains. This view is one of the most unique parts of the salkantay trek machu picchu route.
Because this trek crosses multiple climates, weather can change fast. You may start cold in the mountains and finish warm in the cloud forest. That is also why this salkantay hike feels so complete. You experience Peru’s landscapes in a very short time.
Is the salkantay trek 5 days right for you
This trek is a strong fit if you want an active adventure with comfortable nights and a clear plan. You should have a moderate fitness level and you should arrive in Cusco early enough to acclimatise. With good preparation, most travellers can enjoy this salkantay trail in a safe and rewarding way.
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What to bring
Documents and essentials
- Original passport
- Cash in Peruvian soles
- Reusable water bottle (1.5–2L capacity)
- Power bank
- Personal medication
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Clothing
- High-top hiking boots
- Comfortable hiking socks
- Quick-dry hiking pants
- Breathable base layers
- Warm fleece or insulated jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Hat, gloves, sun hat
Daypack items
- 20–35L backpack with rain cover
- Headlamp
- Insect repellent
- Snacks
- Camera
- Trekking poles
Duffel bag items (max 7 kg)
- Sleeping bag
- Sandals
- Extra clothes
- Toiletries
- Comfortable evening wear