Salkantay Trek Panaka Journey 5 Days 4 Nights

5 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English and 1 more

Unlike other treks, our Salkantay experience blends adventure, culture, and comfort in one journey. You’ll hike through dramatic landscapes — from snowy peaks to lush cloud forests — and explore hidden Inca sites before reaching Machu Picchu. Along the way, enjoy gourmet meals prepared by our chefs, a traditional Pachamanca experience, and even a hot jacuzzi under the stars. Our small groups, professional bilingual guides, and super porters ensure a safe, personalized, and unforgettable adventure. With exclusive details like live Andean music and champagne dinners, this trek goes far beyond a hike — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime cultural immersion.

What's Included

Live show with Andean music & dances (Day 3)
Personal porter to carry up to 7 kg (14 lbs) of your duffel bag
Hot jacuzzi and shower (Day 3 experience)
Cooking experience (Pachamanca meal)
Lunch (Optional[4])
Lunch
1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
Dinner (Optional[4])
Dinner
Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Breakfast (Optional[5])
Breakfast
Pre-trek safety briefing at your hotel (1–2 nights before departure)
Inca Trail permits (entrance to Machu Picchu, non-transferable)
Professional bilingual guide service (English, Spanish & Quechua)
Domestic flights (can be arranged upon request)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, snacks, extra drinks, etc.)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:00 am to 4.30 am in our private transportation.

OR
Meeting point

We will pick you up from your hotel lobby and near main square at 4 am

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 5 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Salkantay Pampa – Ichupata

    1 stop
  • 1
    Humantay Lake

    Start your trek with a 4:00 AM pick-up from your hotel in Cusco and a scenic 3-hour drive to Soraypampa (3,800 m). After breakfast with your chef and trekking team, begin with a round-trip hike to the turquoise Humantay Lake, surrounded by snowy peaks. Descend and continue the Salkantay trail for 2 hours toward Salkantay Pampa, where you will enjoy a freshly prepared lunch. Afterward, hike gradually uphill for 2 more hours to reach Ichupata campsite (4,000 m), located at the base of the Salkantay Glacier. Here, you’ll spend your first night in personal tents under the stars, surrounded by stunning mountain views.

    2 minutes Admission ticket included
  • Day 2

    Salkantaypampa – Inca Frozen Pass – Inca Canal

    1 stop
  • 2

    Wake up with views of glacier peaks and enjoy breakfast before starting a challenging ascent. Hike about 4 hours uphill to reach Inca Chiriaska (Salkantay Pass) at 5,100 m, the highest point of the trek. This “frozen” pass offers breathtaking panoramas of the Salkantay Glacier. After enjoying hot tea, descend 1.5 hours to the lunch spot with views of Palcayoc peak. Continue 3 more hours downhill until arriving at Inca Canal Mirador campsite (3,600 m). From here, you will admire Salkantay’s northeast face and the Pampaccahuana community. Rest and enjoy dinner at this unique campsite.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 3

    Inca Canal Mirador – Paucarcancha Ruins – Huayllabamba Community

    1 stop
  • 3

    Begin your day with tea and breakfast while gazing at Salkantay Mountain. Today’s hike is more relaxed, starting with a cultural visit to a local family’s home to share experiences of Andean life. Continue with a 4-hour downhill hike to Paucarcancha, an Inca archaeological site where your guide will explain its history. After exploring, walk half an hour to your campsite near Huayllabamba (2,950 m). Here, take part in preparing a traditional Pachamanca, an Andean dish cooked underground with hot stones. Later, relax in a jacuzzi and hot shower, followed by dinner and a live cultural show with local music and traditional highland dances.

    4 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 4

    Huayllabamba – KM 82 – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes Town

    1 stop
  • 4

    Today you will hike part of the original Inca Trail, with spectacular views of valleys and mountains. The highlight is visiting Llactapata, an Inca archaeological site known for its houses, water channels, and impressive terraces. After a guided tour, continue hiking for 2 hours to your lunch stop. In the afternoon, transfer by car to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll enjoy dinner before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes (2,000 m). Spend the night in a comfortable hotel such as Tierra Viva (or similar), resting in preparation for Machu Picchu.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 5

    Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco

    1 stop
  • 5
    Machupicchu cusco

    Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel before taking the bus with your guide to Machu Picchu. At the main viewpoint, capture your first iconic photos of the citadel, then begin a guided tour through temples, terraces, and sacred areas while learning about Inca history.

    2 minutes Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Supplied by Panaka Travel

Tags

Hiking Tours
Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Walking Tours
Ports of Call Tours
Nature Walks
Shore Excursions
Small Group
Port Pickup
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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