Ultimate Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake - Salkantay Glamping
5 stops
1
Cusco
Begin your adventure with an early departure from Cusco, driving through the Andean highlands with sweeping views of valleys.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Stop in Mollepata, a charming mountain town, to enjoy a traditional breakfast. Continue to Challacancha, where the trek officially begins.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
3
Hike gradually uphill, until reaching the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake, set dramatically beneath glacial peaks.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
4
After exploring and taking photos, descend to Soraypampa for a freshly prepared lunch. In the afternoon, continue uphill to the exclusive TreXperience Salkantay Mountain Glamping, located at 4,150 m.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
5
Spend the evening enjoying a warm dinner, panoramic mountain views and a sky full of stars before resting in your tent.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Salkantaypampa - Wayracmachay - Collpapampa
3 stops
6
Wake up to the crisp mountain air with hot coca tea or coffee served at your tent. After breakfast, begin the steep ascent to Abra Salkantay.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
7
The Abra Salkantay (4,630 m / 15,190 ft) is the trek’s highest point, where the landscapes of glaciers, rugged peaks, and turquoise lakes create an unforgettable scene. Spend time taking in the views. Continue with a long downhill trek, stopping in Wayracmachay for lunch.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Along the way, spot Andean wildlife such as vizcachas and falcons. After lunch, descend further as the landscape shifts from andean terrain to lush cloud forest, with waterfalls and warmer air. End the day at Colcapampa, where you’ll stay in rustic Andean huts and enjoy dinner surrounded by nature.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Collpapampa - Pachamanca and Coffee experience - Llactapata
3 stops
9
Start the day with a hearty breakfast before trekking through the valley, crossing wooden bridges and passing small waterfalls and rivers. The warmer climate welcomes you with tropical plantations of granadilla, bananas and coca leaves.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
10
Arrive at Lucmabamba, where a cultural experience awaits: participate in a Pachamanca barbecue, an ancient underground stone cooking tradition and visit an organic coffee farm. Learn how coffee is cultivated, roasted, and ground, before preparing your own fresh cup.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
11
After lunch, begin a challenging but rewarding 3-hour climb along preserved Inca Trail paths leading to the Llactapata Archaeological Zone. From this remote site, enjoy one of the trek’s most special views: Machu Picchu in the distance across the valley. Camp here and watch the sunset over the mountains.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Llactapata - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes Town
3 stops
12
Wake up with coffee or tea while admiring a spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu. After breakfast, descend for about two hours through lush vegetation, spotting orchids, hummingbirds, and butterflies along the way, until reaching Hidroeléctrica
2 hours • Admission ticket free
13
Here, enjoy a final meal with your trekking chef and say goodbye to the support team. Continue on foot along the railway tracks beside the Urubamba River for approximately three hours. Stop at Mandor, a historic site where Hiram Bingham was guided toward Machu Picchu in 1911, and explore its botanical gardens rich in orchids and birdlife, including the cock-of-the-rock
3 hours • Admission ticket free
14
By late afternoon, arrive in Aguas Calientes, check into a comfortable 3 star hotel, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Relax in the hot springs or explore the town before resting for the big day ahead.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Machu Picchu - Retunr to Cusco
4 stops
15
Rise early and take one of the first buses up to the Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972 ft).
1 hour • Admission ticket free
16
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Enter the citadel at sunrise for breathtaking views of its temples, terraces, and sacred plazas. Your guide will lead a 2–3 hour tour explaining the history and mysteries of this Inca masterpiece. If you pre-booked, hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for panoramic views of the citadel and surrounding valleys. After exploring, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to collect your belongings
2 hours • Admission ticket included
17
Ollantaytambo
Board the Vistadome Panoramic train to Ollantaytambo, enjoying stunning landscapes through wide glass windows.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
18
Cusco
From there, a private transfer returns you to Cusco, where your unforgettable Salkantay adventure comes to an end.
2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Children must be accompanied by an adult

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