The Salkantay Trek

Degree of difficulty

• Considered a difficult challenge, the Salkantay trek offers a greater degree of difficulty than the Inca Trail.
• A good level of fitness is required to complete the long days of trekking on consecutive days.
• Altitude plays a significant part in the difficulty of this challenge, reaching heights as high as 4650m above sea level. 

Accommodation on the Salkantay Trek

• Accommodation in Cuzco is in a comfortable hotel in the city. 
• During the trek, accommodation will be in the form of camping using high altitude mountain tents. 
• Meals are taken in a separate mess tent, which can be used as a communal area in the evenings. 

Eating and drinking

• Special menus have been designed to ensure that the demands of trekking at altitude are covered by appealing, healthy meals with ample provision for energy.
• Breakfast is a hearty affair, with ample offerings and tea and coffee.
• A hot lunch is prepared freshly each day.
• Following each day of trekking, an afternoon tea is served with snacks and hot drinks to replenish calories.
• Evening meals consist of three courses, offering hearty starters and a main course with fresh vegetables and carbs such as rice, pasta or potatoes. 
• Water is boiled and filtered each morning to fill bottles for hiking. It's a good idea to bring purification tablets, but this isn't essential.
• Coca tea is available on the trek, which is commonly drunk to alleviate the effects of altitude sickness. 

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Cusco
Cusco
Peru

Getting to Cuzco

• Fly to Cuzco International Airport in Peru (CUZ)
• It is usual that flights from Europe will need to connect through Lima. Lima is serviced by KLM, BA and Iberia from UK Airports, with connections in Amsterdam with KLM or Madrid with Iberia. 
• From Lima, domestic flights to Cuzco are provided by LATAM, Avianca, Star Peru or Peruvian Air. LATAM are the preferred option due to the capability of their planes to land in foggy conditions. 

The Salkantay Trek Itinerary

• Day 1 | Arrive in Cuzco

  Fly to Cuzco to meet with a representative before taking a taxi to the hotel.

• Day 2 | Acclimatisation

  Spend the day in Cuzco to assist with acclimatisation. Take a half day walking tour of the city in the morning with the afternoon free to relax or explore independently. Pre-trek briefing in the evening. 

• Day 3 | Cuzco to Salkantaypampa

  Take a transfer to the start point of the trek, passing through the picturesque towns of Pampa de Anta on the way. The trek beings in Soraypampa, meeting with the arrieros. Hike to Humantay Lake at the base of the Humantay Glacier, before ascending to the campsite at Salkantaypampa.

• Day 4 | Salkantaypampa to Collpapampa

  Climb to the highest point of the trek at the Salkantay Pass at 4600m to enjoy sensational views. Further hiking through spectacular scenery before arriving at the lunch site at Huayraqmachay. A long afternoon descent to the campsite at Collpapampa.

• Day 5 | Collpapampa to Lucmabamba

  Follow the trail downhill for up to six hours, passing through the jungle at Ceja de Selva where there are coffee, coca and fruit plantations. Reach the campsite at Lucmabamba  for lunch. The campsite is within a coffee plantation, so there is time to explore the facilities and taste some of the local coffee in the afternoon, with an optional trip to the hot springs in Cocalmayo.

• Day 6 | Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes

  A morning hike to the archelogical site of Llactapata, offering views of Machu Picchu, before a two hour hike to take lunch by the hydro-electric station. Further walking after lunch to Agua Calientes and the hotel.

• Day 7 | Machu Picchu

  Take the bus to Machu Picchu to take a guided tour around the site. Optional climb of Huayna Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu. Afternoon bus to Agua Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo, to take a final transfer to the hotel in Cuzco.

• Day 8 | Departure

  Transfer to the airport to start the journey home.

What's Included

• Your hotel stay for the nights before and after the trek
• Airport transfers
• Transfer to and from the trek start point
• Machu Picchu entry and camping fees
• A fully supported trek
• All meals and drinking water on the trek
• A private portable toilet
• High quality mess and sleeping tents with a comfortable insulated sleeping mat
• Access to emergency oxygen and first aid kit

What's Not Included

• Flights
• Visas
• Tips for your guides and crew
• Personal items
• Travel insurance (you must be insured, and specifically for treks up to 5000m)
• Your personal trekking gear
• Your personal medicines or prescriptions
• Snacks on the trek
• Meals and drinks not on the trek

This trip takes responsibility seriously and ‘goes the extra mile’ to ensure that your presence in this country is entirely positive.

Central to this

• Caring for the crew
• Caring for the local environment
• Caring for the local communities

All guides and partners are hand picked to ensure that every aspect of your trip operates to the highest standard and reflect the strong values, ethics and joy of travel.

This commitment to Responsible Travel is mutually beneficial without compromising the countries and communities touched or the depth and uniqueness of your adventure.

Key values of this trip

• Leave nothing behind
• We’re the visitors, let’s be respectful at all times
• Deliver a breathtaking experience
• Let’s benefit local communities and environments

Let’s help keep these wonderful places precious.

Porters and crew

All crew are paid proper wages and are treated with respect and dignity. This trip with IMEC, IPPG and KPAP, all not-for-profit organisations that focus on improving the working conditions of porters.

Friends of Conservation

Travellers are given the opportunity to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of flying by supporting community and conservation initiatives.

Travellers Against Plastic

This trip is a proud supporter of the Leave No Trace and Travellers Against Plastic campaigns, which help educate travellers on the impact of travel and provide practical guidance for enjoying the outdoors responsibly.

Costs

Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot based on 1,090 reviews.

Excellent adventure on Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. Everything was perfectly planned and our guide, Rudy, was outstanding. Rudy’s knowledge of the area, culture, and history, coupled with his expert trail skills made for a wonderful experience. Steve

The most amazing trek to Machu Picchu. Salkantay trek was beautiful- each day was different . The first 2 days were hard as we climbed and got used to the altitude but the scenery was breathtaking. The trek team and Filipe our guide were wonderful- encouraging and knowledgeable and the food was fantastic especially considering they were cooking on camping equipment! All the communication prior to the event was great and we were well prepared. Machu Picchu is just amazing. It was the trip of a lifetime, a great achievement and I can’t recommend this company highly enough. Alison & Richard

Very well organised trek thank you! Professional, experienced, and importantly fun guides! Jayden Hughes

This was made extra special by all the staff, each and everyone was so friendly, helpful and I would do this trip again in a heartbeat... Thank you for best adventure! Nohlene Fick

Great and memorable experience. Carmen Louise den Haan

The guides were fantastic and can’t fault anything. Thank you. We will book again on one of your other trips. Sangeeta