The Salkantay Trek is the most popular trekking route to Machu Picchu after the Inca Trail. National Geographic ranks it among the 25 best hikes in the world, and it is not hard to understand why: in five days, you cross glaciers, cloud forests, high jungle valleys, and coffee plantations before reaching the citadel. It is a route without limited permits, without the pressure of booking months in advance, and with landscapes that in many sections surpass the Classic Inca Trail in variety and scale.
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Essential facts before you go
The standard Salkantay Trek lasts 5 days and covers approximately 60 kilometers in total. The 4-day version also exists and covers about 44 kilometers, but it involves longer days and less time to fully enjoy the journey. The starting point is Challacancha, near the town of Mollepata, about 100 kilometers from Cusco by road. The highest point on the entire route is the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters above sea level, significantly higher than any point on the Classic Inca Trail. The mountain that gives the trek its name, the Salkantay snow-capped peak, reaches 6,271 meters and is considered one of the most powerful Apus in the Inca worldview.
The difficulty is moderate to challenging. The second day is the most demanding of the entire trek because of the combination of extreme altitude and accumulated distance. The rest of the days gradually become less demanding as the landscape descends from the puna into the jungle.
Permits: the big difference from the Inca Trail
The Salkantay Trek does not require limited official permits like the Inca Trail. Access to the trail is open with payment of a 20-sol entrance fee at the checkpoint, which means you will never find sold-out spots for this route. That flexibility is one of its biggest advantages for travelers planning their trip on short notice. The only thing that does require booking 4 months in advance is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket at the end of the trek, which is still subject to the Ministry of Culture’s quota system.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Challacancha – Humantay Lake – Soraypampa
The first day begins with a transfer from Cusco to the starting point in Challacancha, at 3,800 meters above sea level. From there, the hike is relatively gentle during the first few hours, with an open mountain landscape and views of the snow-capped peaks surrounding the valley.
The most anticipated stop of the day is Humantay Lake at 4,200 meters. The lake has an intense turquoise color created by the meltwater from the glacier hanging behind it, and the combination of water, ice, and sky on clear days produces one of the most photographed views on the entire route. The climb up to the lake from the Soraypampa camp takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. The descent returns to the same camp, where you spend the night at 3,900 meters.
Total distance for the day: 13 kilometers. Hiking time: between 5 and 6 hours. Difficulty: moderate.
Day 2: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Collpapampa
The second day is the physical and visual heart of the trek. It begins before sunrise with the ascent from the camp toward Salkantay Pass. The trail climbs steadily through puna terrain with the Salkantay snow-capped peak dominating the horizon at every step. Reaching the pass at 4,650 meters is the most intense moment of the entire route: the view of the glacier from above, the cold air, and the total silence create an experience many travelers describe as the most powerful part of the journey.
Some groups hold a small ceremony of gratitude to Pachamama and the Apus at that point before beginning the descent. What comes next is equally striking, but in the opposite way: in just a few hours, the landscape changes from glacial puna to cloud forest, with a descent of nearly 2,000 meters in altitude that takes you from the cold of the high mountains to the warmth of the high jungle in a single day.
The camp at Collpapampa, at 2,900 meters, is the final destination of this day, with panoramic views of the Salkantay Valley.
Total distance for the day: 22 kilometers. Hiking time: between 9 and 10 hours. Difficulty: challenging.
Day 3: Collpapampa – Lucmabamba
The third day is a high jungle day, completely different from the previous two. The trail follows the Salkantay River through dense vegetation, with side waterfalls, wild orchids, and the chance to spot the Andean cock-of-the-rock among the greenery. The temperature rises noticeably, and the humid environment contrasts with the dry cold of the previous days.
The destination for this day is Lucmabamba, a small village surrounded by organic coffee plantations. A stop at one of these farms to learn about the coffee growing, harvesting, and roasting process is one of the most unexpected and appreciated moments of the entire trek. Enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee at 2,000 meters above sea level after two days of intense hiking is hard to beat as an experience.
Total distance for the day: 16 kilometers. Hiking time: between 6 and 7 hours. Difficulty: moderate.
Day 4: Lucmabamba – Hydroelectric Station – Aguas Calientes
The fourth day begins with the final descent toward the Machupicchu hydroelectric station, known simply as Hidroeléctrica. From Lucmabamba, the trail goes downhill through tropical fruit plantations where it is common to find passion fruit, mango, banana, and papaya offered to hikers by local residents.
Upon reaching Hidroeléctrica, the final walking section before Aguas Calientes begins: 10 flat kilometers following the train tracks along the Urubamba River, with dense jungle on both sides. This section has no technical difficulty, but it can feel long in the midday heat and humidity after several days of accumulated hiking. Most groups arrive in Aguas Calientes around noon or in the middle of the afternoon. That night is spent in a hotel.
Total distance for the day: 19 kilometers. Hiking time: between 6 and 7 hours. Difficulty: low to moderate.
Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
The final day is the reward for all the previous effort. The journey begins very early with the bus ride up from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the citadel. The guided tour inside Machu Picchu lasts between 2 and 3 hours and covers the main sectors of the site. At the end, there is free time to explore the points of greatest interest before taking the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and then the train back to Ollantaytambo and Cusco.
What the Salkantay Trek package includes
A standard group package includes transportation from Cusco to the starting point and back, a bilingual guide throughout the trek, camping equipment with tents and sleeping pads, full meals from lunch on the first day through breakfast on the last day, one night of hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes, admission to Humantay Lake, admission to Machu Picchu, and the return train from Aguas Calientes.
The cost of a group package ranges from $350 to $700 per person depending on the operator, the type of accommodation at the campsites, and the level of service included. It is significantly more affordable than the Classic Inca Trail and offers greater date availability throughout the year.
Weather and best time to go
The dry season between May and September offers the best conditions for the trek, with clear skies, unobstructed views of the snow-capped mountain, and trails in better condition. Nights on the first and second days can drop below 0°C at the higher-altitude camps, so warm gear is essential. Between November and March, rain is frequent and the trail can become slippery, especially on the descent from the pass, although the landscape becomes greener and richer in waterfalls. March is the last suitable month before the rains become too intense.
What to pack in your daypack
- Water for the entire day, since sales points are limited after the first camp.
- Layered clothing to adapt to the temperature changes between the puna and the jungle.
- A rain jacket or poncho, because rain can appear on any section of the route even during the dry season.
- Hiking shoes with good traction that have already been worn before the trip.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Trekking poles, which are especially useful on the long descent of the second day.
- Porters carry the camping equipment, but each participant carries their personal backpack of between 5 and 8 kilograms during the hike.
Who the Salkantay Trek is for
It is the ideal choice for travelers with 5 to 7 days available in Cusco who want to reach Machu Picchu on foot without the pressure of securing permits months in advance. It is also ideal for those seeking greater landscape variety than the Inca Trail, with the transition from glaciers to jungle as its defining feature. It is not recommended for travelers with heart problems or severe altitude issues, since the pass at 4,650 meters is higher than any point on the Classic Inca Trail.
Do the Salkantay Trek with Peru Sites
At Peru Sites, we organize the Salkantay Trek with bilingual guides experienced on the route, complete camping equipment, and Machu Picchu admission arranged in advance. We also coordinate the return train from Aguas Calientes and the transfer back to Cusco so that the final day is free of any logistical complications.
