“Glacier to Machu Picchu in five days, no trekking permit needed”
Our 5-day Salkantay Trek leaves Cusco before dawn, crosses the 4,650 m Salkantay Pass on Day 2, walks down through cloud forest to Aguas Calientes, and finishes with a guided visit of Machu Picchu on Day 5 and the train back. The per-person price at the top of this page includes the Machu Picchu entrance ticket, all meals on the trail and the hotel night in Aguas Calientes. There is no trekking permit to buy, so you can book weeks rather than months ahead.
What the Price Includes
- Transport from your Cusco hotel to the trailhead on Day 1
- An English- and Spanish-speaking trek guide trained in wilderness first aid
- Cook, assistant cook and horsemen, with horses for the group equipment and up to 7 kg of your own gear
- 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners on the trail, with vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options if you tell us when booking
- Tents, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and sleeping mats
- Emergency oxygen and a first aid kit
- 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes (Day 4)
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a 2-hour guided tour of the citadel
- Bus up to Machu Picchu and back down to Aguas Calientes
- Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your Cusco hotel
Not Included
- Sleeping bag (rental US$25 for the trek) and trekking poles (rental US$30 a pair)
- Travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover, strongly recommended
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes on Day 5
- Tips for the guide, cook and horsemen
- Hot springs entrance in Santa Teresa and snacks or drinks bought along the trail
- Flights to and from Cusco
5-Day Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Walking | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco to Challacancha by road, walk to Soraypampa; afternoon side trip to Humantay Lake (4,200 m) | About 12 km with the lake | Camp, Soraypampa (3,900 m) |
| 2 | Soraypampa over Salkantay Pass (4,650 m) and down to Chaullay | 22 km, +750 m / -1,750 m | Camp, Chaullay (2,900 m) |
| 3 | Chaullay through cloud forest and coffee farms to Lucmabamba | About 16 km, mostly downhill | Camp, Lucmabamba (about 2,000 m) |
| 4 | Over the Llactapata ruins (view of Machu Picchu), down to Hidroelectrica, then along the railway to Aguas Calientes | About 19 km | Hotel, Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) |
| 5 | Early bus to Machu Picchu, 2-hour guided tour, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco | Short walks on site |
Day 2 is the hard day: you start around 5 a.m. to reach the pass before the afternoon cloud. Our Salkantay Trek guide describes each day in detail, and the Salkantay distance and elevation page has the leg-by-leg data.
How to Book
- Choose your date and check availability on our Salkantay booking page (the button below opens it).
- Send the passport details of each trekker. We need them to buy the Machu Picchu ticket, which is issued in your name.
- Pay the deposit to confirm. The amount and the date the balance is due are shown before you pay.
- Plan to be in Cusco at least two nights before Day 1 to acclimatize. We give you a briefing the evening before departure.
When to book: for June to August, 2 to 3 months ahead, mainly so the Machu Picchu ticket and the Aguas Calientes hotel are secured. In the low season, two weeks is often enough.
Is This Trek Right for You?
You need to be able to walk 6 to 10 hours a day on consecutive days with a daypack, and to cope with a 4,650 m pass after one night at 3,900 m. You do not need climbing skills or previous trekking at altitude, but you do need training: hill walks and stair work for six to eight weeks before you travel. If Inca ruins and the Sun Gate matter more to you than glaciers, the Classic Inca Trail is the better fit, if permits are still available.
Questions about dates, diets or fitness: write to info@incatrailreservations.com.