Experience the magic of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, a 5-day adventure that blends breathtaking nature, cultural immersion, and high-Andean exploration. Recognized as the best alternative trek to the Inca Trail, this route is perfect for hikers seeking an authentic and less crowded journey to the legendary Inca citadel.
Throughout this spectacular trek, you’ll cross a variety of landscapes—from towering snow-capped peaks like Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m / 20,574 ft) and Humantay Mountain, to lush cloud forests and tropical high jungle. One of the highlights is the stunning Humantay Lake, a glacial lagoon with turquoise waters surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery—an unforgettable stop on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
Along the way, you’ll connect with local communities that maintain their ancestral traditions. In the village of Lucmabamba, you’ll enjoy an authentic coffee tour, where you can roast and prepare your own organic coffee harvested from the mountainside—a unique cultural experience on this trail.
You’ll also hike along parts of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range, with panoramic views of Pumasillo and other sacred peaks. On the fourth day, we visit the Inca site of Llaqtapata, a hidden gem offering a magical first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the distance.
We operate in small private groups, and our campsites are carefully chosen to avoid the busiest areas, allowing for peaceful nights under the stars. This personalized service makes your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu even more special.
On the final day, you’ll explore Machu Picchu with a professional guide and have the option to hike Huayna Picchu for panoramic views. Our standard package includes premium amenities: a luxury hotel stay in Aguas Calientes, dinner at one of the town’s top-rated restaurants, and all necessary tickets.
No wonder National Geographic listed this hike among the top 20 most legendary and thrilling adventures on Earth. The Salkantay Trek is a moderate challenge, perfect for nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts eager to discover the true beauty of Peru beyond the beaten path.
Day 1: Cusco – Soyrococha
Day 2: Soyrococha – Colpapampa
Day 3: Colpapampa – Lucmabamba ( Coffee Tour)
Day 4: Lucmabamba – Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Overall distance hiked: 51 km / 32 miles
Maximum altitude reached: 4,650 m / 15,252 ft
Detailed Itinerary
Salkantay Trek to Machupicchu, Five days and Four Nights
You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your trek. Your guide will meet you at our office in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
We will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Cusco. After that, we take a beautiful two-hour drive through the Andes to the small mountain town of Mollepata. Here, you will enjoy a fresh breakfast at a local family’s home.
Then we continue driving for one more hour to Soraypampa, which is the starting point of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. On the way, you will see amazing views of the snow-covered Salkantay and Humantay mountains. You will also pass by local farms where people grow potatoes, quinoa, and beans.
At Soraypampa, we meet our trekking team. They will pack all the camping gear and load it on horses. From here, we begin our first hike to the beautiful Humantay Lake, a bright turquoise lake sitting below the Humantay Glacier. This short hike takes about 2.5 hours and is one of the highlights of the trek.
After visiting Humantay Lake, we return to Soraypampa and begin walking towards Salkantaypampa. This part of the trail goes along a clear stream that comes from the Salkantay Glacier. After about two hours, we stop in Salkantaypampa to enjoy lunch with great views of the surrounding mountains.
In the afternoon, we hike for another two hours uphill until we reach our first campsite at Soyrococha, located at 4,400 meters or 14,432 feet. During this part of the hike, the snowy Humantay Mountain is always in sight.
Tonight, you will sleep under the stars surrounded by the high Andes mountains. It’s a peaceful and unforgettable way to begin your adventure on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
We will wake you up with a warm cup of coca tea to help you start this exciting and challenging day. After breakfast, we begin hiking uphill for about one hour to reach the highest point of the entire Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This place is called the Salkantay Pass, and it sits at 4,650 meters or 15,252 feet above sea level.
At the top, we will take a moment to make a small offering to Apu Salkantay, the sacred mountain. Your guide will explain the spiritual importance of this mountain in Inca culture and why it is still respected by local people today.
After that, we continue for about 30 minutes to visit a beautiful hidden lake just below the Salkantay Pass. This is the perfect spot to relax, enjoy the view, and take photos of the snow-capped Pumasillo Mountain, the turquoise lake, and Humantay Mountain in the distance.
Then, we begin a two-hour downhill hike to Huayracmachay, located at 3,800 meters or 12,464 feet. Here, we will enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
In the afternoon, we continue hiking downhill for another four hours until we arrive at our campsite in Colpapampa, at 3,100 meters or 10,170 feet. During this section, you will notice how the landscape changes quickly—from the high Andean mountains to the cloud forest, and finally into the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
This day is full of contrasts in scenery, making it one of the most beautiful and memorable parts of your Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
After the hard hike on day two, today you will enjoy a much easier and more relaxing walk. We start the morning with a delicious breakfast, then begin hiking through the beautiful tropical forest. Today’s hike takes about five to six hours, with gentle ups and downs along the trail.
We follow the path next to the Santa Teresa River, passing through lush green landscapes filled with coffee, banana, and passion fruit plantations. As you walk, you will see many colorful birds and butterflies. One of the highlights of this day is a stop to admire the most beautiful waterfall on the entire trek.
Around midday, we arrive at Lucmabamba, our campsite for the night. Here we can relax, enjoy the warm weather, and have a fresh lunch prepared by our chef.
In the afternoon, we take part in an amazing coffee tour right next to our camp. First, we explore the coffee fields and learn about the different types of coffee grown in this region. You’ll have the chance to pick your own coffee beans directly from the plants. There are also avocado and tomato fields, and we’ll harvest some vegetables that will be used in tonight’s dinner.
Next, we roast and grind the coffee beans ourselves. Finally, we brew and enjoy a cup of our own fresh organic coffee. This hands-on activity is a unique and memorable part of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, and it’s something many travelers say they’ll never forget.
We will wake up early and have breakfast before starting today’s hike. The day begins with a moderate three and a half hour climb through the tropical forest to reach the Llactapata Inca ruins, located at 2,700 meters or 8,856 feet. Here, we will take a full guided tour of the site. From Llactapata, you will get your first distant view of Machu Picchu and also see the mountain you will climb tomorrow, Huayna Picchu.
After the tour, we start a two and a half hour descent to the Hydroelectric Station, where we will stop for lunch.
At 3:00 p.m., we take a 40-minute train ride to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will check in to your hotel. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner at one of the best local restaurants.
You will have breakfast at your hotel before taking an early bus at 5:30 a.m. up the winding road to Machu Picchu to watch the magnificent sunrise. Once at the site, you will enjoy a two-hour walking tour of the ruins.
If you have chosen to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, your hike will start at 10:00 a.m. The ticket for Huayna Picchu is included in the price of the trek. If you do not want to climb the mountain, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own before returning by bus to Aguas Calientes.
When you arrive back in Aguas Calientes, you will board the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, a private van will take you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel. The arrival time in Cusco depends on your train schedule.
REMINDERS: It’s possible that any part of the program might change due to circumstances out of our control such as weather conditions, flight schedules, etc.
Friendly Payment
Hippo was absolutely fantastic and was extremely helpful from months before the trip to after. Very friendly and kind. Highly highly recommend.
My friend and I went to Cusco for the Salkantay trek. Hipolito came recommended to us by another friend who had done the trek before.
The entire experience was incredibly special and everything was done very professionally. Along with Hipo we had two other locals helping us with bags, accommodation and food. The chef was absolutely incredible, preparing 3-4 course meals every day from fresh and local food grown in the mountains.
Hipolito was a really exceptional guide. He was genuinely kind, speaks very fluent english and was a wealth of knowledge. My friend and I wanted to learn about Inca culture and spirituality during the trek and he answered every question we could think of. He has a deep sense of connection with nature and will share it with you if you are willing.
This trek is amazing and has been one of the best experiences in my life so far. Hipolito was a big part of that and anybody wanting to explore the Andes should definitely reach out to him.
