One of the best hiking trips in the Peruvian Andean Mountains. For the local people this mountain is consider as a sacred spirit and is the greatest mountain in the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Salkantay is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range located at 6272m-20,577ft sea level. The Salkantay tour, the mountains, valleys and the high passes have been the enjoyment of many tourists who hike this marvelous place. North of Salcantay, high above a mountain in the Urubamba river, lies the Inca complex of Machu Picchu, where you will have a long visit and a guided tour around it.

• Departure time: 5 am
• Highest pass: 4626 m.
• Trip grading: V very difficult, very high level of fitness is required to do this trip
• Walking hours per day: 7 to 6 hours between 15 to 17 km a day

Peru trek - Salkantay trekking regulations

This price US$600 does not included the entrance fees to Salkantay (141 soles). During 2008 the INC (National Institute of Culture) introduced a fee of 141 Peruvian soles (42 $) entrance fees to Salkantay. After many strikes and protest the INC currently is not charging this fee, and appears that some days the INC charge this fee and some others they don´t. In charging people who then have a lucky day, we decided not Include this fee in the price, but you must be ready to pay if the INC request it on route. We apologize for this inconvenient.

Salkantay Trek - Itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO-MOLLEPATA-SORAYPAMPA

Early in the morning passengers will be collected from their hotels for a nice 4 hours bus ride towards Mollepata, small town located over 2,850 meters above sea level, with a tempered climate and vegetation, in the surroundings we will be able to appreciate some snow capped mountains that belong to the chain of Salkantay, this peak is at an altitude of 6,270 meters above sea level. Once all the gear is pack on the horses, we will begin our long hike which will approximately last 7 to 8 hours. Along the road, we will have lunch, and then, we will continue to Soraypampa, which will be the first camp of our Salkantay trekking.

DAY 2: CUSCO-SORAYPAMPA-ANDENES

Today is probably the hardest day of the Salkatay trek, the first hiking hours is up hill, vegetation is scarce at this altitude,  the most common is grass that has perfectly adjusted to this altitude and some other small vegetation. The highest hiking place of this trek is Apacheta path (4590m). This is the perfect place to appreciate this impressive mountain. Salkantay is a Quechua word that means wild mountain and is consider Sacred peak mother of all other mountains. The rest of our trek is easy. Nature is different, more vegetation with big trees and green valleys adorn while we start descending towards our next camp that is at to 2890 meters sea level, call Soraypampa.

DAY 3: ANDENES-PLAYA SAWAYACO

For most of our hikers today is easy, the trail ahead takes us down passing small rivers, ravines with beautiful views of the mountain range of the Andes until a nice waterfall, here we can relax and take some pictures. Nature changes with each step, weather is warmer, more vegetation, waterfalls and wild life. We will be able to see many birds and if we are lucky, we can see the Peruvian national bird call Gallito de las Rocas. Couple of hours more hiking after lunch, we will arrive to the second camping place call, Playa Sawayaco.

DAY 4: SAWAYACO-AGUAS CALIENTES

Today after healthy breakfast starts the 4rd hiking day, he scenery changes as we wander through the rain forest coffee plantations, banana tress, oranges and avocados are easily seeing along the way until we arrive to the entrance of a trail that will take us to Patallacta. Three hours after  walking up mountain,  will arrive to the Patallacta complex ( patallacta Quechua word means town of hill side). Some explorers say that this place could be more important and bigger than it's, there need to be more excavations and studies to see what really was this place. This is a great place to see Machu Picchu from a complete different position and nice to take pictures while we rest and get ready to start the hiking again. Descending for two more hours, we will arrive to Machu Picchu Hydroelectric. After lunch we will walk for two hours to three more hours until Aguas Calientes (town below Machu Picchu). Some of our customers take the train from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes that takes 20 to 30 minutes, but this train ticket is not included in the price (16 $ train ticket from hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes). In Aguas Calientes we will check in a lovely hostel for a nice evening.

DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU

Last day, and for a lot of people the most important day in this Peru trek-tour, today we recommend to start our hiking early in the morning. The idea is to hike Machu Picchu before all other tourist arrive and before gets to crowded. For people who want to climb Huayna Picchu (highest peak behind Machu Picchu) they need to be 7 am ready before the gates closes . From Aguas Calientes take two hours and a half hiking until Machu Picchu. In Machu Picchu your guide will give you a two hours guided tour around this impressive complex, after this you will have plenty of time to take pictures and walk around. Later, you will meet with the rest of the group at Aguas Calientes to take the train that will take us back to Cusco.

What's included

Meals: 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches , 4 Dinners,

Machu Picchu Tour: Entrance fees to Machu Picchu, one way bus ticket to Aguas Calientes o vice versa. transfers.

Transport: Private bus form Cusco to beginning of the tour, train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

Trekking: Bilingual speaking guide, horses as porters, extra horse in case of emergency, horsemen to look after the horses, kitchen, dinner and toilet tents, first aid kit, mattress to sleep on

Accommodations: 3 night camping, 1h night hostel in Aguas Calientes. 

What's not Included

Sleeping bag (may rent in our office for $ 15 per trip), lunch the 5th day, entrance fees to hot springs, tips and entrance fees to Salkantay trek.

Trek options

Personal porter: If you wish, you can hire an extra horse for 30 dollars to help you up carrying your personal things such rain coat, sleeping bag etc. We also recommend to take 1 or 2 days off before you start any Peru trek - trip in order to prevent altitude sickness

Salkantay trek - tour map

View Inca Jungle 4 days in a larger map

Salkantay Trek - prices and hotels

Our trip prices are based on double occupancy hotel rooms tents and lodges. If you are travelling alone and you wish to share a room, we will assign a same sex roommate if one will be available, but if for example there are 5 in the group and he/she does not have any one to share, we will cover the expenses of the hotel room price. If you wish to have your own private room, you need to pay extra to cover the expenses of the hotel room.

You can always upgrade your hotel category, ask for more information.

In the price of $590, we include hotel 3 stars, you can see more about the hotels that we use by clicking at the links below,

• Hotel Muyurina

To upgrade your hotel category, look prices bellow,