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Final modified: September 19, 2026 -
Written by Sanne
Visiting Machu Picchu was on our listing for years. Everybody may know the well-known Inca path to get to Machu Picchu; nonetheless, there’s one other wonderful choice to get there. The Salkantay Trek is without doubt one of the finest hikes on the planet, additionally really useful by Nationwide Geographic. It’s a five-day hike of roughly 74 kilometers ending in Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in 2026 is a part of our Peru journey. And truthfully, this group journey turned out to be top-of-the-line elements of the entire expertise. That mentioned, the sincere take is that it wasn’t all straightforward. I obtained salmonella on the primary evening, which additionally meant that Tijs climbed up the Salkantay cross alone. Subsequent to that, we didn’t have the perfect climate. On our fourth day, it rained the complete manner. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless an expertise we’d do once more and we’d advocate to everybody. That is our sincere model of climbing the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, together with all the pieces you might want to know, the perfect operators, and a day-by-day climbing overview.
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My Trustworthy take: Salkantay Trek
- The trek is tougher than most guides make it sound. 70 kilometers in 4 days at altitude is not only an off-the-cuff hike.
- Night time 1 would be the coldest evening of your journey. You sleep at 4,100 meters in damp mountain huts. We barely slept, however it’s nonetheless value it.
- Day 4 is the toughest day mentally. 22 kilometers, 9 of them alongside practice tracks. It’s enjoyable with the group, but in addition put together for pouring rain.
- The descent after the cross on Day 2 could be very lengthy. From 4,630 to round 2,900 meters. Your knees will really feel it.
- Your operator issues greater than you assume. We ended up with out a sleeping bag our final evening as a result of another person obtained ours. Finances operators lower corners.
- Skip the new springs on Day 3. We liked a day of taking part in playing cards and chilly beers manner higher.
- Arriving at Machu Picchu on day 5 is completely different after 4 days of climbing. You perceive the environment and scale higher.
- The panorama selection is the primary argument for the Salkantay Trek over the Inca Path. Mountain peaks, forests, jungle. You get all forms of landscapes.
Which operator to decide on for the Salkantay Trek
There are a number of tour operators operating the Salkantay observe that each one supply a barely completely different expertise and luxurious degree. For higher amenities and a constant group, we advocate TreXperience. They’re properly reviewed, the camp amenities are good and they’re bookable immediately on GetYourGuide. The worth is barely larger, however the distinction exhibits on the chilly nights.
As a normal information: finances operators run from round €250 to €400. Costs are depending on whether or not you are taking a bus, a practice, and what circuits are included. Mid-range operators like TreXperience sit between €450 and €650. The principle variations are in lodging high quality, sleeping bag provision, bathroom amenities at camp, and the way easily issues get solved when issues go flawed. One other well-known and good firm is Salkantay Trekking. One other bigger operator for the Salkantay Trek is KB Adventures.
We went with Machu Picchu Reservations, which is without doubt one of the extra inexpensive operators on the route. The expertise was advantageous general. The group was nice, the guides had been useful, and the meals was respectable. However the logistics had tough edges. Personally, I wouldn’t advocate them anymore as a result of it’s fairly unclear what Machu Picchu Reservations are and what Machu Picchu Workforce is, and it’s much less reliable now. An honest finances various is Machu Picchu jungle.
My caught on observe choices are 5 days, and that’s additionally what I like to recommend. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re brief on time, it’s attainable to do the 4-day 3-night choice. For instance with Chullos Travel. They’ve a 4.9 ranking with over a thousand critiques on Google.
What’s the Salkantay Trek?
In case you aren’t acquainted, the Salkantay Trek is a five-day climbing route by the Andes that ends at Machu Picchu. It covers roughly 74 kilometers over 4 strolling days, with the fifth day spent at Machu Picchu itself. The route crosses the Salkantay Go at 4,630 meters, the best level of any normal path to Machu Picchu. Nationwide Geographic as soon as named it one of many 25 finest treks on the planet.
Not like the Basic Inca Path, the Salkantay Trek doesn’t require a authorities allow. There isn’t a each day trekker cap, which suggests you may e book weeks somewhat than months prematurely. Nonetheless, I like to recommend reserving early as a result of it’s not simply concerning the hike. It’s additionally about your Machu Picchu ticket.
What’s superior concerning the Salkantay Trek is that the landscapes differ quite a bit throughout the 5 days. You begin at excessive altitude, going to a mountain lake and over a glaciated mountain cross. On the identical day, you drop right into a forest and also you end in a jungle earlier than reaching Aguas Calientes. The variability throughout the hike is without doubt one of the principal causes to decide on the Salkantay Trek over different choices just like the Inca Path.
Mountain climbing the Salkantay Trek day-by-day
Day 1: Mollepata to Soraypampa and Humantay Lake
With each group tour, you can be picked up early in Cusco round 4:00 AM for a bus switch to the trailhead close to Mollepata. The primary day is described as a straightforward one, and whereas it’s technically the shortest strolling day, I wouldn’t describe it as the simplest day. Climb round 400 m as much as Humantay Lake excessive altitude. Afterwards, you finish the day sleeping at 4,100 meters. If you’re nonetheless adjusting to the altitude, that is fairly an intense day.
Humantay Lake is the spotlight of day 1. It’s a glacial lake with a view of the Salkantay glacier above it. Sadly, we arrived in heavy rain, which made it somewhat bit tougher to understand the lake itself. Nevertheless, on a transparent day, it’s purported to be wonderful. By the best way, you may as well vist Humantay Lake as a day trip from Cusco.
As mentioned, the camp sits at round 4,100 meters. By the point you arrive within the afternoon round 2:00, you get lunch. Sadly, at the moment it’s already fairly chilly. We spent the afternoon in our little hut as a result of there’s not a lot else to do, and you might want to be in a sleeping bag to remain heat. The huts usually are primary and never remoted towards the chilly. This meant we barely slept. Deliver extra heat layers than you assume you want and doubtlessly even a small sleeping bag liner on high of what your operator gives to you. Our camp solely had one or two bathrooms for the entire group, which was fairly an issue. That’s why going with a extra luxurious tour would make sense. What made the primary day particular as properly was that we had a tremendous starry sky.
Day 2: The Salkantay Go
Day two is the toughest day of the trek. You should begin early and climb 600 m from the camp to the Salkantay Go, which is positioned at 4,630 m. Taking the altitude into consideration, this implies you might want to go slowly. When you don’t really feel match and climbing was a battle the day before today, it’s attainable to go by horse. Sadly, I obtained salmonella the primary day, which is one thing we didn’t know on the time. About half of our group took horses, so it’s undoubtedly not a bizarre factor to do. They’re obtainable on the trailhead for a payment. We paid 150 soles, which is about €40. When you’re down, saying take a horse, as a result of the upper you’re, the costlier it is going to be to nonetheless get a horse.
Sadly, we had unhealthy visibility, however the cross is fairly spectacular with the Salkantay Glacier and the valley on the opposite facet. We even noticed an avalanche on the best way.
After the coverage descent begins, it would take a very long time. You’ll be descending from 4,630 meters on the cross to round 2,900 meters over the course of the afternoon. This implies you can be going down the total afternoon. Undoubtedly deliver trekking poles as a result of they may actually enable you to.
The lodging that evening had been little mountain huts. Sadly for us, they had been full and we slept in a shower subsequent to the horse stables. Once more, a very good motive to select a barely costlier tour.
Day 3: Cloud forest, zip line and sizzling springs
Day 3 is the restoration day. You solely stroll round 10 km on principally flat terrain by the forest. The principle a part of the highway you hike can also be accessible to vehicles, or properly, some automobiles. It’s attainable to take somewhat little bit of an extended route that goes barely extra up and down. To earlier days, that is an precise straightforward day. After the hike, there was an non-compulsory zipline exercise which we did. It’s enjoyable and a great way to interrupt up the afternoon.
After the hike, upon arrival on the camp, there’s an choice to go to the Santa Teresa Sizzling Springs. It’s a few one-hour drive from the camp. We and most of our group determined to skip it and sat at a desk taking part in playing cards and ingesting beer as a substitute. The Sizzling Springs is likely to be enjoyable, nonetheless, we’ve seen that it’s primarily about getting drunk after the Sizzling Springs. We had been in mattress by 8pm after a enjoyable afternoon and don’t have any regrets about that.
Day 4: Jungle path to Aguas Calientes
The fourth day is mentally the toughest day. We began very early with a espresso tour, we had been truly purported to have the day before today. You should stroll 22 km, the place you begin with a 700 m climb firstly of the day. It’s adopted by a protracted stretch by the jungle. At the present time, you’re additionally capable of see Machu Picchu for the very first time from a viewpoint. The ultimate 9 kilometers of the hike are alongside the practice tracks into Aguas Calientes. Throughout our journey, it rained the complete manner, and I can let you know that 9 km is fairly lengthy.
Strolling alongside the practice tracks is only a flat stretch. Particularly when your legs damage and you have already got a full day behind you, it’s fairly a take a look at of persistence. Arriving in Aguas Calientes that night actually felt like a milestone. You’ll keep in a traditional resort with an actual mattress, a sizzling bathe, and dinner at a restaurant. The 4 days on the path, that mixture was very welcome.
Ensure that to already get your bus tickets for Machu Picchu this night.
Day 5: Machu Picchu
With a 6 a.m. time slot, you are taking a primary bus up from Aguas Calientes, which is leaving round 5:30 a.m. You should be in line by 5 a.m. on the newest, however ideally even earlier to get on the primary bus. Alternatively, you may stroll up the highway to the doorway as a substitute. The trail as much as Machu Picchu will not be a scenic path, and after 4 days of strolling, it’d make sense to spend your power on exploring Machu Picchu as a substitute of the uphill highway.
We walked Circuit 2 inside Machu Picchu, which covers the total citadel with good viewpoints and a go to to the primary constructions. For extra element on which circuit to decide on and how you can e book your entry tickets prematurely, see our complete Machu Picchu guide. When you really feel prefer it and have the time, I like to recommend including one of many mountains as properly.
Strolling into Machu Picchu on the fifth day after the mountain passes, the wet kilometers are very rewarding. Machu Picchu is one thing that simply hits completely different while you see it in actual life as a result of nothing exhibits you the size. After the go to, head again to Aguas Calientes to select up your stuff and take the practice and bus again to Cusco. Alternatively, keep in Ollantaytambo to discover the Sacred Valley.
Salkantay Trek vs Inca Path – which multi-day hike to decide on
The Salkantay Trek and the Inca Path are the preferred hikes to Machu Picchu, and each are value doing. It simply is dependent upon what’s most essential to you.
Inca Path is shorter, round 42 km over 4 days, and runs for extra Inca ruins on the best way. And the path by strolling by the solar gate into Machu Picchu at dawn. The cool factor is that the Inca Path truly ends at Machu Picchu. Inca Path requires a allow that sells a month prematurely, so you really want to e book early. You can book the Inca Trail here.
The Salkantay Trek is longer, tougher, and doesn’t require a allow. The altitude is larger and the space is larger. This additionally signifies that the ascents and descents are extra excessive. Nevertheless, in alternate, you get a wider vary of various landscapes. You’ll go to mountain terrain in addition to jungle inside these 4 days. It is a selection the Inca Path doesn’t supply.
We selected the Salkantay Trek as a substitute of the Inca path, primarily to expertise the completely different climates and landscapes. We had been very pleased with our determination, and this manner, the Inca Path can nonetheless be on our bucket listing.
Salkantay Trek packing listing
The operator you booked a inventory on TriTrack with will more than likely offer you a double again firstly of the observe. That is what porters stick with it mules. You might be allowed to deliver a set weight with you, sometimes round 8 kg. The whole lot that goes within the duffel bag is transported to the following camp. On high of that, you carry a daypack with you with what you want throughout the stroll, like your digicam, extra layers, rain layers, water, and snacks.
What to deliver with you in your duffel bag: be sure to deliver further heat layers for the primary nights, like thermal clothes and dry garments for the camp, a fast dry towel, a sleeping bag liner, and also you’re climbing there, ideally merino-based. After all, additionally deliver climbing boots, climbing socks, and trekking poles. Ensure that to deliver your toiletries in addition to a powerbank. Subsequent to that, I all the time love bringing sandals that match thicker socks for the evenings.
On your day pack, deliver all the pieces you want on the stroll itself, at the least 2 L of water, ideally in water reservoir. Deliver snacks, sunscreen, sun shades, rain jacket, and rain pants. Alternatively, deliver a big poncho. Trekking poles are very helpful when you’ve them. Additionally, model of money.
Good to know earlier than you go
Acclimatize in Cusco first: Spend at the least two full days in Cusco earlier than the trek begins. The primary evening camp sits at 4,100 meters. Arriving in Cusco and beginning the Salkantay Trek a day later will not be sufficient time to get used to the altitude
No allow wanted: The Salkantay Trek doesn’t require a authorities allow. Nonetheless be sure to e book early as a result of the Salkantay Trek operator will more than likely additionally purchase your Machu Picchu tickets. If you’re unsure whether or not you wish to do the Salkantay Trek, purchase the Machu Picchu tickets by yourself, and you may e book the Salkantay Trek on high at a later stage.
Greatest time to go: The dry season in Peru runs from Might to September. This provides you the perfect probability of clear climate on the second time cross. Nevertheless, rain is feasible at any time of the 12 months. Exterior of the dry season, it’s extra prone to rain, and you may anticipate heavier showers.
Machu Picchu entry ticket.:Your operator ought to embrace the Machu Picchu ticket within the worth. Verify this earlier than reserving. The tickets require advance reserving and are linked to a particular date and circuit. See our Machu Picchu guide for the reserving course of and what every circuit covers.
Altitude treatment: The Salkantay Go sits at 4,630 meters. Discuss to a health care provider earlier than the trek in case you are involved about altitude illness. Some trekkers take acetazolamide (Diamox) as a safety measure. Coca tea is offered at each camp and helps with delicate signs.
Money: Deliver Peruvian soles in money. Horse rental at day two prices further and is paid immediately. Ideas for guides and porters are money solely. The new springs entry payment can also be money.
SIM card and sign. Sign is restricted or nonexistent for many of the trek. Obtain offline maps earlier than you permit Cusco. For knowledge in Peru extra broadly, we use Simify. Use code IBT15 for a reduction in your Peru eSIM.
FAQ – Salkantay Trek
How tough is the Salkantay Trek?
The Salkantay Trek is rated difficult. Day two, which incorporates the Salkantay Go at 4,630 meters and a 1,700-meter descent, is the toughest day by way of altitude and distance. Day 4 is the toughest mentally. You need to be moderately match, acclimatized to altitude, and ready for lengthy days of strolling in variable climate.
Do I would like a allow for the Salkantay Trek?
No. The Salkantay Trek doesn’t require a authorities allow. Not like the Basic Inca Path, there isn’t a each day trekker cap and you may e book nearer to your journey dates. Your Machu Picchu entry ticket for day 5 does have to be booked prematurely and ought to be included in your tour bundle.
How lengthy is the Salkantay Trek?
The usual Salkantay Trek is 5 days and 4 nights. You stroll roughly 74 kilometers over 4 days, with the fifth day spent at Machu Picchu. The route begins close to Mollepata and ends in Aguas Calientes. Transport from and to Cusco is included with all suppliers.
What’s the finest time to hike the Salkantay Trek?
The dry season from Might to September offers the perfect climate for the trek. Rain is feasible 12 months spherical, however throughout the dry season situations on the Salkantay Go are extra reliably clear and the path on day 4 is much less muddy. Keep away from the moist season (November to March) if you happen to can.
Is the Salkantay Trek higher than the Inca Path?
That is dependent upon what you need. The Inca Path is shorter, extra traditionally wealthy, and ends by the enduring Solar Gate. The Salkantay Trek is longer, tougher, requires no allow, and provides extra numerous landscapes. The Inca Path is, in fact, particular. Nevertheless, I feel I would favor the Salkantay Trek as a result of it offers you a wider vary of surroundings.
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