The Ultimate Guide To Exploring The Salkantay Trail

You may have heard about the Inca Trail – if you’ve heard of Machu Picchu, then you most likely know about the famous hike that many people take to get there – but you may not have heard about Peru’s best hike, the Salkantay trek. Unlike the Inca Trail, no advance booking is necessary, and you’ll pay more if you do book ahead. You don’t need to pay upwards of $600 to do this hike, and you can find a travel agent offering it on almost any corner in Cusco. The Salkantay costs only around $180 dollars for what will likely be the best five days that you’ll spend in Peru. Here is our guide to the Saltantay trek, a hike that’ll take you from the valley, through the mountains, into the jungle, and finally to Machu Picchu itself.

Day 1

You’ll begin bright and early at 4 a.m. in Cusco, where you’ll be picked up from your hotel by the guide and then walk to your bus. You’ll take the bus to a spot a couple of hours outside Cusco where you’ll have breakfast (not included in the price) and begin the trek. The first day is one of the easiest hikes, so enjoy it as much as possible, because day two will be the most difficult! You’ll arrive at your campsite for lunch and have the option to hike to a pristine, bright-blue lake called Lake Humantay; this is an option you should definitely take. It’s about an hour’s hike up and another hour back down. This night will be the coldest, but try to get as much rest as possible, because you’ll need it for the next day.

Cusco, Peru

Humantay Lake, Peru

1. Day 2

You’ll begin the day with hot coca tea delivered to your tent to give you a much-needed boost to start the day. You’ll have breakfast and then take off no later than about 6 a.m. This day is an epic adventure, and you’ll most likely be snowed on as you ascend to one of the highest points in the area, at about 15,190 feet (4,630 meters) above sea level. Here, you’ll get a beautiful view of the sacred mountain Salkantay, which stands at a dizzying 20,574 feet (6,271 meters). You’ll then descend into a valley where you’ll have lunch, and continue into the jungle where you’ll stay for the night.

Mt Salkantay, Peru

The Salkantay Trail | Mia Spingola / © Culture Trip

2. Day 3

Day number 3 is an easy one. You’ve now passed the snow and cold and will find yourself hiking through jungle terrain on your way to Santa Teresa. You’ll arrive in Santa Teresa after lunch and from there you’ll go on to some of the most spectacular hot springs in all of Peru. You’ll relax there for most of the day until dinner, enjoying warm waters and a beautiful view of the Peruvian mountains. The thermal baths make for the best way to recharge your body before heading on to Machu Picchu.

Santa Teresa, Peru

The Salkantay Trail | Mia Spingola / © Culture Trip

3. Day 4

Day 4 is a hot hike through the jungle to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll stay the night before you go on to Machu Picchu.

Aguas Calientes, Peru

The Salkantay Trail | Mia Spingola / © Culture Trip

Day 5

This is your last and final day and it is all about Machu Picchu. You’ll want to be in line for Machu Picchu no later than 5 a.m. when the first gate opens and allows you to begin hiking up the mountain. If you don’t want to hike any longer, you can take a bus, which costs about US$30 each way. Once at the top of Machu Picchu, you’ll wait (if you’re there early enough) in line until the gates open at 6 a.m. Your Salkantay guide will be there waiting and will show you the famous ruins for about an hour. After that, you’ll be free to explore them on your own for the rest of the afternoon; just make sure to leave in time to catch your bus that’ll be waiting for you at 3 p.m. to take you back to Cusco.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.