Salkantay Trek Cusco: 5 Days Machu Picchu & Mountain Camping

Five days crossing Peru's highest pass to reach Machu Picchu on foot

You walk 73 kilometers over five days from Cusco, crossing the Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters and descending into subtropical jungle before reaching Machu Picchu. The trek includes all camping equipment, meals prepared by a chef, a professional guide, train tickets, and entry to the citadel. You sleep in tents four nights and a hostel one night, and return to Cusco by train and bus on the final evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to Soraypampa via Mollepata

• Leave Cusco at 04:30 by bus
• Arrive Mollepata and have breakfast
• Hike uphill to Cruzpata
• Lunch in Cruzpata
• Relax at Soraypampa campsite
• Optional hike to Humantay Lake
• Descend to Soraypampa campsite
• Tea time and dinner
• Overnight in tents

Day 2: Hike from Soraypampa to Chaullay

• Early breakfast at Soraypampa
• Resume hike at 06:30
• Enjoy views of Salkantay and surrounding peaks
• Lunch in Huayracmachay
• Downhill hike to Chaullay campsite
• Dinner and overnight camping

Day 3: Chaullay to Santa Teresa (La Playa)

• Wake up and drink coca tea
• Start hike at 07:00
• Hike through Peruvian Jungle border
• Observe subtropical plants and wildlife
• See banana and coffee plantations
• Meet local people along the way
• Arrive at La Playa campsite
• Dinner and overnight camping

Day 4: Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes

• Breakfast in Santa Teresa
• Hike uphill through plantations
• Walk along Vilcanota river banks
• Visit Oroya canopy bridge
• View Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu mountains
• Take train from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes
• Dinner and overnight in hostel

Day 5: Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco

• Hike up to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Free time in Aguas Calientes
• Optional visit to hot springs
• Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

The experience

The bus leaves Cusco at 4:30 in the dark. By the time you reach Mollepata two and a half hours later, the sun is up and the real walk begins: a steady climb toward Cruzpata at 3,100 meters, where the air thins and the Apurímac canyon opens below you, one of the deepest gorges in Peru. The Salkantay Trek covers 73 kilometers over five days, and it's not the shortest way to Machu Picchu, but it's the one that takes you through the mountains instead of around them. You'll camp four nights, eat what the trek's chef cooks in a tent kitchen, and on the first evening you have a choice: hike up to the turquoise waters of Lake Humantay at 4,220 meters, or rest at the Soraypampa campsite and recover before the harder days ahead.

Day two is the spine of the trek. You leave camp at 6:30 in the morning and climb toward the Salkantay Pass itself (6,264 meters, snow-capped, the second-highest peak in Cusco's region) visible for hours as you walk the Peruvian highlands. The views don't stop: Humantay and Huayanay mountains, small glacial lakes, white rivers cutting through moraines. After five hours you eat lunch at Huayracmachay, then descend another two to three hours to Chaullay at 2,920 meters. That's roughly 20 kilometers in a single day, and you feel it. The campsite is quiet. Dinner comes hot.

On day three the landscape shifts. The hike starts at 7 a.m. and for the first three hours you're still in the high country, but then the jungle begins: the western edge of it, subtropical and dense. Banana trees, coffee plantations, passion fruit fields. You'll meet local people who live along the trail, and the whole day is nine kilometers of walking through a world that looks nothing like the mountains you left behind. By evening you're at La Playa in Santa Teresa, at 2,400 meters, and the air is warm.

Day four takes you down the Vilcanota river valley toward the hydroelectric station. Around mid-morning, from Sahuayaco, you get your first real glimpse of Machu Picchu itself: the mountain rising above the jungle. You hike about 10 kilometers, then board a train from the hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the citadel. You sleep in a hostel with hot water and wifi. If you want, the town's hot springs are there to soak in.

The last morning you hike up to Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive. A professional bilingual guide takes you through the citadel for about two hours, pointing out the stonework, the terraces, the way the Inca built it into the ridge. Then you have the afternoon free in Aguas Calientes. At 6:45 p.m. you board the train back to Ollantaytambo, and from there a bus carries you back to Cusco, arriving around 10:30 p.m. The trek is done. Your legs know it.

What’s included

Your five days include hotel pickup in Cusco, a briefing the day before, transport to Mollepata, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day except the last), high-quality camping equipment with a two-person tent, an eating tent with table and chairs, a professional bilingual guide in Spanish and English, a first-aid kit, the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, a bus transfer back to Cusco, and full entry to Machu Picchu with a guided tour on the final morning.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by inca machu picchu tours

Is this one for you?This trek suits travelers who want to reach Machu Picchu on foot and don't mind sleeping in tents. The five-day walk is what makes the high pass and the jungle descent possible in one journey, and the camping is what keeps the cost accessible compared to lodge-based treks.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How fit do I need to be for the Salkantay Trek?

The trek requires at least moderate physical fitness. You'll hike between 10 and 20 kilometers per day over five days, with significant elevation gain on days one and two, reaching 4,650 meters. Most people who train lightly for a few weeks beforehand complete it.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup in Cusco, transport to Mollepata, all meals during the trek, camping equipment (tent for two, eating tent with chairs and table), a professional bilingual guide, a first-aid kit, train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, bus back to Cusco, and entry to Machu Picchu.

Do I need to bring my own tent?

No. High-quality camping equipment is provided, including a two-person tent, sleeping bag, and mat. You only need to bring personal items and warm layers.

What about altitude sickness?

The trek reaches 4,650 meters on day two. Altitude sickness is possible. The itinerary includes a day at Soraypampa (3,800m) before the pass to help acclimatization. Coca tea is served each morning. If you're concerned, consult your doctor before booking.

Is the train ride included?

Yes. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and the bus from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco are both included in the trek price.

What if I don't want to camp?

The trek is designed around camping. On night four you stay in a hostel in Aguas Calientes, and you can upgrade to a hotel there if you prefer, though that would be an additional cost.