5 Day – Salkantay Trek

High mountains, long walks, and one grand finish. This five-day Salkantay Trek links Cusco with Machu Picchu by way of Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, forest trails, hot springs, and the train from Aguas Calientes. I like the way the route changes almost every day, from cold mountain air to warm forest, and I like that the package includes a guide, camping gear, meals, a horse for up to 8 kilograms of baggage, and Machu Picchu entry. The main caution is simple: this is a demanding trek, especially on the first two days, and the highest point reaches 4,650 meters.

The tour costs $456 per person and is limited to 15 people, which keeps the group small enough for a more personal feel. The cooks receive especially warm praise for their meals, while guides Nidia and Olger are singled out for their enthusiasm and care. You should also budget for several extras, including the first breakfast, hot springs, Salkantay entry, bottled water, and optional buses or mountain tickets.

Key points to know before booking

• Humantay Lake reaches 4,220 meters, with a steep high-altitude walk after your first morning transfer.
• Salkantay Pass rises to 4,650 meters, the highest point of the entire five-day route.
• The route changes dramatically, moving from icy mountain scenery to orchids, waterfalls, avocado plantations, coca plants, and warm forest.
• A horse carries up to 8 kilograms of your baggage, but you still need a daypack with essentials.
• Night four is in a hostel in Aguas Calientes, not a tent, before your Machu Picchu visit.
• The $456 price covers many major costs, but add money for food, water, entrance fees, transport choices, and optional attractions.

Starting at 4:30 a.m. in Cusco

Your first morning begins early. Pickup from your hotel is scheduled for 4:30 a.m., followed by a drive through Izcuchaca and Limatambo toward Mollepata. Breakfast is served there, although the first meal costs an additional $7 per person.

From Mollepata, the vehicle continues to Challacancha, where the walking begins. This early transfer is not just a minor detail. You are leaving Cusco before sunrise, then moving from road travel straight into a high-altitude trek, so a good night’s sleep and a careful packing routine matter.

The first day covers about six hours of hiking in total. After lunch at the campsite area, you receive a briefing and walk toward Humantay Lake. The route includes acclimation exercises, which are useful because the altitude is a serious part of the experience, not a footnote.

You camp at Soraypampa, at about 3,900 meters. That is already higher than many visitors are used to, and the cold can make this first night feel tougher than the mileage suggests. A sleeping bag is not included. You can rent one for $10, or bring your own if you have a suitable cold-weather bag.

Humantay Lake at 4,220 meters

Humantay Lake is the first major reward. The lake sits at 4,220 meters, surrounded by steep mountain slopes and broad views. The walk is short enough to be manageable for a fit hiker, but the altitude makes it far more strenuous than the distance alone suggests.

I like this opening day because it gives you a dramatic destination right away. You do not spend the first day on a dull approach road. Instead, you reach one of the route’s most striking sights before settling into the camping rhythm.

The drawback is that the day combines an early wake-up, a long transfer, lunch, acclimation work, and a high-altitude hike. If you are still adjusting to Cusco, you may find this tiring. The tour requires a moderate fitness level, but that description should not be read as a promise of an easy walk.

The route information lists 20 minutes for the Humantay Lake stop, though the full day of hiking is around six hours. Treat the stop time as a rough visit estimate, not as the total time needed for the outing.

Salkantay Pass and the seven-hour mountain day

Day two is the hardest day for most people. Breakfast comes around 6:00 a.m., and the group begins the climb toward Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters. This is the highest point of the trek.

The climb rewards patience. You pass through high mountain scenery with Mount Salkantay dominating the views. At the pass, the altitude can affect your breathing and pace, so you should expect a slow, steady morning rather than a brisk march.

Lunch is served at Huayracmachay. After that, the route descends into a valley and gradually enters high forest. This change is one of the trek’s great strengths. Within a single day, you move from a cold, exposed pass to thicker vegetation, waterfalls, orchids, and views of Salkantay.

The day takes about seven hours, ending at Chaullay. Dinner follows at camp. The schedule is full, and you will probably appreciate the included meals more than you expect. There is no need to search for food after a long day on your feet.

A horse carries up to 8 kilograms of baggage per person, including the horses’ food and equipment in the tour arrangement. Pack your sleeping clothes and spare layers in that larger load, but keep water, snacks, rain protection, sunscreen, medication, and a warm layer in your daypack. The package does not include bottled water or trail snacks. The stated allowance for these is PEN 50 per person.

Forest trails, orchids, and Cocalmayo hot springs

Day three is easier on paper and in practice. You descend through high forest for about six hours, moving into lower altitudes. The change should bring some relief after the first two days, although the path still requires steady walking.

Along the way, you pass avocado plantations and coca plants. Coca leaves held sacred importance for the Incas, so this section adds cultural context to the natural scenery without turning the walk into a formal museum visit. You might also see orchids and other plants as the climate changes.

Bring insect repellent. The lower, warmer section is a different environment from the cold mountain camps, and the tour specifically recommends protection from insects.

After lunch and a rest, local transport takes you to Santa Teresa. You leave your gear at camp, then take another local vehicle to the Cocalmayo thermal baths. The hot springs are a welcome change after two hard days and several hours of walking.

Entrance to the hot springs costs an additional PEN 10 per person. The stop is listed at about two hours, which gives you time to enjoy the pools before returning to camp for dinner. This is one of the smartest design choices in the route: the trek does not ask you to walk hard every day, and the thermal baths give your legs a chance to recover before the final approach to Machu Picchu.

Three ways to reach the hydroelectric station

Day four gives you a choice. You can walk from Santa Teresa to the hydroelectric station, take local transport at your own cost, or choose a zip-line excursion.

The zip-line option includes several cables ranging from 300 to 500 meters, followed by transport to the hydroelectric station. It adds an adventure element, but it is not included in the base price. If you choose local transport instead, that cost is also yours to cover.

This flexible day works well for different kinds of hikers. You can walk if you want more time on the trail, take transport if your legs need a break, or add the zip line if you want one last thrill before Machu Picchu. The package does not provide a price for the zip-line choice, so confirm the current cost before committing.

Lunch is served at the hydroelectric station. From there, you walk to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. The route takes you through more forest, with possible orchid sightings along the way.

This final walk is meaningful because you approach Machu Picchu through the surrounding terrain rather than simply arriving by train from the Sacred Valley. It also adds more time on foot. If you have already found the first two days difficult, taking transport earlier in the day may be the sensible choice.

In Aguas Calientes, you stay one night at a hostel. The guide gives a briefing in a hotel room about the next day’s visit. That briefing is useful because Machu Picchu entry times, group meeting arrangements, bus decisions, and the return train all need to line up.

Machu Picchu before breakfast

The final morning begins around 4:30 a.m. You have two ways to reach the citadel: walk up early or take the bus. Bus tickets cost $24 per person for the return journey, so decide in advance how you want to spend that morning.

Walking lets you arrive very early and try to see the sunrise. It also adds another physical effort after four days of hiking. The bus costs extra but saves your legs for the ruins themselves. Neither option is automatically best. Your choice should depend on energy, weather, and how much you value an early uphill walk.

At Machu Picchu, the guide leads an approximately two-hour tour. Afterward, you have free time to see more of the citadel, including sites such as the Inca Bridge and Sun Gate. Entrance to Machu Picchu is included, but tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are not. Each is listed at PEN 200 per person.

The return journey begins by descending to Aguas Calientes on foot or by bus. You then take an Expedition-class train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus back to Cusco. The train ticket and Ollantaytambo to Cusco transport are included, but lunch on the final day costs an additional $15.

The timetable makes this a long final day. You are not simply touring Machu Picchu and returning to a Cusco hotel by midafternoon. Plan for an early start, several hours at the citadel, a descent, train travel, and the final bus ride.

What the $456 price really includes

At $456 per person, the tour offers good value if you want one booking to handle the difficult pieces of a multi-day trek. Included items cover hotel pickup, the briefing, transport to Challacancha, a professional guide, camping equipment, tents, sleeping mats, four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners.

You also receive horse support for up to 8 kilograms of baggage, entrance to Machu Picchu, one hostel night in Aguas Calientes, the Expedition-class return train, and transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. Those inclusions matter because independent planning would require coordinating camps, food, baggage support, park entry, a hostel, a train, and a final transfer.

Still, the advertised price is not the complete trip cost. Set aside money for:

• First-day breakfast: $7
• Final-day lunch: $15
• Water and snacks: PEN 50
• Salkantay entrance: PEN 20
• Cocalmayo hot springs: PEN 10
• Sleeping bag rental: $10
• Machu Picchu buses: $24
• Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: PEN 200 each
• Optional train from the hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes: $33

The hydroelectric train is optional because the route otherwise includes a walk to Aguas Calientes. You should not assume every extra applies to you. For example, you only pay for the bus if you choose it, and the mountain tickets are optional additions.

Meals, guides, and the small-group feel

Food is one of the stronger parts of this package. Four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners are included, and the cooking team is praised for preparing excellent meals throughout the trek. On a route with early starts and long days, dependable food is a practical benefit, not a luxury.

Guides Nidia and Olger receive particular praise for their passion, their care for nature, and their connection to the region. A good guide can make a high-altitude day feel more manageable by setting the pace, explaining the surroundings, and keeping the group organized. The available rating is 4.9 from 11 reviews, with 100 percent of respondents recommending the experience.

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough to avoid the feel of a large procession. You should still expect different walking speeds. The guide and the group structure matter most on the climb to Salkantay Pass, when a patient pace is essential.

Who should choose this Salkantay route?

This trek suits you if you want Machu Picchu to be part of a demanding outdoor journey rather than a stand-alone sightseeing stop. You will get mountain passes, forest paths, farming areas, hot springs, camping, and a final night in Aguas Calientes.

It is also a good fit if you value a package that includes meals, tents, baggage support, a guide, and the return train. The route offers a lot for the price, but you need to be comfortable with early mornings, long walking days, altitude, and simple camping conditions.

You may want a different plan if you prefer relaxed sightseeing, dislike cold nights, or are not prepared for a 4,650-meter pass. The tour asks for moderate fitness, but altitude affects people differently. Spend enough time acclimating in Cusco before the trek, and do not treat the first day as a gentle warm-up.

The experience also suits people who want choices. On day four, you can walk, pay for local transport, or choose a zip line. At Machu Picchu, you can walk to the entrance or pay for the bus. Those options let you adjust the hardest sections to your energy level.

Practical preparation for five demanding days

Pack light, but do not pack too little. Since the horse carries a maximum of 8 kilograms, every item should earn its place. Keep your daypack focused on the next few hours, and place camp clothes and less-used items with the baggage carried by horse.

You will need layers for the cold high sections and lighter clothing for Santa Teresa and the forest. Insect repellent is specifically useful on day three. Carry water and snacks because they are not included, and bring enough local currency for the listed extras.

The evening before departure includes a briefing at your hotel. Use it to confirm pickup, baggage limits, meal arrangements, optional transport, and what you want to do on day four. The meeting point is listed at De La Raza 548 in Cusco, and pickup from your hotel is offered.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, so keep the deadline in mind when making final plans.

Should you book the 5-Day Salkantay Trek?

Book it if you want a physically serious route to Machu Picchu with strong scenery, included meals, baggage support, and a manageable group size. The combination of Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, forest trails, Cocalmayo hot springs, and a hostel night in Aguas Calientes gives you much more variety than a direct train visit.

Think twice if the altitude or seven-hour walking days concern you. Also calculate the extras before booking, especially if you want buses, a sleeping bag, a mountain ticket, or the optional train from the hydroelectric station.

For fit hikers who want an active route and practical support, this is a very appealing package. The mountain scenery and enthusiastic guiding from Nidia and Olger are the highlights, while the long first two days and cold camping nights are the price of admission.

FAQ

How long is the Salkantay Trek?

The experience lasts approximately five days, beginning with hotel pickup in Cusco and ending with transport from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco after the Machu Picchu visit.

What is the highest point on the trek?

The highest point is Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters above sea level. Humantay Lake is reached at approximately 4,220 meters.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup from your hotel is included, and the tour also provides a briefing at your hotel the night before departure.

Is camping equipment included?

Yes. Tents and sleeping mats are included. A sleeping bag is not included but can be rented for $10 per person.

How much baggage can the horse carry?

The included horse can carry a maximum of 8 kilograms of baggage per person.

Is Machu Picchu entry included?

Yes. Entrance to Machu Picchu is included. Entry to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain costs an additional PEN 200 per person for each option.

Is the bus to Machu Picchu included?

No. Bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu cost $24 per person. You can also walk to the citadel instead of taking the bus.

What meals are included?

The package includes four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners. Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the final day are not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.