Home > Tours > Machu Picchu > Salkantay to Machu Picchu 5 days

Salkantay to Machu Picchu 5 days

Summary

The snow-capped Salkantay, with an elevation of 6,364 meters above sea level, is located northwest of Cusco and is the highest mountain in the Vilcabamba mountain range. This is one of the hiking routes leading to Machu Picchu, serving as an alternative route for guests who were unable to secure availability on the 4-day Inca Trail. This adventure begins in Cusco and takes you through the Andean mountains before entering the jungle fringe, where you’ll clearly see the vegetation change over the course of the days. The trek covers approximately 75 km over the course of these hiking days—five days filled with adventure, adrenaline, culture, and the chance to explore this natural wonder. Join our group of explorers to make this adventure an unforgettable journey.

★ 4.9 (120 Reviews)

Duration 5 days

Style Group Service

From USD $490

Este Tour esta disponible todo el año.

Add to Favorites →

Included

Important information about the hike the night before departure
Tourist transportation from Cusco to Soraypampa
Professional bilingual guide (Spanish/English)
Entrance fees to Humantay and Salkantay
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
3 nights’ accommodation in double tents
1 night’s accommodation in double rooms at the selected hotel
Camping equipment (dining tent, kitchen tent, chairs, tables, sleeping pads)
Meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners. Vegetarian option available upon prior arrangement.
Cook
Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back to Aguas Calientes
Expedition-class tourist train or similar from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
First-aid kit
Oxygen cylinder

What’s Not Included

Sleeping bag (we can rent one to you for US$20 for the 5 days)
Single tent (additional US$50)
Travel insurance
Trekking poles (We can rent them to you for US$15 for the 5 days)
Entrance to Huayna Picchu (additional $65, by prior arrangement)
Entrance to the Cocalmayo hot springs
Extra activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Tips
Extras

Backpack
Sleeping bag and hiking poles
Original passport in a waterproof bag
Toilet paper
Water
Hat or cap
Comfortable hiking clothes
Warm clothing: wool pants, wool socks, wool hat
Hiking shoes
Rain poncho
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Mosquito repellent
Towel and swimwear
Flashlight
Sandals
Personal medications
Water purification tablets
Extra cash in soles, in small denominations

Itinerary

Cusco – Humantay Lake – Quiswarniyoc

Start

Pickup Point

View pickup details

Meals:

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Alojamiento:

Campsite in Quiswarniyoc

Quiswarniyoc – Salkantay Pass – Chaullay

Meals:

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Alojamiento:

Campsite in Chaullay

Chaullay – Playa Sahuayaco – Santa Teresa

Meals:

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Alojamiento:

Accommodation in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes

Meals:

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Alojamiento:

Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

End

End of the tour

Meals:

Breakfast

Related tours

Looking for more adventures? Check out these recommended tours and services near Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley.

Reviews

Real experiences from travelers who explored Peru with our local team.

Tripadvisor Reviews

★★★★★

Trusted reviews

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

         Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Sunshine 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Excellent Service
Jose was very accommodating. It was a last minute trip for me and he was very kind to accommodate me. The guide was very knowledgeable and funny. I will definitely recommend anyone to go with Encuentros.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Katrina 
 
 
 
 Verificada  10/10 Jungle Trek
This was one of the most surreal experiences I have had. Jose and Gonzales were amazing guides and made us so comfortable. Jose was so knowledgeable about the tour and taught us so much about the Incas. Definitely recommend this tour!!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   jodi h 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Best tour ever!
Jose and Gonzales were the best guides we've ever had on a tour. Perfectly informational and fun. The tour was fantastic and we were able to see everything we hoped for and more. The guides really cared about our safety and making sure we understood everything. Definitely recommend going with these guys, nicest people ever!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Michelle W 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Alpacas!
We had a great experience with our guide Teo! We enjoyed seeing the archeological sights and especially all the llamas and alpacas along the way (especially at the textelería). The chocolate and salt tasting was an excellent addition as well.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Jean W 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Amazing and challenging adventure
Outstanding! Marco, our tour guide, was the absolute best! His knowledge of Inca culture & history is unmatched. Mostly, he was incredibly helpful & kind. I am 63 and did this tour with my daughter & her boyfriend who are both 30. Many of the adventures were hard for me and out of my comfort zone, but Marco was always there to literally hold my hand and/or my backpack. I cannot recommend him enough. Also, Jose Louis was very helpful & flexible with our plans & getting tickets to Machu Picchu at the last minute. It was a great adventure and I really appreciated both of them. Also, the food at every stop was delicious. My favorite experiences, along with visiting Machu Picchu, were the Whitewater rafting and relaxing in the Cocalmayo Hot Springs after a challenging day of hiking. The one thing I didn’t love was the hostile we stayed at on the second night because they did not provide towels, soap or toilet paper for the room. Other than that, it was a fabulous trip!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Kellen 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Amazing Tour and People!
I would highly recommend both this tour (Inca Jungle Trek 4 day, 3 night) and Encuentros Peru Adventure. Our tour guide Marco was phenomenal, he was so kind, knowledgeable, and helpful while on our trek. Jose was so also so kind and helpful at every step of the way. He saved our trip by staying up late (like 2 or 3am) to get us Machu Picchu tickets, a true lifesaver. With the recent ticket system changes at Machu Picchu and going with family, we had lots of questions. Jose was very patient and helped us through everything and was very transparent. Each activity and experience was fun. We began our tour on 5/16/26 with 3 of us and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Aindrea S 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Really fun way to get to Machu Picchu!
Everything was so seamless. I did this trip with my dad. Me (29yrs), Dad (58yrs). Great experience for both age groups. Due to time constraints with our itinerary we did a condensed 3 day / 2 night version. It was so cool! Got picked up on time the morning of, had the most scenic drive ever to the top of a mountain to start the bike ride. The ride was so much fun and safety gear was really good. After that took a bus to a nice healthy lunch and rafting. That was super cool!! the rafting was so fun, the team that runs that activity defi love the water, super unique. The accommodation was basic, but clean and good wifi and hot water. All meals included were delicious, healthy and local so no hassle ever. Didn't feel rushed at all. The guides were great. We had Waskar, Gonzalez and Yoselin, all of them were great, on time, helpful, took photos for us. We got the train back from Aguas Calientes and no dramas at all. Jose from the sales team was easy to contact on whatsapp always. Had loads of fun!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   ROSA R 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Magnífica experiencia
Una experiencia increíble. Cuando decidimos viajar a Peru, los circuitos a Machu Pichu estaban agotados en la web, esta fue nuestra mejor opción para poder visitarlo y a pesar de las dificultades que presenta el ministerio de cultura para ofrecer tickets, nuestra guía Yoselin fue capaz de conseguilos y siempre estaremos agradecidos. Posteriormente, nos acompañó en el trayecto y nos sacó fotografías maravillosas.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Yan 
 
 
 
 Verificada  Outstanding Private Tour – Highly Recommend Jose & Yoselin!
We cannot thank Jose and Yoselin enough for such a memorable and perfect day. As a non-native English speaker, I appreciated Jose’s excellent guiding skills so much; his English is wonderful, and his explanations of Inca history were engaging and incredibly easy to understand. Yoselin was an absolute angel, caring for us so kindly when we struggled with the altitude. The highlight of our day was the picnic lunch they set up for us—the fried rice was delicious, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. They even helped us retrieve our stored luggage from Cusco and drove us right to the airport for our flight. They are a beautiful couple providing top-notch, thoughtful service. If you are visiting, do not hesitate to book with them!
  
 
 
  
  Carga más

View on Tripadvisor

Google Reviews

★★★★★

Trusted reviews

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

         Publicado en Google  
   
   Lucy J Brindley 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  Went on the 4 day inka jungle trail trip with Jose. We had the best time. Jose was so friendly & well organised & it was great value for money. Really recommend this for people wanting to visit macchu piccu!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Laurent 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  José en Yoseline zijn fantastische mensen. Ze zijn enthousiast, ontzettend flexibel en hebben ervoor gezorgd dat wij een waanzinnige reis hebben gehad. Ze hebben ons veel verteld over Peru en de Inca’s. Hun kennis, enthousiasme en service heeft onze reis compleet gemaakt.

Wij raden daarom iedereen aan om met hen op avontuur te gaan.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Kellen Metling 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  I would highly recommend both this tour (Inca Jungle Trek 4 day, 3 night) and Encuentros Peru Adventure. Our tour guide Marco was phenomenal, he was so kind, knowledgeable, and helpful while on our trek. Jose was so also so kind and helpful at every step of the way. He saved our trip by staying up late (like 2 or 3am) to get us Machu Picchu tickets, a true lifesaver. With the recent ticket system changes at Machu Picchu and going with family, we had lots of questions. Jose was very patient and helped us through everything and was very transparent. Each activity and experience was fun. We began our tour on 5/16/26 with 3 of us and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Yenny Mainicta pro 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  Hice el tour de ollantaytambo a Cusco me encantó lo recomiendo 100% gracias el tour fue tal y cual como nos explico nuestro guía José...!!!
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Alex Forth 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  The 4 day Inca Jungle Trek was great! From the start, José answered all our questions before booking. He then came to our accommodation to explain the final details the night before.
On the tour, our guide Gustavo was AMAZING! He is so kind, patient, knowledgeable, and helpful - nothing was too much! Fun to be with and always happy to help. He explained each morning and night the running order for the day & following day. He really made the trip what it was for us! To top it off the clouds cleared on the final day and we saw Machu Picchu.
The food at the accommodations was lovely and the rooms were basic but fine.
The whole tour was better than we expected and everything ran smoothly, thank you.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Ingrid Aa 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  Veldig fornøyde med vår tur til Machu Picchu og vår guide José! Kan anbefales på det sterkeste.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Alison Finnegan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  We did the 2 day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour. Was so easy to organise it all through whatsapp. The guides for both days were amazing and so knowledgeable! At the end of our trip there was an unforseen incident with the trains and while our tour had technically finished both Stiven and Jose were in constant communication with us to try keep us updated on what was happening which was really appreciated! Would definitely recommend booking through these guys.
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Jessica Sihuen Lopes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  good experience I recommend the inka jungle 4 days
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Rodolfo Juño quispe 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  Hice el Inca Jungle Tour con Encuentros Perú Adventure y fue una experiencia inolvidable. Desde el primer día el equipo fue muy atento y organizado, siempre pendientes de cada detalle.
Lo que más me gustó fue la combinación de aventura, paisajes increíbles y la conexión con la cultura local. La visita a Machu Picchu al final del tour fue simplemente espectacular, una recompensa maravillosa después de la travesía.

Recomiendo 100% a Encuentros Perú Adventure, hicieron que este viaje sea una de las mejores experiencias
  
 
 
      Publicado en Google  
   
   Mark D. LoBiondo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google.  I completed the Inka Jungle Trek in Peru, and I can confidently say it was the best experience of my life. As a 41-year-old male traveling alone, I was initially nervous about stepping out of my comfort zone, but this tour exceeded all expectations. From the moment we started, my group clicked effortlessly, creating a bond that made the journey unforgettable. However, the standout star of this adventure was our guide, Luis—an absolute legend who turned this trip into something truly extraordinary.
Luis is hands down the best guide I’ve ever had. His easy-going nature, infectious passion, and unparalleled knowledge of the indigenous and Inca cultures made every moment magical. You’d never guess he’s led this tour thousands of times—his storytelling feels fresh and heartfelt, as if he’s sharing the rich history for the first time. I’d trust Luis with my life; he became one of us, blending seamlessly into the group with his warmth and expertise. His guidance through the thrilling mountain biking, white water rafting, and zip lining pushed me to say yes to every challenge, helping me break through my limits in the most exhilarating way.
The highlight, though, was the ritual at the mountain’s peak—a life-changing experience that connected me deeply to Mother Nature and filled me with an overwhelming sense of positive energy. Luis’s leadership during this moment was impeccable, enhancing the spiritual significance with his insight and care. This tour, elevated by Luis’s exceptional guiding, has left an indelible mark on me. If you’re considering the Inka Jungle Trek, book it with Luis—you won’t regret it!
  
 
 
  
  Carga más