Trip Duration: 9 days, 8 nights

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Discover one of the best alternative trek routes to Machu Picchu The Salkantay Trek is one of Peru’s most breathtaking routes to Machu Picchu, known for its sweeping mountain vistas, vibrant highland valleys, and dazzling turquoise lagoons. This is a true immersion into the wild Andes: a place where glaciers tower overhead, condors circle above the cliffs, and every turn reveals a new, jaw-dropping landscape.

At the heart of the trek stands the sacred Salkantay Mountain (20,574 ft / 6,271 m), the highest peak in the Vilcabamba range. Our route traces the base of this stunning giant, offering a front-row seat to one of Peru’s most powerful natural wonders.

Over several days, you’ll move through diverse ecosystems:

• ⛰️ windswept high-altitude passes,

• ☁️ lush cloud forests

• 🏞️ quiet valleys dotted with waterfalls and small Andean communities.

You don’t need prior multi-day trekking experience to attempt the Salkantay Trek, but it is a more challenging and physically demanding journey than the Inca Trail Trek. You should be comfortable hiking long days on steep trails, managing consecutive days of trekking, and spending time at high altitudes. The trek reaches elevations of over 4,600 m (15,250 ft), so proper acclimatization and strong fitness are critical.

In addition to completing the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, this trip includes additional excursions to the Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain. Please review the complete Itinerary at the bottom of this booking page.

Flights to Peru are not included with your booking. We strongly recommend when selecting flights that you ensure ample time to catch connecting flights to ensure there are no missed flights due to delays. Your booking includes airport transfers from Cusco Airpot to your hotel.

You must arrive at Cusco Airport (CUZ) on Saturday, July 18, 2026 and may depart any time on Sunday, July 26, 2026. You’re welcome to arrive earlier to acclimatize to the altitude, but accommodation and airport transfers before July 18 are not included.

The Salkantay Trek is a challenging, high-altitude, multi-day hike that involves long hours of trekking, steep climbs, and camping in basic mountain conditions. It is not a leisure trip and requires good physical fitness, preparation, and a flexible mindset. Participants should be ready for:

• 4 days of hiking (6– hours per day) on uneven terrain

• Sleeping in tents and using outdoor toilets

• Limited amenities, cold nights, and high elevations up to 15,000 ft

The Salkantay Trek is a well-known alternative route to Machu Picchu that differs from the Inca Trail in both terrain and experience. While the Inca Trail follows historic stone paths and passes archaeological sites, Salkantay focuses more on natural scenery, higher mountain passes, and a more remote setting. It is a stronger physical challenge and a good option for those who prefer fewer crowds.

For complete details on this Trek, including how it compares to the Inca Trail, please review our Safety Guidelines before booking.

Upon arrival in Cusco a representative of our Local Tour Operator will be waiting at the airport for you and pick you up in private transport and take you to your hotel where you will spend the night.

Services Included:

• Meals: Dinner (Ma'wa Collective Welcome Dinner)

• Transport: Cusco Airport – Hotel (20 minutes).

• Overnight: Hacienda Cusco Plaza Regocijo Hotel (or similar). Accommodation is in a standard double occupancy room with a private bath.

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast

• Excursion: Full day Sacred Valley tour (8 hours) w/ Tour Guide

• Entrance Fees: Included

• Overnight: Hacienda Cusco Plaza Regocijo Hotel (or similar). Accommodation in a Standard Double Occupancy Room with private bath.

Day 2: Cusco – Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Chinchero

We’ll begin the morning with pickup from your hotel in Cusco (8:00 AM) and set out on a scenic drive through the Andes into the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is Pisac, where you’ll explore the colorful artisan market and visit the impressive Pisac ruins, perched high above the valley with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

After lunch in Urubamba (not included), we’ll continue to Ollantaytambo, one of the most remarkable Inca towns. Here, we’ll tour the ancient Temple of the Sun, marvel at the massive stone terraces, and see how the town’s original Inca water channels still flow through its narrow streets.

Our final stop is the charming village of Chinchero, home to a beautiful 17th-century colonial church built atop Inca foundations. You’ll also see ancient stone walls with trapezoidal niches and enjoy stunning views of snow-capped peaks like Chicón and Veronica.

Afterward, we’ll return to Cusco in the evening for a well-earned rest before the trek begins.

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours approx.

Hiking Distance: 8 Km / 4.98 miles

Lowest Point: 2.803 m / 9,196 ft

Highest Point: 4,220 m / 13,845 ft

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Transport: Cusco – Mollepata - Soraypampa

• Tour Guide: Spanish/English.

• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.

• Overnight: Salkantaypampa Camp.

Our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 5 a.m. Then we will travel in our private bus to Soraypampa, which takes approximately four hours. It’s a lengthy trip, but it’s needed to get out to this relatively remote region. Along the way, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful scenery, including views of the Izcuchaca and Limatambo mountain ranges.

Eventually we’ll arrive at the colorful Andean village of Mollepata, where we will make a small stop to make some purchases such as water, rain poncho, chocolates for your trip. Then we continue with our private bus for 1 hour where we will meet our riders, porters, and cooks.

Here our chefs will prepare our breakfast before starting our tour. After enjoying our breakfast and receiving our snacks, we will walk approximately 4 hours, including a visit to the Humantay lagoon, until we reach our Salkantaypampa camp where our chef awaits us with a dinner menu prepared with local ingredients. We’ll set up camp and later have dinner, surrounded by mesmerizing scenery.

Hiking Time: 8 hours approx.

Hiking Distance: 16 Km / 9.94 miles

Lowest Point: 3,000 m / 9,800 ft

Highest Point: 4,650 m / 15,200 ft

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Tour Guide: Spanish/English

• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.

• Overnight: Colcapampa Camp.

We will wake early and have breakfast around 5:30 a.m. We have a long day of trekking ahead of us, through some of the most incredible scenery in Peru. This will be our most challenging day, as we ascend to the highest point on the trail. 

We first make the climb to a mountain pass at 4,650 m (15,200 ft) – the highest location on the trek. From here, we’ll have sublime views of two huge snow-capped mountains: Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. After a rest and time to enjoy the views, we will continue our walk downhill through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. We’ll then set off again, trekking for about three hours through jungle-like scenery until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa, at 3,000 m (9,800 ft). If our group has made good progress, we might have time to push on to alternative campsites at Challway or Andenes. Wherever we decide to stop, we’ll set up the camp and prepare a big meal, a well-deserved reward after a hard day of trekking.

Hiking Time: 6 hours approx.

Hiking Distance: 15 Km / 9.32 miles

Lowest Point: 2,500 m / 8,202 ft

Highest Point: 3,000 m / 9,800 ft

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Tour Guide: English/Spanish.

• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.

• Overnight: La Playa Camp.

Waking at 6:30 a.m., we’ll have a hearty breakfast before setting off. Today, much of our trekking takes us through a region of jungle known as the “Ceja de selva” or eyebrow of the jungle: the swathe of jungle that lies between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. We’ll cross the Lluskamayo River and find ourselves in a world of waterfalls, tropical fruits, and colorful birds. If we’re lucky, we might even see a cock of the rock, Peru’s national bird. The temperature will be much warmer here, and the various waterfalls and creeks provide plenty of opportunities to cool down with a refreshing splash in their crystalline waters. 

We’ll stop for lunch and then continue trekking for three more hours, until we reach our last campsite at the village of La Playa, at 2,500 m (8,202 ft). At La Playa you’ll have plenty of free time to relax and enjoy the nearby hot springs: the perfect way to soothe those aching muscles! Later we’ll have dinner and then turn in for the night, relaxed and ready for our final day of trekking.

Hiking Time: 6 hours approx.

Hiking Distance: 12 Km / 7.45 miles

Lowest Point: 2, 040 m / 6,692 ft

Highest Point: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Tour Guide: Spanish/English

• Overnight: Hatun Inti Boutique. Accommodation in Suite Room (Double Occupancy).

On our final day of trekking, we’ll have breakfast at 6:30 a.m. before setting off towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, and as we ascend we’ll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually we’ll reach Llactapata, an impressive Inca ruin that may have served as an important resting place and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which it is connected to, via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance, an inspiring sight indeed! 

After a rest and time to take photos, we will continue along a downhill trail for about two hours, passing plantations of coffee cocoa, bananas and other native crops are grown. Eventually we’ll reach the Hydroelectric Station, a well-known point along various routes to Machu Picchu, where we’ll have lunch. Then we will walk for a couple more hours until we reach Aguas Calientes, the lively town that sits below Machu Picchu. 

After checking in to your hotel you’ll have some free time, so you can explore the town and, if you like, visit the nearby hot springs. We’ll have dinner in one of the many great, local restaurants in Aguas Calientes, and then you can return to your hotel for an early night before our final day -- and our tour of the magnificent Machu Picchu.

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast

• Bus Tickets Consetur: Aguas Caliente – Machu Picchu – Aguas Caliente (Per route: 25 minutes) 

• Tour Guide: Spanish/English 

• Entrance Fee: Machu Picchu City.

• Train Tickets: Aguas Calientes – Poroy (Expedition Train – 3.5 hours)

• Transport: Poroy Train Station – Hotel in Cusco (30 minutes).

• Overnight:  Hacienda Cusco Plaza Regocijo Hotel. Accommodation in a Standard Room with private bath.

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views of the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge. 

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you’ll end your incredible Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Ma'wa Collective Farewell Dinner

• Overnight:  Hacienda Cusco Plaza Regocijo Hotel. Accommodation is in a standard double occupancy room with a private bath. 

Our adventure with Valencia Travel begins as we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 05:00, ensuring an early start for a day filled with awe-inspiring experiences. The journey to the trailhead and the subsequent hike requires time, making an early departure essential. Over approximately three hours, we'll traverse captivating Andean landscapes along the South Valley, offering breathtaking views.

En route, we'll make a stop for a hearty breakfast, setting the stage for the day's exploration. Continuing on, we reach the trailhead in the town of Cusipa, positioned at an elevation of about 3,310 m (10,859 ft) above sea level.

Embarking on our hike, we'll initially follow a serene stream, encountering herds of alpacas and llamas grazing on the picturesque slopes. The sacred Ausangate mountain will grace our journey with consistent views, providing a spiritual backdrop to our adventure. Passing through towns where ancient Andean traditions thrive, we'll witness the vibrant living culture of the region.Drawing closer to our destination, the landscape transforms, and after an invigorating walk of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will reach the magnificent Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain. Standing at an astonishing altitude of 5,100m (16,732ft) above sea level, the panoramic views unfold before us. Our knowledgeable private guide from Valencia Travel will accompany us throughout, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.

Exploring the area, we'll discover that Rainbow Mountain is not just one peak but a series of vibrant, multicolored mountains. Our ascent to the top of Rainbow Mountain offers a mesmerizing perspective, allowing 30 minutes to absorb the breathtaking surroundings, capture photos, and create lasting memories. Descending, we'll embark on the return hike, a one-hour journey, where our private transport awaits. Next, we'll head to a local restaurant for a delectable buffet lunch, savoring the flavors of the region.

The return to Cusco, approximately three hours, provides time for reflection on the day's extraordinary encounters. Anticipate arriving in Cusco around 16:00, where we'll drop you off at your hotel.

Services Included:

• Meals: Breakfast

• Regular Transport: Hotel – Cusco Airport (20 minutes)

After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home, via Lima.