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Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 days)

Operative tour
Return by bus

Make the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and be amazed with the alternative landscapes to the Inca Trail. Bus return and guide included..


This tour has confirmed daily departures and it is possible to book it until 48 hours in advance. However, the entrance tickets to the Machu Picchu archaeological site are always subject to availability, so our recommendation is to make the booking as far in advance as possible.

Price

Prices of the programs with entrance fee to Machu Picchu for type of accommodation in Aguas Calientes until December 31st, 2024:

  • Without accommodations:
  • Adult non-resident in Andean Community: US$ 259 per person.
  • Adult resident in Andean Community: US$ 239 per person.
  • Hostel Eco Mapi with shared room:
  • Adult non-resident in Andean Community: US$ 269 per person.
  • Adult resident in Andean Community: US$ 249 per person.
  • Hostel Vista Machu Picchu or similar with private room:
  • Adult non-resident in Andean Community: from US$ 299 per person.
  • Adult resident in Andean Community: from US$ 279 per person.
  • Hotel Jaya or similar with private room:
  • Adult non-resident in Andean Community: from US$ 344 per person.
  • Adult resident in Andean Community: from US$ 324 per person.


If you select a program without entrance fee to Machu Picchu, you must have a ticket at the latest with entrance from 6:00 am to 7:00 am (ingreso de 06:00 a 07:00), and a discount will be applied as follows:

  • Adult non-resident in the Andean Community: US$ 40 off.
  • Minor non-resident in the Andean Community: US$ 20 off.
  • Adult resident in Andean Community: US$ 20 off.

 

*Andean Community: resident citizens in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.

*Discount for minors: you can access to the prices for minors (age 14 to 17) directly in the passengers’ number selector.

Included

  • Pickup at the hotel in Cusco.
  • Transportation:
  • Shared transportation by bus from Cusco to Challacancha.
  • Shared transportation by bus from Hidroeléctrica to Cusco.
  • Accommodations:
  • 1st night in Soraypampa Campsite (shared double hut).
  • 2nd night in Chaullay Campsite (shared double room in lodge).
  • 3rd night in Santa Teresa Campsite (double shared tent).
  • Meals:
  • Breakfast, except the first day.
  • Lunch, except the last day.
  • Dinner, except the last day.
  • Campsite equipment (carried by a herder):
  • Sleeping pad.
  • Meals.
  • Bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
  • Carrying service, the first three days (5 kg per person).
  • Entrance ticket to Salkantay Route.

Not included

  • 4th night of accommodations in Aguas Calientes, in case you choose the option without accommodations.
  • Shower at Soraypampa Campsite (no access)
  • Shower at Chaullay Campsite (S/. 10 per person).
  • Shower at Santa Teresa Campsite (S/. 5 per person).
  • Access to bathrooms during the trek.
  • Sleeping bag (US$ 15 per person).
  • Trek poles.
  • Extra weight for luggage (S/. 10 per kg, per day, maximum 12 kg).
  • Breakfast the first day (S/. 10 per person), lunch nor dinner the last day.
  • Water.
  • Entrance fee to the Cocalmayo Hot Springs (optional activity, S/ 10 per person).
  • Round trip transport to the hot springs:
  • 1 person: S/ 180.
  • Group of 2 people: S/ 90 per person.
  • Group of 3 to 6 people: S/ 50 per person.
  • Group of 7 to 10 people: S/ 40 per person.
  • Group of 11 people or more: S/ 30 per person.
  • Ticket to te Huayna Picchu Mountain.
  • Ticket to the Machu Picchu Mountain.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Health-care coverage.

Optional services

  • Round trip shared bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu: US$ 24 per person.


*There is no possibility to add a mountain due to the time you have to leave the archaeological site to do the walking towards Hidroeléctrica and take the bus from that place to Cusco.

How to book

  1. Select the departure date from the calendar.
  2. Select the number of people.
  3. Click on "Add to cart".
  4. Pay the full price of the tour online.

What to bring

  • 30-liter backpack to bring things you will be using during the day.
  • Waterproof backpack cover.
  • Waterproof jacket and pants (Gore-Tex or similar).
  • Fleece clothing (Polartec or similar).
  • Thermal clothing (base layer).
  • Short and long-sleeved t-shirts.
  • Hiking shoes.
  • Plenty of batteries (there are no electrical sockets to charge batteries).
  • Earplugs.
  • Flip-flops (for showers and resting).
  • Bathing suite.
  • Towel.
  • Headlamp.
  • Lock.
  • Winter hat and gloves for the cold.
  • Cap to protect yourself from the sun.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Ziploc bags (to store garbage).
  • Trekking poles.
  • Sleeping bag.
  • Toiletries.
  • Toilet paper.
  • Insect repellent.
  • Water (1 liter per person for the first day; you will be able to buy water during the trek).
  • Snacks.
  • At least S/. 200 for extra expenses not included in the trek (the amount considers optional activities).
  • Travel insurance.

Restrictions

  • Minimum age required of 14 years to make the activity.
  • Not allowed for pregnant women.

Itinerary

Start: Day 1 at 4:30 am at your hotel in Cusco.

End: Day 5 at 10:00 pm in San Francisco Square in Cusco.


Day 1: Cusco – Challacancha – Soraypampa (9.9 miles of trek, 6 hours). We will pick you up at your hotel to go to the starting point of the tour. We will begin a 3-hour trip to Mollepata, place where we will be able to have breakfast in a local restaurant. We will have the possibility to buy the last elements before gather with what will be our group for the next 5 days. Our guide will give the last directions before boarding again our transportation to go to Challacancha, from where starts the trek. We will know the mountain landscape until reaching our first campsite: Soraypampa. In this place, at 12,795 ft. of altitude, we will have our first lunch, after what we will be able to rest. In the afternoon, there is the possibility to make the Humantay Lagon Trek, lagoon located at 13,451 ft. of altitude. In this place, besides the lagoon and if the clouds allow it, we will be able to see the hanging glacier in the mountain and take very good pictures of the surroundings. Once we are back in the camp, we will be able to rest before dinner and receive some directions for the next day.


Day 2: Soraypampa – Abra Salkantay – Chaullay (13.7 miles of trek, 10 hours). When we wake up, we will drink coca tea to get up with energy for facing the altitude. We will pick up our things and have breakfast, after what we will begin the trek through the ravine that allows us to climb the mountain. We will see the difference of landscape compared with the previous day, with bigger rocks, some water streams and, of course, the snow of the surrounding mountains. While we gain altitude, we will make some stops for resting and taking pictures, besides eating snacks to recover energy. We will arrive at the Abra Salkantay, at 15,091 ft. of altitude where, if the weather allows it, we will have views of the Humantay Glacier and the Salkantay Mountain. This is the highest points of the trek, where with our guide we will make a small ceremony to thank the Pachamama and the surrounding Apus (mountains). After this moment, we will continue our way to Huaracmachay, at 12,467 ft. of altitude, where we will have our lunch of the day. After recovering energy, we will follow the route down and we will be able to see the change from a mountain landscape to a pre-jungle one, where is located the Chaullay Campsite, at 9,514 ft. of altitude. Here, we will get some rest and have dinner, so then we go to sleep.


Day 3: Chaullay – Santa Teresa (6.8 miles of trek, 5 hours). We will begin the day with a coca tea to wake up with energy and pick up our things before breakfast. On this day we will say good bye to hour herder, because he will go ahead with the luggage to our next accommodations. We will go walking with our own rhythm, watching different plantations in the area: quinoa and pomegranate, for example. The guide will give us some explanations about plants and the importance that they have for the Andean culture. We will reach the Sahuayacu Beach, where we will have our lunch and the opportunity to buy some products of the area. After a moment to rest, we will take the bus to go to Santa Teresa, place where we will spend our third night. During the afternoon, it will be possible to visit the Cocalmayo Hot Springs (optional), complex with three pools of different temperatures and, that way, get relaxed and recover ourselves of the walking done the previous days. By night, we will have our dinner, some directions for the next day, and some time to share with the rest of the group before going to sleep.


Day 4: Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes (9.9 miles of trek, 6 hours). We will have breakfast early in the morning to begin the walking to Hidroleléctrica. We will continue watching the diversity of the landscape, because we will be walking between 5,557 and 6,562 ft. of altitude, where is possible to watch a jungle landscape until our destination. After lunch, we will prepare our luggage to take only what it is necessary for the next day of excursion. The rest, we will leave it there in Hidroeléctrica, so we pick up it the next day before taking the bus back to Cusco.

We will make the walking following the train rail until reaching Aguas Calientes, where we will be able to settle down in our corresponding accommodations, relax and take a shower, before gather with the rest of the group for dinner. After dinner, the guide will give us the last directions for the next day.


Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco. We will get up early to walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. We will make the check-in in the bridge, where control people will see our entrance ticket and we will go up by the stairs up to the entrance of the archaeological site. Here we will gather with our guide to enter to Machu Picchu and have a 1-hour tour, in which he will give us the main details of the place. After that, we will have time to go over freely and taking pictures. Because you have to take the bus back to Cusco that leaves between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm, our recommendation is you to leave the archaeological site at 10:00 am, so you have time to walk from the bridge to Hidroeléctrica, without passing again by Aguas Calientes. In Hidroeléctrica, we will pick up our luggage and take the bus that will take us back to the San Francisco Square in Cusco, where our tour ends.


Visit to the archaeological site

 

To enter to Machu Picchu archaeological site, you must have the so-called Llaqta Machu Picchu entrance ticket. Remember that, in case you select a program without entrance fee, you can buy it in the Ministerio de Cultura website.

The entrance will give you access to the archaeological site following one of its 4 circuits, which you will have to choose once you are in the citadel entrance:

 

  • Circuit 1: high and low part of the archaeological site, as well as the platforms and terraces area for 3 hours.
  • Circuit 2: high and low part of the archaeological site, as well as the routes to the Inti Punku and the Inca’s Bridge for 4 hours.
  • Circuit 3: low part of the archeological site including the agricultural area, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, Sacred Rock, and Archaeological Reserve for 1 and a half hours.
  • Circuit 4: low part of the archeological site including the agricultural area, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, Sacred Rock, and water mirrors for 2 hours.

 

Our recommendation for you to tour the citadel is choosing the circuit 2, because it will allow you to visit a bigger number of attractions inside Machu Picchu and taking the classic pictures. On the other hand, in case you decide add the visit to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain as an optional service, you will have less time in the citadel, depending also on the time in which your visit to one of the two mountains is confirmed.

In case we cannot confirm the visit to the mountain as early as possible, the only possibility to visit the citadel will be with circuits 3 and 4.

Cancellation policy

  • The cancellation or reschedule of this tour does not have a full refund.
  • If you cancel or reschedule with more than 6 days in advance, only will receive US$ 40 per person of the advance deposit paid for the booking.
  • If you cancel or reschedule with less than 6 days in advance, you will not receive nothing of the advance deposit paid for booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What do meals include during the Salkantay trek?

    During this activity, breakfast includes coca tea, hot beverage, bread, butter, jam and eggs. For lunch and dinner, salad, main course with protein and carbs (for the trek) and juice. Remember telling us if you are vegetarian or if you have any food allergies writing at reservas@denomades.com once you make the booking.

  • How long does it take the visit to Machu Picchu?

    The visita has a duration of three hours. The first hour, we will make the guided tour by the citadel. Then, you will have the rest of the time to go over freely by the citadel.

  • How far in advance should I book the activity?

    We receive bookings with minimum 48 hours in advance. However, the places are limited and are always subject to availability. The entry tickets to the Machu Picchu citadel have a high demand, running out of tickets, in some cases, with months in advance. Because of that, our recommendation is to make the booking as far in advance as possible.

  • For the minor price, is it valid the age the children have at the moment of bokking or when we are going to do the tour?

    The discount for minors applies according to the age they have at the moment of making the tour. Separate from that, you have to send us the travel document at the moment of booking.

  • How is the weather in Machu Picchu?

    Machu Picchu is located between the Andes Mountain Range and the Amazonas Jungle, having a warm and mild weather, with a minimum average temperature of 12°C and a maximum average temperature of 24°C. From April to October is the dry season in the place, that is to say, during this period there is a lower possibility of having rain, while from November to March is the rain season, that is to say, during this period there is a higher possibility of having rain. Nevertheless, during the whole year there is possibility of rain, because we are talking about a subtropical area.

  • I have already bought my entry ticket to Machu Picchu, is it possible to book the program without the entry ticket added to the total price?

    Yes. To make the booking in this way, you have to write us at reservas@denomades.com, indicating the number of people travelling and the date you want to begin the program, and we will send to you the corresponding quotation along with the instructions to make the booking.

  • Is it possible to add an accommodation night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco a day after the tour?

    Yes. To make the booking in this way, you have to write us at reservas@denomades.com, indicating the number of people travelling and the date you want to begin the program, and we will send to you the corresponding quotation along with the instructions to make the booking.

  • Why there are prices for type of accommodations in Aguas Calientes?

    The idea is be able to offer an option according to what you want to pay by the tour, even giving you the possibility to choose the accommodations in Aguas Calientes on your own.

  • What are the differences between accommodations?

    • Mapi Hostel: triple or quadruple shared room, with shared bathroom. Includes box lunch for breakfast.
    • Presidente Hostel or similar: single or double private room, with private bathroom. Includes box lunch for breakfast.
    • Tierra Viva Hotel (3 stars) or similar: single or double private room, with private bathroom. Includes breakfast.

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