Ranked as the 2nd most popular trek to Machu Picchu — and named one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic — the Salkantay Trek is not just an alternative to the Inca Trail. It is a world-class adventure in its own right.
This 3 day Salkantay Trek takes you through one of the most dramatic landscapes in all of South America. You will walk in the shadow of Apu Salkantay — the "Wild Mountain" — a sacred peak rising to 6,271 meters that the Andean people have revered as a god for centuries. Along the way, you will cross high-altitude passes, descend into lush cloud forest, and if the mountain allows it, spot Andean condors and alpacas moving freely through their natural habitat.
What makes this 3 day route special is its pace. Unlike longer expeditions, this trek is designed for travelers who have limited time but refuse to settle for a bus-and-train visit to Machu Picchu. Starting from Soraypampa at the foot of the glacier, the trail moves through contrasting ecosystems — from raw Andean highland to warm tropical jungle — before arriving at the ancient Inca citadel on foot, the way it was always meant to be experienced.
Three days. Two mountain ecosystems. One of the greatest archaeological sites on Earth. This is the short Salkantay Trek done right.
Sustainable Tourism:Salkantay Trek Machu operates with a genuine commitment to responsible travel. Every tour is designed to minimize environmental impact while directly supporting the local Andean communities along the route.
Service Level: All-inclusive superior service — private transport, extra horses for your gear, and a dedicated crew so you can focus entirely on the trek.
Physical Rating: 3 / 5 — Demanding. The high-altitude sections require a reasonable fitness level, but this trek is comfortably achievable for most healthy travelers who prepare adequately.
Age Requirement: Open to ages 4 and up. All travelers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tour Operator: Salkantay Trek Machu — fully authorized and licensed operator with over 8 years running treks to Machu Picchu.
Crew: A professional bilingual guide, an experienced trekking chef, a horseman, and horses — everything you need on the mountain, handled by people who know it well.
Accommodation: 2 nights camping at carefully selected sites along the route.
Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and 1 afternoon hot beverage included — all prepared fresh on the trail by your personal chef.
Transportation: Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead, plus 1 tourist train included on the return.
Camping Equipment: Everything provided — double tent, sleeping bag rated to -5°C, inflatable mattress, blanket, pillow, day pack and duffel bag. See the full list of our Salkantay Trek camping equipment.
Day 01: Cusco – Soraypampa – Wayracmachay – Los Andenes
Day 02: Los Andenes – Luscamayo – La Playa – Hidroeléctrica (transport) – Puente Ruinas
Day 03: Puente Ruinas – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Departure Point: Cusco - We pick you up from your hotel.
Departure Time: 05:30
Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek
Briefing Time: Between 17:00 - 18:00
Return Point: Cusco - Our driver will drop-off in your hotel or Airbnb department
This is the day you have been walking toward. After breakfast at camp, the trail leads you directly to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu — arriving on foot, through the mountain, the way the Incas intended. No bus from the bottom, no train from Cusco. You earned this entrance.
Once inside the sanctuary, your guide leads a two-and-a-half-hour tour through the citadel, uncovering the history, the astronomy, the architecture, and the mysteries that have made Machu Picchu one of the most fascinating places on Earth. To make the most of your visit and respect the site's conservation rules, access follows a structured circuit system:
Circuit 2 is the priority at the time of booking — the classic full route that takes you through the most complete and detailed exploration of the archaeological complex. If high demand has filled those spots, the visit will be arranged through Circuit 1 or Circuit 3, both of which offer outstanding perspectives of the entire site. Book as early as possible to secure Circuit 2, as daily entry numbers are strictly limited and spots sell out fast.
After the guided tour, those with energy to spare can climb one of the mountains surrounding the citadel for a panoramic view that very few people ever see:
Both options have an additional cost and must be reserved in advance.
In the afternoon you descend to Aguas Calientes, where you have free time for lunch at your own expense before boarding the return train to Ollantaytambo — or Poroy, depending on availability. From the station, private transport takes you back to Cusco, where you arrive comfortably in the evening. Three days, one mountain pass, two ecosystems, and a Wonder of the World. Not a bad week.
After a solid breakfast at camp, you lace up your boots and step into a completely different world. The high-altitude desert of yesterday is gone. Today the trail drops into the cloud forest, and the change is immediate — the air turns warm and humid, the vegetation closes in around you, and the sound of streams running down toward the Lluscamayo river becomes your constant companion.
Five hours of walking through this jungle corridor brings you to the town of Lluscamayo, a welcome stop for a well-earned lunch and a chance to rest your legs before the afternoon push. The next three hours are arguably the most scenic of the entire trek. The trail winds alongside an impressive waterfall, cuts through deep green valleys, and moves through one of the most biodiverse stretches of the route. Keep your eyes open and your camera ready — this is prime territory for spotting the cock of the rock, Peru's national bird, with its unmistakable bright orange plumage darting between the trees.
From La Playa, you board a local bus to the Hydroelectric Power Plant, and from there a moderate walk brings you to Puente Ruinas — Ruins Bridge — where camp is set for the night. Dinner is served, the crew goes over the plan for tomorrow, and the mood around the table is electric. Machu Picchu is less than a morning's walk away.
Your adventure begins before sunrise. We pick you up directly from your hotel in Cusco and head toward the town of Mollepata, a three-hour drive through the Andean highlands. This first stop is the perfect moment to have breakfast, grab any last-minute supplies, and mentally prepare for what lies ahead. From Mollepata, we continue to Soraypampa, our base camp at the foot of the glacier, where the crew will already have everything organized and ready to move.
The first steps on the trail set the tone immediately. The climb is sustained and demanding, and the landscape shifts with every meter gained — the vegetation thins out, the air gets thinner, and the raw Andean highlands open up around you. Tough grasses cling to the hillsides, the only plants stubborn enough to survive at this altitude. You push through it at a steady pace, and then it appears: the Salkantay Pass at 4,590 meters above sea level, the highest point of the entire trek.
Standing at that pass with Apu Salkantay rising to 6,271 meters right in front of you is one of those moments that stays with you long after the trip is over. The Quechua name says it best — Wild Mountain. There is nothing tame about it. After taking it all in, the rest of the day becomes a long, rewarding descent down to 2,890 meters, where the landscape transforms completely. By the time you reach camp, the air is warmer, the vegetation is lush, and the hardest part of the day is behind you. Dinner is waiting.
+51 84 226 547
+51 912 891 560
Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru 
info@salkantaytrekmachu.com
www.salkantaytrekmachu.com
