Salkantay Trek Accommodation: Camping, Sky Domes, or Lodges!

Before signing up for the Salkantay Trek, most travelers focus first on the itinerary and the price. They leave an equally important question for last: where will you sleep during the 4 or 5 nights that the route lasts? The answer changes a lot depending on the agency and the package you choose. It directly affects the level of rest, comfort, and budget of the trip.

On the Salkantay route, there are three levels of accommodation available: traditional camping, with tents and basic trekking gear; sky domes or glass domes, a middle glamping option with more comfort; and mountain lodges, which offer a bed, private bathroom, and electricity at the end of each walking day. Each option costs a different amount of money, and not all agencies offer them at the same stops on the route.

In this guide we will help you get to know each of these 3 types of lodging, what services they include, at what points on the trail you will find them and how to choose the option that best fits your budget and expected comfort level.

Camping vs Sky Domes vs Mountain Lodges: Quick comparison

Before explaining each type of accommodation, this table shows the main differences between the three options. It can help you decide which one is best for your budget and what you want to find at the end of each day of walking.

The Salkantay Trek: A Route with Different Comfort Levels

The Salkantay Trek is the second most popular route to Machu Picchu after the Inca Trail. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek does not require a government permit. This gives agencies more freedom to design their own accommodations along the way.

The route covers about 70 kilometers in 4 or 5 days, depending on the itinerary, and its highest point is the Salkantay pass, at 4,630 meters (15,190 feet). During the trip, hikers go through different ecological zones. They start in alpine puna areas, cross the high-altitude pass, and go down towards the cloud forest and warmer areas near Santa Teresa before arriving at Machu Picchu.

The different elevations and climates mean that the type of accommodation changes from one night to another on the same route. What works at 3,900 meters in Soraypampa is not the same as what is needed at 2,000 meters in Lucmabamba. Next, we'll look at the details of the three types of lodging available on the trail.

Traditional Camping on the Salkantay Trek

Traditional camping is the most common option and the one offered by most agencies that run the Salkantay route. It is also the type closest to what is known as "classic trekking": tents, basic gear, and a more self-sufficient experience than in the other two options.

What is included?

• 4 season trekking tent, usually shared between 2 people
• Mat or sleeping pad (not a bed)
• Sleeping bag suitable for low temperatures
• Portable or shared bathroom, with no guarantee of hot water in all camps
• Shared dining and kitchen tent, with meals made by a trekking chef
• No electricity or wifi

Who is it for?

This experience is for budget-conscious travelers who prioritize cost over comfort. It's also for those with prior camping experience or those seeking a more traditional approach, similar to how the route was originally traveled (typically, it's for young groups or backpackers).

Price range

$450 – $650 for the full 4-5 day package. It is the cheapest option of the three types, as it does not need a fixed setup or maintenance of permanent facilities along the route.

Sky Domes (Glamping) on the Salkantay Trek

Sky domes are a type of accommodation that are similar to traditional camping but more comfortable than mountain lodges. They are glass domes or thermally insulated structures that replace the tent. These can be found in exclusive camps run by only some agencies (they are not available in all packages or with all operators).

What is included

• Single or couple's dome, with a real bed and mattress (not a mat)
• Thermal insulation or heating, adapted to the camp's altitude
• Bathroom: it varies depending on the stage of the route — on the first night (higher altitude, e.g. Soraypampa) it is usually shared; in lower stages (e.g. Collpapampa, Lucmabamba) some domes already include a private bathroom
• with a hot water shower
• Electricity: varies depending on the camp and operator
• Wifi: available in some camps, not in all.
• Meals served in a tent or shared dining space, with a menu similar to traditional camping but with a better setup

Who is it for?

This experience is for travelers who want more comfort without paying as much as a lodge. It is also for couples on their honeymoon, anniversary, or special trip who want to be alone at night. This is also for people who have never gone camping before and still want to do the whole route on foot, or for those who want to see the dome (with its starry sky and Andean landscape) as part of the experience.

Price range

$600 – $1,000 for the full 4-5 day package.

Mountain Lodges on the Salkantay Trek

Mountain lodges are the most comfortable option on the Salkantay route. Lodges are different from other types of accommodations like camping and sky domes because they are fixed buildings. They are like hostels or mountain hotels. You can find them at important places along the trail.

What is included

• Private room with a real bed, usually double or twin type
• Private bathroom with hot water shower
• Electricity and wifi included
• Heating or good thermal insulation depending on the altitude of the lodge
• Closed restaurant-type dining room, with a more elaborate menu than in camping or domes

Who is it for?

This experience is for travelers who prioritize rest and physical recovery on days when they don't walk, especially for older people or those who don't tolerate cold well or basic camping conditions. It is also for luxury travelers who want the highest level of comfort available on the route or for family and corporate groups who prefer simple logistics (no setting up or taking down tents every day).

Price range

$3,000 – $4,500+ for the full 4-5 day package.

Lodging by location along the route

The type of lodging available depends on your budget and where you are on the route. As you walk from the highlands to the cloud forest, the weather and the camp setup change. This plan for overnight stays matches the classic 5 day trip. The fast 4 day version (Backpacker) skips the stop in Lucmabamba and goes straight to Aguas Calientes.

Night 1: Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 feet)

Highest and coldest point of the route, located in a valley between the snowy Humantay and Salkantay mountains. Being the highest stage, the fixed setup is more limited than on the following nights.

Night 2: Chaullay / Collpapampa (2,950 m / 9,678 feet)

After crossing the Salkantay pass (4,630 m) and starting the way down, the weather gets warmer and the setup available in all three options improves.

Night 3: Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 feet)

Last night before connecting with Hidroelectrica or Santa Teresa in a warm and tropical weather zone.

How to choose the right option for you

There is no "best" option among camping, sky domes and mountain lodges — there is the option that best fits your budget, your past experience and the type of trip you are taking. Use this quick checklist based on your profile:

If you have a tight budget

• Prioritize traditional camping: it is the cheapest option ($450–$650) without giving up the full 4-5 day trip.
• Check with your agency if the camping gear (tent, sleeping bag) is included or rented separately.
• Consider the season: traveling in months with less demand can open up deals even within the camping option.

If it is your first time trekking

• The sky domes are a good middle ground: you have a real bed and better heat insulation without the learning curve of pure camping.
• Ask specifically about having a private bathroom each night, since it changes based on the stage (see lodging by location table above).
• If the cold worries you, make sure the dome or camp has confirmed heating for the night in Soraypampa, the coldest stage of the route.

If it is an anniversary or honeymoon trip

• The sky domes are usually the most sought after option for couples: nighttime privacy, a view of the starry sky and better comfort than shared camping.
• If the budget allows, a mountain lodge (or a mix of lodges on key nights) adds a private bathroom with guaranteed hot water and wifi, ideal if you want to disconnect from "trekking mode" at the end of the day.
• Book in advance: the domes and lodges have limited space and sell out first on dates with high demand.

If you travel in a family or corporate group

• The mountain lodges make planning easy: there is no need to set up or take down tents, and each person has their own room and bathroom.
• If the group mixes ages or fitness levels, a lodge lowers the risk of someone having a bad night due to cold or discomfort, especially in the highest altitude stage.
• Ask if the agency offers the full "lodge to lodge" option or only in specific sections, since not all operators have it for all three nights.

Best time to book each type

The types of places to stay available on the Salkantay Trek change with the season. This directly affects how quickly spots for domes and lodges sell out. Camping is the most flexible option logistically, so it almost always has spots available.

Dry season (April – October)

It is the high season for trekking in Cusco. The months of July and August are the driest and also have the highest tourist demand, matching the high season for Machu Picchu in general. During these months:

• Sky domes and mountain lodges are booked further in advance (ideally 2-3 months before if you travel in July or August), since their space is limited and several agencies only operate a fixed number of domes/rooms per night.
• Traditional camping rarely has availability problems, even booking a few weeks in advance, because agencies can increase the number of tents based on demand.
• If you are looking for fewer crowds, but good weather, April-May and September-early October are low season months within the dry season, with weather conditions that are still good and more availability in all three options.

Rainy season (November – March)

In these months, it rains more often and it's hard to predict where the rain will fall. This can affect the condition of the trail, especially on the downhill sections that lead to the cloud forest.

• Demand drops a lot, so domes and lodges usually have more availability with last-minute bookings (even 2-3 weeks before).
• It is the season where camping or sky domes with good heat insulation are best, since the humidity makes the difference in comfort more noticeable compared to a basic tent.
• If your priority is price, this is the season where you are most likely to find deals on all three options, including mountain lodges.

Here's a helpful tip: If you're planning a trip in July or August and want a dome or lodge, be sure to book it as soon as you confirm your travel plans to Peru. After those two months, you have more time to decide on a place to stay closer to the date.

Frequently asked questions

• Is there wifi available during the trek?
  It depends on the option and the stage. When you go traditional camping, you won't find any Wi-Fi along the route. The availability of this amenity varies depending on the camp and the operator. Some include it starting the second night, but it is not guaranteed in all domes. Therefore, it is a good idea to confirm its availability directly with your agency before booking. Mountain lodges always offer Wi-Fi during the night.
  
  
• How much does it cost to upgrade from one option to another?
  For example, the traditional camping package costs between $450 and $650, while the sky domes package costs between $600 and $1,000. The difference between the two is usually between $150 and $350 extra for the full 4-5 day trip. The jump to mountain lodges is much bigger, since that package starts at $3,000 and includes all the mountain hotel-style lodging setup. The exact cost of the upgrade changes depending on the agency and if the full package is booked or if only the lodging for a specific night is changed.
  
  
• Can you mix lodging, for example, camping two nights and a lodge one night?
  Yes, it is possible with some agencies, but not all offer this flexibility as a standard option. The most common thing is that mountain lodge agencies have fixed-price "lodge-to-lodge" packages for all three nights, rather than custom combinations. If you want to mix options (for example, a dome in Soraypampa and a lodge on the following nights), check directly with the operator before booking, since it depends on their setup and if they manage their own camps at each point on the route.
  
  
• Is hot water guaranteed every night?
  Not all options or stages are affected. In traditional camping, you can't always count on having hot water. In sky domes, the first night in Soraypampa (the highest altitude) usually has a shared bathroom with no guarantee of hot water, while in the lower stages (Collpapampa and Lucmabamba) a hot water shower is usually included in the dome. Mountain lodges make sure that guests have hot water every night in their private bathrooms.
  
  
• How cold is it to sleep in Soraypampa on the first night?
  It is the coldest night of the trip because Soraypampa is at 3,900 meters of altitude. At that height, night temperatures usually drop below zero degrees. This is especially true during the dry season, which is from July to August. If you choose to camp, make sure your agency includes a sleeping bag suitable for low temperatures. If you choose a sky dome, confirm that the dome has heating or good heat insulation for this specific stage, since not all operators guarantee it from the first night.