5-Day Salkantay Trek Cheap Tour to Machu Picchu

We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the start of the hike in Cruzpata (3,700 m / 12,139 ft). The bus ride will take you northwest of Cusco, to the farming town of Mollepata (2,800 m / 9,186 ft). After a breakfast stop, the bus will continue to the Cruzpata trailhead, offering panoramic views of the Humantay snowy peak.

Upon arrival at the trailhead, you will warm up, meet the rest of the team (including the chef and muleteers), and have a last chance to buy snacks or water at local shops. The trail goes up and down gradually to Soraypampa, letting you appreciate the natural beauty of the Andean region. After a steady 3 hour hike, you will arrive at Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where you will spend the night in comfortable Sky Dome domes.

After lunch in Soraypampa, you will take a short hike to the Humantay lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), where you will enjoy a spectacular view of the lake with the snowy Humantay mountain in the background. Back at the domes, you can relax until dinner. You will enjoy a cup of hot coca tea and a freshly prepared dinner by our chef, and then you will get information about the next day's itinerary.

You will wake up to coca tea or coffee served in your dome. After a nutritious and hearty breakfast, the trail goes up gradually to the Salkantay pass (4,600 m / 15,090 ft). As you go up, the views of Mount Salkantay become more imposing. Upon reaching the pass, you will learn how ancient cultures made offerings to the mountain with coca leaves. Afterward, the trail goes down to the village of Wayaracmachay, where you will have lunch and a well-deserved rest.

Then, the trail narrows and goes down to Collpapampa. On the way down, the vegetation gradually becomes lush, with flowers like begonias, orchids, and lilies, moss- and lichen-covered trees, pampas grass, and edible crops. Upon arriving in Collpapampa (3,100 m / 10,170 ft), you will have hot tea and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by our chef. Tonight you will sleep in the comfortable domes of Collpapampa.

After a night of rest, we begin the third day of our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu with a good breakfast. The trail we follow winds through the cloud forest, with numerous ups and downs, and as the altitude drops, the temperature goes up, which is right for other crops like coffee, bananas, and avocados, among others.

After about 5 and a half hours of walking through a lush ecosystem, where you will discover coffee plantations, orchids, and medicinal plants, you will arrive at our lunch spot, where you can rest. You will spend the night in our private domes right in the jungle, in Lucmabamba.

In the afternoon, you will have the option to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs in Santa Teresa (not included), with pools of different sizes and temperatures so you can recover from the hike. We will return to the domes at 18:00 hrs to enjoy tea and a freshly prepared dinner. Afterward, you will get instructions for the next day and have time to share with the group and rest.

The day starts very early to enjoy the sunrise over a lush landscape of rivers, waterfalls, orchids, and tropical plantations of banana, avocado, and coffee. So, after a nourishing breakfast, we will start the climb (about 3 hours) enjoying beautiful views of the Santa Teresa Valley, until we reach the Inca archaeological site of Llactapata (2700 m), located opposite Machu Picchu. Our guide will share the history of this extraordinary place, from where we will have the first view of the back of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.

Then we will walk down for about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the lunch spot, and keep walking until Hydroelectric (1800 m). From here, the group has two options to get to Aguas Calientes:

• Walk about 3 hours following the train tracks through the jungle.
• Take the train (optional, not included, approx. USD $39).

Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the Inca citadel, we will check into our hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Before resting, we will get instructions from the guide for the next day.

We will wake up early for breakfast and then start the walk to Machu Picchu, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes (you can also choose the bus, with a duration of about 20-30 minutes, extra cost not included). If you go walking, you will go down for 30 minutes to the Puente Ruinas control post, where you must show your original passport, your ticket to Machu Picchu, and your student card (if it applies). After crossing the bridge, you will go up stairs for about an hour to the main door of the citadel.

Your hotel will store your luggage during the visit, so you only need to carry a small backpack with the essentials, since large bags are not allowed into the sanctuary.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Machu Picchu, you will meet your guide, who will take you first to the best panoramic viewpoint for the classic photo, and then will join you on a guided tour of about 2 to 2.5 hours through the main sectors of the citadel (matching Circuit 2 of the Machu Picchu ticket). During the tour you will learn about the history and culture of this extraordinary Andean sanctuary, besides having time to capture pictures of its main attractions.

If you wish, you can also climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountains (extra cost); this requires buying an extra ticket and booking in advance.

After the guided tour, you will go down by bus to Aguas Calientes to have lunch and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

From Machu Picchu to Cusco
This trip does not include the train or the transport from Aguas Calientes to Cusco. If you want to add a train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and a tourist transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, please select our Expedition or Vistadome train options.

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Early morning transfer by tourist bus to Cruzpata - the initial point of the trek;
• Accommodation: Domes (3 nights) and a Hostel in Machu Picchu (1 night);
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner and Hot drinks in the evening (please advise us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO extra additional cost);
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide;
• Trekking chef;
• Horseman and horses to carry food, cooking equipment and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff.
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.

• Breakfast on day 1 and lunch on the last day.

• Entrance fee to Salkantay (U$ 8).

• Entrance fee to Cocalmayo hotspring.

• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu (U$80).

• Shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu (U$15 - one way, U$ 30 round trip).

• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (U$ 68)

• Hiking poles (U$ 20).

• ZIP Line in Santa Teresa (U$ 45).

• Emergency horses (U$ 100).

• Transportation from Playa Sahuyaco to Santa Teresa.

• Tips for local staff (please note: tipping is customary in Peru but not obligatory).

• Other extras not mentioned.

Trekking Chef and Muletter

In the Salkantay Trek, on the 3rd day, our muleteer and horses will complete their work and return to the initial point. Our trekking chef finishes work at Hidroelectrica on the fourth day, where they will provide the last lunch. Afterward, the trekking chef will return to Cusco.

On the fourth day, you will need to carry your duffel bag from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes.

• Original passport (+ copies for a case of lost),
• Original ISIC (an international student card if applicable)
• Pocket money in Nuevos Soles,
• A backpack
• A small rucksack,
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for extra comfort at the lodge)
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights in the mountains),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
  Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refill.
• Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

What is Salkantay Trek? 

Salkantay Trek links the city of Cusco with the Citadel of Machu Picchu. The start of this 5-day pedestrian excursion is from the town of Mollepata, a few kilometers from Cusco, and is done in one direction, from Cusco to Machu Picchu; the return is always made in a motorized way in train. 

Who will participate in Salkantay Trek with me? 

We propose 2 types of Trek: in private or in groups. In private, only your friends and our staff will be part of Salkantay Trek; although it is the type of Trek preferred by some, it is the most expensive. However, most prefer, by their own wishes and for budget reasons, a group Trek; that is, you would do the Trek accompanied by other hikers. As it is impossible to know in advance (in addition to questions of confidentiality) who will be part of your group, it is impossible for us to respond accurately. Generally, it is a group of hikers of different nationalities and ages. We can summarize by saying that it is a small group of hikers with guides, pack horses and muleteers. It should be noted that, as far as possible, (tourists without a fixed travel date, etc.) we try to group a maximum of people of the same nationality and age range on the same trek.This is the cheapest option.  

What are the dates of departure? 

It would not be pleasant or prudent to do this Trek in the rainy season; that is why we only propose it when the weather conditions are favorable. These conditions may vary from year to year and there are departures during all year but we preffer to do the trek on these periods, which are generally from April to September. During these periods, we offer departures every day of the week, including holidays. 

I've heard about a "local" train, can I take it? 

Indeed, there is a train called "local" for the route Cusco - Aguas Caliente, but by decree of the government is reserved for Peruvian residents, upon presentation of an identity document. No tourist can take it.  

Can I do the Salkantay Trek by myself?

It is not recommended. The Trek of Salkantay is only accessible to hikers accompanied by certified expert guides, who know the way very well.So it is imposible to hike Salkantay without a tourism guide.

What to do with my luggage during Salkantay Trek? 

Most of the places where you will be staying (hotel, hostel or lodging houses) can store your luggage for free during the Trek. But we also, gladly, can keep it; All you have to do is bring it to our agency on the eve of the Trek. 

Do you practice an ethical trade? 

Ethical trade aims, let's remember, to make a trade that respects social conditions (rights and guarantees of employees, decent wages, etc.) and the environment (respect and protection of the environment, places, flora and fauna ). As it is a very important point for us, we can say with great pride that we respect the employees in general and the porters in particular (because they are very numerous and surely make the job more difficult). We always work with the same carriers, which is a guarantee for them, for us and for our customers. We do not choose porters based on their availability (many are independent) because we have ours. Regarding respect for the environment, we work with lodges and staff committed to sustainable practices, and we ensure proper waste management throughout the trek.

Departure Point: Cusco - You will be picked up from your hotel.
Departure Time: 04:00 - 05:00.
Briefing Point: Our guide will brief you on the hike at your hotel lobby 2 or 1 day prior to trek departure.
Briefing Time: Between 18:00 - 19:00.
Return Point: Cusco - Our driver will drop you off near the main square, then you can take a taxi to your hotel.